The Inspire Studio

color your mood

Karen L. Benson & Associates Interior Design — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:20:33 +0000

“What’s your favorite color?”…it’s one of the favorite questions kids ask when they want to get to know you. “Purple!” was always my answer as a little girl.

We are drawn to colors for different reasons…changing trends, experiences, and different personality traits. Needless to say, my favorite color is not purple anymore.

Take a look at the list below for a little theory on color…

The Meaning of Color

Red:

The most emotionally intense color
It stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing
Can create a sense of urgency
Symbol of pride and strength

Blue:

Soothes people
Makes people relax
Causes the body to produce calming chemicals

Green:

Symbolizes nature
Calming
Easiest color on the eye
Refreshing color

Yellow:

Tend to make people anxious, and nervous
People loose their temper more often in yellow room

Orange:

Encourages appetite and conversation
Orangeincreases oxygen supply to the brain and stimulates mental activity

Interested to know YOUR favorite color…post it below!

Have a great weekend,

jaime @ the inspire studio

traveling inspires

Karen L. Benson & Associates Interior Design — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:06:51 +0000

It is a rainy morning here at the inspire studio…a good day to be dreaming of Seaside, FL! Near the Panhandle, Seaside is one of my new favorite places that I discovered recently when visiting family. The whole community is so well planned and thought out- from the homes, to the beaches, to the unique shops and boutiques in Seaside and Watercolor. Everything is very clean and upscale while remaining affordable. The beaches are covered in beautiful white sand with gorgeous turquoise and deep blue waters that immediately release stress. If you are ever looking for a great beach getaway where you can let go and be inspired… Seaside, FL should be high on your list!

30A is a scenic highway that runs through these beautiful small towns. “30A Style” is a beautifully designed inspiration book that captures the character and charm of the area. Check it out at www.30astylebook.com/

- jaime at the inspire studio

design your life

Karen L. Benson & Associates Interior Design — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:18:08 +0000

Well, hi there! Thanks so much for stopping by. We are very excited about our new blog…there are so many things to talk about! Let’s start here…

First things first- understand that YOU are a designer…the way you place your furniture, the way you set the table, the way you select your outfit in the morning…yes, YOU!

Your personality influences your everyday design. For example, try this out: let’s say there is woman who is a list-making, carpool scheduler, & in the field of accounting as a career… we probably have a good idea of what her home looks like, right? Tidy, functional, on schedule, and full of routine. While most of us find these things desirable…keep in mind she may not have a home that is aesthetically pleasing. Color, accessorizing, and art may be a challenge for her. Adding a couple of vibrant orange throw pillows on her neutral sofa might be a risk… but it may also remind her to be spontaneous…take the kids outside for a game of kickball in the sprinklers, leave notes for her husband around the house, schedule a girls night out with her closest friends!

We influence design & design influences our lives. Think about the place where you spend most of your time…does it represent you and/or your family? Remember…you are the lead designer in your own life (we are just here to help)… make it beautiful friends!

Vibrant pillows are a bold move that can make a neutral room come to life. Here are some orange variations for our accounting friend…

welcome to the inspire studio!

Karen L. Benson & Associates Interior Design — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:25:05 +0000

…we are so excited to unwind and talk about fun, interesting topics about life & design. Our hope is that you find some inspiration here for your home or workplace that will make your life more beautiful. We want to share with you moments from the life of interior designers…creating livable, unique spaces that reflect families and business owners, accommodating special needs thru design, learning about new products and resources, and giving back to the community out of gratitude for all we’ve been given.