Mar 03

Whimsically Wonderful and Woodsy Transformation and the Design Process

By pattisays In Albuquerque, New Mexico, architectural woodwork, cabin design, cabin interiors, Color schemes, colors, comfortable colors, context of interior design, creative process, creativity, custom cabinets, custom design interior design, design, design challenges, design details, design process, design solutions, design theme, design tips, design trends, designing for animals, designing with a purpose, designs in nature, drama of color, eclectic design, engineered countertops, faux finishes, faux flooring materials, fireplaces, flooring, focal points, hiring an interior designer, home, home decor, home improvements, houses, 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, interior paint, kitchen, kitchen cabinets, kitchen design, kitchen remodel, kitchen remodeling, lifestyle, living with color, lodge designs, modern cabinets, mosaic tile, natural stone, nature, paint colors, painted cabinets, personal expression, personal spaces, personal taste, planning a remodel, practical design, re-purpose cabinets, Regional design, remodeling, Santa Fe, New Mexico, selecting colors, Sherwin Williams, slate floors, southwestern design, Subscribers, tile, timeless colors, traditional kitchen design, trending design, update design /  1

Once upon a time there was a quiet little house in the woods. Nestled among the juniper and pinons of the rolling hills of Estancia, the little house lacked design details to make it feel a part of its surroundings. The owners and their dogs had lived there for a decade and realized that a move was not pending and therefore it was time to bring the house into its own.

The neighbors…

Color was the primary element that they wanted to introduce – that along with a look better suited to the organic, woodsy setting and updates for fixtures and finishes. So, this plain, dated house in the woods began a magical transformation. Not wanting to embrace the sleek white and grey trends of the day, they expressly requested warmth and color.

The interior was plain vanilla with warm honey-colored wood accents.

Beginning with the floor, we selected a porcelain tile that had a finish simulating a mottled slate. The outstandingly durable, slip-resistant material had earthen color variegations in the various pieces which were highly effective at concealing dusty dirt and debris from the out-of-doors and camouflaging the anticipated dog hair that was shed about. The resemblance of the tile to cut stone was remarkable. Due to its multi-color rendition of ochre, rust, charcoal, black and sand offered many tones from which to grow the design’s palette.

The flooring was a bland combination of slippery wood laminate and 12″ ceramic tiles.
The new porcelain slate floor tile is multi-toned and rich with warmth. New wall colors and cabinets are peeking from behind…

Rising from this new base for the interior scheme, we selected a dark, black/charcoal stacked stone. The smooth ovoid shapes added further organic texture with a subtle woven appearance to the surface of the fireplace.

Texture, color, form…the design is transformed…

The mantle and hearth were both the plain vanilla white of the walls and despite the fact that white can be crisp, clean and fresh – the owners were eager for bold commitment to color. In keeping with the pine columns and other cabinets and architectural detailing, we wrapped the existing form of the mantle in knotty pine finished with a honey stain to coordinate with the existing wood accents. The hearth became an undulating slab of Cambria quartz material in a craft-paper bag/sand color also derived from the swirling “slate” floor.

The graceful shape of the hearth was enhanced with the addition of the stacked stone and new slab surface.

Towering from the now strengthened façade of the fireplace, the tapered form of the chimney was begging for the color-pop that the owner’s desired. The honey color of the pine along with the warm tones in the flooring invited a golden ochre paint to command the space.

Specifically requesting the insertion of the owner’s favorite accent color – turquoise, we departed from the warm, earthen tones and punctuated the scheme in the new kitchen cabinets.

The original kitchen…tile floors and countertops, oak cabinets with off-white painted walls.

Salvaging the existing boxes and painting the faces, fabricating new doors, drawers, upper glass cabinets and end panels, the open kitchen is the fulcrum of the house. We see the trending minimalism of little or few cabinets in the kitchen, perhaps open shelving…however, this couple wanted even more concealed storage to keep their cooking and entertaining accessories out-of-sight, but close at hand.

The kitchen transformation features new color, new faces, additional upper cabinets with etched glass panels, luminous glass tile backsplash, new quartz countertops with a new bowed shape for the island…all while keeping existing appliances, cabinet boxes and layout of the space.

