March 2015

Color confidence

Ring in spring

FAVORITE HUMMINGBIRD COLLECTION

$25,000 sweepstakes

Dial up color

Clutch fun Know what screams spring? Color and fun. These bold raffia grab-and-go bags have both. Justine clutch, $24; store.shopmarysol.com

Flower hour

Color books

WHO KNEW?

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Hot shot

THE LONG AND SHORT

ON LOCATION alamo city

This fast-growing Southern city shines bright on good eats and easy living.

It's about time

It's about time Longer, brighter days are the perfect excuse for a get-together. Easy tabletop ideas take their cues from the unfurling season.

10 THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT A sunny scheme

Want a happy home? Squeeze in some orange! It's designer Jim Gauthier's go-to mood-lifter. See how he splashed it into his beachy rooms--and how you can use it, too.

For the love of gray

Our infatuation with gray is turning into a long-term commitment. Warm or cool, pure or tinged with color--nothing adds sophistication quite the same way.

Rise and shine

Every morning is bright and sunny in this bedroom, where artist Jeanne Bleu builds a fearless palette of blues topped with yellow high notes.

Exclusive--a pink lilac that reblooms!

It's all about the blues

If you love a color, run with it! In this cozy coastal kitchen, moody hues add the wow--appearing as both easy background and bright accents.

Color in the kitchen

Why hide cool kitchen gear in a cabiner? These bold picks spotlight your color quotient right on the countertop. Choose one to accent--or launch--your palette.

Rock the block

Put your home's best foot forward. Paint, plants, and fresh hardware go a long way to sprucing up your exterior.

Pretty in pink (and purple, too)

Pretty in pink (and purple, too) From soft blush to bright fuchsia, the soothing colors in this Hamptons garden shine against trim greenery and subdued hardscaping.

All together now

THERE ARE A FEW GIVENS in Elise Contarsy and Cynthia Lynch's home. There will be buckwheat pancakes for breakfast (on weekdays, pulled out of the freezer and popped in the microwave). Twins Cooper and Eleanor, 11, will hunker down at the dining table for heated games of Risk. And, on the decorating front, there will be color. "We love living with color," Elise says. "We wanted a warm and inviting space that says 'welcome home' every time we walk in the door."

BOLD ADVENTURE

Hello, optimism! 2015 is all about a new outlook in vibrant color: greens as lush as a tropical leaf, chameleonlike corals, grays that drip with drama. So let's bring it home. Come with us on a... BOLD ADVENTURE

Planter's palette

Why should flowers have all the fun? From wallet-friendly to splurge-worthy options, these containers speak for themselves.

Gluten free crackers

Shamrocks

Don't get pinched on St. Patrick's Day! Wear one of these felt shamrocks mounted on a pin or a hair clip.

Honoring their roots

After a late night, is it better to sleep in or wake up and exercise? Get up and at 'em!

Clean sweep

Hummus to go

Deal with a stressful day

Step it up

Q: I'm allergic to cats, but I'd love to have one as a pet. Is it true that some breeds or colors are better?

DO ONE THING BETTER brush your teeth

The right tools are only half of the equation. Sahota, a dentist in Fremont, California, breaks down brushing effectively in three easy steps:

THE GOOD KID PROJECT dealing with rejection

My son is crushed that the girl he asked to the school dance turned him down to go with someone else. How can I help?

Showstopping hydrangea

I did it!