Conquering the Fear of Color – A Q&A Interview with Patti

The serenity of neutral color schemes has a significant place in interior design. However, it is more about the fear of color that I approach this article today. Committing to color arrests most people – they want it and admire it but are fearful about selecting and committing to bold colors.

Beautiful neutrals are a color all to themselves. Layers of whites, creams, grays offer sophisticated schemes.

However, that is not all that causes clients to reach out for assistance. Even if they have made a decision about taking the leap, it is how much, where and with what or to what the color is applied or occurs.

A white kitchen receives a patchwork of blue and white Talavera tile as a backdrop adding depth and interest.

In addition, upon closer inspection, we have incorporated a fine detail of an aqua glazed Spanish tile running horizontally and vertically through the patterned tiles.

I remember when architect Antoine Predock’s project for United Blood Services in Albuquerque https://bit.ly/3LBQbDv made a splash – a really RED splash when he stuccoed the entire exterior brazenly brilliant, bold, blood red! It was astonishing – astonishingly effective!!! https://bit.ly/3NNQihd If a picture speaks a thousand words, color is right there in conveying remarkable communications.

From branding to personal style, color is key.

The addition of our tongue and groove walnut wall established the theme for the rest of the furniture in this interior.

With freedom to select colors for this new brand, the signage and interior finishes all contribute to a unified statement using a dark cadet blue, warm gold, and caramel colors throughout the space.

From T-shirts to interior finishes, the brand is reflected and reiterated in colors throughout.

My staff recently investigated information from projects. They posed questions and gathered observations regarding my use of color. Photos, at the end illustrate some specific color decisions and why. The resulting questions and answers are as follows:

Patti Hoech‘s design practice has been and continues to be an exploration and emphasis of the subtleties and strengths of color. It is an integral part of her work. We wanted to know why and when she discovered this specialization in her design sensitivity and how it relates to her approach to effective design decisions. We are asking clients and colleagues to pose questions to get the answers.

Why is color so important?

Patti Says: Color is power and peace. Color is important on so many levels – personal joy (or aversion), perceived temperature, brand identification, seasonal interactions, emphasis, and contrast. Color is everywhere. Understanding and harnessing it for specific purposes is key.

This new backsplash had a specific purpose, which was to acknowledge the existing rust-colored porcelain sink and the intensely green marble stone countertops. By pulling those two colors into the tile selection so strongly and interspersing other colors that complemented the palette, the result was an effectively unifying design detail.

How do you determine the color specifics for your projects?

Patti Says: What color brings you joy? What color tells your story? Interviewing clients about their color preferences – being an important question begins the dialog regarding what colors to incorporate and why. This can be personal preferences or aversions or specific colors relating to branding whether it is new or existing. Also, existing fixed design/architectural elements might also play a significant part in developing an effective color scheme.

This couple wanted turquoise and other blue tones to weave through their interior. By selecting a neutral backdrop in the floors and walls, it allowed the accent color to punctuate the space from several key pieces of fabric and finishes.

Do you believe color affects the lives of your clients in their homes and workplaces?

Patti Says: Absolutely!! Color can insert many subliminal effects that impose on people’s perception of a space or graphic. Color can evoke emotion, instill comfort or agitation, rekindle memories, spur appetite, affect perceived temperature. It can embed recall for commercial brands. Color can be a clever tool.

In this interior for Boba Tea, we played with the colors of the flavors and the multi-colored tiles to correlate to the fun experience of sucking the tapioca pearls.

How do you navigate color trends?

Patti Says: Trends are necessary to keep our market moving. Capitalism is based on consumer activity, and nothing generates purchasing frenzies like stimulating new trends in the market. However, basing design decisions on trends must take into consideration the intended longevity of the design. Much of color trends are based upon pairings and combinations of color. It is those combinations that can “date” a color scheme – not so much a specific color. It is how, where and with what it is used that pegs it.

A classic, well-balanced color combination of blue, white, and yellow is a comfortable warm and cool with a neutral that transcends trends. Fabrics and finishes contribute to how one updates a classic color scheme.

Do you feel you are a forecaster or influencer?

Patti Says: I believe that I have imparted and am still providing thoughtful, challenging color consultation to my commercial and residential clients. Having prospective clients request designs based upon others that we have produced is telling and flattering. It means they have confidence in the decisions regarding long-lasting color schemes – if not timeless, in some cases. However, it must be said that design elements that present the color often determine – in many ways – how well a selected color or color scheme “holds up” over time. Considerations regrading patterns, materials, and elements can and might be either improved or modified over time while maintaining the same color scheme. Forecasting anticipates color trends. I have successfully influenced clients to make selections based upon an anticipation of future color directions in the market or merely go with classic combinations that have been proven over time. . .

