Black and White

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Ah, black and white, I am continually attracted to the drama of black and white, as much as I love color I am drawn again and again to these 2 colors. As a designer, I admit, my wardrobe is black and white.

Black and white are essential to balance the color in a room, too much color and a space will be overwhelming and busy. Without some black and particularly white, there is no relief in the space. Black intensifies a color, while white make it lighter and fresher.   When used alone it is architectural and dramatic:

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I have always admired the work of Franz Kline, the bold brush strokes up and down and across a canvas. It is dramatic and architectural and in relation to interior design one can capture that energy in a lampshade, painting doors or a sweep of black cupboards. But also the composition of his canvases relate to an elevation, the position of a door, windows, paintings on a wall, placement of furniture and can be an inspiration to arrangement.

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Pink

The days are longer and the streets of London are redolent with cherry trees. The past week we have had days of sunshine and kinda warm weather, or not quite so cold. Riding my bike through Regent's Park I couldn't resist taking time out to absorb some sunshine and enjoy the fragrance. While there I stood under a cloud of a pink cherry tree and began to marvel at this delicate beautiful color:

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What is it about pink? so pretty, so attractive, a color that is satisfying and always makes a lovely room. A color that always flatters everyone, especially under a pink lampshade. My next living room will be pink.

Blue

Yesterday I biked to Greenwich for a meeting, that's a hike from where I am located but the sky was a bright blue and I couldn't resist a long ride under the blue sky. It was that or underground. It made me wonder how this color became associated with songs of a depressed mood and broken hearts. For me it is more like breakfast outside:

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It is an emotive color, all colors are, but blue brings out much feeling for many people. I have worked with many who want to bring some blue to their living spaces. Always pleased to work with blue and although a cool color, it can be warmed up. The other magic of blue is how it can make a room feel larger, maybe that has to do with the feeling of an expansive sky, but a small room painted blue, amazing.

Arrangements of blue:

Samples from Philip Jefferies,  Vaughn, Sanderson, Travers, Ralph Lauren.

Reading a book on a sofa with a cat, pillows, in blue jeans, an open window, a breeze, calm, absorbed in a story, that is the feeling of blue I like.

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