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Tag: Color

Creating a Cohesive Color Palette

Creating a cohesive color palette throughout a room, or even a whole house, can be challenging.

Yes, certain colors work well together while others don’t, but the most important factor that makes – or breaks – a room / a whole home is balance.

With drama, needs calm.

With color, needs quiet.

With dark, needs light.

With a statement piece, needs minimal elements.

I’m a true believer to go all the way with unexpected + bold elements, but I also believe a balance needs to be achieved so a room feels inviting + comfortable.

Creating a Cohesive Color Palette throughout the home

Last week, I shared the reveal of our newly renovated Pajama Lounge.  Yes, you heard right… we ditched the traditional family room and created a fun, relaxing, vibrant space where we lounge in our PJs.

When we first stepped foot in the dark + dreary room during the open house, the sun was filtering through the large glass windows. Unfortunately we were quickly distracting by all the dark paneling, but I just had the feeling that when the space was transformed it would be flooded with sunshine.

As the space took shape during the renovation, I envisioned introducing color but at the same time I kept coming back to my vision of wanting the room to feel light and bright. I knew the furniture for the space would be most of what was in our previous living room and since those elements were colorful and dynamic, I landed on a neutral backdrop that color could be layered on to.

This is how I knew balance would be brought to the space >>> Light colors for the backdrop with bold layers

Creating a Cohesive Color Palette throughout the home

As the space started to take shape, I’ll be honest, the room looked boring. It didn’t have the depth and vibrancy that reflects my style. I stuck with it and as I began to introduce the furniture and the layers of accessories, pillows, the rug, and all the elements, what I was envisioning started to result.

Then to really make the space pop, I decided to paint the existing wood door a vibrant, eye-popping yellow. Well that took the space to the next notch. That element alone took the room from interesting to unexpected and unique.

After priming the door with Kilz stainblocking primer…

… I chose Valspar Lemon Curd for a splash of yellow.

Creating a Cohesive Color Palette throughout the home

To make this dramatic color work, I brought in this bold yellow hue throughout the room in understated ways.

Aside from the door, there are a half-dozen other elements in the space that are the same yellow hue – 1. door / 2. pillow / 3. storage boxes on shelves / 4. tray / 5. side chairs (at desk, not shown)

Creating a Cohesive Color Palette throughout the home

Creating a Cohesive Color Palette throughout the home

Introducing this eye-popping color in other elements creates cohesiveness throughout the space versus it being a ‘one-off’.  Yet, the yellow doesn’t dominate too much and take over.  In small doses is best.

Creating a Cohesive Color Palette throughout the home

Another way our pajama lounge space works well is the balance of light and dark.

As I mentioned, at first this room seemed boring to me with the walls painted a light color – Valspar Snowy Dusk – but when the furniture + accessory layers were added, the room started to come alive.  With the light colored walls as a backdrop, the opportunity was provided to add contrasting darker elements, like the dark navy barn doors.

Creating a Cohesive Color Palette throughout the home

The color on the barn doors is the same as the newly painted kitchen cabinets.  Having the same color on multiple elements in different rooms, creates for a cohesive thread throughout the house.

Creating a Cohesive Color Palette throughout the home

Balance is key to creating a cohesive color palette.  Once I determined that I wanted to introduce a dramatic color, I knew the other colors in the space needed to compliment the bold yellow hue.  Choosing a light backdrop (the walls) with darker layers (the navy barn doors) + pops of color here & there throughout the room created a space that is light + bright & a space we love to lounge!

Creating a Cohesive Color Palette throughout the home

 

 

DISCLAIMER: THIS POST ON CREATING A COHESIVE COLOR PALETTE IS A COLLABORATION WITH LOWE’S. ALL OPINIONS + SELECTIONS ARE MY OWN.

A Green Planter + A Turquoise Table + A Coral Chair

Before picture of my garage sale finds— a before shot of my garage sale finds that I shared on my instagram page last week —

This Summer I have been in complete survival mode. Simply surviving, making sure to create memories each day with the kids so they have the Best Summer Ever.  BUT as each night falls, this mama is just d-o-n-e. It’s been a blast, but it’s been tiring. And we still have 2+ more weeks till school starts…

Packed days have left little time for personal creating, but after a quick stop at a garage sale last week where I picked up some ‘trash treasures’, I found myself with a few spare minutes + 2 cans of spray paint.  And that makes this gal gitty with excitement!

