Today I am joining my pals Annie and Mary Ann for our Sunday favorites.
Gray has been a big player in the interior design world for several years. I get many emails from readers worried that their gray interiors are dated now that we are embracing warmer hues. “You don’t need to throw the baby out with the wash water”. Utilitze the power of warm neutrals as accents to elevate the cool grays in your living spaces and fashion choices. Embrace the versatility of gray by incorporating texture, colorful accessories, and rich colors to achieve a warmer look.
TAHILLA FARM-FROM MY KITCHEN TABLE
Jeanne Henriques is an avid reader, expat, and lover of New England life. Her blog is filled with wonderful tidbits of her new england life featuring her gardens, what she is reading, and her adorable pups. If you aren’t following her I would highly recommend it. Wouldn’t you love to curl up with a book in this cozy spot with all it’s natural light. Note how the warm brown chaise warms up the grey wall. I love this combination.
I picked another knit dress for this weeks outfit of the week because many of you were disappointed that the Uniglo version from a couple of weeks ago sold out in many sizes. This one is from Nordstom’s Treasure and Bond brand with a great price point. I am not totally on “the sneakers with all skirts and dresses team”, but I think sneakers work with a casual (what I call a t-shirt dress) like this. I added the mustard bandana from Etsy to warm up the cooler combo. The Etsy shop has every color of the rainbow if you would prefer a brighter choice like red, blue or pink! Of course you could incorporate beige as well
OUTFIT OF THE WEEK
Shop the Gray Look
SHERRY HART DESIGNS
Sherry Hart is one of the most talented people I know. I am in constant awe of her talent. She is a master of bringing in earthy tones to warm up her favorite grays. You can follow her on Instagram here, or on her website here.
The dark gray cabinetry is warmed up by the vintage wood artifacts in the built ins. It appears the walls are a softer shade of gray. The rattan shades and the brown throw blankets create another layer of warmth.
I believe this is the kitchen family room that Sherry designed for her sister. Imagine this room with only grays and blacks. The warm undertones of the throw pillows, the rattan stool, and the woven countey and the touch of brass on the underside of the light fixture all complement the dark grey paint color on the island and the warm grey of the sofa.
Sherry’s gallery walls are perfection. If you are thinking of creating a similar type of gallery wall, browse Sherry’s instagram for inspiration. I believe this was one of her bathroom gallery walls. The dark charcoal wall provides the perfect backdrop for the vintage baskets and the gold frames which add depth and interest. This palette is one of her trademark looks. I believe the paint color is iron mountain by Benjamin Moore.
Girl Gone Gourmet Truffle Mushroom Pasta
It is rainy and cool here. We are headed to a wine club pick up party in Santa Ynez. I think I will whip up this pasta when we get home. Give me a pasta dish with shrooms and I am happy. This pasta recipe from Girl Gone Gourmet is similar to one of my go to truffle pasta recipes
SANDRA SALLIN ON YOUTUBE
My pal Sandra found some jeans that she loves. You can find it on Youtube here. We must have been on the same page that day. Did you read my post on The Absolute Best Ways to War Jeans After 50 here.
How do you feel about gray in your wardrobe or in your home decor? Whether you’re revamping your living room or refreshing your wardrobe, embrace the warmth, and enjoy. Don’t worry about what is “on trend” in your home. Work with what you have and add a little warmth with fabrics, rugs, and other soft furnishings.
Thank you so much for reading How to Make Gray go Warm in Interiors and Fashion.
Have a great Sunday! Let’s pop over and visit Mary Ann and Annie for their favorites now.
CLASSIC CASUAL HOME
MOST LOVELY THINGS
I love the neutral interior palette you often show. And thank you for introducing me to Tahilla Farms. I’d like to share it with my readers as well!
Cindy, I have tried several times to subscribe to your newsletter/blog to receive updates, but it keeps rejecting me as “spam” so I don’t know how else to do that. I will try to remember to stop by to see your site periodically, but I’d love to be on your list for updates. Thanks!
Cindy La Ferle
http://www.laferle.com
Thanks, I just followed Tahilla and bought her book recommendation. Thank you so much for recommending my Jeans YouTube video. I’m not used to modeling. I thought of the way you model and went from there, Blue Jeans must be in the air. Who knew we would all need new pairs. Thank you again for your gracious generosity and style. Love it all.
Of course!!
Thanks for the link to Tahilla Farms – so gorgeous.
I do wear gray but don’t decorate with it. I like more color.
Thanks for a whole blog about me. 🤣
Ha ha!!
