Wednesday, May 21, 2025

BonBons You Devour With Your Eyes Only — Go, Tory!

 One of the activities I do in the middle of the night when I can't sleep is peruse my phone. And that's while the soft drone of the television plays in the background, because I like to fall asleep to some sort of noise when my kids aren't with me. I shouldn't even admit this, but the majority of the time, the show playing in the background as I drift off is Dateline. I'm literally obsessed with true crime and believe I’ve seen every single episode in their 33 seasons (doing that math—that's over 500 episodes). But I digress. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why I may be tossing and turning in the middle of the night!

This is a long way of getting to today’s blog topic. In the midst of Keith Morrison’s measured, melodic tone dramatically playing in the background at 2am, I awoke and started to shuffle through my phone when I came upon Tory Burch and her new collaboration with BonBon, a Swedish candy company.



Tory has teamed up with the Swedish candy company for a limited-edition collection that merges fashion with the syrupy-sweet vibrancy of the candy company's perfection.

Tory Burch BonBon Collaboration 

Tory Burch x BonBon Collaboration

They’ve introduced colors like “Sugared Apple” and “Cotton Candy.”


The collection features crossbody bags, embellished hobo bags, and the traditional Tory Burch sandal—but in a fun array of assorted colors.

I have to be honest, when I first saw this collaboration at 2am, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Yes, I’m a lover of color, and I’m the first one to mix and match patterns and bold combos. That is my thing!



 But I wasn't sold. 

But now, as I type this post and take a closer look, I have to admit… this collection is growing on me.

This collaboration is only available for a short time—from May 20 to June 23, 2025. It's being sold at Tory Burch boutiques, BonBon’s New York locations, Bloomies, and online. Some stores will even offer complimentary Swedish candy with purchases. I think that’s fun—and anything that doesn’t take itself too seriously? I can get behind that!

What are your thoughts on this new collab? Are you digging it or dissing it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.


xoxo Heather 


  



Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Hand-Painting Champagne Bottles: What I Learned (the Hard Way)

 Recently, a friend reached out to see if I’d contribute a painted champagne bottle for a charity auction she was hosting. Her idea was to have a few of her more artistic friends create one-of-a-kind designs that could be auctioned off during the event to raise money for her cause.

I was truly honored that she thought of me—and I immediately said yes. I’ve always admired those stunning hand-painted bottles online—bright, detailed, and totally Pinterest-worthy. Some of them even sell for hundreds of dollars. While I wasn’t aiming quite that high, I was excited to put my own Vivid Hue spin on it.

I stocked up on fresh acrylic paints and brushes, pulled out a bunch of bold, preppy colors, and sat down at home one evening ready to begin.

From Natasha Loves Lilly 

Natasha Loves Lilly 

From my inspiration photos, I knew most bottles started with a solid white base coat to create a clean canvas. What I didn’t realize was just how many coats it would take to get smooth, even coverage—and how important it was to let each coat fully dry before layering the next. On my first attempt, I rushed it. I didn’t wait long enough between coats, and the surface ended up streaky and uneven. I was too anxious to get to the fun part—painting the actual design—and didn’t realize just how important the foundation was.



After a bit more research, I realized the key was patience—letting each layer dry fully (ideally overnight). So I started collecting every empty champagne or wine bottle I could find and began practicing. At one point, I had four bottles going at once in various stages of paint. I started to wonder if I’d ever finish even one. My kids walked into the room and said, “Why are there so many wine bottles on our family room table?”—and honestly, fair question. There were even empty bottles drying in the freezer at one point.


For my first real design, I tried to freehand a turquoise bottle with pink flamingos—something I’d seen done beautifully online. But it turns out, painting directly onto a curved glass surface without a plan is a lot harder than it looks. My flamingos didn’t quite look like flamingos.



On the next attempt, I lightly sketched the design in pencil first and carefully layered the acrylic paint, one color at a time. That worked better. I also experimented with decoupaging a cocktail napkin onto a bottle, hoping it would give a vibrant layered look—but it ended up looking a little too flat for what I had in mind.




Eventually, I came up with a bottle that felt colorful, cheerful, and finished well enough to submit. It wasn’t perfect, but it reflected my style—and I learned a lot in the process.


If you're thinking of painting your own bottle, here are a few takeaways that might help:

What I Learned from Painting Champagne Bottles (So You Don’t Have To):

  • Use acrylic paints—they layer well and dry relatively fast (when you let them).

  • Start with a solid base coat—and let each coat dry completely before moving on.

  • Sketch your design first—especially if you're going for symmetry or detail.

  • Plan for layers—build up colors from background to foreground.

