Fifty Shades of Greige, Sarah Beaugez' Delta

GREIGE: being in an unbleached undyed state as taken from

a loom — 

used of textiles 

(from Merriam Webster)

GREIGE: not bleached or dyed, 

unfinished, raw ( from www.greigedesign.blogspot.com)

EVERYONE is talking about 

Fifty Shades of Grey Greige

Well yes, the books, but I mean the
 COLOR GREY aka GREIGE!

But what is GREIGE really?

Beyond the dictionary definitions above of unfinished, undyed, raw linens and
 the range of colors that 
encompass all the variations of 
grey mixed with beige . . .

from Domino

Top row, left to right: 1. Ellen Kennon Full Spectrum Paints Mushroom, 2. Ellen Kennon Full Spectrum Paints Silt, 3. Farrow & Ball Old White, 4. Farrow & Ball Bone, 5. Pratt & Lambert Silver Blonde, 6. Benjamin Moore Silken Pine, 7. Benjamin Moore Smokey Taupe.

Middle row, left to right: 8. Benjamin Moore Bleeker Beige, 9. Benjamin Moore Seapearl, 10. Benjamin Moore Grant Beige, 11.Benjamin Moore November Rain, 12. Benjamin Moore Lambskin, 13. Benjamin Moore Hazy Skies, 14. Sherwin-Williams Perfect Greige.

Bottom row, left to right: 15. Benjamin Moore Elephant Tusk, 16. Benjamin Moore Bennington Gray, 17. Valspar Woodrow Wilson Putty, 18. Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter, 19. Sherwin-Williams Mega Greige, 20. Sherwin-Williams Windsor Greige, 21. Benjamin Moore Creamy White.

for me GREIGE is an ideal, a style,
an aesthetic that represents a move toward
 authenticity, realism, relaxed simplicity and calmness, livability, and the incorporation of nature in design, all the elements which I believe are important in designing interiors.

via Ronique Jones Gibson

via shop Greige

Edward table John Lyle Design

via Greige

Urban Outfitters

Barcelo from Kelly Wearstler for Lee Jofa in Taupe

via Atlanta Homes Magazine

Nubia vase John Lyle Design

The same elements which I have discovered became a part of my personal design aesthetic when I was growing up in the Mississippi Delta.  


My friend and now fellow Mississippi Deltan Sarah Beaugez captures 
all of these 'GREIGEY' elements in her photographic work, as well as the more than
 'fifty shades of the color greige'.

Sarah's water tower photo reminds me of the old water tower in my
Delta hometown of Lambert.  I drew the tower for the cover of a special project
in the fifth grade and it has always been special to me.

Like the water tower photo above, this reminds me of my Delta hometown Lambert,
originally known as Yellow Dog for the Yellow Dog Railroad that still runs through town.

I couldn't resist showing the Kelly Wearstler for Lee Jofa fabric again.  It works so perfectly with Sarah's photography and really reminds me of the Delta, the alluvial plane AND the river.

If you know me, you know I usually have to throw in a bit of color.

I love "Greige" mixed with

a bit of natural green.

via Greige

Heliopolis vase John Lyle Design

via Velvet and Linen

Kelly Wearstler Mineral in Juniper/Lake for Lee Jofa

And of course, Sarah does too!

For me the rich, "Greige", dusty, crusty, Delta soil and the vibrant green cotton, rice, beans, and corn are the perfect juxtaposition.

Do you like "Greige" design?

Do you like the more than 

 'fifty shades of the color greige'?

Which is your favorite?


Do you prefer all greige or greige with natural green?

See more of Sarah Beaugez' photography

Visit Sarah Beaugez on Facebook 

See Sarah Beaugez on 

Walt Grayson's "Looking Around Mississippi" 

on WLBT Channel 3, Jackson, MS

HERE

AND WATCH FOR MORE SARAH HERE ON

 MS DESIGN MAVEN

photo credits:  Sarah Beaugez, Domino, via Ronique Jones Gibson, Kathleen Clements via Greige, John Lyle Design, Atlanta Homes, Pinterest, Velvet and Linen

Aha! Again and Again, Thanks House Beautiful

Aha!  
I seem to be having a lot of those

 "aha moments" lately.
Or maybe I am just noticing them more
since I began my design blog.

