Q: What's the most important role color plays in a room?
A: It sets the mood for a room. The color you choose is really about what you want the room to feel like.
Q: Do you tend to use one color scheme throughout the entire interior, or mix it up room to room?
A: In general, I feel it's important to have continuity
throughout the entire house. I'll use one or two colors throughout the
house, and then mix in other accent colors. That gives continuity, but
at the same time allows the various rooms to have different
personalities.
Q: What kind of classic color combinations do you think work best?
A: Blue and white, yellow and green for a kitchen, red and
black for a very formal dining room. For a library, I would suggest
chocolate brown and camel or dark green and navy blue. I like burgundy
and khaki, navy and khaki, or dark green and khaki. And grays and blues
look really great together.
Q: What kind of guidelines would you suggest if someone wants to use bold colors?
A: You need to be aware that you will likely get tired of bold
colors very quickly. If you really want to incorporate a strong, bold
color, use it as an accent. Bold colors are often attractive because
they are the color of the moment; this can quickly date a room.
Q: How should the homeowner account for different lighting in choosing colors?
A: Select three shades of the color you want: where you think
you want to be, and one shade lighter and one shade darker. Do this with
paint, wallpaper, or fabric swatches. Put the samples in two places:
next to the window and in a darker corner. Look at them at different
times during the day and at night. Then make your decision.
Q: Is a neutral color scheme always appropriate?
A: No. It totally depends on the house, the location, the
architecture, and the personality of the homeowner. It's about trying to
keep a balance. An entire neutral house can be boring.
Q: How do you use color to affect relationship and the relationship with other decorative elements?
A: Color is key to how the decor is perceived. If it's a big
room, paint it a brighter, warmer color to bring the walls in. Paint a
smaller room a cooler color to push the walls out. Color also
establishes visual weight and balance. If you put a bold primary-based
piece of art in a pastel room, it's probably not going to seem right.
The colors of the art should balance the colors of the space.
Q: What are the challenges homeowners face in choosing colors and color schemes?
A: Sometimes people are scared of color, especially dark
colors. Ultimately, people should really follow their heart: If they
love a color, test it, and like it in place, they should not be afraid
to choose it.