Repeating the slab material of the fireplace’s hearth which passes through from the living room to the kitchen, the new Cambria quartz countertops continue the craft-paper bag/sand color. The slate floor wraps up the face of the island for a durable kick-surface and visual continuity.

But wait! To further the focal features of the kitchen, we created a custom mix of colorful glass segments suggesting an interpretation of fallen aspen leaves golden and glossy in the damp of late fall/early winter precipitation. The combination of golden ochre and dark amber with the luminous turquoise of this stunning wall treatment dramatically contributes to the whimsically wonderful colorful scheme.

Saving the bathrooms for another story…there is more to be said about this woodsy transformation. Stay tuned and do not fear color! Embrace the context of your special places.

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Jul 06

CONVERSATIONS ON DESIGN – SPECIFICALLY, PRO TIPS ABOUT COLOR

By pattisays In Albuquerque, New Mexico, architecture, art and interior design, artistic expression, bathroom remodel, before and after, branding in interior design, chairs, color forecasting, Color schemes, color trends, colors, commercial design, commercial interior design, commercial remodel, contemporary interiors, context of interior design, Contrasting colors, corporate branding, creative process, design, design and marketing, design challenges, design details, design process, design scenes, design solutions, design theme, design tips, design trends, designer fabrics, drama of color, existing materials, fabrics, good design, good taste, hiring an interior designer, home, home decor, home improvements, how to select colors, inspiration, interior accents, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design preferences, Interior design pro tips, interior design trends, interior enhancements, lifestyle, paint colors, personal expression, personal taste, planning a remodel, powder rooms, re-purpose, re-upholstery, Refresh, remodeling, reupholstery, selecting colors, Sherwin Williams, Subscribers, textiles, textures, throw pillows, timeless colors, trending design, trends, Uncategorized, updating, upholstery, white interiors /  1 2 Comments

This past week alone I have consulted with a commercial client about reception seating and color, a home-owner, in a mountain setting, about durable floor finishes, bathroom remodels and color, a couple in a new home downsizing from one of 20 plus years about furniture arrangement and color, a couple from Las Vegas buying a second home by their daughter and grandkids about color, and a woman stopped in the shop yesterday visiting from Santa Fe and said that she didn’t know we were also a design firm -picked up a brochure and told me inasmuch as she had “a pretty good handle on design – she always struggled with color.”

See a common thread here? The comments were from that where she admitted to always struggling with color to another wanting her seemingly tract home to feel like a woodsy cabin with color, others wanted their spaces  lighter while others wanted to make a corporate statement that would support their brand and not go out of style in the coming few years. They all had steered toward neutrals – but not in a good way – because they were uncertain about committing to COLOR.

The whites and greys are their own beautifully valid color scheme. https://patriciandesign.com/project/modern-make-over/   I have written before about when white is a color or when it is the absence of color.  https://patriciandesign.com/white-by-design/

I also continually stress that all design decisions are based upon context. Many of you reading this, with whom I have consulted, will recognize much of these observations and tips. I stress select color to compliment your context!

Interestingly, the mountain home has existing painted doors and trim. To change those elements would be costly. How can we woodsy-up this interior without those seemingly necessary key elements?

I asked her for her priorities and “comfort colors.” As a result, we will change the flooring for look and durability, building from that add color and various textures to enrich the space – stacked pebbles at the fireplace, a slab hearth, a wooden mantle and a light neutral will be the main backdrop splashed with strong elements of color (notice them on the mantle). The very vertical fireplace will be a bold golden yellow color to intentionally work with the honey tones of the pine architectural elements.

By contrast, a magnificent home (also in the mountains with great wooden details), had too much of a good thing for the owners’ other interior furnishings. In this case, the seeming sacrilege of painting the solid wood doors and trim was in order.

