Color

Have you ever stood in the line at the grocery store and read the front cover of the interior magazines? More often than not, they will have captions that read, “Color is back in style”, “This years color is orange” or “Give your home a change, color”. Each time I see an example of this it makes me laugh and shake my head in disbelief. I understand that editors are in the business of selling magazines, sharing their opinions and setting trends, but when did color ever go out of style? For me it never has. In fact, color to me is a key ingredient of any interior. Along with architecture and natural lighting, color plays a central role in defining the character and ambience of any space. The great impressionist painter Henri Matisse said, “ The chief function of color should be to serve expression”.

… “ To serve expression”. Far too often, in leafing through the pages of varying interior magazines, there seems to be, in my opinion, a void of expression. The interiors are lacking individuality and fearlessness. In fact, at times, it is difficult to distinguish one feature from the next, as they are not memorable. Tonal grey or white. White on white. Grey on grey – all too safe, all to boring.

There is a notion, that color is reserved for throw cushions or art. Nonsense.I have always encouraged my clients to embrace color and to become fearless in its use. Now, this is not to say that every surface of every room is bright and bold for the sake of making a statement. Unless of course, that is what has been asked of me by the client. Rather, color is the reflection of emotion and personality. By working with a client over time in developing a project, I study their existing interiors, their wardrobe, the outfits they prefer to wear, even the type of car they drive, because these are important clues or ways of looking a little more deeply into how they are comfortable expressing themselves.

It is then that the conversation can begin. Together we explore tone, intensity and contrast. With each color introduced, there is a mood and temperature. It is key to find the correct balance between furniture, fabrics, wall color and or pattern, natural light and all interior elements. Each must be considered in relation to the other to create harmony. When done well, a client can have a red bedroom or a green dining room.

My job is to find and create the balance of how each room correlates with the next and how each room speaks for itself. I should be able to empty each room of its contents and still have my client’s personality shine through. So, take a chance and find the courage to embrace color.

"I found that I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for”. Georgia O’Keefe