First up, Green Citrus (by Rustoleum)…

Before and After planter - $1 garage sale find transformed with Green Citrus spray paint

Isn’t that such a vibrant, unexpected, fun color?! For $10 I made out well after stopping on a whim at a garage sale last Wednesday…

I picked up a wicker chair, a planter, and a table.  ALL need a bit of TLC, but I am confident that ALL will look great with a splash of color!

THE PLANTER.

The planter update is complete.  I chose to spray paint it a lime green hue called Green Citrus in a glossy finish…

Before and After planter - $1 garage sale find transformed with Green Citrus spray paint

A few coats later, it was complete.

Before and After planter - $1 garage sale find transformed with Green Citrus spray paint

And ready to fill with a pretty plant.

Before and After planter - $1 garage sale find transformed with Green Citrus spray paint

Now it sits beautifully on the front porch and looks awesome with the green front door.

Before and After planter - $1 garage sale find transformed with Green Citrus spray paint

Definitely one of the best + EASIEST before and afters ever…

Before and After planter - $1 garage sale find transformed with Green Citrus spray paint

THE TABLE.

A splash of turquoise spray paint gave this falling-apart-table new life.  It’s still rusty but I find that beautiful.  The new color is complete, but there is still work to be done – it needs a top.  I’ve got some ideas, but still need to put it together…

Before and After Table: $3 garage sale find transformed with turquoise spray paint

Want to know how to spray paint like a PRO?  Need Tips?
Check out these 2 helpful posts:

Simple Steps to Spray Painting Success

5 Surfaces to Spray Paint

THE CHAIR.

The chair hasn’t been touched, but I have a plan. CORAL is the COLOR that is going to make this chair shine again.  I first need to prime it, then I’m going to paint it.  I think I’m going to skip spray painting this one and instead try a hand sprayer.  I’ve had one sitting in the garage forever and I think this is just the project to try it on…  Wish me luck 😉

Plans to spray paint this chair a new coral hue

Plans to spray paint this chair a new coral hue

I’m looking for a wicker sibling to go along with this beauty.  Not a twin, but a something alike.  Have a wicker chair?  Share details.

I’ve got plans for these new green + turquoise + coral additions.

You’ll see them finished soon. AND all together.

Somewhere around the homestead.

Before I let you go, here is another great score from the weekend.  The fam & I were up & out early on Saturday at a ‘biggest yard sale’ event & I found these 2 headboards for the girls room (in a couple years).  Oh the potential!  Here is a picture I shared on my Instagram page

Headboard find!

 

China Cabinet Makeover: Backstory + Choosing a Color

Craigslist China Cabinet - Before the makeover: The backstory + the choosing of a color

In the past 2 days, a project that I’ve been dreaming about for months has magically come to fruition! Somehow the stars aligned and I’m freaking excited about this one…

So a long while back, about 5-6 months ago to be specific, I had the itch to spice up the dining room.  At the time, I was in the last weeks of my pregnancy so no real action could take place, but I had lots & lots of thoughts brewing in my brain.  My mind immediately went to changing everything, but I decided to start off slow (truly the best way to makeover a space).  First up, the bench.  I snagged a gorgeous navy Ikat patterned fabric earlier in the year and the bench at our dining table was reupholstered.  Next up, the end chairs.  I ditched the leather matchy-matchy chairs and scored a new wicker style from Target.  They’re actually outdoor seats and perfect for a family with a load of kids – yes, that’s us now.  Here’s a recent shot…Dining Room makeover

What’s next?

The buffet.

We’ve had our current buffet for years (here’s a peak from last years Christmas spread) and remember how I mentioned recently that sometimes it’s difficult for the Mister to let go of things (to sell or to update), well this is one of those pieces.  After some thought, we both agreed the buffet had to go and something else – something new – was needed.  So the search began…

Craigslist.  Local thrift stores.  Garage sales.

And then I found IT.  ‘She’ was perfect and just what I was thinking to spice this space up!

I found her on Craiglist and the “purchase” story is something I won’t forget.  Miraculously, we got it home.  Somehow.  Someway.  She now sits in our garage.

