Color is a daunting element in a space. Many people have strong feelings about colors they like and don't like, and plenty of people have found themselves paralyzed while staring at a color wheel. We spoke with a local interior designer whose fearless approach to color is inspiring, and got her to suggest some colors anyone could work with.
Jerri Kunz, of Jerri Kunz Design, has been boldly putting color in clients' homes around Austin for years now. Known for her ability to make a room look colorful but not too busy to live in, she was recently tapped to spill her color secrets for the latest issue of Austin Monthly Home (which, as you might have guessed, was all about color.) A self-described witty, intelligent and provocative firm with a modern edge, Jerri and her team are finishing up the home of the Grammy award-winning singer Shawn Colvin set for publication in the winter issue of Austin Monthly Home, as well as other exciting projects.
We asked Jerri to share with us some of her current color ideas, and she provided one of her favorite new spins on adding color to a space: painting the walls gray and splashing the ceiling with a bold color! She gave us some actual colors to suggest to Apartment Therapy readers, two great grays and some fun colors that are a perfect compromise between a wild, bold color and a more subdued tone.
All paint colors suggested are Pittsburgh Paints colors (from top to bottom, left to right): Fog, Phoenix Fossil, Guacamole, Butterfly Bush, Adventure, Tin Lizzie
and Catalina.
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(Photos: Jerri Kunz Design)
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Comments (20)
I understand people have concerns about bold color, but they also have fears about neutrals. I'm not sure we gain enough insight by framing the conversation around fear though.
isn't one of the basic question: what do you want your home to feel like and what furnishings and colors will support those intentions?
Our choices need to be grounded in the environment we are trying to create, not just in an abstract debate over being bold.
That top picture makes me feel frightened!
Seriously though, I agree with Indy Jeffrey.
The pictures attached to this article do not make me less afraid of color!
Agreed, and approaching colors positively by emphasizing those that please and attract you also works better. Besides, while I dislike some specific colors, a few bold, a few neutral, I don't fear any.
I LOVE the apartment on the top. I want to bask in it.
I am not afraid of color just my inner tackiness.. I do not liking these as bold color choices.
@Indy, excellent point. I could never live in the first home shown, but I don't think that makes me "afraid" of color, or even of bold color (I have a dark red bedroom). That example just reads as "busy" to me, rather than "colorful," as does the final photo. The middle (orange and blue accent walls) looks great. My eye can settle on a space for a while.
I love all of them! Honestly, I love bold, bright colors but have trouble choosing the right ones. My husband and I were talking just last night about how cool it would be if we could afford to pay someone to make color choices for us (based on our input of course).
Gotta agree w/ Indy Jeffrey...
I love color, but could never live in the spaces above...
...however, some of the other designer's work I'd feel quite comforable in - It's all about one's personal taste.
Indy Jeffry,
I agree. The suggestion was that if we did not like the garish color shown above we were somehow timid as titmice.
I think they are all God awful. Not too busy to live in? A person would have to wear Christmas tree lights to be seen in these places.
yes, i too do not fear color but would run like a yellow belly coward if i were confronted by that room in the 1st photo.
I think that the first picture is digitally altered and that there's no corresponding actual room.
Those stairs are unique!
I think that the first picture is digitally altered and that there's no corresponding actual room.
Thank God!
Positive feedback from bepsf (whose posts I most admire). My life is now complete.
Uh, I'm assuming "fear" refers to "oh shit, now my walls are bright fuschia and three months in I HATE IT and will have to REPAINT IT ALL AGAIN. <wails, knashing of teeth>" That has more to do with ("fear" of) commitment than... well, why would people be afraid of neutrals (I don't think I've ever seen this even on AT)? Because they think people will think it looks boring (and thus they are boring?) As opposed to color looking obnoxious (and thus... etc)? Either way, characterizing reluctance as fear doesn't seem like anything to be all that indignant over.
I don't particularly like the second and third one... the first, well, if I happened to love each individual item in the room (every pillow, basically) then it would be awesome, but as it is I find it a bit less than optimal. Presumably it's more optimal for the owner. On the other hand, isn't that more like a neutral scheme with multiple pops of accent color? Though I think the real reason I find it still appealing is all the obvious texture....
Yes, that must be what's really meant by "fear of color." The risks of disenchantment, boredom, social rejection, unnecessary extra work--now, that's scary.
The first apartment pictured does nothing but inspire a fear of color, or more to the point, a fear of color run amok.
More does not always equal better, a point that I think has been lost in the latest dash for knick knack, pattern, texture and color overload.
Today's rooms are going to be a hoot to look back on in 10 years or so.
Heh, well, tl;dr version:
1) Most of the reasons I can think of (perhaps fancifully) for not wanting to use color (aside from just loving the neutrals) do seem like they could be based in "fear".
2) They also seem pretty valid.
3) If there are valid reasons to fear using color, then why should someone be offended when this reluctance is characterized as fear?