Liz Gray

"In search of Eames-worthy style on a Craigslist budget. And pie."

Liz is a Senior Editor at HGTV.com. She lives in a midcentury tri-level that’s stuck in the ‘70s…for now. When she’s not working on remodeling projects with her boyfriend and mystery breed puppy, Miles, you can find her buying impractical hats, scheming mad scientist-style in her overworked kitchen and drooling over Danish modern furniture.

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POSTS BY Liz Gray

Tuesday Huesday: Color Inspiration for My Kitchen (and Yours!)

by Liz Gray May 14, 2013 6 Comments

If you’ve been following along with Tuesday Huesday from the beginning, you’ve likely seen some trends emerge in my color pairings. You may have noticed I love bright colors, and also that I’m slightly obsessed with oh-so-soothing Caribbean blue. So it’s no wonder that I’m considering this bright blue color palette for my kitchen:

Blue and Orange Kitchen Color Palette

Modern Kitchen :: Apricot Panna Cotta

It’s a slightly more muted version of this beach-inspired color palette I featured back in February. I love how a small orange accent provides a bright focal point in both the modern kitchen and this apricot-honey panna cotta. What do you think — should I order the tile already?

Party Food: Mother’s Day Breakfast Casserole Recipe

by Liz Gray May 11, 2013 1 Comment

When you’re cooking with kids for Mother’s Day, the simplest recipes are the best. Skip the four-course meal and try this delicious ham and cheese breakfast casserole that’s simple enough for the most kitchen-clueless dads. The best part? You assemble the casserole the night before serving, making morning-of preparations a snap.

To make the casserole, cover a greased ceramic pie pan with a single layer of bread cubes, followed by ham, cheese and an egg-and-milk mixture. The kids will love layering in the ingredients and helping to mix up the eggs. Bake at 325 degrees F for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until golden brown. Serve alongside a simple salad and store-bought cake or cupcakes. Don’t forget the kitchen clean up!

GET THE HAM AND CHEESE BREAKFAST CASSEROLE RECIPE >>

Give Mom Our Free Printable Mother’s Day Cards

by Liz Gray May 10, 2013 1 Comment

Still searching for the perfect Mother’s Day card? I love these cards that Kim Stoegbauer of The TomKat Studio created just for HGTV.com: The printable templates are adorable and easy to assemble, but each one has a handmade touch that will make moms of all ages smile.

This 3-D flower card features patterned spring flowers. (Fun fact: The printable paper for Kim’s flower designs was inspired by children’s fingerprints.) To create, simply print the card, cut out the flowers and attach using double-sided tape. Then, use a hole punch to create a tiny center for each blossom.
GET THE FREE PRINTABLE TEMPLATES

Free Printable 1920s Accessories For Your Great Gatsby Party

by Liz Gray May 10, 2013 3 Comments

We can’t all throw lavish parties on the scale of Jay Gatsby, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t celebrate today’s release of Baz Luhrmann’s take on Fitzgerald’s classic novel. Grab a gin-based cocktail (no bathtub required) and celebrate The Great Gatsby with vintage accessories and our free 1920s printables.

To recreate the lavish style on a dime, print out our free printable Great Gatsby and Classic Glam accessories, then cut out and attach to wooden skewers with double-sided tape or hot glue.

DOWNLOAD THE GREAT GATSBY PARTY PRINTABLES >>

DOWNLOAD THE CLASSIC GLAM PARTY PRINTABLES >>

SEE MORE GREAT GATSBY PARTY OUTFIT STYLE

HGTV’s Color of the Month is Quietly Cool

by Liz Gray May 1, 2013 16 Comments

The weather isn’t the only thing warming up this month: Our color team meeting got a little heated when we struggled to decide between our top two contenders for May. Votes were split between Lili’s orange-red poppy and Camille’s soothing whisper gray. After all, don’t they look amazing together?

Design by Sarah Richardson

You can (and should!) combine these colors, but we had to chose just one. Read on to find out our decision.

Find Out HGTV’s May Color of the Month

Tuesday Huesday: Retro Living Room Color Inspiration

by Liz Gray April 30, 2013 3 Comments

I’m kind of obsessed with all things 1950s: houses, furniture, dishware (this is my dream collection!) and even motels. Some might prefer shiny new hotels, but to me there’s nothing cooler than a well-kept time capsule along the side of the highway. This atomic-era motel caught photographer Paul Vanzella’s eye, and the amazing combination of pink and aqua caught mine, too. (The pink Cadillac doesn’t hurt.)

