When a color speaks to you

A

ccording to Wikipedia,  the word turquoise, which dates to the 16th century, is derived from an  old french word for “Turkish”, because the mineral was first brought to Europe from  Turkey , from the mines in historical Khorasian of Persia.    In many cultures of the Old and New Worlds, this gemstone has been esteemed for thousands of years as a holy stone, a bringer of good fortune or a talisman. It is referred to as  a ‘gemstone of the peoples’.  Pueblo medicine men were considered of no power unless they were fully adorned in Turquoise.

 I’ve always loved the jewelry, have a few pieces of my own, but don’t wear it often.  My ‘go-to’ colors have always been black, nuetrals, etc.  Mom has often said “you should wear more COLOR, Karen”.   I’m not morbid or Goth… It’s just that I’ve always felt very at home in black…it’s easy to do.  Color says something different, something I didn’t feel at home in.  Oh, I’m sure there’s a freudian conclusion there… but seriously I don’t think it goes all that deep. 

Anyway.. where am I going with this?  For some reason, the color turquoise has spoken up in more than a whisper this year.  I’m looking around This Old House.. which we have decorated in soft neutrals and some big splashes of reds, the antique version. It goes well with the wood work that abounds.   I’m seeing places that need turquoise, though. The color is soothing and cheery.  And so it’s my mission to start bringing it in, in little ways. 

 Yesterday I went to Pier 1 and found what I was looking for to use on  the porch, which we use a lot.  I like this to be a restful place.

Frasier approves.

Ben and Bailey prefer the mattress in my office.
Seriously, if you’ve got more than one dog
or a dog that weighs more than 180 lbs…
that old mattress you’re gonna through out?  Great dog bed.

  If you’re still with me…
here are a few more examples of how turquoise
brings life to a space….
Tell me in the comments… what color speaks to you?

How cool would it be to have this truck to bomb around in.

31 thoughts on “When a color speaks to you”

  1. Karen, I LOVE it that you kept that mattress for a dog bed…that is FANTASTIC and hilarious.

    I love turquoise—! Yellow is a fav splash of color at this time of year too, but oh that turquoise. It's a sweet splash of western too, without marching around in Navajo print. I automatically feel cool when I'm sporting some kind of turquoise-it is a magical color indeed.

  2. I LOVE turquoise/teal and brown combo. In fact, when I get back 'home' I'm working on redecorating my brown room to be my step-daughter's room and have been pinning things on my Pinterest page (the Wild Chick's Cave) for her and I to discuss. Originally the room was my office – brown walls and turquoise desk accessories and picture frames. If you are on Pinterest, you will have to check it out.

  3. Turquoise is my favorite color. The ocean can be turquoise, it's a universal color that anyone can wear.
    Your porch is awesome, and I would probably be out on it all the time!

  4. I have long been in love with the color turquoise and also have a couple of jewelry pieces with this stone.

    I adore the photo of the turquoise door and frame around it. LOVE! Have also seen those same pillows at Pier One, BUT, my dogs are too hard on pillows and once in a while even drag them out the doggie door, so they wouldn't be pretty on my sofa for very long. LOL

    Love that your pups have that mattress for their comfort. It's important for dogs to keep their joints off the cold floors at night.

    Have a great day!

  5. My colors change. I could happily do a pink room, but it would not work well in this house at all. I LOVE that turquoise table and chairs! Turquoise is a great color and I did some of that years ago when I lived in Arizona. I love yellow in the house because it's so cheery.

  6. I have had mad love for turquoise, but right now the color I'm hunting for obsessively is acid green. Talk about pop!

    That porch is heavenly!

  7. I totally agree with you Karen! I love turquoise and most any shade of blue! Your patio is just beautiful and looks so relaxing and the view is to die for!!

  8. My go-to color has always been red, and turquoise is in there, too. I have a lot of trouble not painting EVERYTHING either red or some shade of bluish green.