Playing off the colors in this corporate logo, the interior design reflects and further strengthens the brand. This company invited us to design various locations in three different states over the course of several years. The interiors have held up against the ravages of changing trends and market directives.

What has influenced your appreciation for and interpretation of color in design?

Patti Says: It started at an early age. Observing the world around me. Nature, architecture, decorative arts (china, textiles, artwork), fashion, logos/brands, trends, regional colors, seasonal colors, cycles of color…Pinks, turquoises, yellows of buildings in the West Indies, bold color statements of Mexico…Color is profoundly important and signature in its application. From fish to birds, flowers to leaves – color captivates me and urges me to find words to express it and continue to have it a primary part of my descriptive vocabulary. As an omnipresent element in the design process, color is unavoidable, but to enjoy it so fully and embrace the limitless range of options is an exciting artist’s pallet of possibilities which stimulates me at every turn.

The magic of color on architectural exteriors can be amazing. Here in Burano, Italy my dear friend captured the colors! Similar to what we see in Guanajuato, Mexico and the sunny islands of the West Indies.

I attribute much of my color awareness to my mother. I remember being greatly influenced by her sense of color and design. Her sensitivity and talent were innate. She selected fabrics that had unusual color and pattern combinations. When orange, avocado, brown, and gold prevailed in the 60s and 70s, she selected the olives with chartreuse and gold for the less formal areas of our lives and leaned into Lily Pulitzer’s dynamic colors and patterns for her clothing and a pastel version of soft pinks and verdant greens for our more formal areas. The master suite was primarily yellow with beautiful bits of blues. Beach scenes always emphasized blues and greens. Nothing in our world was on common trend, but an artful interpretation of color combinations, eclecticism and comfort. Pairings of orange and brown were never her happy place nor was gold and brown. But orange and PINK – YES! Pink and green especially! And browns were recognized in context with stone shades of greys and tans. I believe that sense was greatly influenced by richly organic, textured stone walls of the West Indies – Danish architecture in the tropics where limitless colors of greens and blues punctuated with flowers were all around.

As a result of this of this early introduction to the value of color, my personal spaces reflected similar sensitivities. Beginning with pink in the early years I graduated into blues, turquoise and greens for my teen years. The final scheme, in my room in the home in which I grew up, was a dusty pink, clay, and mocha-rose. No one in my world had that color scheme in the late 70s and it was difficult to assemble. It helped that I worked part time in a design showroom in Georgetown where handling the amazing abundance of fabulous fabrics was a daily inspiration. Throughout my life experiences color has been a constant distraction. Not in a bad way, but rather a noticeable, unavoidable interruption that causes me to pause and take note. Ask anyone who knows me – I stop and remark about color at every turn. For better or worse, I comment on color. It is a deep appreciation that I enjoy sharing. And the most rewarding is discovering color for clients who yearn for it but don’t quite know how to find and use that which would make them feel the joy of color!

A dear friend in Mexico recently took a leap in selecting an accent color for his seaside villa. Once an all white interior, which was lovely and fresh, he wanted a new look that provided contrast and strengthened his color theme. The yellow accents made me smile when he unveiled his new look!

Color plays a major role in discovering and expressing personal style. Fear not – color is your friend. Find your style. Live your style. Love your Style.

Posted On May 10, 2022 By pattisays In Albuquerque, New Mexico, apartments, architecture, artistic expression, bar, bars and restaurants, beauty behold it, blue and white, branding in interior design, breweries, Centerpieces, chairs, color and temperature re: interior design, color forecasting, color of light, color Q&A, Color schemes, color trends, colors, commercial design, commercial interior design, commercial remodel, Contrasting colors, corporate branding, creative process, creativity, custom design interior design, custom furniture, dark colors, design, design and marketing, design challenges, design details, design process, design Q&A, design scenes, design solutions, design theme, design tips, design trends, designing a new home, designs in nature, DIY design, drama of color, eclectic design, eclecticism, element of surprise in design, fabrics, favorite colors, good design, good taste, graphic designs in interiors, hiring an interior designer, home, home decor, home improvements, how to select colors, inspiration, inspiration from nature, interior accents, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design preferences, Interior design pro tips, interior design pro-tips, interior design trends, interior enhancements, joy, kitchen, kitchen cabinets, kitchen design, kitchen remodel, kitchen remodeling, lifestyle, living with color, logo development, logos, modern cabinets, modern interiors, paint colors, painted cabinets, painted furniture, personal spaces, personal taste, planning a new home, planning a remodel, Q&A, re-upholstery, remodeling, reupholstery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, selecting colors, Subscribers, Talavera Tile, tile, timeless colors, tips for new home design, trending design, trends, Uncategorized, update design, updating, upholstery, value of good design, white color schemes, white kitchens /

