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Looking into the history of any color is fascinating, and in BLUE, Michel Pastoureau has created a beautiful book that is rewarding for it’s own aesthetic qualities, both visual and functional (yes, the binding is really stitched and the book lays open at any page!).
As for content, the color illustrations taken from a variety of historic documents serve to make the educational text entertaining as well as informative.
These days we see blue as a color relating to trust, sincerity, peace, tranquility (sometimes), and a few other ‘color-psychology’ and associative qualities.
Looking into the history of any color is fascinating, and in BLUE, Michel Pastoureau has created a beautiful book that is rewarding for it’s own aesthetic qualities, both visual and functional (yes, the binding is really stitched and the book lays open at any page!).
As for content, the color illustrations taken from a variety of historic documents serve to make the educational text entertaining as well as informative.
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From 1914, the ever-relevant Wassily Kandinsky–prolific painter and writer.
Creating the definition
It’s always interesting to be in a conversation about matching colors. For me, the first question is “what do you mean by match? ”
I think that ultimately it’s just about feeling that the colors work together and are harmonious in the space where they appear. Personally I believe that a more interesting space is created when “matching” colors is not even an issue. I’d rather see it as the best way to enhance the space while referencing qualities of art work, furniture, rugs, and other important objects in view.
Dining room wall colors reference the art work and stained glass panel. Color design and photos by Barbara Jacobs
What makes a harmonious result?
It’s true that when we’re in a paint store —with literally thousands of colors at our fingertips—it’s easy to bounce from one color family to another, and even from one tiny color swatch to another. Even when we bring along fabrics, pottery, pieces of wood, or other “match-worthy” items there are seemingly infinite possibilities. As with a satisfying meal, harmony comes from combining the contrast and balance of a few key ingredients.
Warm dining room transitions into the cool kitchen. From the kitchen, we also see the blues of the painting in the dining room. Note the glowing warm and cool colors of the art-glass pendants.
Kitchen wall color refers to the tones of leaded glass and granite.
On another note, here’s a problem area resolved with color. Floor tile is harder to change than paint color!
Problem area resolved with color balance. Color design and photos by Barbara Jacobs
Stone wall is the inspiration for new paint colors in kitchen and adjacent family room. Color design by Barbara Jacobs
Context is Critical!
There’s just about no way a color that originates in a fabric or other material can be re-created to an exact match in paint. Even if you have a look-alike color in the paint store, on your walls it might be another story.
Here’s why
Tip
We have a natural tendency to look at color chips on a horizontal plane. Always view paint color chips at the same angle as they will be used on the walls.
Surfaces and textures
Whether on a horizontal, vertical, or curved surface, texture makes a difference in both the source color and the destination color.
Test the new colors
View the colors in actual painted large color cards, noting how they work with your furniture and fabrics. Look from one room to the next, and back the other way. Look at the colors in all times of day and night, with your painted samples taped onto the various surfaces. This is my most-recommended way to really test colors in your home.
You can read more on this subject in my “Perfect Palettes: Mix and Match” article on HGTV.com.
Thanks for reading ColorViews. You’re invited to write to me about your color experiences and project questions that I’ll consider for publishing!
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