Cindy, you are so right about warming up grays with warm neutrals. I love all of your examples! Jeanne’s home is so lovely inside and out. And now covered in snow , it’s just magical!
That mushroom pasta looks so good!
Xx
I love wearing gray but I don’t decorate with it. I had black hair at one time which is now salt and pepper. With my olive toned skin I look best in cool colors.
For my home I decorate with taupe. It’s not too cool or too warm – and I use tons of color.
Cindy! I love you insight into warming up interior grays … and sent it to my niece who’s grappling with just hat. That Treasure and Bond dress is fabulous, I’d better get over and snap it up before it sells out too. Happy weekend! xo
Sherry is talented and funny always a winning combo. The closest I get to grey is stainless steel! Mrs. Blandings (remember?) called grey a soul sucking color. Maybe it’s our midwestern light that doesn’t like it! The pasta looks yummy!
Love the grey knitted dress but think most women would need to be wear shapewear or a satin slip beneath, to give it a smooth line. It’ll cling like crazy!
I always seem behind the times on design trends. Just when earth tones were making a comeback we painted all our warm beige interior walls SW Whitetail and bought taupe-gray sofas. Lol, c’est la vie; I’m not crying over it. I’ve added cream and camel pillows and throws, lighter patterned rugs, chairs with warm wood frames and rattan baskets for holding plants. The gray sofas are comfortable and grandchild (also popcorn movie afternoon) friendly, and that was the goal. It’s always good to get more tips, so thank you! I agree that Sherry Hart is the absolute best!
Love the ways to warm up gray. Living in Texas I don’t often try to warm things up, but it’s nice to do it in winter. Have you tried the Cariuma sneakers? I’ve always wondered if they’re comfortable. Thanks for the recipe – we love anything featuring mushrooms.
Such wonderful ideas for warming up grey. Like the black and white farmhouse trend I guess it’s had its day. I redid our beach house in greys for the bed rooms but went a bit more grey blue which is more timeless for an ocean side property. For our home we have always veered towards warmer tones, our great room needs a refresh after twenty years. I put it off because everyone was hot for the whites and cool greys. I am glad warmer shades are moving in. This huge vaulted ceiling space faces East and grey or white won’t cut it and with all the snow we have dumped now we don’t need anymore ‘cool’!
Thank you for the ideas for warming up grey. I am in the process of reclaiming our basement – where my mother-in-law lived for the past six years. When she moved in, she wanted the space updated and turned everything grey – the walls, the flooring, the cabinetry, and even replaced the appliances in the kitchen with stainless steel. For one who has never been a grey fan – beyond that comfy college sweatshirt, I was not pleased, but knew that she needed the space to be her own. Now, we are faced with updating again and the grey seems institutional and prison-like to me. So, we are slowly transitioning to a brighter, warmer palette. The paint in most of the space is in perfect condition. So, for now, we are opting not to paint. I had noticed that I am gravitating toward warmer wood tones for the wood furnishings – oak and maple. This blog post sort of clarifies why I like that look, I think.
Hi Cindy, lovely post thank you. What beautiful rooms by Sherry Hart so inviting. I love that Iron mountain color ! And l love the outfit.
Have a happy week!
I agree with you that Sherry Hart is one of the very best! I also love her wardrobe choices that she shows on Instagram. Thanks for featuring her!
Hi Cindy! Thanks so much for featuring my blog today. So funny, I haven’t thought of myself as a “grey” color person but broke down recently and bought a lovely double toned cashmere grey coat from Toteme. The dark and light with just a hint of blue in the dark grey just sang to my heart. A big splurge for me…and I may stretch wearing it all the way into summer. My traveling chaise shown here, found on one of my expat London excursions is a favorite too. Some people say I should reupholster it…I tend to disagree. What would be the fun in it if I did! As always, thank you for all the beautiful inspiration you bring our way. You know I am a long time follower…and love seeing how you have evolved over the years. So much fun to see the “original blogging gang” still supporting each other. I am off to shop…something you alway bring out in me! Xx
Hi Cindy, Greetings from Arroyo Grande. I am wondering what wine in Santa Ynez you enjoy enough to be a part of their club? I have a guess, let’s see if I am right! I enjoy the information you share.
Hi Greer
We love so many of them! We belong to Bien Nacido and Magerum but enjoy so many others!! I would love to know the fun spots to hit in Arroyo Grande, eating, shopping etc!!
Cindy, I am so touched by Tahilla Farms Blog, Thank you!
What a lovely take on keeping gray fresh! I hadn’t seen that shot of Sherry’s sister’s family room. You are right, she’s amazing.