Welcome to Emerald City.

If you haven’t noticed all of the Emerald-inspired posts all over blogland, well… maybe you are not a regular blog reader.

This year, Pantone’s Color of the Year 2013 is Emerald. Which is SO fun. And it gives all of us in blogland something colorful to chit-chat about.

But I would love to chat about this trend for a second and ask:

Is it Ditto-Worthy?

Well, just like any trend, I think the answer is Yes, or No.

It ALL. all. COMPLETELY. depends on how YOU {not the “trend-setters”} feel about Emerald Green. 

So.

What do we do when we have color commitment issues??

Let’s make this into a fun little quiz, shall we:

This quiz can be used with any color. For our purposes today, and for the love of all things Emerald, let’s just use Emerald Green, shall we? But feel free to replace the underlined color with any color you waffle over.

I recommend going with your first instinct as you answer these very serious questions:

1.Do you LOVE Emerald Green? {when you see it, you feel happy, inspired and full of life. you gravitate toward it, a lot}

2.Do you LIKE Emerald Green? {you gravitate toward it from time to time. you find it pretty in certain things}

or

3. Do you NEVER ever gravitate toward emerald green? {you don’t own a single item in this color. it makes you wrinkle up your nose}

Now What??

Number Threes: {Emerald City? No thank you!!!}

If you are in the #3 camp, I officially give you permission to continue wrinkling your nose at this color. Emerald Green is not for you. Feel no pressure WHATSOEVER to include any of it in YOUR home. Regardless of how many blog posts that tell you to do so!

However, you might want to keep on reading… to figure out how to handle colors you DO love – that just so happen to turn into trends. {<– tweet this }

Number Twos: {Emerald City? That sounds like a fun place!}

If you are a  #2, i.e. you “like” Emerald Green, then you might consider adding a splash of this pretty trend into your home. But let’s go with some low-commitment choices shall we? Low-commitment as far as cost, ease, and replace-ability; SUCH AS:

1. Pillows

{image via BHG}

2. Paint

{image via The Painted House}

{image via My Pinboards, original source unknown}

{design and image via natty by design}

3. Curtain Panels

{design by Kay Douglass}

Number Ones: {Emerald City? I have ALWAYS wanted to move there!}

If you are a #1, and you LOVE Emerald, I would like to know: have you loved Emerald for years? Years?? If the answer is NO, hop up to the Number Twos answer to find out how to start adding some Emerald love into your home. Once you have lived with it in your home for a while, you will be able to assess whether you have a long-lasting love or a trendy love for this color.

But, if the answer is, “Yes. I have ALWAYS loved Emerald Green. Since I was a kid! I still love it!!,” then I officially give you permission to, not only add this to your home, but to trust what you love and really dive into this color! Surround yourself with what you love. Not only can you make additions to you home such as those listed in the Number Twos, but you can even get gutsier. You can even invest time and money into your Emerald Loving. SUCH AS:

 1. Wallpaper

{image via Osborne and Little, wallpaper: Davidia}

2. Tile or other permanent design elements

{image via My Pinboards, original source unknown}

3. Upholstery and Rugs

{design by Kelly Wearstler}

Do you dare to cover a sofa in Emerald Green {or substitute other color there}?

Well, I am here to argue that if you have ALWAYS loved Emerald Green, it really isn’t that much of a risk, now then, IS IT??

And so,

That’s how it is with colors. It doesn’t matter whether or not the color is a trend. You must discern whether or not you like, love, or dislike a color. You need to think about how long you have loved that color.

Once you have thought through how YOU feel about a color, you can confidently ignore the trends… and make your own trends! You are on your way to having your own Signature Style!

Remember, this quiz can be used to help you really think about any color.

Live with what you LOVE! And don’t decorate {or NOT decorate} out of fear! { <- Tweet this }

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How about some more Emerald Love?!! A group of dear blogging buds of mine also tackled the Pantone Color of 2013 today. I encourage you to stop by their blogs and enjoy all the Emerald GOODNESS that is going around. I also happen to know that you’ll discover some new blogs to love, cause these girls have hearts of gold. Simply click each of the three photos below to be taken to that post.

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I pretty much ADORE Serena & Lily. Have you shopped there? Pretty. Amazing. Stuff. I tell ya. Click on the image below to shop:

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{This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for reading and supporting FHD! }

{first image is part of a photo taken from this amazing art}

Indecision?

It is time.

Have you done your homework?

Have you spent countless hours looking at pictures? Weighing your options? Pinning stuff?

Have you realized you can’t have it all?

Have you accepted that?

Have you saved up the money for what you need?

Have you accepted that you are not, indeed, a millionaire. And that there is no sense waiting for the day that you will become one?

