There’s a reason Candice Olson is famous.
I mean, thanks to reality tv, a lot of people are famous these days, even if they’re less than brilliant or less than talented. But – traditionalists take heart – some people still earn fame by knowing what the heck they’re talking about. (Oh, all right: maybe also because they’re really really pretty.)
Ms. Olson is one of those.
Yesterday’s Wall Street Journal has an EXCELLENT article summarizing Ms. Olson’s thoughts about wall colors. For the color-initiated, most of the suggestions sound like good old common sense:
– Paint colors chosen LAST, not first.
– Warm colors in north or east-facing rooms.
– Muted colors to set off a collection of brightly colored artwork. Blah blah blah…
But even for those of us who do this for a living, there are there interesting tips and ideas.
Such as black walls.
I’m going to confess right now that I’ve never had the guts to paint a room black. But I’ve wanted to.
Ms. Olson tells us to go right ahead! Be smart about it, of course – it can work in bedrooms, bathrooms above wainscoting, certain living rooms.
But don’t fear black. That’s the message.
She also provides this tip: think of light olive, “essentially a gray green,” as a versatile neutral. I truly usually consider it a color. Handle with care and all that. But she’s right: it is pretty versatile. And neutral.
AND this tip: use cool colors in rooms that have little sunlight; using them in sunny rooms could change the color dramatically. (I’m still not sure I totally buy this one, given that I love my super sunny light blue office, but I’ve been thinking about it all day.)
After my outspoken-ness regarding Restoration Hardware’s recent furniture line, are you waiting for some kind of snarkiness to emerge? Do you think this post is just a setup for a zinger at the end?
Not this time, Gentle Readers. This one is aaall guuuuuudd. Read the article and you’ll see what I mean.
Annie Elliott – aka bossy color – is an interior decorator and design blogger in Washington, D.C. She’s also the creator of the “bossy basic,” a one-time service to jump-start the interior design process in your home.
