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What do you Not want to do today?

For me, today it’s painting shutters instead of writing a blog post; or instead of working on one of the many new rug designs in progress; or even selecting new paint colors for my own little interior project—reviving a former bedroom occupied by one or another of our children over the years.

OK, so I took a break from the shutter work. After all, client projects are much more enjoyable!

The particular pair of exterior shutters I’m talking about (yes, just 2 of them!) has been in my studio since last Fall, over the entire winter. Even with a great place to work on projects like this in any season, I didn’t have to try too had to walk by them and look the other way every time I was doing something more “immediate” and enjoyable, even painting up color samples.

Now, finally, it’s almost Fall again and the prep is done.  I’m on to the surface color, so the end is in sight and, once done, I might even get to organizing the office and studio –again.

The point is, that every time I actually accomplish a long-procrastinated task, the reward is so much sweeter—as in, “I Finally did it!”
Here’s my color celebration, in advance!

The trick is to find the creative in the mundane.

What are Your tips for doing this?

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A recent visit to the MFA in Boston became an extraordinary experience for me—as the work of Dale Chihuly has been for thousands of others, worldwide.

I’ve never seen so many people at an exhibit who were trying to capture their own personal experience with cameras of all types, from cell phones to professional style equipment.  Even though I tried to resist the shutterbug impulse, it did not take long for me to join the crowd. I wanted to share a few my own impressions, and provide you with a link to a fascinating video of this master’s creative process and studio activity.

Color and shape get "Primal," in primary colors

Just one piece of the endlessly fascinating experience in color, form and texture

The work of Dale Chihuly is internationally renowned, but we’re fortunate here in Boston to have a tremendous installation of his work, offering a first-hand experience of being in the midst of his world of color, light, texture…and so much more.

Like dreaming in violet - glass reeds mounted into actual birch logs!

Trying to imagine his creative process needs a lot of help. So, to spare the words…enjoy this experience of being in the Chihuly studio!

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OK, let’s say we agree, that we recognize that color is important. So, how do we take it to the next level? There’s the Right Color…and then there’s the “Everything Right About the Color.”  Color experience is so omnipresent that I was inspired to share this example.

The Swedish design firm Happy F&B has really got it Right, in a subtle  yet effective way.

(Screen shot image)

The changes in the green color, the font style, the shape…these are the seemingly little changes that make the difference.

These same principles can also apply to using color in architecture and interiors.  It’s a broader view on what makes color selections important, and why many factors need to be considered.  Lighting is the one that’s most often mentioned as being important. After all, what is “color” if not reflected light!

As with the logo re-design above, it can be the little things that become the most important things. And getting to these can mean asking a lot of questions. Among them might be something like:

• What’s the purpose of the shape of the area considered for a color? Is it intended to be read as a collection of flat surfaces, or as a mass or volume?

• What about the position of the surface in the space? Is it above you, below, at the side, or behind other shapes? These all apply whether it’s indoors or outside.

We humans actually do respond both physically and emotionally to these qualities even if it’s not something we consciously think about. And, while these might seem like extraneous details—not romantic, fashionable, glamorous or “sexy”—they are exactly the kinds of considerations that can determine the success of a color palette and therefore of an interior, a building, or a product.

Find out more about  lighting design here.

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