How Color-Confident Are You?—Lessons from the Old World
I’ve always admired the Europeans for their bold confidence with color. (Eighteenth-century English country houses equal sunshine-yellow walls, right?) Fast forward to today’s offerings of raspberry, fuchsia, acid green—nothing meek about these hues, yet Europeans love them. And not the way we do in America. For example, the French, English, Italians, and Spanish don’t confine these fresh-to-brazen palettes to their teens’ rooms or to modern-only spaces. Or even to a single space in need for a swift kick of coomph, as we Americans tend to do.
That’s what so great about how the Old World embraces color. They have no problem upholstering an 18th-century French settee in an up-to-the-minute fuchsia or grape.
New "Kavana" from Spanish fabric house, Alhambra
The color you just saw was all over Paris showrooms and booths at Maison. What’s interesting to me is that such a bold hue is too often mistaken as brash in America. Quick, whistle for the design police. Good taste has been violated and all that.
I think it’s time Americans started flexing our color muscles. Beige can be beautiful, but there’s so much more out there awaiting us.
This warm bright citrine, also from Alhambra, appeared in various shades and tones across Paris showrooms:
Look for wonderful, evocative colors from Manuel Canovas—”absinthe” and “mandarine” speak for themselves, while “petale” is a pink-tinged lavender and “pensee” is a lavender with more of a purple-plum cast. “Nattier” is Canovas’s new green-blue—the color of Angelina Jolie’s jade at last year’s Oscars.
New this season from Manuel Canovas Collection 2010
19 Responses to “How Color-Confident Are You?—Lessons from the Old World”
February 9, 2010 at 2:14 pm, by Jaime @ DOXA
I love the citrine and slate combination…the slate tempers it beautifully;) Also really like the Manuel Canovas graphic on the stool in the photo above!
Best,
Jaime
February 9, 2010 at 8:29 pm, by Candace Ord Manroe
Glad you like them, Jaime. Also happy to hear you’re ready for the new warm hues (“red rover…” LOVE it!).
February 16, 2010 at 12:35 pm, by Jolene Anderson
I love the bold use of color in this slate and citrine combination. It is an elegant combination which reflects the timeless old world elegance of Europe.
Color can transform a room and lift the spirits!
March 4, 2010 at 10:27 am, by Yuani
Can you please provide me with the name of the fabric in the section’ how color confident are you?” – It is a photo of a chair covered in Alahmbra broad citrine and chocolate brown stripes and with narrow green,white and blue stripes alongside.
Much appreciated!
YVA
March 4, 2010 at 10:58 am, by mary
love so much the grape
–My confidence wanes with the sunlight!–I will have a color sample that looks marvelous and when my midwestern sun pops out momentarily all my confidence is lost!
The colors seem to change drastically with the night light from daylight to sunlight!
March 4, 2010 at 2:07 pm, by linda
in reply to Mary re confidence waning with the sunlight? This is the classic color conundrum, but there is a solution. determine which time of day you spend the most time in that room and do you like the color in that light.
March 4, 2010 at 2:53 pm, by Candace Manroe
In response to Yuani’s question, those fabrics are from Alhambra’s new “Sensations” collection. For the specific names, you can e-mail the company at alhambra@alhambraint.com
Hope that helps. Unfortunately, they did not provide the individual fabrics’ names, just the overall collections of which they were a part. Maybe that’s something they should change for next season!
March 4, 2010 at 6:04 pm, by Phyllis Moser
Yes, we Americans are way too timid with color! I loved all the combinations shown. I find bold colors energizing and frequently check English design magazines for inspiration.
March 5, 2010 at 6:39 am, by Paula Douglas
I work as a color consultant, and I help people chose color in their homes. For a lot of people, color is frightening, literally frightening. I think part is the “resale” issue. If they try to use a bold color their house won’t sell, they never plan to stay anywhere, a home has become a temporary stop. I thought maybe with the bottom falling out of the housing market, people would make more confidant choices, but not so far. Historically, bold color is seen as crass and “lower class” and more cultural – which is why you see more color in Europe and England. Americans maybe have taken that “melting pot” idea too far.
March 5, 2010 at 6:47 am, by Paula Douglas
I should clarify that last sentence a little… If you’re French, living in France, you are more accepting of your culture I think than if you’re living in another country.
March 5, 2010 at 11:51 am, by vallie Taylor
I loved these displays of color, especially the bed. Never have seen that combination together. Yes, people are so afraid of color because of resale and everyone remembers the harvest gold and avocado green from the 70s. One time I was selling a home in Atlanta and we had a yellow child’s bedroom. We got negative feedback about the paint. The room could be repainted for about $50! Thanks for the inspiration!
March 6, 2010 at 3:53 pm, by jane
Why can’t I view the different rooms and their designs, I am registered and have a subscription to your magazine? It keeps wanting me to sign up and I have signed up.
Jane
March 7, 2010 at 3:21 pm, by Jodie Classen
I too have found that in general, Americans are reluctant to express themselves in the color arena. All too frequently, the issue of resale rears it head, dictating and sadly, limiting our vast array of choices.
In my opinion, if you will be inhabiting a space for a year or more…it merits your “color thumbprint”. Color is the most effective, least expensive decorating tool in our arsenal. Like Phyllis Moser,I delve into English publications for ideas, inspiration and challenge.
I am however, seeing a bit of a turn around regarding color choices. I believe the consumer is far more educated in the design realm than ever before…thanks to the various media offerings available today. Color can breathe fresh air into a once stagnant room. It has the capacity to soothe,excite,relax,stimulate and project personality…that’s just a few of it’s attributes. I highly encourage individuals to consider taking a “crash course” in color to gain a heightened awareness of it’s magnificent contributions for any home’s interior canvas.
March 9, 2010 at 6:33 am, by Franki Parde
The photos are STUNNING! Color is happy and who doesn’t want that?!? THANKS for the inspiration! franki
March 18, 2010 at 1:07 pm, by Candace Manroe
In response to Jane’s question March 6, I’m not sure what you’re referring to…you can’t see images online? I’ll find an answer for you but need a little clarification so I know who to recruit to help you. I hate when the system doesn’t work smoothly! Bear with us, please, we’ll get it worked out. Thanks for reading, Candace Manroe
April 2, 2010 at 11:22 am, by Jill Kay
Hi,
What is the name and brand of the Prussian blue paint used in the Spring 2010 cover story? I have green sofas the same color as the cover and have been looking for ways to brighten the space – I think this is the answer.
Thank you!
Jill
April 12, 2010 at 11:47 pm, by Julie Mumma
I am trying to locatea table that I saw in a magazine. The room was furnished by phyllis Moser design out of Fla. Do you have her contact info by chance? Thank you
April 20, 2010 at 9:14 pm, by MaggieB
I have found that COLOR is the one thing that intimidates most people. As artists, especially those of us that take commissions, we must work with our clients to bring out just what colors they are not only comfortable with, but those that reflect their very personalities. I do indepth interviews with my clients before ever beginning to design for them, whether I am designing a piece of quilted art, or redesigning their home.
March 31, 2011 at 10:22 am, by Trina
I love the French Settee with grape! Need to show inspiring colors of purple!