Pure Color

The purist and most thoughtful minds are those which love color the most.
-John Ruskin

Vashon is full of creative, pure and thoughtful minds. I imagine many color lovers are among us. Being a color lover, it is hard to see poor color choices bringing an interior space down. Picture the walls of a 3 pack-a-day indoor smoker. I am hesitant to use the word ivory, because dirty yellow is probably a better descriptor for what our walls looked like when we moved in. When our toddler threw spaghetti at the wall, wiping the spaghetti off uncovered that a major contributor to the dirty color was bonafide grime. After cleaning the grime, it was still a dingy color though. What better way is there to brighten up and personalize a new space than a new shade of fresh paint?

One of my more frequent “small” jobs is to provide color consultations, and while they are quick by comparison to the other services offered, it is truly amazing the level of consideration that goes into selecting the right color or colors for an interior space.

What are the current color trends?

While I do not consider myself to be a designer of “trends”, it is still very important to know what is current. Painting a dining room Pepto Bismol Pink in the 50’s may have been cute, but it is a rarity today to find a space that could pull it off. The color trends today follow a feeling of tranquility, a look that is best achieved with a monochromatic color scheme (working with different versions of one color throughout the space).

I love a good monochromatic color scheme. It creates the illusion of space where it does not exist as well as continuity throughout a home. Accents may be created with shape and texture rather than color. Accents may be introduced in a complimentary color (the color that is opposite on the color wheel), a triadic color scheme (colors that form a triangle on the color wheel), or in an analogous color scheme (colors that lie next to each other on the color wheel). But, my favorite thing about a monochromatic color scheme is that it is harder to date and is more flexible. It is easy to update the accessories without starting from scratch, and provides such peaceful simplicity that it is less likely to date quickly.
My husband and I selected a monochromatic scheme in our own home, and are slowly but surely working to incorporate it into the space, starting by painting those dingy walls a lovely shade of light grey with subtle blue undertones. As we paint each wall, the home feels brighter and cleaner. The color offers a beachy “cape cod” feeling in our little farm house and pulls from our water view.

What are the architectural features of the space?

A unique fireplace, an angled wall, ceiling beams, and large windows all offer focal points in a home, and utilizing color to enhance these features without overpowering them can be tricky. The two most common approaches that may be taken with these features are to use a bright and playful color to really call attention to the feature or use a subdued accent to draw the eye in a more simple and sophisticated manner. The choice lies in your own distinctive personality and what you are looking to represent and surround yourself in.

Our home has tall ceilings with beams and beautiful original wood paneling (as well as some not-so-beautiful paneling that was added in the ‘60s and absolutely must go!). We have new wood floors (sadly, the original wood was unsalvageable) and wanted the light to bounce off the surfaces. We picked up on greys in the white oak flooring for our walls, and will paint the upper portion of the walls and ceilings a cool, bright white. This will enhance those tall ceilings and contribute to the bright airy look we will achieve.

Who are you?

Which brings me to the last consideration for now, you. When selecting colors for a space, choose favorites! Your space should reflect your personality. My husband and I are complete opposites. I am extroverted, bouncy, energetic, and playful. He is studious, with a dry witty humor, and introverted. Our home will be shades of grey throughout with surprise areas in bright yellow and bright green. The perfect balance of our personalities put into color!

These three considerations are just a few of many. Where are you? Our exterior environment should absolutely play a role in the selection of our interior surfaces. What type of lighting is in the home? Color should be viewed in all the lights that it will be presented in before committing. When was the home built? We want to respect and/or play with the time period of the structure.

Color may be loved by the pure and thoughtful minds, but perhaps the real truth is that color creates pure and thoughtful minds. If we surround ourselves with the right colors under the right conditions, the solution can be truly amazing.

To learn about Rachel Waldron’s interior design services, contact her at 206.249.9860 or rachel@waldrondesigns.com