Color Buzz

Turkish Delights

By Michèle Coppin

Spring is the time for renewal and this season, new styles are coming from exotic lands such as Turkey.

With a tradition of unique decorative arts, the Turkish culture, formerly the Ottoman Empire (1299-1923), is a treasure trove of divine inspiration. Arts and crafts were molded by its rich history and religion—Islam.

Islamic art varies hugely from Western art, primarily influenced by the Koran. In this Islamic tradition, depicting human form in art is forbidden. Therefore, Turkish or Ottoman art relies on the pure balance of color, line and rhythm in geometric patterns and designs. Rugs, tapestries, glass work, metal sculptures, mosaics and paintings all share similar characteristics of precise detail, harmony and elegance.

Turkey is also known for its famous blue Iznik ceramics, which are decorated with abstract and intricate patterns of floral and fauna designs. Ornamental square, rectangular, hexagonal and triangular tiles still adorn palace walls.

Iznik pottery melds form and function beautifully.

 
The colors used in this art form are blues, viridians, reds and golds. Touches of green pull these colors together and balance the red and the blue perfectly.

                   
      Dazzle 4005-10C            Berry Blush 1004-1A         Salamander 6001-8B

These colors and patterns are becoming more trendy. I have even spotted them in a window display on my street!

If you would like to expand your knowledge of Turkish history and art, I recommend one of my favorite novels, My Name is Red  by Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk.

The book is about the Ottoman Empire and the influence of art. The story follows the murder of a painter in 1591. In each chapter, the perspective and narration changes, even to such unexpected ‘characters’ as a coin, a dog, and even the color red! This beautifully written novel is a true work of art, full of color, history and suspense. Let me know what you think!

Artichoke Colors

By Michèle Coppin

The Artichoke - of delicate heart erect
in its battle-dress builds - it's minimal cupola;
keeps stark - in its scallops of scales
...
So you have it - a vegetable, armed - a profession (call it an artichoke)
whose end is millennial
we taste of that sweetness - dismembering scale after scale
we eat of a halcyon paste
It is green at the artichoke heart.
(excerpt from “Ode to an Artichoke,” by Pablo Neruda)

The glorious artichoke is the large unopened flower bud of a plant belonging to the thistle family. It originated from Southern Europe, around the Mediterranean, and there is evidence of artichokes being cultivated in Naples in the ninth century.

Castroville, California is the artichoke capital of the U.S. In 1948, it crowned its first artichoke queen, a little known starlet named Marilyn Monroe.  In her honor, the Norma Jean cocktail was created, containing Cynar (the bitter artichoke liqueur), gin, lemon juice, sugar, crushed ice and mint leaves, a delicious and refreshing sundowner.

Low in calories and nutrient rich, artichokes are an excellent source of fiber and vitamin C, and also rich in foliate, magnesium and antioxidants. My favorite artichoke recipe is simply boiled with a little lemon juice. The leaves are removed one by one and dipped in hollandaise sauce, vinaigrette, melted butter or more lemon juice. The heart is eaten after removing the inedible hairy choke.

The beauty of this long process is that you can admire the vegetable at each stage of undress, like an interactive kinetic art piece. The artful artichoke transforms with each step, from its coarse outer purple leaves lined with silver, to tender moss green leaves edged with delicate pink, each one unique and delicious.

Indeed, the colors of the artichoke span many tones and shades of green, purples and pinks that blend together naturally and can be a great source of inspiration.

                                  
 Lyndhurst Castle Sand 5008-1C       Lyndhurst Celadon Green 5004-1B
                       
                                 
                                   Pale Orchid 1003-6C

Color of the Week - Summer Rapture

Last week's Color of the Week was Summer Rapture. Fresh, crisp, light and airy, Summer Rapture captures the moment as we move from spring to summer. Try this cool, breezy color in a kitchen, entryway, family room or even an outdoor space. It would look great with accents of navy and a crisp white like Anthem White. This color reminds me of summer porches with white wicker, rattan and grass cloth flooring.

