Hypothetically speaking… a Monochromatic Color Scheme

Okay, we’re going to tackle a monochromatic scheme for your home. Start with a room of your choosing. I’ll start with this one:

I like the dark floors, black window trim, and hefty molding in this cozy room. The view isn't horrible either.

Got your inspiration piece? Take a good look at it and jot down the defining points like color, style, look, feel. They don’t have to technically correct, just describe the piece to help you define your theme.

I’ll demonstrate with this bolster (below) I found on Jayson Home and Garden. Saffron and sage in color, it has a vintage feel that’s exotic, rustic and elegant. I’m immediately drawn to the architectural pattern and contrast between the smooth background and raised tapestry yarn.

What is rustic elegance anyway?

It’s classic and luxurious with the patina of time as if it sat in a sunny window over the years. It’s still beautiful but maybe a bit faded or worn. Rustic elegance implies a rich opulent past softened by age that makes it feel less formal, more comfy in the present.

Anywayyy, this looks like it belongs to a sophisticated, well-traveled person (let’s pretend that’s me, shall we?). May seem like a difficult color to work with, but almost immediately I found a few more treasures to go in our room…

Contrasting a clean lined sofa with casual exotic pillows adds gives the room a comfy inviting feel…

Another Jayson Home and Garden piece, this ottoman's a clean mid-century feel works well with the sofa and the antiqued brass frame relates to the rustic pillows. See how relating the pieces without matching creates a yummy eclectic room that draws you in?

This luminous painting of San Francisco by local artist Jeremy Mann would be stunning over the sofa. The deep amber tones and black shadows add depth, contrast and drama

I think you see where I'm going with this vintage leather chair with amber warm wood and brass details...

Sherwin-Williams Eastlake Gold is so dramatic and warm. It's perfect for our golden palette and well-traveled feel.

A fluffy flokati rug from Anthropologie keeps with our exotic theme and adds softness (both in color AND texture) to balance out the darker points

But you could use this vintage suzani tapestry on the floor to keep the feel dark and mysterious. You could also use this versatile piece as a throw on the ottoman or a wall hanging. OR use it on the entry floor to introduce the color scheme early.

Add a clean architectural piece like this bookcase and super modern art piece like a brass or stone sculpture for an amazing finish…

Love this galvanized book shelf with the books placed inside out to reveal their warmly patinated pages. Found this image on finders keepers blog- love it!

 

One Color, Infinite Ideas

It’s been a spooky warm winter here in the San Francisco Bay Area and I for one feel parched (must be my Oregonian blood)… But it’s raining today!

Local photographer, Kurt Rogers, captures San Francisco so beautifully

Ahhhh, feels like I’m standing by the sink drinking a full glass of water from the faucet in one gulp knowing I’ll fill my cup again as soon as the last drop hits my throat. Californians aren’t known for embracing this weather (you’d think the occasional change in climate would be welcome here!). They call it dreary.

But I see colors come to life and textures jump to the foreground… somehow perspective even seems to get deeper… I love the rain.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? Take monochromatic interiors, people say they’re flat and boring… like this:

But the good ones look like this!

People end up with one-note rooms simply because they’re afraid to try putting colors together, afraid to mixing patterns and prints…  That’s not a monochromatic plan, that’s a fearful plan! Stop, you don’t have to live this way!

Even if you don’t feel brave enough to put colors together, monochromatic schemes can be unique and beautiful because they (the good ones) rely on texture, contrast, and intensity to dress an entire room in one color. A few weeks ago we explored complimentary colors and how to bring them to your home. This week, we’ll take a look at monochromatic color schemes and do the same. So, take a look around your room and grab something that inspires you in terms of color, style, theme… and let’s get started.

In the meantime, here are a few rooms that might get your imagination going. See you tomorrow!

I've shown this room before. Steven Gambrel's monochromatic schemes amaze me.