To paint all the solid wood doors and trim in this home was a leap of faith. But the goal was to add back stacked stone to carry a theme from the now naked fireplace to the kitchen bar and over to the entry door wall. Having it in three places will commit to an architectural theme for this finish selection. New colorful rug and fabrics for throw pillow will enliven the space and bring focus to individual accents throughout the interior.
The grey hand woven grey rug was not providing the needed backdrop for this new scheme so we gathered rug and fabric samples to “punch-up” the scene.
After the new rug arrived, we assembled the fabrics for another study of our options to detail the design.
Before, this little powder room was a bit bland. The quality, solid wood, raised panel, pine doors were too rustic for the owner’s preference – but painting was not an option – until we discussed it. What was a possible sacrilege became a beautiful solution to changing the design direction of this interior. Mirror and sconces remained while vanity, sink and colors were transformed!
The AFTER of the little powder room is still in the process, but it is clear that the transformation is startling with the newly painted doors and trim and the fresh POP of turquoise on the walls. Layers of color and emphasis changed. It is not about painting wood, it’s about creating balance. The massive, solid wood front door and antique and art pieces throughout will be emphasized as key features

Another such interior was over-burdened with stained wood and to paint it all out white was a major commitment yet, the results will make for a lighter backdrop still revealing the bones and their texture, but freeing the owners to showcase their other pieces of fine woodwork, art and furnishings.

PRO TIPS

  • The trick with design decisions is to determine and understand the primary purpose and intended “read” of the space. What is most important and where do you want your focus?
  • Once you have evaluated the space, identified its primary purpose and selected what you want to emphasize; see what is either in the way of, or competing with that emphasis, and clear all else away. Add back the things that you consider most important either for function or joy (form).
  • If the architecture is most important, determine what about it and work from there to complete the space. If a piece of art is most important – place it to its best advantage and build around it so as not to compete, but compliment. If a view is most important – the same is true – clear away and frame with the most important and/or effective pieces.  Pick your priority, yet take everything into consideration.
  • With regard to color…it can emphasize the architecture or be inserted for a bold statement(s) of art or fabric on furniture, rugs…When using color, the idea is still to have balance in the context of where you are placing it. It can be a backdrop or a foreground accent.
  • Consider existing conditions that will not be changed – such as flooring. Select colors that include the compliment to that material. Whether in direct opposition for contrast or to meld in   a way that creates a subtle transition – the consideration of existing materials is important.
  • The effect of considering existing materials can result in their appearing as though part of the plan rather than being inherited unintended.  This is generally a desirable result. Therefore, if you have a material that will not go away – make it intentionally part of the plan.

The corporate color issue was about updating their image and connecting with their clients in an intimate and comfortable manner- an environment that carried the trust of years of experience and embracing a new generation of financial management. They developed a marketing plan moving forward to identify a theme, feel of confidence and carry it through the entire experience. In a recent Facebook post you will see this project in the process and notice that the carpet was an existing condition and that it was used deliberately to make the new materials appear to all have been coordinated from the start. Long time clients and new are comfortable with the changes!   https://www.facebook.com/PatricianDesignABQ/

It’s OK to play it safe with neutrals – but in this case, it was time for a updated “brand” for this business. The unusual eggplant and chartreuse carpets inherited in the move to a different suite required some deliberate coordination, to have it all “read” as though designed afresh!

The want-to-be woodsy cabin project will have new, durable porcelain tile floors imitating variegated slate and from that palette of colors pull paint colors to add whimsy and visual impact along with other new additions of stacked pebbles at the fireplace and wood encasing the now sheet-rock mantle.

The stacked pebble stone, engineered stone, new wood mantle and splash of colors against the neutral will make a dynamic statement. Notice new color chips leaning on the mantle.

The couple downsizing and wanting more light and a less heavy southwestern feel panted their entire ceiling of beams and tongue and groove including support columns in white. The wood still “reads,” in all its hand-hewn texture and knots. The white is no less natural than the dark chocolate that had been their previous faux finish. Albeit the tongue and groove had a clear lacquer that we concealed behind the new cloak of white for a uniform backdrop.

The dark chocolate opaque stain of the pine members was no more valid than painting them an other color. We selected a white to open and refresh with a neutral backdrop to allow other elements to be more focal.
Painting currently underway!! Watch for before and afters of this refreshed interior.

The couple with the second home had history in Hawaii and wanted a beachy, fresh theme for their new desert home. The flooring was a mottled light brown glazed tile and we selected a noticeably light, subtle sand colored wall paint to contrast and POP the existing off-white doors and trim throughout the home. Accents in recessed niches and doorways will become a soft turquoise while an interior laundry room gets a splash of citrusy yellow. The layers of color will be visible from different angles and vantage points. With the golden oak kitchen cabinets being painted out to match the existing off-white trim – the scheme will be fresh and beachy! Their artwork presents these colors and will being their personal touch to the arrangements. Watch for this project in coming weeks.

