#45 - Susan’s Warm Wright Vibration | Apartment Therapy New York

#45 - Susan’s Warm Wright Vibration

Name: Susan
Location: Washington, DC
Type: 1 bedroom, own

Why I use color:

I love the color problem; it is of the x, y, and z dimension. What colors are best for a given room contour, natural light, furniture and art? It is endlessly challenging, and I think that I work in some middle ground that seeks to integrate the different elements harmoniously...

I tend to like primary colors but in a subdued hue. I prefer wooden furniture and this apartment came with lots of cherry wood shelving. I chose some colors to bring it in sharp relief and others to provide a subtle difference. The terra cotta walls in the dining room remind me of the lower floor of a building Frank Lloyd Wright designed, in the town I grew up, where his color idea came from red clay soils.

2 Good color tips:

1. Avoid trendy color combinations, they detract from your long-term personality

2. Don’t buy home furnishings from the internet that involve color unless you can see a swatch first. Colors look so different in real life or in the particular light of your own room.

2 good color resources:

1. Fauvist paintings

2. Sales/advisors at Benjamin Moore paint stores

Comments (7)

Sorry but your pictures are a lil difficult to view - I see the color just fine but would have liked to have seen more. Thanks for sharing anyways! Good luck!

posted by cielo on 2006-10-25 11:00:12

Color clashes with wood - too heavy.

posted by Jess on 2006-10-25 11:02:46

I like the description of the color problem.

posted by Joan A. on 2006-10-25 11:06:15

I wish I could see what that purple wall is about.

posted by Marilyn on 2006-10-25 11:18:02

i don't see any creative use of color in this space. oft times people don't realize that the decor they choose for a space should and does impact the overall use of color. the decor in this room is so drab that, even if there was any nice use of color anywhere else in the room, it would kill the overall appearance and any possible optimism i could have for entire space.

posted by gab the scab on 2006-10-25 11:39:18

i agree, the wood vs wall thing vibrates a lot.

posted by holly in dc on 2006-10-25 15:08:50

I'd like to see a use of color in the glass cabinet to highlight the objects inside. If it's not possible to paint the back of the cabinet, then you can also use a good-quality and nicely designed wrapping paper cut and glued (or puttied) to fit the space. i've done it more than once with built-ins in rental units when i'm on the cheap and it really makes a difference!

posted by eolian on 2006-10-26 19:36:02