The Retro Renovation 2012 Color of the Year is Bitossi Rimini Blu, a shade named after the famous, rich, deep glaze on Italian-made Bitossi pottery designed by Aldo Londi around 1959. Also known as Cobalt Blue, this is a classy, retro color that “plays well” with a wide variety of other shades, including orange, gold, avocado, brown, red — it’s very versatile. To demonstrate, I roamed all around my house on Saturday and took photos of art and accessories that that incorporate this color. Note, in this study, I have been pretty liberal about the what goes in this color family. It’s all good. Read on for a festival of blue — 28 photos in all.
gsciencechick says
We have cobalt blue pendants over our sink, in the hanging light fixture over our kitchen table, and in the ceiling fan in our LR.
Annie B. says
You’ve definitely got a case of Cosmic Blues! I am green with envy over those Bitossi Rimini pieces. Chippy, I wanna be your friend, too.
Great great stuff, Pam. Let’s see more of the old home place, please.
RudigerVT says
My mom is all about blue, blue, blue. “Blue Onion” dinnerware (actually Lipper’s ‘Blue Danube.’) Some Wedgewood. But I sent her a link to this posting as she’s debating a re-do on her house’s main bathroom. I say, Mom….blue, blue, blue!
Stacey says
I absolutely love this color! And I love the blue things in your house, especially the blue & gold rug, blue vase, and the pillows. Hey, I know what you mean about 1986 – but it reminds me that I have a Calder poster with this blue as the main color. I need to get that framed.
Thanks for sharing pictures of your beautiful blue things with us!
Veronika says
What?! No cobalt blue glass bottles? These are my favorite sitting on a window sill. I have cobalt blue perfume bottles from an ex boyfriend’s grandmother. Love love cobalt glass….
Tami says
Ditto on the blue-painted bedroom, but ours is a very dark shade of cobalt: Majestic Blue from Olympic’s Biltmore Estate collection. I’ve found bedding in combos of tans and golds go very well with it. I also made drapes and covered lampshades with a fabric mentioned on here once, Bosporus by Covington. They look terrific together.
I love this year’s choice! You’re right, it plays well with so much.
Ann-Marie Meyers says
Loved it! Blue keeps creeping into my kitchen. I took the red out and blue wants in.
Emily says
Thanks for the inspiration – again! We painted our master bedroom a similar blue called Blue Luxury from Behr and I have been having a heck of a time finding coordinating bedding outside of whites and grays. I’m especially liking the combo with the pink in the Miro print.
clampers says
I like this color. Am currently (maybe) looking for a cobalt blue shower curtain to go with the vintage towels I just bought off Etsy. Haven’t received them yet so I need to see them first to be sure about the color.
JKaye says
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDvuLJk9Sjc
I think we need to listen to this recording of Blue on Blue by Bobby Vinton while looking at Pam’s lovely blue touches.
I think I could come up with just as many blue touches around my home, too. I say that green is my favorite color, but it always gets so bossy, and I just use a little of it. But blue, particularly this lovely cobalt blue, is so easy to live with.