                                         
              Summer Rapture 6002-5A                    Anthem White 7006-24

   

Wedding Colors Part II

By Michèle Coppin

In Monday’s post I explored the role that color played in weddings throughout the ages. As I mentioned, in the last few years, colors for weddings tended to lean towards soft shades of pinks, greens and lilacs. Although soft pastel color schemes are always in fashion, experts agree that bright, bold colors and even exotic combinations are the new trend.

Here are the hottest wedding colors for 2009:

Red and Orange: vibrant, fun and exotic.

Red and Pink: exiting combination mixing romance and passion.

Red and Yellow: Modern and hip

Orange: Elegant and radiant with shades of peach and ivory.

[Courtesy of Kim Fuller Photography]

Yellow and Turquoise: Summery and tropical.

 
Green and Yellow: Fresh and young.

Green and Lavender: Soft and sensual



Brown and Pink: Elegant and sensual  - one of 2009's hottest combinations.



I also questioned wedding photographer Kim Fuller for some additional insight. She noted:
 
"Purple is in! The jewel tones seem to be back in fashion this year for bridesmaid dresses. It makes for great photos, especially when you add a bold-colored flower to really make the color pop. Brown and pewter are still popular for the Fall, with a touch of orange or pink as an accent.  Both color palettes go well with most skin types, which is nice."



For more photos and ideas, please check out Kim Fuller Photography’s website.

Emeralds of May

By Megan Leblond

 

The emerald is the birthstone for those lucky enough to be born in the month of May. The bright green color is a result of vanadium and chromium, two elements found in the earth’s crust. The rare meeting of these two minerals makes quality emeralds even more expensive than diamonds and among the most precious gemstones in the world.

Jewelers developed the ‘Emerald Cut’ so the stone could be appreciated for its fantastic green color! How fascinating, but not surprising to a Color Buzz writer.

The most famous collector of emeralds was Cleopatra. She was said to give special visitors a large emerald carved with her image. The leaders were buried with the stones to symbolize verdure and eternal youth, and Egyptian emeralds exhumed by pharos between 3,000 B.C. and 1,500 B.C. in a location known today as Cleopatra’s Mines.

Today, Colombia, Coscuez, Muzo and Chivor produce some of the world’s best emeralds. I adore the blue-green tones of Zambian emeralds. One of the most famous emeralds is the Mackay, designed by Cartier and given by Clarence Mackay to his wife Anna Case, the prima donna of The New York Metropolitan Opera from 1909-1920.       

                       

Check out these fantastic star stones. Named ‘Trapiche,’ these emeralds showcase a crystal pattern reminiscent of the wheels used to grind sugarcane. These are among the most sought after emeralds.

If you happen to agree with Pliny who said that a green emeralds’ color provides restorative strength to the body and mind, why not consider the beautiful hue for your home? Here are some Valspar colors reminiscent of the varying colors of emeralds.

Enjoy! And Happy May!
                   

 Simply Green 6002-8C      Vegas Green 6009-7     Tropical Rainforest 6002-10C

Prairie Home Colors

By Michele Coppin

For years, I have been fascinated by a little place in the great Northern Tundra called Lake Wobegon. Every week, I tune into "A Prairie Home Companion" on NPR to hear Garrison Keillor tell stories about this magical hometown where "all the women are strong, all the men are good looking and all the children are above average.”

I would like to know which colors inspire these characters.

To find the answer to this question, I traveled to the great state of Minnesota to find out. Minneapolis is a bustling modern city complete with lovely museums, the University of Minnesota, the famous Guthrie Theater and many parks and lakes.

When I arrived, the city was sheathed in frozen snow. I wondered around the downtown area and through the beautiful neighborhoods surrounding Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun to get a feel for the predominant colors local homeowners prefer.
 
It seems Minnesotans are inspired by the "Great Outdoors," when it comes to paint choices indoors and out. I found an elegant array of earth-tone palettes, all reflective of the nature within the city.

Pine green hue, reminiscent of the Great North Woods.

Straw yellow hue, reminiscent of the tall lake shore grass.