Friends Don’t Let Friends Pick Paint Colors

WHY? It’s never as easy as it seems! You can track the trends. See what is relevant to today’s popular design concepts. But how do you really pick a paint color? Warm versus cool, safe versus bold…there are seemingly limitless choices and so many things affect the decision. HELP!!!!!!

Does it help to swipe a swath on a wall?

Not usually. The surrounding often white paint isolates the color in a small concentration and it cannot begin to give the full effect of an entire wall or more. The most telling is to paint an entire section of wall that you can frame in your field of vision without seeing anything else. That or painting an entire wall, for the best test.

Here a frustrated color connoisseur tried several test patches before calling for HELP!!! But we LOVE the novelty of the effect! What a conversation piece – a work of art in its own right!!

When is the ceiling painted other than white and why?

Some colors stand-out and are more imposing while others meld with their associates. It depends upon your personal comfort level. For example a room painted a sunny yellow might be too bold or imposing if the ceiling were to be painted that same color – white would be customary and give relief and contrast to the yellow vertical surfaces. A more mellow color (like a taupe) might work well on all surfaces creating a soft, unifying encapsulation. Shades of the same color – lighter or darker – can also prove to be an effective treatment. Light reflectance – artificial versus natural, depth, the hue and value all play a part in determining what works in a given situation. Not to mention any existing furnishings that might direct a color direction/selection.

Should different walls be different colors?

Why not? Variety is the spice of fabulous interiors – but that doesn’t negate the beauty of an all white interior . Knowing when you want color, how much and from what source is part of the balance of design.

Remodeling this room was comprised of removing walls, adding a serpentine banco and hearth, stone wall surface, painting stained cabinets…We started this project with a new white on white texture and contrast of 3 different stone materials adjacent white walls and white wood trim.

We ultimately added coral punctuation in the recesses of the niches.

What is color layering with paint?

Planes of color seen over-lapping can provide a fantastic effect of colors literally layering over each other. Looking through an interior and reading a wall of one color and another wall behind it peeking out with a different color can add interest and contrast.

How do you stop colors from wall to wall?

I prefer stopping on an inside corner – always. But that’s me. I prefer to “read” the element (wall, monolith, enclosure, etc) as a structural unit. As though the wall were build of that material – the finish suggests the material rather than illustrating a surface application that quits. And I feel the same way about any surface application – tile, wall-covering – preferring to stop on an inside corner to define the element from beginning to end.

EXCEPTION: I have had several instances where we have a little fun with transitions between colors – a zig-zag motif, for example, can provide a surface graphic and change colors on one surface!!

Wrapping a corner from a full wall of yellow to another – but not wanting the yellow on the entire following wall – intentional graphics are fun and allow for the change of color.

Semi-gloss versus flat?

Glossy finishes show more defects in the surface material. So a wall with imperfections such as texture flaws, repairs, any uneven detail will be enhanced. So to minimize defects, a flat paint is preferable. It also depends upon what you are trying to convey – a smooth plaster finish – might be better expressed with a semi-gloss but an earthen softness is better with a flat paint. Clean ability and durability might play into this decision – but not at the expense of the desired visual effect as there are many grades of paint to accomplish various levels of ease of maintenance – consult your paint products professional.

Contrasting a gloss against a flat on different adjacent elements is a nice contrast such as wood trim in a gloss against flat on the adjacent wall. Is the trim the same color as the wall or is it a contrasting color?

Do dark colors make small spaces smaller?

It is a deceptive misconception that this is the case. Dark colors recede and therefore can actually expand the illusion of space. A dark ceiling seems to recede into the void and creates the feeling that the surface is far much higher than it really is. Dark colors behind light colors does the same – recede as a back-drop. Do not fear dark colors – they contribute depth and drama.

Picking paint colors is like selecting the backdrop for your world. All your things are set against this plane. Applying paint is having control of transformation. Like controlling when and how the sun washes the dawn or the night envelopes in darkness and all the amazing colors that occur in-between. Visualizing the end result, creating the transformation that takes place beneath the brush, roller or spray gun as it alters the scene are magical powers.

