Category Archives: Color

On Making Librarians Grow Faint

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Posted by Denise Smith on May 12, 2009 – 5:31 pm
Filed under Accessorizing, Color, Design Principles, Individualized Advice

An email from a reader:

Hi Denise
I have noticed a lot of photographs lately on the decorating blogs of books displayed by color on shelves.  What do you think about this?  Thanks for taking the time to answer, Jesse

Well, Jesse, I’ve seen a lot of this, too.  We must be reading the same stuff!  This picture made the blog rounds many times.  Whoever did this certainly caused an uproar!

I decided to go around my house and take random pictures of a few of the millions of stacks of books I have.  It is hard not to notice that I tend to do this.  Not as rigidly as the picture, mind you, but certain colors tend to–congregate.  I can’t really help myself. 

Citrus colors by my bed

lighter greens on my nightstand. I really don't like the color green of that imfamous Domino book.

Oranges at the foot of my bed

More Citrus in the Library

I think this stack of greens and blues is so pretty!

But these are "my" colors. I am comfortable in these tones...

Little Pink Houses for You and Me…

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Posted by Denise Smith on April 30, 2009 – 1:15 pm
Filed under Color, Design Principles, Home Staging

I had an appointment last week with an empty-nester planning to leave the rat race of the metropolitan area of our Nation’s Capital for (literally) greener pastures.   My job was to give an opinion on the decisions made in preparation to place the home on the market. 

A concern of Diane’s was her deep red foyer.  She wanted to know if I thought she should change it to the neutral muslin tone of much of the rest of the house.  Once I walked through the entire house, I knew my original first impression was right.  The brick tone should stay. 

Yes, a deep red foyer speaks to the character of the homeowner, but not any more loudly than the clean, clutter-free, well-maintained rest of the home.  And this is crucial.  Because the impression the rest of the home gives would be appealing to anyone, the red serves to distinguish the home among the masses that may be viewed.  

Builders do this all the time with their display models.  Their designers attempt to create subtle themes that will make a lifestyle impression.  I have been to model homes with golf themes too many times to count.   A few years ago a builder in a new development near me displayed a 2 million home with every single room decorated in pink.  It was the talk of the town. Just about everyone I knew went to see it. 

You just gotta love the internet.  It only took me a few clicks to find it.  From Basheer & Edgemoore:

From Basheer & Edgemoore

From Basheer & Edgemoore

From Basheer & Edgemoore

 From Basheer & Edgemoore

From Basheer & Edgemoore

big_beaumont10

Why I Never Wear Sunglasses

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Posted by Denise Smith on April 29, 2009 – 11:39 am
Filed under Color, Design Principles

Nature produces perfect color schemes.  And I spend a lot of time considering them.  If I am outdoors with you, and  you find yourself repeating what you are saying a lot, it is because I am distracted.   I am noticing the shades of green in foliage, the browns in branches and the blues in the sky.  Or as in the case of rainy today: the grays in the sky.  I simply cannot help myself.

The sky can produce the most wonderful shades of gray.  Complex, heavy, moody and yellow.  That’s right, I said yellow.  Perhaps it is the sun we know to be hiding behind the water suspended in the sky, but I noticed today that the key to a genuine sky gray may be the tiniest addition of yellow tones.

Using gray in decorating successfully requires a color as complex as those provided by nature.  Simply lightened black looks dull because it is. There is a world of color out there.  Take off your sunglasses and pay attention.

I found these beauties on Flickr:

Patrick Smith Photography– Library of Ages Central California

Extra Medium- Coke or Pepsi?

Dysartian– Loch Tay Rain

Patrick Smith Photography– Library of Ages Central California

Pink in 1970

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Posted by Denise Smith on February 12, 2009 – 12:04 pm
Filed under Color, Design Principles, Digging Others' Digs

From House & Garden’s Complete Guide to Interior Decoration, Seventh Edition, by the Editors of House & Garden published by Simon and Shuster, New York, 1970.

House & Garden's Complete Guide to Interior Decoration, Seventh Edition pg 29

House & Garden's Complete Guide to Interior Decoration, Seventh Edition pg 36

House & Garden's Complete Guide to Interior Decoration, Seventh Edition pg 34

House & Garden's Complete Guide to Interior Decoration, Seventh Edition pg 35

House & Garden's Complete Guide to Interior Decoration, Seventh Edition pg 35

House & Garden's Complete Guide to Interior Decoration, Seventh Edition pg 40

House & Garden's Complete Guide to Interior Decoration, Seventh Edition pg 26

House & Garden's Complete Guide to Interior Decoration, Seventh Edition pg 50

 House & Garden's Complete Guide to Interior Decoration, Seventh Edition pg 64

Black & Brown: The Fave of Frenemies

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Posted by Denise Smith on February 9, 2009 – 12:23 pm
Filed under Color, Design Principles, Digging Others' Digs, Living Rooms, Rooms

Image from Ralph Lauren Home

I love black and brown together. Add a bit of white and it is the perfect combination for a dog.

