Aqua Love runs through these interiors and paint colors below with moments of dreamily timeless tranquility. (We’ll explore the paint colors more in part 2.) For me, these less common blue-greens utterly engage, calm, and invite. Reminiscent of sea and hazy heavens, color me lovestoned. Designer Desiree Ashworth (@beljarhome) cleverly mixes aquas in Swedish, Belgian, and French moments, creating tension with raw wood and woven textures.
Aqua Love, Relaxed Rusticity & Resources
Interior Design: Desiree Ashworth – Photography: Eliesa Findeis & Decor de Provence
These lovely tones inspired by nature have a mystique on their own yet are elevated when artfully combined with the rich warmth of stone and wood.
Weaving this rich color palette with sophisticated finishes, furniture, antiques, and treasures within a European country influenced home?
Simply and gracefully, they usher in a peaceful backdrop for love.
What sets such a color story apart?
Belgian Blue Green Paint Colors & Chalky European Tones
The coastal-suggestive blue-green colors mixed here are chalkier and less precious than pastels.
Wouldn’t you agree? In so many American shabby chic style interiors, there’s a more saturated, bright, and ice cream shop (even retro) mood. In contrast, this level of understated color suggests age, decades or centuries of fading from sunlight, and an authenticity that is difficult to reproduce.
Another layer of unexpected loveliness within this stone cottage?
The sheer reality that it resides outside of the South of France. My heart is warmed by the reality that is a new build since it suggests WHAT IS POSSIBLE. So many times we view historic properties online or in person and feel the ache that such beauty is beyond reach. Beljar Home seems to challenge that notion; Desiree proves it may be possible to soothe that ache with new creation.
Do these glimpses also have a watercolor essence? Oh, the prospect of living within art is a lovely one, oui?
Serenely Euro Inspired Color Palette
While many shades of green continue to have their moment across social media (apparently extra doses of nurturance, fresh growth, and cash are welcome in the 2020s!), my heart is drawn to whispery celery tones such as that on this patina-pretty lantern.
I can’t imagine how many followers have messaged Desiree about the custom stains created for her homes.
Will we be at all surprised if her own line of paints and stains are right around the corner? So lovely and unique!
While many of the pieces in this home are collected European antiques, others (bed, dining room chairs, etc.) were found at Alice Lane.
It’s such an incredible source for quality-crafted pieces meant to be used and enjoyed forever.
I can imagine building a design around this incredible antique gold bed (above), and there are so many places a gorgeous table lamp such as this one could live:
Right?
Muted Greens and Blues to Choose
If cool blues and greens are calling your name, don’t forget about their muddy, chalkier counterparts.
Something magical happens when the bright quality is quieted with age, with greige, with sage.
There are all these quieter, faded, subdued, and complex hues that are so atmospheric and ethereal, they aren’t easily articulated.
Is it more grey than blue? Does it land somewhere between a hazy sky and a kitten’s velvety coat?
Maybe it is so very cashmere-like, it calls to you to take a metaphorical nap inside it?
What a lovely world of mysterious color alive and able to soothe weary souls!
For me, such chalky blue-greens and blue-grays are also the colors of dreams.
While they exist in nature, their misty mystique appeals to dreamers and visionary archetypes.
Our Muse to Set the Tone
Who can sing a cowboy lullaby summoning greens and blues better than James?
Swedish-Belgian-French Cottage Inspiration
Desiree of Beljar Home and Decor de Provence designed the interiors and dreamed this Gustavian French cottage into reality.
The kitchen’s subway tiles are Aqua from Ann Sacks, and I’m sure she must be tired of questions about them. I wonder if the interest in them is due to homeowners’ fear to commit to this color, mistakenly believing it is not neutral enough for the long run.
We wonder if we will tire quickly of a particular color…a valid concern.
BTW, HERE are some budget-friendly ideas for minty green subway tile.
There’s a boldness required when you decide to diverge from white subway tile or white marble in favor of a less common option.
But it’s also true some of us know full well we won’t stay in a particular home forever. *ahem* Some of us are busy dreaming of the next adventure even as a current one is in motion. And you? Horizon type or nostalgic?
Decor & Furniture Ideas
As for sources for the beautiful furnishings and decor in her home, the homeowner is also owner of Beljar Home.
The majority of the pieces in this home are collected, antique, and vintage (a favorite source of hers was Brambles and Blossoms in Provo, UT).
Desiree says reclaimed light fixtures are one of her must-haves so you will have to hunt down these European fixtures! But maybe you’ll be able to score them at Bell Jar Home too!
Swedish, Belgian & Modern French Looks
Sumptuous & French Blue
Rustic French Gustavian Lighting Ideas
Rustic French Cottage Accents
French Country Kitchen Accents
Books With More Ideas
Psst. Ever see this tour of the guest house at Patina Farm?
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We’ll look closely at paint colors to get this gorgeous Belgian inspired look in my next post.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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