Posted On February 25, 2018 By pattisays In color and temperature re: interior design, color forecasting, color of light, Color schemes, color trends, colors, context of interior design, Contrasting colors, contrasts for balance in design, creative process, creativity, dark colors, design, design process, design solutions, design tips, design trends, drama of color, graphic designs in interiors, hiring an interior designer, illusions of space, interior design, interior design trends, lifestyle, paint colors, painters, planning a remodel, timeless colors, trends, update design, updating / 1

TRENDS DIE – What’s New for 2018?

I was surfing for fodder about the new color trends to kick-off this first mindful missive for the New Year and the color trends were all over the place – no consistency at all. From Ben Moore selecting Caliente AF290,

“Caliente is the signature color of a modern architectural masterpiece; a lush carpet rolled out for a grand arrival; the assured backdrop for a book-lined library; a powerful first impression on a glossy front door. The eye can’t help but follow its bold strokes. Harness the vitality.”

—Ellen O’Neill, Benjamin Moore & Co.

to Sherwin Williams in a totally opposite direction proclaiming Oceanside SW 6496 their color of the year.

“A collision of rich blue with jewel-toned green, a color that is both accessible and elusive… A complex, deep color that offers a sense of the familiar with a hint of the unknown, Oceanside, bridges together a harmonious balance of blues and greens that can be found in what’s old and new.”

What? Are we straddling now? Do we have one foot in one color trend while the other stretches across the color wheel and causes us to nearly do the splits trying desperately to hang on?

The walls of my east gallery space were a spicy version of Caliente for nearly 20 years! Bold at the time and unheard-of for gallery walls – it was not to be changed for nearly 2 decades!!!

Whew – that was a run. I even named the retail space “Caliente.” And the color-band between the crown and picture molding at the back was a version of Oceanside – a lighter value of the blue-green hue.

The Grand Re-Opening July 2016 presented a dramatic transformation to a pale aqua resulting in a diametrically opposed feeling – a cleansing from what was crowded and hot to spare and cool.

But I digress…

Annoyed by the seeming authority, but weak contrasting rationale that I encountered with the wide range of picks and opinions, I left the paint companies and clicked over to the Pantone site. There I encountered their authoritative, ethereal color forecast of the year – Ultra Violet!!!!!

Yikes – they were coming at me from every conceivable direction!!! How on earth is any eager apartment dwelling or home-owning individual supposed to know how to go forward in sprucing up their space without fear?

Then I came upon a piece by Mehgan Nesmith Ugh, What’s With These Generational Color “Trends”? From observing the broad reaching trend surrounding millennial pink to snippets from other sources, I scanned the paragraphs amused, but still not satisfied. Until I arrived at paragraph 6 and there it was – the true fact that keeps the world moving forward – for better or worse – TRENDS DIE.

Yes they do and for good reason. I’ve said it before, take care in making costly selections that will stay with you past their prime. Trends are there for a reason. Designers dabble in creativity every day of the year to come up with things to tantalize, inspire, evoke, and entertain – and most importantly, SELL. Some of these trends stick. Then they are no longer trends, they transition and become classics. But to transcend the fleeting status of trend, “it” must have something very solid about its being.

And when it comes to interior design, with all the style trends for furniture, fabrics, architectural elements, finishes and decorative accessories – colors race through history like no other design element has or will. Colors rule and when they are good, they are very very good, but when they are bad, they are horrid!!!!! Thank you Mr. Longfellow!!

Take the massively graceful modern art piece suspended from the ceiling of the East Wing of the National Art Gallery in Washington, D.C. – classic – both in form and color. Red and black. Strong and simple. Bold and brilliant. Imagine if it were this year’s Pantone pick Ultra Violet Aghhhh!!!!!!!

Actually, methinks I protest too much. The shade of purple picked, by Pantone, is heavy on the blue rather than the red. The blue cast gives it a calm. Not whacky like Barney screaming purple – but, rather a royal shade. Nonetheless, it is better served as an accent – don’t buy wallpaper in it. Go ahead and paint the walls and have your fun – but know that you can change it without peeling off hundreds, if not thousands of dollars of wall-covering or re-upholstering your sofa like Meghan was tempted to do!!

It’s a color that stands alone – plays better by itself than with friends – like the child’s report card where the box that says “plays well with others” is not checked. In my estimation, it will read well with clean, crisp white. However, like Ms. Nesmith aptly says in her piece “if you are still curious about that Gen Z yellow, buy a vase!”

