Oh, how I love to see colorful spaces done well. Domino magazine has an online gallery up of beautiful bright rooms in a rainbow of fruit flavors.

"Theatrical color can distract from flaws. Confederate Red draws the eye from the unassuming laminate cabinets in this rental kitchen."

Be sure to read the little description next to each picture- it's useful to read about the effect they were looking to achieve, or the specific challenges of a particular color.

Looking at examples of how colors work together is a great way to get ideas for your own space. Worried about that deep rich eggplant color in your dining room? Look for examples of how others have handled that color. You may get an idea you hadn't thought of before!

I have a request for you all: I am looking for color enthusiasts to write some guest posts for Hue in July while I am moving across the country. If you've considered starting a blog, but don't want to commit to the time it takes to keep it running, or just have some fantastic ideas/ stories/ comments related to color that you'd like to share, please consider contributing! I would need the article(s) with pictures (eye-candy is key!) sometime before the end of June so I could set up the posts to run in July while I'm on the road. Even contributing one post would be fantastic. So, if you are interested, or know someone who might like to get some great exposure, please let me know.

Thanks so much for your help everyone!

Our latest reader design dilemma from Sarah on the Chesapeake Bay. This one is a little different because the space is still under construction, so you'll have to use your imagination!

I have a loft-like space (a large living/bedroom above the garage) near the Chesapeake Bay. The room has high vaulted ceilings (about 10 feet, though of course the peak is higher), lots of windows, and board and batten extending to 7 feet on the walls. The space has windows on all sides, so gets plenty of light. There is a desk/bookcase unit that divides the space into living and sleeping areas. The furnishings are going to be low and modern.

The space, under construction

In terms of color, I was thinking of a soft grey/blue for the 7ft board & batten section of the walls (something along the lines of Boothbay Gray from Benjamin Moore) and a deeper color above that extending up across the ceiling (perhaps Benjamin Moore's Hale Navy). The color would extend throughout the space (only the bathroom will be different). I will also need an accent color for the central bookcase/desk and the trim.

Alternatively, if we decide not to paint the ceiling, perhaps the Hale Navy for the central bookcase/desk. I would love some more color options for the walls, trim, and central architectural component.

Is this a workable scheme? Or would a dark ceiling feel too oppressive? Do you have any color suggestions? -Sarah

Here are my initial thoughts on Sarah's dilemma. Some things to consider:

1.) How are you going to use the space(s)?

In Sarah's case, it's a multi-use space, with one side dedicated to sleeping, and the other for living. So, given that each side of the space has it's own purpose, it makes sense to divide the space with appropriate colors for each end. This will visually set up the two sides, as well as emphasize the desired mood for each space.

2.) What are the architectural needs of the space(s)?
This expansive loft space has a high peaked roof. If she paints the ceiling dark, it will achieve one effect, while if she paints it light, it will present a totally different solution. Does she want to emphasize the ceiling, drawing attention to it's "loftiness" with a light hue, or does she prefer to make the space feel cozy and intimate, and visually erase the ceiling with a dark tone?

*There is no one right answer, as everyone has different design goals.
For example, here's a really bad picture I shot at my favorite little gelato shop in Baltimore (yum!). They have soft custard yellow walls, and jet black ceilings that just simply disappear. It works really well in this scenario.
As for colors, each one will have a different effect, depending upon the particular space. What looks bright and fresh in one space might appear dark and somber in another. If you have enough light in a space, it will be able to hold darker colors like Hale Navy.
As a rule of thumb, the spaces you see in glossy magazines are generally professionally lit and styled, so don't take the color you see in print to be the same you'll see once it's up on your walls. Always take the chip home, or paint a 2x2' test board first.
Gray is a tricky character, and will shift depending upon the type of light you get, as well as what it's up against. There are cool grays, warm grays, brown grays, blue grays, green grays... the list goes on. So be sure to look at it's undertone to make sure that's the look you are going for.

What else can I offer... I'd like to get everyone else's opinions and design suggestions on this dilemma. What would you suggest?

This West African tie-dyed, chevron-patterned, zebra-striped cotton is believed to be from the Ivory Coast and was described by Hali, April 2006, as the most optically dramatic piece displayed several years ago at the San Francisco Tribal and Textile Art Show It reminds me of popular zebra-striped fabrics made today by so many fashionable fabric houses.