Craigslist China Cabinet - Before the makeover

Check out the details…

Craigslist China Cabinet - Before the makeover

I love that there is a pull-out drawer in the lower cabinet.  What a great spot for storing silverware or cloth napkins!

Craigslist China Cabinet - Before the makeover

Craigslist China Cabinet - Before the makeover

The hardware is so true to the time of this piece.  Not all the hardware came with the piece, so I may have to keep some & find some new…

Craigslist China Cabinet - Before the makeover

So let’s take a few steps back for a moment…

Before I had even acquired her, I had a vision.  A bright + bold + eye popping vision.  A raspberry vision to be exact.   Even before she came home, I knew what color she’d be…

In the midst of my emails & calls to get my china cabinet home, Glidden paint reached out to me about collaborating on a project.  I love Glidden paint colors (my favorite orange wall is a fabulous Glidden hue) & was excited about their new simplified color palette.

Glidden's simplified palette - Choosing color made easy

I jumped on board and found THE PERFECT  COLOR in their red & magenta section.  I knew I wanted a mix of something not too red, but not too pink.  And then I found IT – the perfect shade of raspberry called Red Red Rose.

Glidden's simplified palette - Choosing color made easy

Perfect Cabinet + Perfect Color = Makeover Heaven

I’ve got big plans for this lady of mine.  She’s going to be fabulous and I can’t wait to spice this space up with a pop of color.

Looking for the perfect color for your space or the ideal color for a furniture makeover?  Check out Color My Room where you can preview a space with a color you love.

Color My Room on Glidden paint will help choose the best color for your space

Or are you inspired by a picture and love the colors in it?  Click on over to My Image Inspiration where a color palette will be created using hues from your image.

My Image Inspiration is a Glidden paint tool where a color palette will be created using hues from a picture

There are so many great tools that Glidden paint has to offer to help choose the perfect color!  I’m off to paint.  If you need me, I’ll be in the garage with a paint brush in hand.  I can’t wait to see how this all comes together…

Follow along on this makeover with these other posts
Backstory + Choosing a Color
Prepping & Sanding Wood Furniture
Why & How to Prime Wood Furniture
Tips + Tricks to Painting Wood Furniture
Accessories, Details, & Styling {China Cabinet Makeover}

Coming up (still to do)
China Cabinet Makeover {Reveal}

This post is sponsored by Glidden paint, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.  I am so excited about this project & thrilled to be partnering with Glidden paint on this furniture makeover.  I’d love for you to follow along on this new project!

Pop of Color: How-To Paint a Door

I’m still working on my boys room. It’s almost done, but it’s probably been the longest room makeover in history (well maybe not, I think that was the master bedroom which I am happy to say is complete – well 95% complete).  Even though I want to call this latest makeover DONE, a room often does AND should take time to create and come together. The transformation of a space is like a 1000 piece puzzle, it takes time and patience to get all the pieces just right and often, it’s the final stretch that takes the longest.  And that’s okay.

As I am rounding up the room finishing up the final details (the window treatments are the last element which I’m just not feelin’ yet), I wanted to share one element that has really given the space added color + the punch it needed… a newly painted closet door.  It’s amazing how the wall (and actually the overall room) came alive with a new hue.

Take a look…

Add a Pop of COLOR by painting the door. Ditch the typical white (interior or exterior) door and add a splash of color. Check out this great how-to with 5 easy steps to transform a door!

Adding a pop of color was my Lowe’s Challenge for this month and I think I surely succeeded.  Huge difference, wouldn’t you say?!

Updating a door (interior or exterior) is super easy and if a space is fairly neutral, painting the door will make a huge impact.  If you happen to remember, I initially wasn’t overly fond of this very neutral / light wall color, BUT now I am loving it.  WHY?  It’s been able to provide a neutral backdrop for lots of color in all the layers like the red dresser to the left + the fun Frames Wallpaper + the honeycomb shelves on the opposite wall.

Choosing the RIGHT COLOR for the door!

When shopping for a color for the door, choose something that picks up on other colors in the room.  Also a semi-gloss finish is best (so marks can easily be wiped away), but eggshell or satin will also work.

For my boys closet door, I picked up a color from the new rug and chose a deep blue hue (which was leftover paint from my office makeover – Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue) in an eggshell finish.

Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue HC-156

Inspiration for the new Blue Hue on the closet door!

Along with wanting to add a pop of color to the room, the new trim/moulding color and the old door color were 2 very different and competing whites.  So it was in good reason that this door needed a makeover!

Here’s a closeup:

Steps to take for Painting a Door - Add a Pop of COLOR by painting the door. Ditch the typical white (interior or exterior) door and add a splash of color. Check out this great how-to with 5 easy steps to transform a door!

Here are the easy-peasy steps to adding a pop of color on a door:

Add a Pop of COLOR by painting the door. Ditch the typical white (interior or exterior) door and add a splash of color. Check out this great how-to with 5 easy steps to transform a door!

1. PANELS: No matter what style doore, start off with the crevices / nooks-and-crannies.  Using a quality brush (a 1″ or  1-1/2″ Purdy angled brush is my favorite) start with the panels of the door.

Steps to take for Painting a Door - Add a Pop of COLOR by painting the door. Ditch the typical white (interior or exterior) door and add a splash of color. Check out this great how-to with 5 easy steps to transform a door!

2. HARDWARE: I decided not to remove the hardware before painting (because of pure laziness) and painted around the door knob using my angled brush. The result was great…

Steps to take for Painting a Door - Add a Pop of COLOR by painting the door. Ditch the typical white (interior or exterior) door and add a splash of color. Check out this great how-to with 5 easy steps to transform a door!

3. EDGES: After the panels an the hardware, comes the edges of the door.  Be sure to lay a dropcloth or plastic under the door so paint doesn’t get on the floor.  Also, it’s best to open the door so no paint gets on the door frame.  When painting the side edges, don’t drag the brush, but instead start from the door center and pull away to get a nice clean edge and no paint on the side of the door.

Steps to take for Painting a Door - Add a Pop of COLOR by painting the door. Ditch the typical white (interior or exterior) door and add a splash of color. Check out this great how-to with 5 easy steps to transform a door!

Once all the panels + hardware, and most of the edges were done, here’s how the door looked…

Steps to take for Painting a Door - Add a Pop of COLOR by painting the door. Ditch the typical white (interior or exterior) door and add a splash of color. Check out this great how-to with 5 easy steps to transform a door!

The next  + last steps are the rails…

4 & 5. RAILS: Use a brush or roller for the rails.  If the door has a slight texture to it (like mine) then a brush will do fine because you won’t see brushstrokes, but if the door is smooth, you’ll want to choose a small roller.  You can also use floetrol, an additive that can be mixed with paint to avoid brushstrokes.  I didn’t use it for this project, but I did for my kitchen cabinets.

It’s one of my favorite products.

flood-floetrol-02

Once the first coat of paint was finished, this is how the door looked.

Steps to take for Painting a Door - Add a Pop of COLOR by painting the door. Ditch the typical white (interior or exterior) door and add a splash of color. Check out this great how-to with 5 easy steps to transform a door!

After another coat of paint using the same steps above, the door was done…

Add a Pop of COLOR by painting the door. Ditch the typical white (interior or exterior) door and add a splash of color. Check out this great how-to with 5 easy steps to transform a door!

Pretty big change for no money & very little time.

When looking around the net at other homeowner door makeovers, I found 2 helpful tutorials that you might benefit from if you’re looking to add a pop of color to your door(s)…

Steps to take for Painting a Door - Add a Pop of COLOR by painting the door. Ditch the typical white (interior or exterior) door and add a splash of color. Check out this great how-to with 5 easy steps to transform a door!via

Steps to take for Painting a Door - Add a Pop of COLOR by painting the door. Ditch the typical white (interior or exterior) door and add a splash of color. Check out this great how-to with 5 easy steps to transform a door!via

O, and one more place in my home where I decided to add some color to the doors…  the upstairs hallway.   Just last week, I shared how I updated the space with a new chalkboard wall, but to also add some color in, I chose to paint the doors my favorite Benjamin Moore Texas Leather.

Benjamin Moore Texas LeatherHere’s how the hallway evolved…

Add a Pop of COLOR by painting the door. Ditch the typical white (interior or exterior) door and add a splash of color. Check out this great how-to with 5 easy steps to transform a door!