Water and sky white hues, reminiscent of the icy waters of the Great Lakes.

I then visited the famous Minneapolis International Market Square where more than 60 showrooms showcase furnishings, fabrics, paints, accessories and more. This excursion gave me a sense of what colors are popular in Minnesota interior design. Similar to what I saw on the outside, I discovered many earth-tones in the displays. Neutrals are very practical because they pair well with bolder colors. Many neutral tones are associated with natural materials, such as stone, wood, straw, sand or more artificial materials such as metal, glass and concrete. Neutrals can be cozy or elegant, and serve as a good background for combining different decorative styles. For example:

 

Java EB  36-2, Limestone EB 36-3 and Shore EB 12-3

Winter Wheat EB 46-3 and Almond Oil EB 46-4

Even though I discovered that Lake Wobegon is a fictional location in Minnesota, I was able to get a sense of what colors the Prairie Home Companion characters would have liked. I was also able to meet the nicest Midwesterners, who are all so friendly and easy going. I experienced their gentleness and love of nature, which is beautifully reflected in their choice of colors; subdued, elegant, laid-back and comfortable.

Design Dilemma: Emily's Response

Dear Emily,

Your space is great. You must be so excited. The couches are totally workable. I would suggest a soft warm white on the walls so that the couches don't hit them with a hard edge. Try a color like Apricot Haze.
   
    Apricot Haze 7002-11

I would paint the book case even lighter. Can you try using whatever wall color you use and half it with the white of the trim?  This will help the bookcase blend into the room better but still give it some presence.

You could even paint the coffee table. For the kitchen, I would totally go with a bright blue green that corresponds with the couch.  Try a color like Lake Breeze or Gentle Wave. The cabinets will pop nicely against this.
                
   Lake Breeze 5007-7B          Gentle Wave 5007-7C

If you want to try an accent color on the door, try something with some rust in it (like the box you have on the counter), something like La Fonda Sombrero or Toasted Apricot.
                
La Fonda Sombrero 2008-5B    Toasted Apricot 2006-3B

Let us know how it goes.  A first place is always a great adventure!

And a quick reminder to everyone to take our most recent Color Buzz Poll if you haven't done so already.

Planet Green

By Michéle Coppin

Green is the coolest, hippest color, thanks to Kermit. Luckily during this time of year, shades of green are everywhere which makes me very happy. I love spring when the cool air becomes a little warmer and the green grass and leaves emerge.

Here are a few of my favorite green combinations:

                                             
            Afternoon Delight 6006-10A                Quail Egg 7002-12

                                         
                                       Sparkling Lake 5002-3B       

                                         
       Homestead Resort Moss 6006-6A        Tempered Sage 6006-5A

                                          
                                         Pontoon White 7006-13

Green is one of the purest, most natural colors. Because of its strong presence in nature, I often associate the color green with our beautiful Planet Earth. I know I am not alone when I say this because when astronauts return from space they don’t discuss the brute force of the rocket launch or the exhilaration of zero gravity. More often, the most significant experience they share is their view of Earth, its magnificent beauty, fragility and lack of visible borders.

"From up there, it looks finite and it looks fragile and it really looks like just a tiny little place on which we live in a vast expanse of space. It gave me the feeling of really wanting us all to take care of the Earth. I got more of the sense of the Earth as home, a place where we live. And of course you want to take care of your home. You want it clean, you want it safe."

—Winston Scott, two-time shuttle astronaut, author of "Reflection of Earth Orbit"

If you would like to show your appreciate for our green Earth, I urge you to check out Earth Hour, an event taking place tomorrow, March 28. You can learn more at http://www.earthhour.org.

And we'd like to add another friendly reminder to go and vote in the Color Buzz Poll if you haven't had a chance.

Cheerful Color Combinations - First Installment

                   

With all of the uncertainty out there, one thing's for sure—you can wash away the blues with a fresh coat of paint! We've all been feeling down about the economy, and many of us are hunkering into uber-nesting mode. Now that it’s spring (thank goodness!), it's only natural to want to revitalize ourselves and our homes.  Why not let color lift your spirits?