I have always wanted a black and brown herringbone club chair. It’s been a fantasy of mine for about 20 years to have a room with a chair like this with a beat up leather sofa and a wall of books.

The room at the top of this post is from Ralph Lauren Home.  It is a little more elegant than the one in my head, but if for some reason Ralph just had to give it to me, I wouldn’t complain.

One day last year I thought my 15 year-old’s outfit was especially cute so I told her so. She said I may want to repeat that to two of her frienemies. She said they told her that Black and Brown together was a Fashion Don’t.  Well, Ms. Know -It-Alls, YOU may want to tell that to Ralph Lauren.

Image from Ralph Lauren Black Label

And to the tiny little fashion house known as Dolce & Gabbana.

Image from Dolce & Gabbana

Don’t forget to inform the lovely Orla Kiely. This Fashion Don’t will set you back $444!

Image from Orla Kiely

Not the snuggly club-style I imagined, but I have included this chair from William Sonoma Home because it is named Sylvia, just like my mom. (She is in the hospital preparing for surgery today. If this post seems disjoined it is because as I write my sister has phoned me 4 times. She is with my mom today. I will join them in Ohio during the recovery period when I can be more effective.)

Sylvia Chair from William Sonoma Home

Black & Brown Palette

From the Classic Color Palette from Benjamin Moore:
Davenport Tan HC-76
Black
Toasted Almond 1098
Plymouth Brown HC-73

And to finish, how ’bout some nice fabric, again from Ralph?

Image from Ralph Lauren Home

Image from Ralph Lauren Home

London Fog

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Posted by Denise Smith on February 2, 2009 – 1:12 pm
Filed under Color, Look What I Found!, Trend Spotting

Have you had the London Fog Tea Latte at Starbucks? I am smitten. No, more like addicted. As I sit here and type, a whisper can be heard. “Go to Starbucks. Go to Starbucks. Go to Starbucks. ” Can you hear it?

I know this tiny, tinny sound can be heard by others besides me. What else explains the frequent importuning I get from my children? “Mom, can we stop at Starbucks on the way?”

I am usually immune to the lure. I prefer my coffee straight. Black, Strong. Singularly early in the morning. But now all that has changed. My attempts to avoid such conspicuous consumption foiled by a deceptively simple latte.

And not any old Latte. The London Fog is perfect. Sweet and creamy, but balanced with an earthy bitterness. Warm and cozy and full of fat, a sip can chase away the torment of winter. I can’t get enough of it.

Starbucks creates the London Fog from Tazo Earl Grey, Vanilla flavoring (I ask for sugar free) and foam (I ask for breve, which is Barista Lingo for made with half and half. Sorry. For this drink, the fat is essential to the experience.) It is perfect. Here is how the Tazo website describes the tea:

Aroma of citrus, lavender and light smoke harmoniously blended, the tea flavor and astringency of Tazo Earl Grey are perfectly balanced with the slightly spicy, lavender-and-lemon taste of the bergamot.

Last week I was introduced to Kris’s Color Stripes. Kris pulls rectangles of color out of photos and art work. I commented that it could be interesting for decorators to do this, only more specifically by pulling out actual hues that correspond more usefully to popular paint palettes. Fortunately for me, the Tazo box of my obsession wears the BIG TREND of purple and gray.

Tazo Earl Gray tea box as an inspiration

All colors from Ben Moore

From the Classic Color Palette from Benjamin Moore:
Moon Shadow 1516
Ashley Gray HC-87
French Violet 1427
Gargoyle 1546

  

Entering In

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Posted by Denise Smith on January 12, 2009 – 12:49 pm
Filed under Color, Design Principles, Foyers and Entryways, Individualized Advice, Rooms

Sherwin Williams Reddened Earth and Enigma. Close in tone and value and not shocking to the senses.

I received an email from a reader in Ohio who asked for advice.

Denise, 

My Foyer and Mud Room of our new home are both visible from the Kitchen and Family Room.  I would like to paint them the same color.  I was thinking of purple, because I love that color and my sectional is a taupe with purple pillows.  All of our walls currently are builder beige.  Our Kitchen has maple cabinets and Kashmir Gold granite counters.

Congratulations on your new home!  Choosing to paint the areas first visible when you enter is a very good idea, because the project is very doable in a weekend, and will make a dramatic welcoming statement every time you come home. 

I agree with your choice of purple, but why use the same color?  I think you will be happier if you choose two similar colors instead.  Keeping a color scheme tight, especially when the rest of the house is yet unpainted, will prevent the other walls from looking neglected.

I suggest a very sophisticated yet dramatic tone for the Foyer. Try Enigma from Sherwin Williams.  This color has a perfect balance of gray and purple.  If there is room, hang a mirror  with a wide silvery frame in this space.  If you can fit a small table beneath, place a collection of scented candles on top.  Choose varying heights and sizes in different shades of purple.

