How To Put Colors Together

One of the most refreshing things I see everyday are little toddlers dressed in the most outrageous color combinations. They do not stop to think about which color goes with what--when allowed to dress themselves, they usually pick out whatever strikes their fancy. When she was a toddler herself, my daughter would always declare that 'rainbow' was her favorite color. As we grow older, we somehow turn into color-phobic adults. We paint our homes beige and feel our most dressed up in black. We lose our ability and our moxie to put together fresh, colorful and (gasp!) playful palettes. We resign ourselves to a neutral environment because, "I just don't know which colors go with what."

Looks as good as a box of crayons: A row of colorful houses in Baltmore, Maryland.

Does black go with navy? Does pink go with red? Does red go with purple? Can I mix gray with brown? Yes to all.

Saturated jewel tones go together on a white sofa. Photo credit: www.housebeautiful.com

Swirl rug, www.paulsmith.co.uk

When putting colors together, there are two basic things to remember: saturation and tone. Most colors will go together nicely as long as they don't clash in terms of saturation and tone. Saturation is the intensity or value of the color. For example, a pastel peach may be a de-saturated version of a bright orange, and a rich eggplant is a saturated version of a pale lavender. Tone is the underlying color beneath a color. For example, a spring green fern frond has yellow undertones and a dark green pine tree has more of a blue undertone. Colors will go together nicely when they are more or less of the same saturation and similar undertones. Several pillows covered in different colors but in the same intensity will still look nice together. Another option would be to stay in the same color family and vary the intensity of the color, like in a monochromatic scheme. Yet another option would be to have different items of different colors but the same undertone, for example, a green with blue (emerald) undertones and a purple that leans more towards blue than red (eggplant).  The trick is to have one thing that unifies them--saturation, hue or undertone. The result? Interesting, unstudied and never boring.

One color using very slight variations in tone create a cool, soothing and quiet mood. 

 

Rich and deep purple and orangey gold look smashing together.

 Photo credits above: www.housebeautiful.com

Jonathan Adler is perhaps the best designer when it comes to breaking out the crayola colors. His rooms always look put together, and yet gorgeously unstudied. He achieves this in part through the use of unexpected and playful color combinations that look 'thrown together.'

Adler's design for Barbie's Malibu dream house

Adler's own condo

Another one by Adler: Several colors, similar saturation: Vibrant and interesting.

Photo credits, top to bottom:

www.mlive.com

www.elledecor.com

www.styleathome.com

Brit Grit: Iconic British Designs

There's a British icon in my family. My brother is a proud owner of an original 1960s Austin Mini Cooper. He treats it like his first-born and spoils it like a baby. It is so tiny even in the small and crowded streets of Manila, and when he drives it around children on the street shriek at him, "Mr. Bean!!!" This iconic car is so small that when my brother takes it for a ride to somewhere more than 30 miles away, my mom would say a prayer. She is deathly afraid a bus will fall on him, car and all. Well, this car is a celebrity. It is quite rare, especially in a city like Manila, and when you drive it around people in other cars and on the street stop and stare. My mom is afraid that left in the parking lot, somebody could literally carry it away.

Above: My brother's Mini Cooper at a car show.

Made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 to 2000, the original Mini, is truly a British icon. There is so much personality and a sort of dignified quaintness about this small car. It ranks right up there with Julie Andrews, Kate Beckinsale, Emily Blunt and ofcourse, Daniel Craig.

When I think British in design, I don't quite think in terms of British colonial. That theme is so overused that there is nothing foreign nor exotic about it anymore.  There is so much more to UK design. Victoria Beckham's (tight), pleated, folded and draped minimalist dresses are so classy and elegant. Celebrities wearing them are utterly transformed and Posh-ed up.

 Above: Drape Front Fitted Dress from the Victoria Beckham Autumn/Winter 2010 collection. (www.victoriabeckham.com)

Brits are also good with designs that are slightly off-kilter. Refined yet with just the right touch of eccentricity (Rod Stewart?) For those really into punk eccentricity, British designer Vivienne Westwood interprets her creations for the home. She designs rugs and wallpapers in collaboration with top companies.

 Above: 'Squiggle' collection wallpaper by Vivienne Westwood for Cole & Son (www.cole-and-son.com)

For a more sedate modern look, Paul Smith is my favorite. I once passed up on a wildly colorful scarf, and regret it to this day. Then I discovered this pattern used on an area rug--even better! The trademark curved lines in different colors makes such a statement piece underfoot. Who says art is just for the walls?

Above, top to bottom: Multi Original Swirl Long Scarf by Paul Smith (www.women.fashionbeans.com), Paul Smith Swirl Rug (www.paulsmith.com)

For other British finds, online store MyDeco (www.us.mydeco.com) brings goodies by up and coming British designers stateside. The styles are lightly modern and contemporary and just a touch offbeat. All items below from www.us.mydeco.com.