A slightly more muted version of this palette takes on a sophisticated tone in this living room created by Portuguese designer Maria Barros (spotted via House of Turquoise.) I especially like the way Barros used bright orange accents to add a little bit of vibrancy to this easy-on-the-eyes room.

Coral and Aqua Living Room Color Palette - Tuesday Huesday on HGTV's Design Happens

1950s Motel :: Aqua + Coral Living Room

What do you think? Would you try this color combo at home?

Get more color palette inspiration from our previous Tuesday Huesday posts.

Mother’s Day Freebie: Win Flowers From The Bouqs

by Liz Gray April 26, 2013 110 Comments

Update: Thanks for playing, D-Happ readers! This month’s grand prize winner is Rosemary B, who says she’ll spend Mother’s Day grilling out with her husband, children and grandchildren. Congratulations, Rosemary — six months of flowers are headed your way!

Runners-up Pat W. and Helen have won a three-month flower subscription, while Gremol, Mel, LJsMommy, Julianna, Donna and Nancy W. have each won one double bouquet of their choice. Happy Mother’s Day, all! Come back on June 7 for another Freebie Friday giveaway.

Mother’s Day is around the corner, and if you’re like me, you’re still searching for that perfect gift. Fresh flowers are a go-to Mother’s Day gift for a reason: They’re beautiful, they smell great and they’re easy to deliver to Mom even if you can’t make it home for the big day. That’s why we partnered with online subscription flower service The Bouqs to give 8 lucky winners free bouquets — and why we’re starting our May Freebie Fridays giveaway a week early to make sure the flowers arrive by Mother’s Day.

Win Mother's Day Flowers

Enter for a chance to win

Weekend Brunch Cocktail: A New Twist on the Bloody Mary

by Liz Gray April 25, 2013 3 Comments

Bloody Marys and brunch go together like, well, Bloody Marys and brunch. While the classic Bloody Mary starts with a vodka base, this spicy interpretation from Elise of A Beautiful Mess begins with a generous helping of curry-spiced, tea-infused tequila. Mix it up with carrot juice, Bloody Mary mix and a few shakes of hot sauce.

Carrot Bloody Mary

Make this drink spring brunch-ready by serving in a mason jar with a salted rim. Garnish with a fresh veggie skewer, a slice of lime and the traditional stalk of celery. What are you waiting for? Mix one up this weekend.

Get the Recipe

The Top Color Combo at High Point Market

by Liz Gray April 24, 2013 10 Comments

Since I’m fresh from the uber-inspiring showrooms at High Point Furniture Market, I thought I’d bring you a taste of the up-and-coming colors I spotted there in lieu of your regularly-scheduled Tuesday Huesday (Just call today’s “Wednesday Huesday.”)

Unexpected pops of color were everywhere at this market, from painted bookcase backs to pops of green inside gold pendants. I saw plenty of Pantone’s color of the year, emerald, along with many bright orange accent pieces and purple furnishings. But the color combo I kept seeing again and again? A true blue (think: cobalt) with a bright spring green and a touch of gold, seen here (clockwise from top left) at the Taylor Burke Home, J Douglas and HGTV HOME showrooms.

Blue and Green Color Palettes and High Point Furniture Market

What do you think of this on-trend color combination?

Get more color palette inspiration from our previous Tuesday Huesday posts.

Tuesday Huesday: Timeless Colors for Mothers + Daughters

by Liz Gray April 16, 2013 2 Comments

Mother’s Day is almost here, and we’ve been scheming up gift ideas here at HGTV.com for months now. One of my favorites? This drop-dead gorgeous lilac bouquet. The lilacs and French lavender pair perfectly with the bright-green lady’s mantle, and the vintage pitcher makes it sweet and classic. (Like my mom!) But don’t confine apple green and lavender to a vase: the combination looks just as fresh in this little girl’s room designed by Jennifer Duneier.

Liliac and Apple Green Girl's Room Color Palette - HGTV Design Happens
Girl’s Bedroom :: Lilac Flower Arrangement