Do you have ideas about certain features in your interior that do not quite seem to come together? Do you feel the need to refresh? Are you looking for a new color scheme? Please do not be afraid of color and do not be confused about current trends. White and grey is a soothing combination. Trimmed with black, you get a defined contrast. Insert organic greens and the combination is sharp and now – and yet potentially timeless. HOWEVER – colors too have their place and selecting those and their combination that will speak to today and not be out-of-style tomorrow, as certain trending combinations might – select colors to compliment your context.

Here are a few other Patti Says blogs and PATRICIAN DESIGN projects about color selection:

Designing a Cool Theme for a Vacay Rental Property
BEFORE AND AFTER for Busy Young Couple Making First House a HOME

KEMP BEFORES  https://patriciandesign.com/rejuvenate-and-expand-your-interior-spaces-by-opening-walls/

Friends Don’t let friends pick paint colors  https://patriciandesign.com/5677-2/

Johnson’s PHX https://patriciandesign.com/spanish-style-brings-interior-spice/

Color forcasting  https://patriciandesign.com/color-schemes-and-the-complex-simplicity-of-it-all/

Bay area bungalow https://patriciandesign.com/project/bay-area-bungalow/

Celebrate the LOVE of COLOR!!!!!!!!!!

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Mar 18

BEFORE AND AFTER for Busy Young Couple Making First House a HOME

By pattisays In Albuquerque, New Mexico, art and interior design, artistic expression, before and after, breakfast rooms, cabinet pulls, color forecasting, Color schemes, color trends, colors, context of interior design, Contrasting colors, creative process, creativity, custom design interior design, design, design challenges, design details, design process, design scenes, design solutions, Design Team, design tips, design trends, drama of color, drapery treatments, eclectic design, element of surprise in design, fanciful design, flooring, good design, handmade, hardwood floors, hiring an interior designer, home, home improvements, houses, how to select colors, inspiration, interior atmosphere, interior design, interior design preferences, interior design trends, interior enhancements, kitchen, kitchen cabinets, kitchen design, kitchen lighting, kitchen remodel, kitchen remodeling, lighting, Mexico, mosaic, mosaic tile, nostalgia and design, paint colors, painted cabinets, patterns, personal expression, personal taste, planning a remodel, raised panel cabinets, re-purpose cabinets, Regional design, Santa Fe, New Mexico, selecting colors, Sherwin Williams, southwestern design, stone countertops, Subscribers, Talavera Tile, terracotta, tile, timeless colors, traditional kitchen design, trends, update design, updating, value of good design, wallcovering /   1 Comment

Busy lives in a new town, he in his residency and she working in a busy OR, they bought a house – their first house – and asked for help making it theirs.

They have traveled the world and collected art along the way, a disparate inventory of things that caught their eye, spoke of their experiences and reminded them of people, places and things to savor once home.

Home, that was the task. Create HOME in this new, old house. Built mid-century, it was simple, clean with some patchy remodeling from previous owners reflecting rather common decisions, with limited funds. We needed to discuss priorities and budget, evaluate what should stay and what needed to be changed.

They both had a love of Guatemala. Their travels there left them with dreams of color and pattern, handmade functional art and an exotic sense of place. Having these elements ingrained in their longing, they expressed a desire to have that sense, but with a bit of a modern twist.

Assembling the colors and materials…

We salvaged the existing natural granite slab countertop and unfortunate surface-mounted sink. The granite was a practical save and the sink came along for the ride. In order to integrate the granite as though intentional,  I selected a multi-colored Talavera tile that specifically had a dollop of mustard glaze in the design picking up that Dijon field color in the speckled granite. As is my usual preferred mode of installation, we took it wall-to-wall as a complete wall-covering.

We also saved the cabinet boxes and doors, but needed to give them a lift from their median caramel stain on oak. Deconstructing the colors in the design of the Talavera,  we knew we wanted blue cabinets – so the paint shades were fanned and the color pinned-down. To give the cabinets that wabi-sabi look of loving wear, we sanded the edges after the painting was finished. We also added cabinets over the stove for additional storage space and utilization of that blank wall.