Another Steven Gambrel special

When the main elements are one color, changing out the accessories can totally transform the space. Imagine this room with a round blue ottoman and green artwork... it would work!

 

But Wait, There’s More…

Who inspires you?

Who motivates you to do more?

The list goes on and on for me, so I just jotted down the few that bubbled to the top when I sat down this morning. Check them all out, or make your own list and surround yourself with people, messages, music, that make you feel like you can take on the world. Who knows what you might create for yourself! Have a great weekend everyone.

Grandma May

Mike Dolan

Julie Nostrand

Mateo Dineen

David Mendez

Diaz Azcuy Orlando

Zem Joaquin

Clyfford Still

SFMoma has several works in their own permanent collection. (Thank you for reminding me, Wayne!)

Ray and Charles Eames

Alicia Keyes

Nicole Krauss

Steven Galloway (thank you, Hobbes for loaning me The Cellist)

Vedran Smajlovic (the real Cellist of Sarajevo)

Eileen Gray

Bono

Eddie Vedder

Finding Your Sweet Spot

It’s funny how a little tidbit of information can open up your world…

Have you imagining all kinds of new things…

 

And seeing what you do in a whole new way. That’s exactly what happened when my brother mentioned Jim Nares. I looked him up and immediately felt my heart start to race…

This is Jim Nares. He suspends himself above his canvas and may makes hundreds of passes until he renders that one perfect stroke.

When he moved from England to New York in the 70′s he was dabbling in film, music, sculpture…one of his early works is a film of a giant caste cement globe swinging like a wrecking ball from a pedestrian bridge outside his apartment in what was then a decrepit lower Manhattan. If you’re interested, here’s a little more…

 

Seems like an unlikely start for a painter, but as Paul Kasmin Galleries puts it, “Mr. Nares hadn’t yet developed his signature single-brush-stroke paintings, but he was honing his intensely physical formula by swinging giant pendulums through desolate alleys.

The way Jim puts it (I’m paraphrasing here) he was one of those people who wanted to do everything and didn’t succeed at it very well… in the 80′s there was a resurgence in painting and he decided to focus on one thing and do it very well.

He’s certainly succeeded. He narrowed his focus, even beyond paint, to just the stroke itself, and from several strokes and colors to one single pass in one brilliant hue. He also went from dabbling to creating an amazing, successful, and focused life.

Sometimes finding your sweet spot can take a little searching, a little experimenting, maybe even a little failing. But opening up to the journey and letting the work and success of others inspire you brings those lucky strokes just as close to you. And little by little you’ll see everything come into focus.

Design Inspiration

This week is about people that inspire and motivate just by the sheer creative energy they bring to the world. Of course, for me, environments are the ultimate experience. So, while art is my passion, interior design is my life (that must make color my breath) so I never tire of the mind boggling spaces gifted designers create. They nudge me to make bolder choices, carry a broad stroke through a room, and trust my distinct point of view. Take a look…

Erin Martin- I mentioned her Monday and could babble some more about her brilliance, but let’s just look shall we?

 

John Saladino is a more, shall we way, seasoned designer. He made his mark in the 80′s and continues to create some of the most stunning and subtle homes I’ve ever seen. He’s other worldly to me, he’s so gifted and developed and genius… Here’s just a glimpse of his work:

This home (one of my Saladino fav's) is featured in Monochrome, a stunning book by Paula Rice Jackson

Sheer magic- curtains going up the stairs, fireplace tucked under stairs, modern iron work in an overscaled classic motif, enchanting enclave... don't think I can stop detailing the wonder of this space...

And just when you’re baffled by the lack of color in my inspirational Designers so far, let me introduce madcap warm-hearted Jay Jeffers...

I'll close with Jay's office. Can you imagine the ideas you'd conjure in a space like this? All of these designers are most inspiring because they're in motion. They take action, they try new things, they live their passion and watch their dreams and those of their clients come to life. Ahhh.... there your go- I'm inspired. Are you?