I graduated from Philadelphia Museum College of Art in 1953. A long time ago. Some of my professors were Paul McCobb, Jack Larson, and Raymond Louey. Which gave me much inspiration.
My first job out of college was with Gray and Associates in Philadelphia, Pa. Georgia Gray was a modernist. Her husband was Dean of Architecture at University of Pa. I was taught by them the use of color and design.
My adventure in color was bright. Shocking to most clients. Because, at the time Philadelphia was very, very traditional. But remember, I am adventurous.I remember doing a dining room in the 1960’s with deep crown moldings in a white- white paint and the walls in dark brown almost black. The bedroom with purple walls and ceiling. Yes Purple! That was adventurous for the times.( I believe in many cases the walls and ceiling should be the same color. This continues the eye upward. Makes the ceiling seem higher.)
When I came to Baltimore, I had two special clients. I also considered them friends. At the time I worked with this client. I asked her what color scheme she would like. She replied. Everyone is doing Beige. I thought this would be too dull for her . So I put together schemes with beiges and browns she would have never expected. Patterns mixed with other patterns. Quite the unexpected at the time. i put this all on furniture pieces you would have never had expected them to be on. It all was a great hit.
The next client was a couple that built a house in Baltimore. Completely decorated it and then sold it completely decorated. They would then go to Florida and do the same there. But when I met them and started to work for them they were in their 60’s. They wanted me to design something exciting for them.So, I designed their home very “modern”. I totally used all the brightest colors. Purple, Red. and Chartreuse. Remember Chartreuse? Plexiglass chairs and tables, etc,etc. And again they sold the house completely decorated and with all the furnishings.
Now, a couple of months ago, my wife and I had designed and furnished a show house in Washington, DC. (A past Blog) with soft grays and soft golds with accents of brown and orange. A more subtle color pallette with reminences of the 60″s. What comes around goes around again and again. Usually with a little different tweak. We have seen the bright colors of the past few years.Vibrant corals, Bright Yellows, and Citrus greens. But the return of the softer pallette is coming. Soft aquas, soft greys, soft browns and beiges. It all has a calming effect. And we could all use that at this time. By the way don’t you love these color names: Bella Dona, Vista, Rectory Red, Buff, Mustang, Humble Gold and Coconut Skin. (Sherwin Williams , Benjamin Moore, and Farrow and Ball)
Bill
Tags: Color