In my so far short, but nevertheless exciting,  enlightening, and very enriching design blogging career, I have been having

 "aha moment" after "aha moment".

I just returned from Blogfest 2012 sponsored by Kravet in New York City.  Blogfest was chock full of  "aha moments", but first just a bit of my design blogging history.

I love stories and sharing.

About a year ago, 
after closing my retail store,
 I decided I wanted to start a design blog. 

A vignette in my retail design studio including my custom leafed and marbleized console and
 my custom match boxes.
Oh, and of course BIRDS!

Fabulous architectural fragments like this
 glazed concrete one always give me an "aha moment".

 I researched and planned. 

 I hired a talented graphic designer

 to design my blog template.

 I made copious lists of blog

 topics and ideas.

I scheduled and publicized my launch date.

Only one thing remained . . .

I had to find my voice.

I tried a little of this, and a little of that, but I wasn't happy with what I was writing until . . .

the September 2011 issue of House Beautiful 
arrived in my mailbox and just in time!

AHA! 

I knew how and why and what 
I was going to write.


It all became crystal clear.

I love Barry Dixon's work, I love birds, and I love pink.  The ideas and the words flowed for my inaugural blog post
Birds of a Feather: Barry, Birds, AND Pink. 

A selection of Barry Dixon's fabrics and trims in peaches and PINKS for Vervain

Not only was that House Beautiful cover an  epiphany for the voice, tone, and content of my first blog, it started me on my path of seemingly unending "aha moments".

As a result of my design blogging,
 I have found new clients.

An outdoor room I designed for Gardens of Madison County.
Lots of custom work was included and the homeowner became a client.

I love designing tabletops and partyscapes as well.

The outdoor room included custom cushions and pillows,
custom sconces, a custom mantle, and a custom piece made of salvage over the mantle, as well as custom florals throughout.

I have renewed old and inspirational friendships.

Me with my lifelong friend the uber talented furniture and furnishings
designer John Lyle of John Lyle Design.

John's studio in New York.

John Lyle console and fireplace screen used as an objet
 in the Kips Bay kitchen.

I have travelled to fun and "aha" filled places.

CA'D'ZAN in Sarasota, Florida
The wonderful Venetian Gothic home of John and Mable Ringling
Blog post coming soon!

 I have met wonderful new people. 

Me with my fellow Mississippi Deltan,
 the charming and debonair editor of House Beautiful Newell Turner

I have broadened and enriched my own knowledge 

Gilded view from my friend and fabric designer
Lucy Rose Singh's New York apartment

I completed my first outdoor gilding project.

and my own designs.

I am using more neutrals and blues,
inspired by my friend interior and furniture and objets
designer Nancy Price

A shell encrusted bust from Nancy Price's line for Design Legacy

I look forward to sharing more of my "aha" filled trip to Blogfest 2012 here in the next few weeks, but here is just a peak . . .


AHA!  
I love this decoupage look 
made of antique lady images in
 Alexa Hampton's bedroom at Kips Bay.
This is something I can easily create for clients from antique prints in my collection. 

Alexa Hampton Bedroom at Kip's Bay Showhouse.

AHA!
 I loved Kravet's design studio tour. 
I really want to design fabric.

This hand blocked print from Lee Jofa
 is indeed gorgeous and a true fabric inspiration.

AHA!
I love MINTY green and
 I want to use it in a project soon.

Katie Leede's minty fresh bedroom at the Modern Life Concept House
 sponsored by Elle Decor.
I use green often, but want to incorporate this minty hue soon.

And thank you for that biggest "AHA" of all, House Beautiful, 
the AHA that got me started!

I am thrilled that House Beautiful is now Pinterest enabled.  AHA!

Are you taking time to notice your 
"aha moments"?


I hope you will.

photos: Marilyn Storey with exception of House Beautiful covers