That’s how we play with colors and create a bit of collision, unexpected off-key harmony, intrigue and suspense. But it is not for the faint of heart and the chance of tiring of it is paramount. Trends die and colors are tricky.

So Happy New Year and Happy New Colors in your world to refresh and renew!! Thank you Meghan, for your lively contribution to today’s story.

Posted On December 31, 2017 By pattisays In Abstract Art, apartments, architecture, art and interior design, artistic expression, Benjamin Moore Paint, color and temperature re: interior design, color forecasting, Color schemes, color trends, color wheel, colors, context of interior design, Contrasting colors, contrasts for balance in design, dark colors, design solutions, design tips, design trends, drama of color, element of surprise in design, hiring an interior designer, inspiration, interior design, interior design trends, lifestyle, mobiles, Modern Art, Museums, National Gallery of Art, Pantone, personal expression, practical design, red, Refresh, selecting colors, Sherwin Williams, timeless colors, trends, value of good design, Washington, D.C. / 2 Comments

Adding Personality & Panache – Before & Afters

Everyone loves befores and afters. Last week we featured a project that received a dramatic transformation. The trick is, you have to think thoroughly about taking “befores” before you tear into it!!! Hindsight is so often 20/20 when delving into a remodel.

I dashed over to Phoenix last month to celebrate the Grand Opening of an exciting new clinic that we have recently completed. While there I visited great friends and re-visited a wonderful residential project that has stood the test of time.

Here we have two restrooms in that same project. Rich colors of warm coral, brick and golden tones with natural materials from stone floors to counter-tops and wall treatments. It is a Spanish theme – albeit eclectic with art and decorative accessories, of this well-traveled couple.

What was plain 80s’ vanilla receives a new-found richness and warmth, depth and interest. Do not be afraid of dark colors in small rooms – I’ve said that many times in the past. I’ll bet that you have seen spaces exactly like these “before” shots. Clean slates, but so uninteresting it is remarkable to think owners are content to live without personality in their anemic interior spaces. We added powerful personality and panache throughout this residence.

The master bath had dated surfaces and uninteresting configuration. We transformed the area by connecting, with a glass panel, the tub and shower areas. However, we elected to use a shower curtain instead of glass door. I often suggest this alternative. It is softening, less expensive, easy, minimal maintenance – less wiping!!! Watch for another new master bath with a shower curtain and glass combo.

Full wall treatments of stone or ceramic are wonderful, substantive ways to suggest architecture over mere decorative appliqué. The material suggests structural forms. It never should stop on an outside corner, lest it defeat the purpose. It is to be a mass.

So take those “befores” and enjoy the “afters.” Don’t be afraid of dark colors in small rooms, and use stone and ceramics generously without fear.

P.S. Last week and this today are of a fabulously enjoyable and successful remodel transformation done 12 years ago!!! Yes, revisiting a couple of weeks ago, I took these afters of exactly the interior that we designed that long ago. It has been a virtually timeless project. The owners have enjoyed the spaces so well that they have maintained them without any modification. So we thought that you as readers would get a kick out of the long-term success of these design decisions.

Posted On November 5, 2017 By pattisays In bathroom remodel, before and after, color and temperature re: interior design, Color schemes, custom design interior design, dark colors, design, design tips, drama of color, hiring an interior designer, interior design, interior design trends, lifestyle, master bathrooms, mosaic tile, natural integrity of the materials, natural stone, personal expression, powder rooms, remodeling, residential restrooms, selecting colors, stone, tile, timeless colors, trends, updating /

Moody Blues – Moody Rooms

What’s more trendy than an existing word that comes into the mainstream with a new relevance or targeted use? I’m sure you will giggle a bit thinking about some of the trendy words – original or re-constituted – that have come and gone. How do they get inserted in our popular culture? Who started it? How quickly did it catch-on and how? I will have fun with a variety of trending design words in coming blogs – enjoy expanding your design vocabulary with these if they are not already a part of your vernacular.

I’ve written about dark rooms and dark colors in the past…don’t be afraid of the dark! But to now discover that the use of the word “moody” has surfaced and playing a role in describing such spaces is novel. Trending now – “moody” rooms. Or at least describing dark spaces as “moody.”

We recently gave a face-lift to a tiny powder room. It was dark-ish before, but with a printed wallcovering from the 80s. It had stood the test of time and served the owners well, but it was time for new cabinets, countertop, hardware and fixtures.

We decided to run new floor tile from the entry through to this room. It was a large format dark porcelain. This dark chocolate leather-like look was a deep and “moody” selection to recede and add depth to the space.