    You and I must have the same fashion stylist, because I live in jeans and dull color shirts. Black, grey, brownish, olive, etc. They're a great background for other pops of color (like a great scarf or jacket) and they'll never go out of style. My sister told me years ago that I should wear less grey … then she really LOOKED at me and said, "Nevermind, you look good in grey."

  9. You are so right! I love turquoise as well as light aqua. It feels comfortable and goes great with red. My mom bought me aqua and turquoise clothes a lot when I was young. She said it complimented my brown hair and eyes! So glad Frasier approves!

  10. The pops of turquoise look great in your screened in room {which I love}. I'm usually drawn to pale muted colors in my decor but lean toward black and white in my clothes. Or just neutrals. I'm not a big, bright color person, I guess!

    XO,
    Jane

  11. Let me think…PURPLE!! But you already knew that. See that picture just above the cool truck…that's the color of my living room at the cottage! All of my rooms are done in BRIGHTS!!! That's just me and my creativity showing through! Who else do you know with a purple office AND a purple bathroom??? I should do another blog post about that! I totally love Turquoise jewelry and have alot of it from our travels out west. I wear alot of black too…nothing wrong with that and goes with everything!! Great post Karen! I love FRAZIER!!! Is he a goldendoodle??

  12. I love the pillows on the settee on your sunporch. The centers look as though they are hooked, which I love! Turquoise is my favorite color–a close second is aqua. I love yellow too–the soft, buttery shade. I've tried strong colors on my walls, and cannot live with them! I prefer creamy walls–not the gray fad which is so popular now. I do love touches of gray and I LOVE to wear gray, but on walls, it is depressing to me. I have to have a little sunshine in my life! Neutrals with pops of bright color is perfect! I rarely EVER wear red, although I love the color. I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb, and I guess I'm too reserved!
    V
    P.S. Check out Karen Kahle at http://www.primitivespirit.wordpress.com She is an amazing artist with wool and specializes in muted colors–she loves turquoise and aqua!

  13. i'm a turquoise junkie too…..i love it!….and i love how you're adding it into your life.

    if i find something vintage and rustic in turquoise i grab it as fast as i can 🙂

    oh…and do you know house of turquoise.com ??

  14. I am a black and tan kinda gal. I feel most comfortable in black…and wear a lot of it. I punch it up with the muted and olive greens sometimes. I love pinks and greens for the little girls though. I love that you have an actual dog BED! That is so funny! xo Diana

  15. I'm sorta all over the map with colors…but love turquoise! I have a big chunky necklace of it and it's my favorite piece by far! Cranberry is another favorite color! Love the porch…

  16. Oh my gosh, I'm enamored by your porch! I'd spend as much time as I could out there. I love it. I love turquoise color too. I'm not in love with turquoise jewelry, but I love to wear blouses of turquoise. That truck is a kick!

  17. First, Frasier is seriously cute!

    On the subject of color, I love blues (especially sky blue), yellows, greens, splashes of red and white accents!

    I've actually added lots of color to my wardrobe in the past few years, there was too much black and dark blue!

    Happy Weekend!

  18. Ha! We just bought a baby bed mattress at a yard sale for MollieDog to lay on…just perfect with her sheepskin rug on top for her tired old bones. Being a desert girl I have always loved turquoise…seems like the rest of the country is waking up to the color!

  19. I adore turquoise and pison green, as they say around here. Different walls in our house are painted red, forrest green, chocolate brown, deep sienna…I LOVE color!

  20. I would not have thought red and turquoise would go together, but they look really nice.
    I'm adding bits of brighter green, I love it.

  21. Teal…and Caribbean ocean blue are my go to colors lately. Not that I have bought much of them but when I see them it stops me in my tracks.

  22. I seriously doubt you need to hear from ME! A color in my beloved blue family???? I know I don't need to say much more!!! LOVE the porch!!!

  23. Playing catch-up tonight for all of my favorite blogs. What a lovely group of posts I've missed here. Turquoise is one of my favorite colors. And you look wonderful! Happy Birthday to your son.

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