Reaction to color is very personal. One person's joy is another person's headache. Some of us liven up around bright crisp colors, while others are comforted by soothing muted tones.

Keeping both of these groups in mind, I've put together two directions of color combinations that will hopefully address these mindsets. In this first installment, I include bold, bright and vivacious colors that are considered happy and cheerful. Later, I will explore more subtle color combinations.

When searching for bold colors, look for clean and clear hues that aren't complicated with browns or greys. Once you have your selection on the walls, bring in more complex colors to give visual balance. Let's start with a few of my favorite combinations:

Orange and Pink
I have loved this combination since I was a little girl. It reminds me of sunshine, oranges, flowers, fruit juice and candy—all things I love. I used to have an orange shag carpet, white walls and pink trim and I totally loved it. These days, however, I would rethink the approach. 

To play these colors right, you can go in two directions. You could saturate the room with both colors and add structural elements of a cool neutral like grey to hold it all together. The other direction is to paint the entire room a warm ivory and have punches of orange and pink throughout.  Again, I would add either silver or gray to off-set the warmth of the saturated colors.

I recommend Orange Toffee with Flower Girl, balanced with a tan like Cincinnatian Hotel Hannaford.

                                                
                Orange Toffee 2007-1C                      Flower Girl 1005-1C

                                          
                              Cincinnatian Hotel Hannaford 3007-10C

Yellow and Grey
Anther blues-busting combination that is totally hot right now is yellow and grey.  Yellow is a funny color. I used to dislike it immensely, but there's something contagious about it—now it makes me giggle! It's light-hearted, warm and inviting and when played right, very sophisticated.  When pairing it with grey, yellow plays the role of the star and grey as the supporting actor. I recommend yellow walls, light grey trim, and white accents like Tangy Lemon with Orchid Ash.

                                    
               Tangy Lemon 3006-2A                   Orchid Ash 4003-3B

Blue and Green
Light blue and citrus green is another mood-enhancing color combination. It reminds me of the beach. Try a clear blue with a hint of purple and a green with a healthy amount of yellow. These colors look great in many different rooms. In a kitchen, for example, I would paint the walls blue and the cabinets white. Then I would add accent fabrics that add the green. 

Another great way to combine these colors is to paint stripes with them. They lend themselves well to this treatment because they are both harmonious and cool.

Try Garden Fresh and Dewdrop.

                                   
              Garden Fresh 6008-7B                     Dewdrop 4006-7A

Here's an expanded collection of these bold bright beauties:

Greens
Gleeful 6008-7B
Garden Fresh
Lime Mousse 6008-9B

  
  Garden Fresh 6008-7B


Blues
Dewdrop 4006-7A
Encounter

  
    Encounter 4008-7B


Yellows
Lemon Twist
Like Butter 3005-2A

  
  Lemon Twist 3006-2B


Oranges
Cantaloupe Smile
Autumn Gala 2004-1A

  
Cantaloupe Smile 2007-2A


Pinks
Flower Girl 1005-1C
Pink Ribbon

  
   Pink Ribbon 1005-1C


Purples
Whipped Plum 4002-9B
Lavender Quartz

  
Lavender Quartz 4001-9C

This has been one of the most enjoyable blogs to write. Just thinking about these makes me happy. I can't wait to get some of them onto the walls!

Check back for part II of this blog entry and in the meantime, let us know what colors cheer you up!

Also, please don't forget to take our Color Buzz Poll mini survey and let us know what room in the house you would paint today!

Color of the Week - Ivy Pasture

Since we celebrated St. Patrick's Day last week, we thought a rich lush green would be perfect.  Ivy Pasture is a deep green with a touch of olive to it.  It looks beautiful with Shoreline Haze as a trim color.  Try it with an accent of Crimson Glow for a nice pop.  This combo would be great in an entryway, family room, or playroom.  You'll always feel connected to the Emerald Isle with a stroke or two of this gorgeous green.

                    
    Ivy Pasture 6004-6C       Shoreline Haze 6008-1B     Crimson Glow 2011-5