  • Don’t expect perfection—it’s harder than it looks, and that’s part of the fun.

And here’s the twist. Right after the event, I discovered a product that totally changed everything. They’re waterproof, pre-designed wraps that shrink to fit around champagne bottles using just a hairdryer. (Nope, not sponsored—just impressed.) The finish looks professionally painted, and it takes less than 30 seconds to apply.

I posted a Reel on Instagram that shows the bottles I painted by hand, followed by a few styled with the wraps—(see here) and the difference is pretty wild. These wraps have become my go-to when I want something polished without the hours of drying time (or the paint-splattered dining table).

If you're curious, I’ve added some of my favorite wrap designs to the shop at Vivid Hue Home. No pressure—just a fun shortcut I wish I had known about earlier.

Cheers to creative experiments, learning as you go, and occasionally discovering the easier way… after doing it the hard way first.


xo Heather 

Monday, May 5, 2025

Dusting Off the Blog... and Marking 10 Years of Vivid Hue


Cue the confetti cannons—I’m back on the blog! It’s been a while (okay, since July 2021), and this little corner of the internet has collected some serious dust. But what better reason to bring it back to life than to celebrate something BIG?

This spring marks 10 years since I opened the doors to Vivid Hue Home, my colorful, preppy, pattern-filled boutique in Farmington, Connecticut. And the truth is—none of that would’ve happened without this blog.

I’m Heather Grahling, and I started Vivid Hue Home as a blog back in 2012 while we were building our very first custom home for my husband, our two small children, and me. I’d always had a love and taste for styling (clothes and homes), but quite frankly, I didn’t know a thing about designer finishes or couture trends. I just knew what I liked—and I wasn’t afraid to break the rules.

Back then, blogging was the thing. I posted daily—sometimes about projects in our new home, sometimes about designers I loved, and sometimes just life itself. I made friends in the comments section. I stayed up way too late writing posts after bedtime routines. And slowly, I built a creative outlet that gave me the courage to leap into owning a shop.

That leap? It turned into a decade-long ride with @vividhuehome, a store that’s now known for its color-soaked shelves, cheeky gifts, and joyful vibe.

Original Home Throwback

One of my favorite corners from our first home. It captures the playful, colorful spirit that’s always been at the heart of Vivid Hue Home. I’ve never been one for sticking to the design rulebook—and frankly, that’s half the fun.

And Now, A New Chapter 

A lot can change in ten years.

Since starting this journey, my life has shifted in ways I never could’ve predicted. My husband is now my ex—still a great friend and co-parent—and both of our kids are now high school juniors, getting ready to spread their wings. Somewhere along the way, that big custom home we built no longer fit this season of life, so I downsized to something smaller. More manageable. More me.

This new house isn’t just a home—it’s a reflection of who I am right now. I’ve leaned into a style that’s bold, colorful, and playfully feminine. Every room tells a story. Every detail makes me smile.

And for the first time, I’m not decorating for anyone else—I’m decorating for me. I’ve been slowly sharing the process on Instagram over at @thecolorfulcthome, where I highlight home projects, DIY moments, and bursts of color that bring joy into my everyday.


@thecolofulcthome Sitting Room 

Want a peek inside my current space? The above photo is a still from a recent Reel where I share some of my favorite corners of the house I’ve designed just for me—playfully feminine, filled with color, and always evolving. Watch the instagram reel  Here.    


Entrance Room @thecolorfulcthome

I’ve always said color is my love language—and this house speaks it fluently.

What You’ll Find Here

This isn’t a perfectly polished lifestyle blog—and it never has been. It’s a space for color, creativity, and the real-life chaos that comes with running a small business, raising two teens, and chasing design dreams.

You can expect:

  • Decorating projects from my current home (some bold, some on a whim)

  • Behind-the-scenes shop life from @vividhuehome

  • Personal style choices that ignore the rulebook

  • Real talk about being a mom to two high school juniors navigating college decisions

  • A little mess, a lot of color, and hopefully some inspiration along the way

Basically, if you’re into playful pattern, fearless color, and a mix of real life + pretty things—you’re in the right place.


From blog to boutique… this is the shop that Vivid Hue built. 10 years of color, curation, and community.

This space is coming back to life—and I can't wait to share more with you here. Next up? A peek inside our pop-up boutique at the Junior League of Hartford Designer Showhouse, and all the behind-the-scenes color that comes with it.

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for being here. Let me know in the comments if you’ve been around since the early blogging days—or if you’re just finding Vivid Hue now. Either way, I’m so glad you’re here.

And if you’re not already following along on IG, you’ll find more colorful chaos over at @vividhuehome + @thecolorfulcthome.