Louisiana-based textile collector, Rebecca Vizard, recently posted her 2008 assortment of small Christmas stockings. These are my go-to presents because they are the perfect size for holding gift certificates, large chocolate bars, secret messages for kids, and tiny gifts. Some people hang them on the tree. The stockings are about six to seven inches long and made from fragments of lush antique textiles in both brilliant hues and soft shades. Prices range from $35-$50.

I love the description for this product: "a cheerful ode to urethane".
Soft Gems are squishy faux gems, originally used for costume jewelry, but now utilized for interior treatments. How cool is this panel from Philadelphia's Pod Restaurant? Has anyone been here? The site looks very futuristic and artsy.
What I like is the versatility of the product; here it is used for lamp columns.

My question, as a color fanatic, is: are the gem hues customizable to your specific needs? Not that I don't love the orange, pink, yellow and green palette. But what if someone wanted a cool blue palette, or all purple and reds?

How would you use these flexible panels full of colorful orbs?

images source

Xporadical
Dimensions
inch: 45 x 3 x 20

When Bev and I attended Las Vegas Market, we were invited to stop at Artisan House. We were very impressed! Today Casual Living reported that Artisan House will make some major product introductions at High Point.


Autumn
Dimensions
inch: 18 x 4 x 43

"To address continued customer interest in vibrantly-hued pieces, several of Artisan House's new metal sculptures will be alive with color," Artisan House President John Shilling said. "These splashy color additions will attract the eye - and encourage our customers and their clients to be a shade less color conservative when decorating their homes and offices."

These metal sculptures were introduced in April of '08 and are included here to illustrate the quality and fibrancy of the colors. We were excited because the line was affordable for consumers in today's marketplace.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery

From Sarah:

Jasper Conran’s 2007 Sackville Street line is an irreverent take on bespoke tailoring fabrics normally associated with London’s Savile Row. Classic flannels and pinstripes come in sensible subdued hues, while the chartreuse and saffron of his Albemarle silk and viscose birdseye spot motif are positively dapper. Suitable for both upholstery and curtains, the full line is available from Designer’s Guild.

Below: Stratton.

Below: St. James.

Below: Portman

Below: Albemarle.

Below: Cleveland.

Softness, affection, innocence, and love...
Hues of carnation, fuchsia, cherry blossom, magenta, lavender rose, puce, amaranth, cerise.
Oh the beauty and bliss of being tickled pink...

House Beautiful
(top) Style at Home
At Home with Color
House Beautiful
Steven Miller
Canadian House & Home
Madeline Stuart
At Home with Color
Drake Design
Mrs. Me Bedtime Stories
House Beautiful

Normal Room
Robin Pellisier
Shootfactory
Tom Scheerer
Ghislaine Viñas
Living Etc
Kelley Interior Design
Continentale in Florence
Jane Churchill
Jan Showers
Ikea
Ghislaine Viñas
Artus Hotel
Jeffrey P Elliott
Manuel Canovas
Boligtorvet
Betsey Johnson
Better Homes and Gardens
Home Cheap Home
Living Etc
Country Homes & Interiors

Steven Miller
House Beautiful
Miles Redd
Shootfactory
Ruthie Sommers & Chapman Radcliff

Wall-to-wall carpeting seems to elicit strong reactions. Especially when it is a deep, solid color. (Yes, there are certainly more pressing issues in the world today, but among some of my friends and relatives a minor debate has been launched by the wall-to-wall "Augusta National green" seen in the October Domino -- the Sommers nursery.)

Whether you think it is bold and graphic, or you just are not a fan, wall-to-wall was used in some of the most celebrated mid-century American homes. Above is a fun image I stumbled across: Babe Paley at Kiluna Farm as seen in The World in Vogue.

If the carpet here is not literally wall-to-wall, the impact of an almost completely covered floor is similar. What strikes me about the interior -- apart from masterpieces by Matisse, Toulouse-Lautrec, Cezanne and Rousseau -- is the mix of colors. Softer versions of the primary hues red, blue and yellow are coexisting. And that tufted yellow sofa is a real standout. Paley's dress is by Charles James.