Accent Walls – Defining the Structural Design

Accent walls…how passé…yet people still believe that by fragmenting their interior with splashes of color on one wall that they are accomplishing something effective. Sorry my dear that I use you to illustrate this very common concept. But I run into the desire by clients to do so – very often!
Read the space. Read the architecture and the masses. Read the forms and blocks of structure or perceived structure. Those are the elements that define a space. Then once identified, address them. IF they can stand alone, then an accent color might be in order. Like Legoretta with his bisecting planes of hot pink and sunflower yellow – they define the architecture.
However to want to apply an accent color just for the sake of doing so is not necessarily of aesthetic value. Ok, the head wall of a hospital room (more for the visitor than the occupant) can serve to distract from the issues at hand. They might add animation, color enhancement or relief. But in most interior spaces, the opportunities for effective accent walls of color are more restrictive.
So find that wall that is recessed or confined by interior corners, stands alone – perpendicular to the space – and go for it – it defines the architecture. Today we selected a hot spicy cayenne pepper red. It will be confined within two inside corners. It will draw from the fabrics and art of the space. The spicy red/orange color will add punch and pizzazz while staying framed by the adjacent elements.
Voila! A splash of color, confined within the architectural lines reads well, adds desired color emphasis and breaks up the monotony of the space without fragmenting it which would result in a busy background not of value to the overall design. Check-out the space…see what makes sense within the forms of the space and have fun!!!