We removed all the doors and drawer fronts, filled the holes from the old pulls/knobs and painted them off-site. We painted the boxes in the field. Granite was salvaged along with the sink.
New paint, Saltillo flooring, Talavera tile and cabinet pulls along with new appliances gave an updated look to the scene.

In real life, when  practicality rules, certain things have to give way for the good of the whole. The whole being the pocketbook and other elements that take precedence at the time. So we live with the radiant heaters, keep the chandelier for now, until they have one fabricated to their specifications, use a machined rug instead of a handcrafted piece and know that over the years they will massage this starting place and truly make it their home.

Continuing to dissect the colors from the new wall tile, our colorful young couple wanted more color…we chose individual values of bold paint colors –  smoky turquoise, slightly burnt orange and brilliant golden yellow to intersect the planes throughout the space.

Typical mahogany doors common to that era of home interiors, the decision to match the white trim would have been easy, but we labored over the existing natural, tropical wood and decided to keep it in the mix.

Although the nearly immaculate, original hardwood oak floors were revealed after removing the wall-to-wall carpeting, the kitchen floor throughout the rear vestibule and laundry room was an inexpensive and uninspired sheet vinyl.  Saltillo clay tiles were the answer to furthering the Guatemalan feel. More commonly associated with Mexico, these clay tiles are historically the plebian choice. Taking many forms, some artful enough to be the cornerstone of patrician interiors in fine mosaic installations and other patterns and designs, clay tiles – glazed and unglazed always add an artful, soulful human element. Speaking to that, we inserted 2″x2″ glazed Talavera accent tiles into the floor’s  new Saltillo field in the vestibule creating an almost area-rug-like definition.

The dated floor-plan enclosed the kitchen separating it from the rest of the living area. The very first comment made by our clients was questioning if we could open that wall – connecting with the living room and large picture window beyond.

The mottled cobalt blue light fixtures add another punctuation of color over the bar along with the parrot green barstools that our home-owners spontaneously nailed in an irresistible lust for even more color!!

Rather than trying to continue the existing “Dijon” granite, white Talavera tiles were used on the new pass-through bar counters – both high and low on the new cabinets.

The first phase of this colorful project has set the stage for an enjoyable work-in-progress for years to come as they now have a basis for design, more collectibles to come, and all they enjoy from places near and far. The upcoming annual trip to Guatemala, in April, will reinforce the joy and appreciation for this special place “home base” in their lives.

The dogs look in eagerly, but are limited to their expansive backyard, their vestibule and full run of the master suite.

Although they selected a durable denim twill fabric to reupholster their sofa and loveseat that they were gifted from a friendly neighbor, the primary living area is – for the most part – “off-limits,” but that seems to work for everyone in the family!!!

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Jun 24

A Tale of Two Kitchens

By pattisays In aesthetic medical, Albuquerque, New Mexico, before and after, breakfast rooms, Color schemes, colors, contrasts for balance in design, creative process, creativity, custom design interior design, design, design process, design solutions, Design Team, design tips, design trends, Disruption in design, DIY design, drama of color, element of surprise in design, existing materials, flooring, hiring an interior designer, home improvements, illusions of space, interior design, interior design trends, interior enhancements, joy, kitchen, kitchen cabinets, kitchen design, kitchen remodeling, lifestyle, Mexico, natural stone, nostalgia and design, paint colors, planning a remodel, practical design, re-purpose, Refresh, remodeling, selecting colors, Sherwin Williams, Subscribers, Talavera Tile, terracotta, tile, timeless colors, update design, updating, value of good design /  

Often with remodeling…it’s both the best of times as the anticipation for the exciting transitions is ignited, but since it takes “breaking an egg to make an omelet”, it is often the worst of times too as the demolition and displacement begins. Thank you Mr. Dickens, you set forth a mastery of profoundly conflicting opposites that I have used here which describe so many design project experiences so well.

Currently, in our shop, we are designing almost parallel kitchens. They are at nearly identical beginning stages. The owners share little in common, if anything, except perhaps the age of their homes. The sizes are similar, yet one is a bit larger offering different options for design consideration.