Add a Pop of COLOR by painting the door. Ditch the typical white (interior or exterior) door and add a splash of color. Check out this great how-to with 5 easy steps to transform a door!

What a huge difference painting a door makes, especially when the walls of a space are neutral.  This was a fun project to work on and once again, it shows that with a little effort, a space can surely be transformed in no time and with little or no money.

Have you ever thought on painting your interior or exterior door(s)?

Lowes Creative Team Member Badge - Spring 2014

To gather even more unique, fun, and creative ideas for your indoor and outdoor Spring spaces, I would definitely suggest downloading the Lowe’s Creative Ideas app on your iphone and/or ipad.  I’m always checking out the FREE app for great seasonal + do-it-yourself inspiration.

Disclosure: I am part of the Lowe’s Creative Team and was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to purchase items for my project.  I was also compensated for my time to use the products.  No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write.  All opinions are 100% mine!

Inspiring + Vibrant Craft Room Reveal

It’s been a while since I gave you an update on the mega craft room & office space that I’ve been working on for a local client. The room is 98% complete minus a few wall decor pieces. Aside from that, the space is looking dynamite, so I thought I’d give you a tour.

Before


After




The space will be used for the clients new business, Creative Nest, a new informational craft blog that will be launching later this year. I asked my client to share a few thoughts about the space and here is what she shared:

The development of an arts and crafts room in my home has, for years, been one of my goals. I envisioned a very special place where my son could make messy discoveries and be free to make his own place in the world with glitter, glue, and paint.

I had the perfect location: Our living room. In most houses, they’re big, stuffy rooms filled with nice things that kids aren’t allowed to enjoy and not typically a welcoming environment for a child. Instead, I wanted to fill the space with shelves, bins, and drawers, all overflowing with materials. I wanted a room that inspire my son’s imagination, a nurturing environment that would be as attractive to him as TV or video games. And that’s all true in this creative nest we’ve developed.

Fittingly, this art room is also the heart of another Creative Nest, which is the name of an informative craft blog I’m launching later this year. The blog will provide parents with plenty of ideas and craft projects to do with their children, and will feature tips and resources from art teachers and other experts. I hope Creative Nest becomes a resource that makes it easy for parents to share art time with their kids and show them that there’s more to life than precut shapes and step-by-step directions. As all parents know, great art often comes from happy accidents and the full exploration of the imaginative process. Having this wonderful space and this creative nest in which to play and share has been an amazing experience. I am so happy with the results.










The work large desk gives ample space for creating. At about 5′ long, quite a few artists can work at the same time. The ghost chairs are the perfect seat by allowing the architectural millwork to “speak” and having the ability to easily wipe away mistaken spills.


Cubbies are the ideal way to stay organized. There is a place for everything & everything in it’s place. Crayons. Markers. Paints. All put away in their own containers.


The storage zone is the ideal spot all the crafting supplies.




I didn’t take a picture looking from the craft space to the office, but here’s a progress pic during construction…


This is what the desk space looks like now. Beautiful and functional.


On the other side is a comfy, cozy lounge space with a humungo built-in bench with a lot of storage below and an awesome built-in shelf at the end. The owner’s son is an amazing 6 year old artist and mom loves to display his creations in each of the recessed panels. I’ll tell you, the panels were not created for the pictures, but it just so happened that they were the perfect fit and they bring gorgeous color and meaning to the space.




Refreshing. Energizing. Inspiring. Creative. Fun. All words that, to me, describe this incredible new craft room space.

Top Paint Picks for Navy Blue Walls

Yesterday I shared my Royal Blue Revelation and how I’ve been introducing this new-found hue into my home. I’m kinda psyched because not only is this color going to be an accent seen in accessories, but I plan on painting the front room a dark navy.  Yesterday I left you at the point of me knee-deep in color decisions, and today I’m sharing the final color choice, plus my Top Color Picks for Navy Blue Walls.

I’ve always had a thing for black spaces – they’re bold, dramatic, and striking – but I’m loving the navy hue just as much (and maybe even better)!  I’ve gathered some inspirational spaces that adorn the blue hue…

Deep blue striking walls with navy accents, photography by Emily Jenkins Followill.

Gorgeous Royal Blue Dining Room featured on House Beautiful.


Crisp white with navy blue is stunning.  The white decor pops off the dark complementing color (source unknown).