Yes, it creates a decided “mood.” A mood of somber elegance. The quiet space is perfect for the duty it performs. As a powder room, it is visited quickly and by many. We selected a velvety dark wall paint Benjamin Moore HC 166 Kendall Charcoal rather than replacing the wall-covering with new.

For interest, instead of one large commanding piece, we gathered a collection of complimentary wall art from other rooms and even some clever thrifting (always an entertaining and satisfying treasure hunt) to create an interesting grouping to be enjoyed from the intimate vantage point.

The new lighting flanking the mirror rather than coming from a bar above is soft and in keeping with the colonial decor of the home located inside the beltway of our Nation’s Capital. New granite is dark and rich, white porcelain adds a crisp contrast and new cabinets coordinate with other renovated casework in the home.

When surfing the internet for design inspiration and subsequently speaking with design professionals, be clear. Picking up new ways of expressing design ideas is fun – but the simple truth is just that – simple. Keep it simple, explain your goals, go dark if you like, be a bit moody if it is the effect that you wish to achieve. Have fun and don’t be afraid of the dark!!

Posted On August 13, 2017 By pattisays In before and after, Benjamin Moore Paint, color trends, dark colors, design tips, design trends, drama of color, interior design, interior design trends, lighting, powder rooms, remodeling, trends, Washington, D.C. /

Designing with Balance and the Creation of the Can Wall!

Given the opportunity to improve upon a recently completed taproom, we instantly realized that painting the entire interior would be the best quick-fix. But that instant gratification was not enough to give this needy/hungry interior some meat to get it off and running.

Atmosphere in interiors is so much a part of the brand, the identity, and the success of a business. Popularity is based upon a certain comfort level, the clientele who gravitate there and the product that they are effectively providing. Whether that is food or drink or both, the atmosphere, (including lively enjoyment by clientele), service and food/beverage – all contribute to a successful establishment.

This does not mean high-end, elegant, fancy or even simply hip – although the definition of hip can vary from spare unpretentious and un-self-conscious funky, to studied funky, to affected stylized, to trendy hip and happening,…but, it does NOT always have to represent expensive interior design.

Yet a strip center generally lacks pizzazz and to install a taproom into that generic scene takes some creativity. That does not mean money – it means just what I said, creativity. And creative interior design is all about ingenuity and balance.

Balance in interior design is key. This interior was filled with hard, cold surfaces – concrete floors, silver-grey laminate table tops, brilliant silver table bases, grey chairs, polished white granite bar top, silver laminate bar face, silver metallic wall sconces, glistening silver under-scaled chandeliers, white walls with cobalt blue accent wall. Brrrrrrr….makes me chilly just recounting the scene. And this was summer! Imagine this setting with crisp cold wind blowing outside and snow blanketing the mountain – not the place you want to gather for a beer in the wintertime!!

To instantly soften and add warmth, we painted all walls a dark taupe. The soft, mousy grey/brown color pulled from the existing slate wainscoting to tie the two wall parts into a unified “read.” It gave the silver elements (especially the sconces) a contrast – which results in “interest.”

The back bar was bland even with the new paint color and to add dimension and animation we mirrored the rear center section. This illusion added depth and interest to carry the ceiling through and add a mirrored storefront and exterior reflection which created an illusion of space and character where there had been nothing.

But unlike most back-bars, this area was conspicuously naked. A couple of stainless shelves housing stemmed wine glasses, and growlers felt spare. Plus the right side of the back bar was closer to the bar and the patrons were a mere few feet from a plain, painted sheet-rock wall. Yes, there was a large format TV screen above, but straight ahead – it was just blank wall.

In the wee hours of the morning, as I tossed and turned for a variety of reasons, I jumped from thought to thought, project to project, and personal concerns pelting all the while in a seemingly endless stream of insomnia. Yet, it was during the angst that the idea of the taproom being named “Silver”…silver…beer cans are silver/aluminum…beer cans crushed and nailed to a wall…texture, silver (theme of the taproom) interest – maybe?- all converged into one of those light-bulb moments of revelation.

And yet you might say – “silver…aluminum…more cold and hard. Why would this be an asset to this interior?” I felt that the texture and dimension of the cans would add more interest than the perceived cold and hard of them. The pockets of folded shadows and the relief off from the wall, paired with the over-all massive full-wall of pattern, would all contribute a positive design element to the scene.