Both kitchens had been remodeled, from their originals, somewhere in the 70s and possibly 80s. One installed traditional drop-panel golden-oak with a curvy valance over the sink.

Brilliant blue paint to come will transform these re-purposed/salvaged cabinets with new personality!

The other flat panel radius corners for a “modern” look – also in lighter bleached oak.

Each set of cabinets were in good condition opening the conversation to salvage versus replace. Certainly we encounter cabinets that have been destroyed by hard use and neglect, but when the boxes are reasonably well constructed – or enough so that some reinforcement will enhance their weight-bearing and usability qualities, we often take the route of refurbishing. (NOTE: As a DIY, this requires much research to insure that a new finish will be flawless, durable and easy to maintain.)

The beginning for each project propelled forward with distinctly different ideas. One to follow the original character of the home’s raised panels painted white doors and trim throughout, the other seeking an entire transformation to a multi-colored fiesta of fun!

Mexican Talavera tile with Mexican terracotta Saltillo for the kitchen floor adjacent to white oak narrow plank original tongue and groove floor recently unveiled from beneath wall-to-wall carpeting.

Now that’s not to say that the more traditional soon-to-be white, raised panel kitchen will not be full of fun – as it will ultimately have a “party pass-through” connecting the kitchen through to the patio beyond and counter-top that transitions seamlessly from the sink area inside straight out to a party bar! A custom-sized double-hung window will open the scene in the warm weather months. We know that it’s going to be classic with a tremendous twist of fun!!!

The patio level is a step down. The kitchen counter inside will flow through a new window that is lower – opening directly on the countertop surface – providing bar height outside.

Both kitchens are being “opened” by removing portions of walls which have isolated them in years past. By removing the walls, additional daylight will be evident, a perceive expansion of the space will be realized and a connectivity to the other living areas for personal and entertaining enjoyment will become a reality.

Breaking through to daylight from the hallway skylight – adds not only light, but incredible depth and dimension!!

 

This is soon to open into the living room and large picture window beyond – a peak at the mountain will be an added reward.

A bit of structural modification to both are resulting in minor delays for permitting processes – other aspects of the work will continue, in the meanwhile, like the continued selection of finish materials, lighting fixtures and cabinet modifications.

In both cases we have discussed the design challenge of existing materials. I have found over the years that often, when confronted with existing conditions you might not have set-forth to include, they add character and an element of unselfconscious cool-ness. It occurs when certain conditions or materials are in place that you might not have chosen or planned into the design. Designs from scratch, that are too well coordinated or too perfectly planned, can lack that element of surprise or unexpected interest.

The first home had slate tile floors with a unusual mottling of colors leading with a cool aqua and including charcoal grays, smoky blues, ochre and rusty tones.

The other inherited period hollow mahogany doors all trimmed with white molding and original cabinetry. Do we paint them white – which would be the customary response or leave them and invite that element of “oh you kept these doors?”

In this second example it would be easy to “neutralize,” if not replace, the dated doors. However, the homeowner, having many fond experiences in Guatemala, appreciated the great condition of the tropical wood, grain and finish – so we will start without painting them and re-evaluate down the line as the new colors and finishes splash their celebration over the scene. As the transformation takes place, the decision regarding the doors can be re-evaluated.

This is a prime example of the design process. Often there are elements on a project that are a puzzlement. The great thing is that often the decision to remove, modify or leave unchanged can wait until the scene evolves. If you have the luxury to design as you go, you will have more opportunities to consider context, contrast, new options etc…that are often obscured by the overwhelming and often daunting task of visualizing the finished product.

Sharing the same vision is one of the hardest aspects of the design process. Full color architectural renderings, illustrations and even sketches go a long way in conveying the intent, but no two people see exactly the same thing through their mind’s eye.  During these preliminary stages of design concepts, nebulous ideas and imagined finished products, the opportunities for misconception are great.

