The Loudest Drunk at the Party
09/19/2006 09:46 PM by Gretchen Schauffler
Colors are like parties. People gathered together can mean a great time—good conversation, fabulous food and dancing—or a dull, even unpleasant event.
So when it comes to putting together colors, think of it as a party that may bore you to death or quickly get out of control unless the right people, a.k.a. colors, are invited.
Putting colors together takes careful planning. Space is crucial. There is nothing worse than wall colors all cramped together, trying to have a good time even though they have little in common. In my book, I talk about how relationships work between colors, so when you invite your favorite yellow, you also invite the right reds, which become fast friends.
Some colors have an affinity for each other. They complement and excite each other. You know that person who talks too loud at a party? You don’t want that. Similarly, the wrong shade of red with yellow can become crass. It can make the yellow a nauseous green.
You know when someone tells an amazing, upbeat story at a party and the crowd roars? That, my friend, is what you want. A perfect blushing shade of red that makes your yellow a bright shining star.
At some parties, conversation can be uninteresting, monotonous in tone, inducing yawns. You get the same result by avoiding reds, yellows, or any color you think might be too bold. Without them, it may be bland.
Colors that love to hang out together can be placed throughout a house—connecting spaces, surfaces, art, and furniture. They create a great ambience.
This is a good example of how, when you open the door, you hear music throughout the house, and there’s the perfect conversation between the wall colors, furniture and surfaces. For this look, try Devine Spice, Ginger, Cafe, Mocha, Icing and Piping.
For the next look, try Devine Steamer, Hosta or Georgette.
As the music flows into another room, for this look, try Devine Mesa, Dust or Terracotta.
And carries into the next! For this look, try Devine Almond, Reflection or Breeze, along with Devine Icing or Whip
This is what balanced color does for multiple spaces. It is not just one room, it is many that look out on to each other.
Balanced color creates a feeling that makes you feel good about everything around you, even the things you don’t love. Recently I did a color consultation at a home where everything was perfect except for the house. The owners had moved from a contemporary house to a very traditional home because of its location.
In hot neighborhoods, you don’t often have much choice as to what’s available when you need it. Moving from open, tall spaces to squared rooms with white heavy crown molding was a big change for these folks.
Sure, they had plans to remodel the kitchen, but still, the house was what it was—traditional. On top of that, it had faux finished walls in gold and red tones and a big patterned carpet. It was a version of an era this couple was not interested in living.
However, once we started selecting colors, a great palette emerged. All of a sudden, the heavy wood architecture got a sharp white contrast with Devine Whip. (White is contemporary or traditional depending on how you use it.) Devine Agave (fresh blue), Devine Organza (hot amber) and Devine Truffle (rich chocolate) were all in the mix.
Soon the traditional bones of the house were a canvas of abstract colors to play with. The party had started! The woman was visibly relieved when we finished placing the last color. Relieved that her home would be perfect to live in and she could enjoy the party.
Please let us know about your color party—the colors you live with and love (send photos) or are seeking (ask questions).
Gretchen Schauffler
Artist and Founder of Devine Color®
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Sunset Freak
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Hey its Katie from miller paint. Looking good! Loving the sunset pics to represent!
— katie 09/21/2006 08:07 AM #
I read that Matt Dillon said that sunsets are perfect but sunrises, you can only catch if you get up too early or come home too late!
— Gretchen Schauffler 09/21/2006 06:01 PM #
I love steamer and have it in my bathroom with natural pebble flooring and also as an accent wall in the living room. We just bought a new home and I’m not sure how to handle it. It’s a 1912 craftsman with original heavy walnut moulding, columns and built-ins. On top of it the house is surrounded by big cedar trees that cut the light from the living room and dining room. I’d like to use steamer in the kitchen. What would you suggest for the dining and living area? The floors are also dark wood. The main furniture piece is a camel back sofa in the steamer color.
— Bianca Benson 05/26/2009 06:27 PM #
Bianca:
See if colors like Devine Dust, Ginger, Impala, Siamese, Beluga, Storm, or Cocoa speak to you!
Our color palettes make it so you can have personal color combinations that make you love everything in your home. The question is which direction to go. Get our Trend-Proof Palette, follow our PROCESS, follow our PROCESS, and then lets narrow down choices. The context of this color collection is that all the colors have to coordinate the past, present, and future of color trends. They are truly Trend-proof so that if you have a sofa from the 90’s with 200 year-old rug and a 2 week old kitchen remodel, you will find not just one color but all the colors that can coordinate everything and make it look “meant to be”. The average Devine Color home has anywhere from 7-12 colors. All our color collections are finger-painted you so you can see the real color and how that color looks next to each other. It makes you smarter! If you don’t have our Trend-Proof Paint Palette, get one right away and start working.
I can suggest tons of great color combinations but its a little like taking a stab in the dark. I rather you try our approach and see what you love appear before your eyes and I can make suggestions based on what you love!
— gretchen Schauffler 05/27/2009 08:47 AM #