As I pictured the wall of circularly flattened aluminum cans in my in my mind’s eye (a tool that I employ daily while envisioning concepts and finished products well in advance of their fruition), I furthered the concept to encompass possible bar games. Yes, derived from this perfect grid of circular aluminum discs, I began creating games in my head. A bar is often animated by bar games and this was just another opportunity to interact using this unique wall-scape. Since that initial concept, I have created 3 different versions of the animated interaction in the form of games, on this fantastic Can Wall.

So with great patience, Enrique planned the layout with literally laser precision in a perfect grid. We counted the expected number of cans vertically and horizontally aligning with the brilliant red light beams. The previously crushed cans were laid out on a table – well a handful of the 3,200 that we had prepared for the wall. It was determined that punching the nails into the cans prior to installation would expedite the process of affixing them to the Can Wall. Labor intensive from start to finish, this wall was a great accomplishment for a devoted few.

As the cans were laid out on the table – initially upside down exposing the crinkly open side (devoid of tops), I instantly LOVED the complexity of the depth, texture and shadows. A tight, random application of them would have resulted in a fabulously complex matrix of design. But upon closer inspection, the “texture” was really raw, with sharp threatening edges that were not possibly reasonable within close contact with people brushing by. So, lacerating the staff was not an option – even for a really cool textural metallic wall treatment. Perhaps this application will surface in a more appropriate location away from human flesh in the not-too-distant-future!

Like hubcaps fastened to the broad side of a country barn at dusk, the reflective silver discs pop in the flanking darkness.

The process is nearing completion and I will save for another blog sharing the fun and games emanating from the Can Wall, and the entire finished project complete with new warm white pendant discs over the bar and soon-to-install enormous perforated drum light fixtures suspended from the ceiling, over-sized photo images of the brewery behind the scenes and tantalizing signature dishes in the unique category of the Nexus New Mexico Soul Food.

Meanwhile, the take-away here is…balance cold and rigid with warm and textural – along with all the other opposites that attract – when designing be balanced.

Posted On November 5, 2016 By pattisays In aluminum, artistic expression, bars and restaurants, before and after, breweries, color and temperature re: interior design, colors, context of interior design, dark colors, design, design tips, design trends, DIY design, illusions of space, interior design, lighting, natural integrity of the materials, patterns, personal expression, public design, recycle, seasonal interior design, wall texture /

Don’t Be Afraid of the DARK!!

For a while in the world of design trends, dark colors intimidated. Bold designers dared to apply dark eggplants, chocolates, charcoals and black to surfaces of their projects, but only a rare few clients would take the leap. Now it seems that we are seeing people accept the dare and more dark surfaces and intense envelopes of color are appearing on the scene. I have often been asked – “Won’t it make it small?” or “Will it be too dark?” and the reason I am making the suggestion is because I already know that it won’t!!!

I’ve blogged about small rooms with dark walls in the past, but two recent projects featured my recommendation for dark cabinets. Not dark walnut or the market-saturated “espresso” which is the trendy generic for “whatever the wood – or pretend wood, we’ll make it dark brown” – very dark.

In this first case, my client – friend after many years of consultations – brought me into their home that they had occupied for a couple+ decades. It began with the “pickled” wood cabinets that were in vogue at the time – stained red oak with a white-wash that resulted in a peachy finish. When we first did a “punch-up” we added steel cut-outs of Mimbres designs affixed to the soffit. We also added a black table and chairs with a splashy fabric as a valance in bold colors intertwined with black. The drama lifted the anemic peach theme to new heights.

Fast-forward another 15 years and my dear client was ready for a change. She called and brought me into that familiar kitchen scene and announced that she thought she wanted to re-purpose/paint her cabinets white. l looked around the adjacent family room and beyond and pondered this request.

What you might like in a magazine spread or a Pinterest post is not necessarily applicable to your context. I visualized the dramatic change. Looked at her floor (oh, we had upgraded to a large format stone-textured porcelain from the original 8×8 glazed ceramics in the last 15 years – perhaps a decade ago), looked at her family room furniture and finishes and said “I’m not so sure that’s where you want to go.”

I knew she was fairly thorough in her investigations and would not have called me prior to doing quite a bit of research and trend monitoring so I tread a bit softly when I said “I think you should go black.” And her response was EXACTLY what I expected as she repeated the color in complete quizzical surprise.

“Yes” I said and continued to explain why. She loved her fabric that had been hanging over her breakfast nook window for years. The table was virtually unused and the steel cut-out art was one of their favorite design elements. Black was a natural. “Don’t be afraid of the dark.” I laughingly said.

