The Principles of Color

Color Scheme- Yolo Colourhouse- Portland, OR.

 

Color- one of the most critical factors to interior design, and one of the most transformative. Color in the form of wall paint is hands-down the least expensive way to transform a space, but takes careful consideration and analysis.

Here we've put together some principles to consider when looking at color for interior spaces.

MOOD & EMOTIONS OF COLOR

Color theory teaches us about the relationship of colors to one another in terms of hierarchy, tonal value, warm vs cool, and color harmony and mood.

For instance, green and blue are calming colors and will give the user of a space a feeling of relaxation. Red and oranges, being fire colors, will provide a feeling of activity and increased motion. Brighter yellows are a hue that can induce feelings of anxiety and alertness, and bounces light considerably. 

DIMINISHING OR HIGHLIGHTING TEXTURE

The sheen levels will greatly effect color, and can help to ‘correct’ certain architectural details you’d like to highlight or diminish.

Matte or eggshell sheens can help to lessen the textural look of ‘popcorn’ textured walls and ceilings. Higher sheens (semi-gloss and gloss) will more closely bond to any surface and bounce light considerably, actually showing off any texture or imperfections on the surface even more, and making the color appear brighter. 

VOLUME PROPERTIES OF COLOR

Color has a powerful way of making a space feel more expansive or intimate.

To make a space feel larger, look to lighter and brighter options, with a high LRV content,  and stay away from the temptation to paint a ceiling the same color as the walls, especially when using more saturated tones on the walls. 

 For a feeling of greater intimacy, consider rich and saturated tones. Rich tones can still have a vibrancy to them, as long as the sheen and LRV are considered.  

Of course there are a multitude of other considerations when looking at color, but our hope is that you can pull some inspiration from the 'theory' above for your space.

Cheers, Carey

September First Thursday at Relish

The WHO/WHAT/WHEN/WHERE/WHY of Rug Buying

Ascend matural wool rug in Relish client home. photo credit: Aaron Ziltener Photography

 Rug buying can be a overwhelming place, full of many ideas and and a vast amount of options. To help this process, we've outlined the WHO/WHAT/WHEN/WHERE/WHY considerations when making a rug purchase.

WHO
Who will be the end user?
Will there be a crawling baby or a high amount of traffic interacting with this rug? This determination will help you to not get something too utilitarian or too 'precious'.

WHAT
What is the fiber content?
Natural fibers (cottons, bamboos, wools) are always ideal and our #1 recommendation, for both the environment and the indoor air quality of your home over nylons or other acrylics. 

WHEN
When will the rug arrive?
Quality rugs are made by hand by skilled artisans. As such, lead times for rugs can be upwards of 3-6 months in some cases for the process of shearing, dyeing, weaving, and transport.

WHERE
Where is my rug made?
A very critical factor to consider to ensure your rug is not made under unfair or unsafe working environments. Look for the GoodWeave or RugMark label on your rug considerations. Both are labeling systems that insure that illegal child labor or slavery practices are not used, and that quality opportunities are given for these workers.

WHY
Why is this rug being considered?
Whether the intention is a statement or a simple room dividing element, going into your purchase with a specific goal and Plan will help in focusing on the holistic vision and how it effects the whole space, not just the color of one fiber.

At Relish we source rugs from a variety of different sources. If you're considering a rug purchase, let us help you make the right decision for your lifestyle and the greater good in the world. Every dollar you spend is a vote towards some kind of viewpoint, and we encourage you to 'cast your vote' into companies that consider all aspects of the life cycle of the products being sold and the critical artisans who make that happen.

Cheers,
Carey

5 Ways To Transform Your Space

 We've been focused on process and design planning lately, and wanted to share our thoughts on the most effective implementations for any space.

1. Start with a PLAN
In a world of sensory overload, it's easy to get distracted by all the options. You wouldn't purchase a car or make a big decision without a clear plan first, and interiors shouldn't be any different. We see mistakes made when there isn't an holistic plan in place or budgets set at the onset, and rooms filled with items that don't quite work together or are out of scale for the context. At Relish, we strive to equip our clients with personalized Design Plans that clearly outline the priorities and options for their specific lifestyles.



2. Lighting
Lighting is the biggest mood-setting element for a space. You can have the perfect furniture, wall color, and accessories, but if the lighting isn't right the space can still feel stagnant and sterile. Always create a layered approach by implementing ambient lighting, then adding a combination of
ambient/task/decorative lighting types to create a multi layered look full of interest.

Lighting literally penetrates the psyche, and great lighting can give a space a feeling of intimacy or even vibrancy.
 
3. Color
Color can be as trans-formative as lighting. It can work as a backdrop for art, act as art itself in the form of a features wall, help to facilitate flow and openness, or simply add visual interest through beautiful, saturated colors. Our favorite paint palettes of the moment are Yolo, Farrow and Ball, and Stark paints. Many times, we can even add a complimentary wallpaper as a color accent as well as for depth and texture. 

4. Scale and Proportion
When putting together a furniture and space plan, its important to consider overall scale and proportion of items within the context of the space. Strategic placement can aid in flow and openness, and avoid over furnishing or adding items that simply don't work for the space.

photo: style-files.com

5. Personalization
Your space should always be a reflection of your lifestyle, history, and your personal values. We love helping clients re purpose heirloom items and add personalized touches, to avoid any space simply looking like 'page 26' of the latest catalog. These might include family photos, travel items, picture walls, or even your child's "art" over the years!

We hope you find this listing helpful, and of course, do keep in mind that Relish can help with a simple second opinion to full spaces.

Cheers,
Carey

Yolo Colourhouse New Line of Fabrics

We've loved and have been following local company Yolo Colourhouse for a while now, and are thrilled to share some recent new additions to their product line.

On top of their incredible paint that contains no VOCs or carcinogens, they have recently unveiled the Sprout collection; a new line of organic cotton fabrics that are designed to coordinate with the Yolo paint palette.

Made of 100% organic cotton, their fun patterns are perfect for sheets, pillows, baby clothes, or anything your mind can imagine.

We'll have the samples of both their fabrics and paints in the coming weeks, so stop in to see this incredible line in person and support two local businesses at one time.

Cheers, Carey

Sample Sale Extended Through July!

Dwell On Design 2012 Insider View

I just arrived back from LA's Dwell on Design Conference feeling incredibly inspired and energized by the varying forms of innovation coming into the marketplace.

I was especially struck with the ways in which some of the featured companies are creating incredible space saving solutions. Duravit, for example, has created the OpenSpace Collapsible shower, which folds down complete and out-of-the-way when not in use to a full length mirror, as well as sinks narrow enough for even the smallest of bathroom spaces.

Axor displayed incredible surface mounted faucet systems that make cleaning much easier as well as providing a super clean, minimal look and opportunities for simple horizontal storage.

Lacava showcased a selection of soaking tubs that border artwork in their detailing, the new Sottile option providing a spacious tub with a cantilevered shelf for bath products and other items.

Overall, what I was mostly struck by was the way these companies and more are responding to the need for space saving, unique materiality, and beauty in seemingly super simplistic forms. To me, it further confirmed the idea that simplified minimal design finds it beauty in the minute details and new takes on innovative materials such as ceramic and lucite acrylic in bathroom spaces.

More to come from the show in the coming weeks- stay tuned!

Cheers, Carey