Friday, April 24, 2009

lilacs for me and hue


One of my favorite flowers are lilacs along with the heady aroma.  I adore the shade of lilac and spotted this room at the Kips Bay show.  The color is sumptuous, serene, and an oasis of "lilac" calm.
photo from New York Times
Imagine curling up here with a good book, a cup of tea.  Just look at those silk taffeta curtains and the tufted day bed.  It is an art to use many various shades and textiles in one hue which always exudes an effortless sophistication. 
photo from Habitually Chic blog  (note the colors are more mauve like this!)
This photo was added after the comment came in from "Things that Inspire" and true, the color is more like this, more of a vintage rose or mauve hue.
Room designed by Donald Schermerhorn.
How about you, do you have a favorite flower that would inspire you to design a sophisticated palette in one corner or one vase?

25 comments:

vicki archer said...

Divine and superb - my favourites too, xv.

Things That Inspire said...

Lilacs - how I miss them! I grew up in CT, where we had lilacs every spring. For some reason, they don't seem to grow in Atlanta! I saw some lilacs in Whole Foods this week, and although they had the look of lilacs, they only had a very faint smell. I still bought a bunch, though!

I was in NYC last weekend, and went to the Kips Bay showhouse. The 'purple room' was one of my favorites by far. I do think it was a bit darker than what is shown in this picture, a bit more of a mysterious shade of purple.

pve design said...

Things -
yes - it was a bit more "mauve" but I quite like how it can take on a more vibrant hue, like the lilacs when they first bloom.
I think they need the limestone, and the cool temps to thrive.
pve

jacjewelry said...

Gorgeous purples! My sister's favorite flowers are lilacs too, and these are stunning!

Style Court said...

Patricia, I love the combination of lilac and green, captured so well in the first image.

Peonies are my favorite flower :)

A Gift Wrapped Life said...

I like the more vibrant hue too, it actualy took my breath away. A gorgeous room, thanks for sharing it. Have a great weekend Patricia!

Mrs. Limestone said...

The smell of lilacs would inspire anyone but the ones you posted are particularily lovely.

Kwana said...

Love this color. So serene. Great post.

Joyce said...

Oh Patricia lilacs are my favorite too. When we first built our little house- I mentioned to G I would love a lilac tree. We planted 5. They don't really bloom too much flowers (cud be my black thumb), but the few that do I walk back there to take a deep breathe.
Have a golden weekend! xoxo

Clarity said...

What a charming blog. I've always thought that a lilac room would look best candlelit with lush foliage accents. Day beds are attractive, but from childhood, I've coveted a chaise longue.

ArchitectDesign™ said...

Lilac is my favorite -for the scent and memories of childhood associated with them. The scent automatically relaxes me.

Deidra said...

This beautiful post made me sigh out loud!

Lilac bushes line our driveway, and the little buds are just about to burst! I keep checking them every day to see if they're ready to have their picture taken.

Have a beautifully relaxing weekend!

jae said...

Okay, I didn't even read this post yet. I was so excited to congratulate you on being added to the "all the best" list. As I said over there...well deserved...well deserved...

okay, now I'll go back and read today's post.

ALL THE BEST said...

Lilac is my very favorite - oh the scent! We had 7 lilac trees in are former back garden! How I miss cutting and bringing in an armload of branches!

jae said...

I'm back...this time to talk about lilacs. Love them...we had many lilacs in my childhood yard. Don't you love how smell evokes a memory?

Oh, and that daybed looks like one I would happily faint in.

congrats again...

Janet said...

I can't wait for the lilacs ~ my favorite. I love all the different hues of purple and lavender. When I lived in Connecticut we had an old house surrounded by stone walls and lilac trees. It was heavenly in the spring!

Unknown said...

we used to have a lilac bush in the front yard when I was growing up. They've always been my mom's favorite. I can't remember an easter where we didn't have our pictures taken in our dresses next to the lilac bush :)

gatherings home said...

For me it would have to be annabelle hydrangea. Love the tonal creamy hues and the tension between the more acidic chartreuse blossoms it produces. Brilliant!


P.S. Oh yah....that bed is to die for. Love it!

pavlova said...

Love, love love LILACS - the scent and the color as well. Mine are not yet in bloom, but will soon be in vases throughout my home. That bedroom is calling me!!!! Those tafetta curtains are divine.

Laura said...

Lilacs at the farmers market are always a sure sign that summer is on its way....I adore them. They look so blousy and bountiful in a big vase. Like they should be on the table in a country home in the south of France.

Rachel said...

Hyacinths for me! They are one of my all time favorites and so elegant.

pixelimpress said...

i'm now obsessed with orange ranunculus! i've never had it in my gardens before but do this year. and i love it! when i took some artwork to be framed yesterday i found myself drawn to the orange linen mats and had one matted with orange linen. can't wait to see how it turns out.

patricia, i'm the winner of your best face forward contest. i did email you pixel's photo earlier this week. let me know if you didn't get it. thanks so much! and have a wonderful weekend. pam

Purple Flowers said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Karena said...

The old fashioned flowers like lilacs, hollyhocks, all the bulbs, they really inspire me continuously.

Purple Flowers said...

For a vase, I like many shades of one color. Purple or pink make for a glorious vase arrangement. Even all white is very elegant.

Love lilacs - the scent is yummy!
Favorite flower - I love too many of them, so I guess I don't have just one.