Black on oak gives a wonderful moiré effect to the grain texture as it reads though the painted surface. It’s a bit exotic, rich in texture and interesting to boot. So with a bit of hand-holding and massaging the description of the intended finished effect, she took the leap – husband in cautious adgreement – they braved this bold departure from the norm.

We first selected a granite to coordinate with the floor tiles and the soon-to-be black cabinets. A swirly geology of glorious goop featuring the rose-clay tones of the mottled stone floor with black tracing through and clear quartz for pizzazz. We then set forth creating the back-splash which began with her love of glass – but to depart from the off-the-shelf 1×1 offering we cut away sections and punctuated it with 2x2s and some 1×1 domed bullets that added further interest to the multi-toned field.

With those complimentary materials selected, we began the process of painting the cabinets. Boxes in place and door and drawer fronts finished off-site. All flawlessly sprayed, with many coats of conversion varnish tinted black, the transformation was dramatic.

The second example, of this fear of the dark when it comes to finishes, was another kitchen which was a small galley-styled golden walnut stained oak 70s model. To which, we added a rough iridescent slate floor to complement the existing stone fireplace – of the same material – only in boulder form. Seemed at this point, for this sophisticated bachelor, the perfect complement to the handsome slate would be striking black cabinets. In this case – new, without the character of the oak in the previous project, as the cabinets were completely replaced and the new selection was made from a factory fabricated series. Similarly dramatic, the sleek black was perfect against the slate’s rugged grey/golden iridescence.

The galley footprint was greatly expanded, by carving out of the garage work-bench area. And again, the transformation was daunting. Here we selected a mosaic of horizontal stones and glass for the backsplash – one of the stones was exactly the same iridescent grey-golden slate as the original fireplace and stunning new floors throughout.

Be bold, be brave and consider your context. You might just find that black is your best bet to transform your cabinets into stunning statements.

Posted On October 8, 2016 By pattisays In artistic expression, before and after, color forecasting, colors, context of interior design, dark colors, design, design tips, design trends, drama of color, flooring, interior design trends, kitchen, mosaic, mosaic tile, painted furniture, practical design, remodeling, stone, tile, updating /

The Drama of Dark

It seems counter intuitive – and that is why so many people ask me about the effect of dark wall colors – “won’t it make it look small?” and I assure them – “no,” and they are still not so sure. The most recent example of this was in an expansive home where we were talking about accent walls – not willy nilly mind you, but in an architectural recess behind the stately china cabinet in the dining room and a doorway recess in another room. In this case, using neutral, warm grey tones – shades of same hue – value shifts for depth and architectural enhancement. Not yet painted, check out our website in a few weeks for befores paired with afters to see this example. Here though is another example

The above photograph for CM Natural Designs by Chipper Hatter.

If a dark color was to make anything look small – why would one want to paint it in a tiny space? There is the more specific, counterintuitive question. The answers is that there are illusions of space. A dark color in a small space can actually read as though there is more depth to the space. Where it can be close and cozy, it is also a subtle enhancer of depth and therefore size.

So in another example currently in a state of remodel, a petite powder room previously papered in a dark green patterned wall-covering, now was being refreshed. There are no rules – it could have been bright, light, bold or dark…flat, glossy, organic or metallic – the possibilities are endless. But the previous rendition of this space was pleasing for its dark tones and therefore a decision was made to select a deep-toned paint for the re-do.

Dark colors, contrasts and lighting all can have dramatic effects on the perception of a space. Dark colors actually recede. Therefore, in many situations, if the application of a dark color will convey a sense of depth and additional space it’s an intriguing experiment. Like reaching into a hole or looking into space, and not seeing the boundaries well. It s a brain thing. If the brain reads dark, it suggests a depth of space and therefore more than is really apparent. This is often used in ceiling treatments. Having a low ceiling appear higher, when painted dark, due to the illusion of depth.

It is also effective to make something go away. An exposed mechanical or white lay-in acoustical ceiling can be institutional looking and not desirable in certain settings. Painting it black or another dark value of color, while sacrificing a bit of acoustical rating, the ceiling will seem higher, less distinguishable and not as imposing upon the decor of the space.

So the petite powder room currently being re-floored with dark tile, re-painted with Benjamin Moore HC-166 Kendall Charcoal, new dark matrix granite vanity top and cabinet, new lighting and mirror…will soon be finished and we will post the drama of dark in before and after shots!

Posted On April 2, 2016 By pattisays In colors, context of interior design, dark colors, design, design trends, drama of color, illusions of space, interior design, interior design trends / 1 Comment

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