Dirty Yellow Walls Are The Perfect Pick-Me-Up

August 8, 2011

Someone from Portland, OR had written in about why bright yellow hadn’t worked on her walls. I suggested some thoughts that should be considered no matter where you live in the world, but especially in areas with dull winter days.

Having written seven books on color (soon to be eight and nine) I can tell you that there are many factors in why a color didn’t work for you. First, too much intensity of yellow on all four walls causes a “bounce back” in light reflection–so it is overkill. You should should go for a softer more chamois-type yellow, what in the paint industry is called “dirtying” a color. It still brings the illusion of sunlight, important in the northwest where I live as well. I have yellow throughout the main portion of my home, but it is a color especially formulated for our “neck of the woods” so that it isn’t a shocking blast, but a liveable, nurturing warming hue so necessary for our gray winter days, especially for anyone with SAD syndrome. People come into the home and constantly remark on the warmth and light it conveys.

Forget the ridiculous stories about bright yellow causing aggression or making babies cry more–that was never scientifically proven and is an urban legend, started by a color charlatan who loved to say outrageous things to get attention. It is all in the value and intensity of the color–not just the hue.

Colorful Kitchen

July 5, 2011

Rolando Barrera traveled from Mexico two years ago to participate in our Color/Design program here on Bainbridge Island. He had an interest in learning more about the psychology of color, effective color combinations and how the use of color could have a positive influence on his customers when they visited his beautiful kitchen-centered showroom.

He sent us some wonderful examples of how his showroom has depicted both mood and style with the artful use of color.

Rolando told us that the concept for choosing the colors was to use some “cheerful” and “delicious” colors like tomato, lime and citrus.  But he also integrated “our Mother Earth” by using warm browns and grays. In particular, he felt that the use of teak and a pristine white depicted “heaven and earth”.

His goal, in his own words: “The ideas of the colors of this showroom is to immerse our customers and visitors in different ambients of color and see which kitchen they like the most”.  He feels that “happiness” is a main component and that “color really sells”.

We respond to these handsome images and shared thoughts with a big Bravo to Rolando!

InsideOut

June 27, 2011

It is always interesting to get inquiries regarding color from far-off places, especially when they are seeking a more “westernized view” of how to use color in interior décor. Just recently I was called by Angela Boshoff Hundal, feature writer for InsideOut, a décor magazine located in Dubai. She quoted me throughout her article and I thought I would share an overview of some of the information she included.

The article “The ultimate living room guide” is about color in the living room. She pointed out that color preferences might vary according to culture, still various hues affect people in a universal way, which I have certainly found to be true.

IDdesign's chic living room is feminine without being too girly.

She encouraged her readers to think of specific shades for the living room based on their intrinsic meanings. I had pointed out to her that, while blue generates tranquility in the lightest, deepest and certain mid-tones, the electric blues can be just as stimulating as red (a blue flame glows even more brightly than a red flame). Green speaks of nature and replenishment; yellow, a feeling of warmth and welcome while warm peach has a certain nurturing quality. Black is associated with power and sophistication, white is clean and pristine, but not good if over-used as it can appear sterile and cold. Not a good message in a living room.

I told her that in the U.S. people personalize their space and use the shades they are drawn to, still there are messages that are inherent in each color family that “speak to” the individual making decorating decisions regarding color.

Included in her article was a direct quote pointing out that while color is vital, “lighting is the most important aspect of bringing the full color spectrum into a living environment and shouldn’t dilute the trueness of any particular color.”

gulfnews : The ultimate living room guide.

Pink Plascon Spaces

June 24, 2011

Anne Roselt is the color manager for Plascon Paints in South Africa. She is a delightfully talented person who attended our color/design program in January.

For Plascon’s Spaces magazine Anne chose pink as her theme.

Following are some visuals from the magazine.

Seems that the hue has struck a universal chord.