Sonny and Cher.  Miss Piggie and Kermit.  Harry and Sally. Opposites often attract.  And the chemistry that happens from this yin and yang combination is intense, beautiful and so much more powerful in its effect.  In addition to people, this theory works for other subjects as well– color combinations being one of them.  Today Natalie Hager of Natalie Hager Interiors is going to show you the powerful effect of one such opposite pairing: emerald and buttercup.

BACKGROUND:  Natalie Hager Interiors, located in Nashville, TN, opened its doors in 2009 in response to a growing clientele of homeowners and business entrepreneurs desiring a fresh and affordable approach to design. Natalie was named “Best Interior Designer in 2010″ in the Nashville Scene’s Best of Nashville. She prides herself in a vintage modern look that reflects both the past and present. Her design philosophy is to create beautiful and functional spaces that reflect her clients’ personalities while having a little fun along the way.

Emerald and Buttercup (a love story)

Emerald is everywhere. Ever since Emerald was named color of the year by the color theorists and trendsetters at Pantone, he’s been blanketing the runway and interiors alike.

I, no less, am dying to use him and have one daring client who loves color and who is up for the excitement.

However hip and cool Emerald is right now, he’s bold and must be introduced properly. Otherwise the results could be disastrous, and as quickly as you brought him in, you’ll be asking him to leave.  You can paint him on your walls, hang him on your ceiling as a wallpapered ceiling or incorporate him into your upholstery as a chair cushion or pillow.  But without the right combination, this hipster could leave your life as quickly as he topped the color chart.

But what if you aren’t as bold and adventurous to use Emerald solo?  What if you don’t want to paint your walls every year?  What if you want Emerald to stick around for longer than just a weekend Do-It-Yourself Project?

And that’s where Buttercup comes in…

Meet Buttercup.  She’s a sweet Southern Belle from Mississippi and loves tradition and antiques.  This small town girl has a big city taste and has had her eye on Emerald since she saw his début in Southern Living.

When you pair the bold and trendy Emerald with the soft and neutral Buttercup, the combination is unexpected and timeless.

What Emerald doesn’t know is just how much he needs Buttercup. Without her, the big city Bohemian lacks foundation, variety and spunk.

Now that Emerald and Buttercup have met, they’ve fallen in love and can’t live without each other.  They prove that opposites do attract and stick together.

Emerald and Buttercup, while they’re an unlikely pair, they work well together.

Some easy ways to incorporate Emerald and Buttercup are in accessories like lamps, pillows, artwork, and painted furniture.

Here are some of my favorite Emeralds and Buttercups.

(1.Arteriors 2.Natural Curiosities 3. Schumacher 4. Serena & Lily 5. Cococozy 6. Anthrolpologie 7. Anthropologie 8. Kravet 9. Kravet 10. Jonathan Adler)

If you are looking for a little spice in your interior life, maybe you should try incorporating this lovely duo into your home.

Come back and visit my blog to see just how I’m bringing this couple to my life in my client’s space.

…

Thank you Natalie! We love Emerald and Buttercup together.  They make such a cute couple! For more information on Natalie, see below!

Natalie Hager Interiors
www.nataliehagerinteriors.com
Blog– la vie en rose

 (Images: 1-Elle Decor; 2-Pantone; 3-la-bell-vie.tumblr; 4-Lonny ; 5-Lonny ; 6-Christi Halcombe; 7-Anthropologie; 8-Etsy (Ankara African Fabric); 9- Mark Rothko (no title); 10-Robin de Groot designs; 11-Sara Tuttle; 12-Natalie Hager Interiors; 13-Natalie Hager Interiors) 

Nashville Interior Design Blog

In the midst of these gloomy, cold winter days, we all want to buy a little something to brighten up our homes.  And what better budget-friendly way to do that than by buying some fresh-cut flowers!  We asked our designers to share  their favorites for this cheerful subject…we feel happier already!

Natalie Hager’s Pick:

white hydrangea

Emy Riley’s Pick:

peonies

The Ladies at Le Cart’s (Jenny Mudter and Mary Graf) Picks:

lillies

golden ranunculus

Mark O’Brien’s (Tulip Tree) picks:

tulips

daffodils

Thank you, Designers, for your beautiful recommendations!  We can’t wait to fill up our vases!

Images: 1) southernliving.com, 2)impfl.com 3) chellbellgizmos.blogspot.com 4) proflowers.com 5) fireflyforest.net 6) asweetspoonful.com 7) holyfear.net

Nashville Interior Design Blog

Countertops.

From tile to granite, marble to concrete…the options are endless. How do you choose? Which color/style/hue/texture do you pick?  Too many choices can be overwhelming!  We turned to Natalie Hager, of Natalie Hager Interiors, for her expertise and tips on the subject.

BACKGROUND:  Natalie Hager Interiors, located in Nashville, TN, opened its doors in 2009 in response to a growing clientele of homeowners and business entrepreneurs desiring a fresh and affordable approach to design.  Natalie was named “Best Interior Designer in 2010″ in the Nashville Scene’s Best of Nashville.  She prides herself in a vintage modern look that reflects both the past and present.  Her design philosophy is to create beautiful and functional spaces that reflect her clients’ personalities while having a little fun along the way.

The Simpler the Better

When I design, I find the simpler, the better.  When it comes to kitchen and bath countertops, my philosophy stays the same, moins c’est plus.
The trend in countertops is less movement and more solidity of color, which means granite is becoming less popular to marble, quartz and other unexpected materials. Here are five of my favorite go-to countertops:
 
1. Lagos Blue Caesarstone
Caesarstone is a manmade natural quartz composite material that is as durable as granite but can be made to resemble a marble or soapstone. It comes in an array of different colors, but my favorite it Lagos Blue. It’s made to look like Lagos Azul limestone, a hard to find grayish, brownish bluish limestone. Lagos Blue Caesarstone looks great in both modern and transitional kitchens and baths. It’s a great choice when durability is key—c’est parfait pour les enfants.

2. Butcher Block
Butcher Block is making a come back in the design world. It can either be beat up like your favorite pair of stone washed jeans or slick and polished like your mom’s dining room table. I like to use butcher block when trying to gain a rustic farmhouse table look in kitchens.

3. Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel countertops are fun and unexpected. I like to use them to achieve a cuisine industrielle. Getting a high gauge stainless steel is important so that your countertop doesn’t easily scratch. I find that they are price effective and easy to clean.

4. Bianco Miramar Granite
This is one of my favorite granites because it looks like White Carrara marble but doesn’t stain or scratch as easily as a marble. I like to use Bianco Miramar granite in transitional and traditional kitchens and baths. The creamy white with gray veining material looks great in just about every setting.

5. Honed Absolute Black Granite
Honed Absolute Black granite is a great choice for transitional and modern kitchens. It’s a great compromise to black soapstone that can be expensive and hard to maintain. I like to pair this black granite with white in baths and kitchens with a deco motif for a retro flare. The only draw back is fingerprints, so make sure to have your cleaner dans la mains.

What I tell all my clients is regardless of which countertop that you choose, make sure that you choose a material that meets your function. If you are less inclined to keep things up, don’t get a natural material that requires polishing. If you have kids, don’t get something like a marble or soapstone that easily stains and scratches. The simpler the better!

Happy countertop hunting! 

*** If you are undergoing a kitchen or bath remodel, or if  you have other design needs, feel free to contact Natalie Hager Interiors for more information at http://www.nataliehagerinteriors.com.

(all photos in this posting are from Natalie’s personal portfolio)

Natalie Hager Interiors
www.nataliehagerinteriors.com
Blog– la vie en rose