Navy paneling on the walls gives this office/den a cottage look featured on Lonny Mag.

Dark royal blue walls surround this bedroom oasis and I adore the wide striped blue and white rug, photographed by Roger Davies Photography.

A laundry room that I would never leave.  The white cabinets look amazing against the dark royal wall featured on House and Home.

Built-ins are often a shade of white (allowing them to pop off the wall), but the style displayed in this room match the walls – clever!  Love the regal, but inviting aesthetic by Ashley Whittaker.

Hello Bedroom that I would love-to-live-in!  There are so many reasons to adore this space by Brian Watford Interiors, but my favorite is the navy and white oversized nightstand, which is so sophisticated.

Thankfully I’m still in love with my taupe colored cabinets, otherwise this would be my new DIY project for summer.  Could you do navy blue cabinets in your kitchen? (source unknown)

Incredible spaces to die for, right?! So finally the time comes to reveal the final paint choice for my room.  The final color is…

photo by Julian Wass, image via House Beautiful

Boy, do I only wish I knew photoshop better to show you how this new blue hue would look in the room.  Any volunteers to help me out? If not, no worries, it will be done soon enough (I hope)!

Do you like my color choice?  What navy blue hue is your favorite?

Spring Mantel with Shades of Turquoise

Last week here in Upstate NY, the weather was amazing and I soaked up every bit of sun I could get. Now it’s a little chillier, but Spring and Summer will be here before ya know it! In the midst of the gorgeous weather, I took some time to put together my new Spring Mantel.

Over the past few months, I have been introducing more cooler colors than the warmer colors that I’ve lived with for many years. So my latest mantel creation has a whole lotta turquoise, which is a beautiful and dynamic compliment to the burnt orange focal wall.

Here it is… What do you think?

Turquoise is absolutely one of my favorite colors and from my past post, Totally Turquoise, many of you love it just as much!  It was kind of risky to have the mantel be dominant in one color and when planning it out in my head, I wasn’t sure if it was going to work.  I think by including a variety of different turquoise shades, the overall composition has alot of depth and intrigue, especially with the backdrop of the burnt orange wall.  Other textures and muted colors of browns were also added within to break up the monotony.

Here’s an in depth look …

Many of the pieces that make up my new Spring Mantel have been repurposed from around my home or picked up at local stores for very little.  The turquoise glass vase on the left is something new I bought a few weeks ago at TJ Maxx.  I had already had this turquoise-mantel-idea in my head and thought this would make a perfect addition – it was taller and I knew it’d make a great ‘anchor’ piece!  The glass mason jars which I found at an estate sale last year have been showcased on my mantel before and are filled with lentils and a votive candle. To the right is a tall glass jar filled with rocks from last years vacation to the beach.  I love displaying memories and these rocks are a beautiful and quiet shade of blue…  a perfect compliment to the other bold and vibrant colors.

One of my favorite upcycling things-to-do is paint old, used glass jars – tomato sauce jars, apple sauce jars, jelly jars, any jar will do! It’s so easy and unexpected.  In the Blue Label wood box stand two sauce jars that I added a little color to (it’s actually the leftover paint from my kids bathroom cabinet).  My mantels are always about layering, so in front of the wood box is a cute little turquoise pitcher and to the right is a lantern, both of which I purchased at Homegoods.

Of course, I had to add a touch of Easter decor within my Spring mantel.  I love this egg shaped Happy Easter sign that I’ve had for years (forget where I got it), but in a few weeks once the Holiday is over, it’ll be swapped out with a new Spring sign (not sure yet what it’ll be).

Continuing to the other side of the mantel, I added a sweet distressed turquoise ceramic bird feeder.  Originally intended for my daughter’s room, its so cute and fit perfectly amongst the like colors. To “anchor” the other end, I finished the mantel with two different sized bold turquoise lanterns that I purchased from Target.  They have some awesome colors this season like lime green, hot pink, and of course turquoise.

I also whipped up some fun new pillows with accents of turquoise.

Isn’t that owl fabric so cute?!  Love it with the brown and white chevron.

And this is how the entire room looks all pulled together for Spring.  It’s so different from last year’s quieter, frappe colors.

I think this is my favorite mantel design yet!  What do you think?

Do you love turquoise just as much as I do?