The living room, when we first moved in, was magnolia.  Bland, wouldn’t-hurt-a-fly, goes-with-everything, boring-as-all-hell, might-as-well-order-vanilla-even-though-they’ve-got-double-chocolate-chocolate-chip-mint-with-hundreds & thousands-on-top Magnolia.

Putting the ‘meh’ in Magnolia.  Ok, it doesn’t really have a ‘meh’ but it should.

I like to think that Magnolia has become my arch-nemesis in this house.  “Ban the Magnolia!” has been my rally cry since we moved in.  I reckon it hasn’t put up much of a fight because it knows that I could totally kick it’s wimpy lily arse.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I have had Magnolia in my previous homes.  We were friends for years, we used to hang out all the time.  But I realised something.  Magnolia wasn’t adding to my happiness.  It was sucking the life out of my rooms because I felt limited by it’s love of a warm palette.  It started looking tired and sad and it started to bring me down.  So I had to do it.  I had to cut the ties.  I know it sounds harsh but when I saw it there, hanging out in my living room once more, I had to put my foot down.  Armed with a tin of paint and a furrowed brow, Magnolia knew I meant business and I knew it was time to make a clean break.

To be fair, there could only ever be one replacement.

Grey is cool, it’s sexy, it’s subtle and it makes whites pop.  In fact, Grey has the ability to make all the other colours around it cooler by default.  It’s the great fitting jeans (you know, the ones that make your bum look fantastic) of the colour world.  It’s classic and yet always somehow manages to look crisp and modern.

I especially love grey with yellow.  I was probably a bit late to the yellow and grey party but oh how deeply in love I now am with this stunning combination.   I’m also partial to a touch of olive green, bright white and black thrown in for good measure.

 

And so the colour palette I decided on for my living room was born from all the inspiration photos I have been hording for well over a year of which only a small percentage are shown above.  A true love was born for grey and it’s gang of pals – crisp white, moody black, mustard yellow, olive green and the slew of colours inspired by nature like deep dark brown and charcoal.

Once I had my palette down, I begun my search for the perfect wallpaper.  Wallpaper has finally thrown off it’s past errant ways and has become one of the most fabulous ways of giving a room depth, character and that ever elusive wow factor.  I knew when I stumbled upon this gorgeous wallpaper in the archives of decor8 that it would have to be a part of my living room decor. Ya know, I didn’t even HAVE a living room at that time, but I knew that someday, someday this would grace my walls.

Cole & Son’s Cow Parsley in Yellow  (although it’s a more subtle yellow in person, more like maize)

I’m sure that the first time I laid eyes on this gorgeous beauty, I had a sharp intake of breath.  And it still takes my breath away.

Here’s a sneak peak of my soon-to-be-swoon worthy living room wall…

You may notice as well, the grey wall….

And a gorgeous olive green velvet will be making an appearance as well…

And of course, no room in my eyes is complete without a little bit of sparkle…

This room has undergone the most dramatic changes of any other room so far.  We have, however, a few more things to complete before I’m able to show you the finished product.  I promise, however, if you keep visiting me here at Swoon Worthy that it’ll be worth your while! ;) (I know, I know, I’m a tease…)

And happily, Magnolia seems to have taken it’s leave with grace.

So what colour combinations take your breath away? Have you ever had it out with a colour that just became a difficult house guest?  Let’s hear about it in the comments.

Sorry, the four room photos shown above have been in my ‘Inspiration’ Folder for some time so I don’t know their sources.  If you do, please do leave me a comment and I’ll be sure to give credit where credit is due:  1. Unknown 2. Unknown 3. Unknown 4. Apartment Therapy