Have you realized that unless you put one foot in front of the other, your home will never get decorated?

Have you embraced the reality that change is inevitable?

…

Have you?

Well, then. My dear friend.

The time has come to make a decision.

Pick something.

{ ^ Tweet it! }

Then. put it in your home.

Live with it for a while. And then ENJOY it.

Now, accept that it may not be perfect. {And also come to grips with the fact that “perfect” only exists in your mind and in magazine shoots}.

Don’t fret over it anymore. It has taken up too much of your brain space…. and face it: your home is in a stalemate.

Aren’t you TIRED of stalemate?

Because it is simply just a _____. { <– insert any home object in there. chair. pillow. bedding. whatever.}.

The time has come to make a decision.

Do you need more help Overcoming Decorating Paralysis?  Click here, or on the image below:

SO, fess up. What do YOU need to make a decision on in your home??

DO TELL!!

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I love Minted!

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I pretty much ADORE Serena & Lily. Have you shopped there? Pretty. Amazing. Stuff. I tell ya. Click on the image below to shop:

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 Don’t miss a single post from Fieldstone Hill Design! Have regular decorating goodness delivered {free!} directly to your inbox.

{This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for reading and supporting FHD! }

Have you ever met that kind of woman who makes you feel instantly welcome?

You feel a part of her home, even her family.

You are heard.

And loved.

And fed.

I have. And I want to be more like her.

In my life, that woman’s name is Evelyn. And when I think of hospitality, I think of her.

Like Evelyn, I want to look my guests in the eye, and ignore the telephone, and offer my left-overs, and get out a drink, and laugh and listen. And make my neighbor feel at home. Like they are the most valued of friends. Like nothing is more important than that moment of connecting and laughter.

I also think of Edie.

Did you know that I have never met Edie?

Yes, we decorated 5 rooms together. All online. And we had the most smashing time {Remember the Fat Boys, Edie??}. We even landed on the pages of Better Homes and Gardens together. But we have never met each other.

And this year, God willing, I am going to hug that girl’s neck.

But, even though I have not been in Edie’s home, I associate her with all things hospitable. She loves big. She laughs big, I just know it. And she has a passion for life that she is certainly not content to keep to herself.

Oh, and she can make some mean recipes AND raise a chicken.

…

Don’t you want to soak in the wisdom of women like these?

Today is the day.

Edie is BLESSING all of us, by sharing a new eBook, “31 Days to a Heart of Hospitality.”

I want to be that woman.

It won’t happen overnight, but, I am beyond thankful that I have women like this to look to, who point to what really matters, and who shower me with true friendship,

and Hospitality.

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Today’s ditto | a room I love post features a soaring, grand foyer that has drops of color-fun around the space.

{Ditto | Room I Love posts demonstrate a great exercise for you as you continue to develop your own personal style: using your own favorite pictures, and making a quick list of what you actually love about the space. If you study what you love about a space, it helps you to bring what you LOVE into your own home!}

Enjoy this grand foyer, and the quick “ditto” list of why I love it.

So. Do you love it?:

{The home of Amanda Peet , via Vogue}

WHAT I LOVE {What I would ditto!}:

1. Without hesitation, the antique oushak rug in FUCHSIA. Are you kidding me? Gorgeous. Look how it is worn and well-loved from the years. This imperfect rug is just perfect in my book. Not to mention the color and life it adds to this space…

2. The drop of melon-orange in the lamp. Another lovely splash of color.

3. The drop of aqua in the lantern. Another lovely splash!

4. The otherwise neutral palate made grand by all of the contrasts of dark and white. White walls, dark floors. Dark stairs, white risers. Deep mahogany furnishings against the white walls.

5. Tables in the foyer. Beautiful tables with places to rest your keys, or put your pocketbook as you check the mirror on your way out of the door.

6. The carpeting on the stairs, a simple sisal with a black tape edge. The perfect combination of practicality and beauty.

7. Fresh, abundant bunches of flowers – all of the same kind, overflowing a vase. My favorite! This can even be done with bunches of same-kind grocery store flowers.

DO YOU LOVE IT?? WHAT DO YOU LOVE? WHAT DESIGN ELEMENTS WOULD YOU DITTO IN YOUR OWN HOME? DO TELL!!!!!!

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I love the Valentine’s Cards at Minted! Especially their CUTE kids’ classroom cards

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Are you a One Kings Lane Member? Pretty. Amazing. Stuff. I tell ya. Click on the image below to sign up for exclusive sales:

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 Don’t miss a single post from Fieldstone Hill Design! Have regular decorating goodness delivered {free!} directly to your inbox.

{This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for reading and supporting FHD! }