For the Mudroom, go with a shade take contains more red.  This will harmonize better with the maple cabinets and the golds in your granite.  Try Reddened Earth, also from Sherwin Williams.  Black accents will work nicely here.  Since Mud Rooms can be the family Landing Strip, be sure to configure any cabinetry or furniture that may be in there to suit your needs. 

Let us know how it goes!

 

Books By the Foot

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Posted by Denise Smith on January 6, 2009 – 11:45 am
Filed under Accessorizing, Color, Design Principles, Look What I Found!

In yesterday’s post I mentioned that I plan to read more actual books this year, as opposed to reading web pages. This resolution partially comes from my visit to Strand Bookstore in New York City a few weeks ago. My friend, Kirk, warned me that I was going to freak out when I went in there and he was so right. This store is heaven right here on earth.

In preparation for yesterday’s post I went to their website and I discovered that they will sell books by the foot. Did you hear that?? Books by the foot! The intention is to create instant libraries.  From their site:

“Strand Book Store should be your first and last stop. We assemble decorator collections in any subject, including art, biography, reference, law, music, theater and classic literature. We’ve put together libraries for hundreds of clients, including the Plaza hotel, Steven Spielberg, and Polo Ralph Lauren. Working with you, we will custom design a library that is sure to be a perfect match for any home or office space, one that will please the eye and satisfy the mind.

Designing a film or theatrical set on a tight schedule? Contact us right away. We are the experts, with a long tradition of sales and rentals to the entertainment industry. We guarantee a 24-hour turnaround on most orders, and will arrange car delivery to locations in New York City.”

The most expensive antique leather books will set you back $400 a foot.

photo of antique leather books from Strandbooks.com

But for only $30.00 you can specify a color choice and they will pull books that meet your needs.  (Can you imagine how interesting this could be?  Think lime green books and grape walls on a dark bookcase or fuchsia books and turquoise walls on open steel shelves.)

books in choice of color from Strandbooks.com

The cheapest, Bargain Hardcovers, are $10 a foot.  New Art books are $250 but used Final Sale Art Books are only $75!  I am so tempted. 

Bargain Art Books from Strandbooks.com

What do you think about this? Is it cheating? Or is it just another decorating strategy?

Black Walls

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Posted by Denise Smith on December 3, 2008 – 2:37 pm
Filed under Bedrooms, Color, Current Projects, Design Principles, Rooms

Who could forget Crazy Hildi's black walls in this Dining Room from Trading Spaces??

Kristi, over at Addicted 2 Decor, posted on her blog yesterday about wanting so badly to paint a black room. 

I completely forgot in my commenting over there that I had done just that, only last week!  (It has been a long and foggy November.  Three weeks of flu, Granny passing, the holiday and now my mother-in-law visiting…)

Stephanie bought a foreclosure.  The day we chose the flooring and the middle level color scheme, her 18 year old son was with us.  Let’s just say he showed a bit of concern for the decisions being made, as they did not include plans for the lower level that they had decided to let him make his own.  On that day, Stephanie had a lot of choices to make, and his space was not on agenda. 

As we made our selections, I could not help but notice poor Douglas, upset about being ignored.  He had on a zip hoody in the velvetiest shade of charcoal and a long tee with black and white splatter marks.  I asked him if he would like his room to look like his cloths—and was that a mistake!  The kid went wild.  “Could I have a black wall?!?” 

Stephanie is a good mom.  She relented and we ended up choosing mid-tone gray for most of the walls, black for the largest unbroken one, white for the ceiling, trim and fireplace, and a deep gray flecked Berber carpeting for the floors.  I haven’t seen it yet, but Stephanie said it looks great.  She told me today that she got him gray striped bedding for Christmas.  (Oh dear, I hope he doesn’t read this. HA!)  As of yet, she still doesn’t know about my plans for the splatter…

 

What Wood Would Work?

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Posted by Denise Smith on November 17, 2008 – 7:11 pm
Filed under Color, Design Principles, Flooring

A mix of painted wood chest and deep flooring.

The search engine requests from my web statistics give me insight into what people are googling to be to Design Strategies. I have noticed some version of the terms Mixing Woods every month.

Like many decorating decisions, the introduction of wood tones into a plan requires some conscious awareness, but at the same time, when I visit a space for a first time I never think, “Well, this would be nice if the wood tones coordinated better.”

I hear about this fear from my clients, too. Mixing Wood Tones scares people. I think part of this comes from the choices of the recent past. About 20 years ago there was natural oak (country) and deep cherry (traditional). And they didn’t work very well in the same space.

Today case goods are readily available in retail furniture stores in an easier mix of palettes. Deep nearly grain-less dark brown tones commonly called espresso and equally grain-less birch are very common. Both play well with others.

Choose wood tones that coordinate well with the entire plan. The fore mentioned oak works well in casual rooms, where the rules are looser. If the flooring is wood, consideration should be given to its tone as well. It is not necessary to match the wood on the furniture to the wood on the floor. Not necessary or even desirable. A knotty pine floor, oak cabinetry and painted end tables could be interesting here. In a contemporary plan, light bamboo floors would be a perfect backdrop to a dynamic teak.