I remember a hospital project many years ago where the head nurse was wincing at our suggestion of maple cabinets, headboards and other carpentry details. She kept quiet, but we (the design team) kept hearing rumors that she loved the color scheme, direction of the interior design and all of its architectural interest and design finishes, yet she could not embrace our suggestion of maple cabinets. One afternoon once we had gathered the materials for a touchy-feely presentation of color boards and tangible design elements, she had this incredibly surprised expression and exclaimed that she had never seen maple that color – it was natural – like a blond, wood, basketball floor. She further explained that she “pictured” the dark reddish Ethan Allen maple furniture of her childhood in her grandmother’s house. Needless to say, she had been having great difficulty accepting its inclusion into a design scheme of smoky lavenders, pastel clay tones, creamy whites, warm terra cottas and maple wood (in our mind’s eye – natural – and in hers, what she always thought was natural maple – dark reddish brown!!).

Communication is a powerful tool… often major decisions, opinions and actions can result in miscues due to miscommunications. To avoid such misunderstandings take care to provide thorough explanations along with tangible samples and other visual aids.

As we progress with these two kitchen remodels, we look forward to dramatic transformations, exciting phases of design work, some anxious anticipation, and ultimately four happy clients each enjoying their personal spaces, reflecting their lifestyle, home style and distinct personalities.  Watch for updates and before and after dazzlers!

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Dec 31

TRENDS DIE – What’s New for 2018?

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

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.

 

 

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Aug 20

Color Schemes and the Complex Simplicity of It All

By pattisays In blue and white, color and temperature re: interior design, color forecasting, color of light, Color schemes, color trends, colors, Contrasting colors, creative process, design, design process, design tips, design trends, drama of color, hiring an interior designer, interior design, interior design trends, lighting, patterns, re-purpose, re-upholstery, recycle, recycle design, Refresh, remodeling, Sherwin Williams, temperature of light, tile, timeless colors, upholstery /  1

Color schemes are many. Color schemes evoke a mood or convey an atmosphere. They certainly can and often are responsible for imagined temperatures and/or seasonal sensations. What constitutes a pleasing color scheme? What constitutes pleasing? It all comes down to balance, layering and subsequent interest. It takes a enlightened eye and usually cannot be achieved by accident.

We are nearing completion of a living room that incorporates many design elements. Family heirloom antiques add a vintage touch along with the architectural style of the bungalow home.  Contrasting these pieces is a sleek-lined, modern, sofa that we found and reupholstered. And while not driven or influenced by current color trends, we selected a scheme derived from the existing Persian rugs. By extracting the blue and white from the patterns to refresh the interior – a classic, timeless color combination – we blended a wonderful scheme. Finding the common denominator(s) blue and white, we sought to anchor all with this consistent theme. Differing patterns provided additional layering and interest.

Then, just last week while dashing through the DCA terminal for SWA, my eye caught the attention of several magazine covers all featuring blue and white schemes!  Always in vogue, but not always featured as the cover story, this coincidental (or not) collection of blue and white photo images was a riot! I was forced to snap a few shots to send to my happy blue and white client.

If I described a new master bath remodel project as all white, I wonder what might come to mind. All whites are not created equal and the variation is startling when you see them in context, adjacent to one another. So here is the easiest example. A fan-deck from Sherwin Williams shows a collection of whites. They “read” very differently from one to the next. Yet taken one at a time – isolated from the rest – each would seem to be just plain white. Notice too how they differ from the white paper upon which they are printed – it is the spacing between the color chips – and even the white fabric upon which they were placed for the photo!

But there is really no such thing as “just plain white.” Once seen next to another, their unique qualities of hue come into play. A yellow white is creamy, while a cool white reads blue. It’s the context that makes the  color more legible. Without that they could be assumed and accepted to be merely “white.”

So, in this recent color scheme nearing completion, whites in context show their many colors. At first glance and if asked, one would say “the room is all white.”

Upon closer inspection (photos taken from a different angle seconds apart), that simplicity is replaced by a more complex, heightened level of awareness. This complexity is what adds interest and results in a better finished product than a true monochrome. What was a collection of white materials, in this master bath, is truly revealed as shades of white varying from ever so soft celadon to cream and grey to what might be read as actual “white” white.

 

Don’t trust your eye when it comes to color. Discover how paint on walls changes all through the day. Artificial light-sources alter the way a color appears.  Context with other colors alters the way one perceives color. Color is fun! Colors are fun! When designing interiors, enjoy the process of layering and the varying effects colors have on each other. Simplicity is usually not really simple. That term can be deceptive. Making it look that way is an art. Encourage the enjoyment of discovery.

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