Delighting in the signature neutral palette so seamlessly woven throughout the shop, as well as the paint brush bouquets….
imagine my surprise when these artist’s palettes were produced from behind the counter!!
Homepieces: always a place to find inspiration!!!
Filed under Art, Inspiration, Travel
A new challenge is music to a designer’s soul…when that challenge comes mid-project the music is taken to a whole new volume.
Working on a lovely French country home…redoing floors, choosing light fixtures and furnishings, aging ironwork…all in a slightly subdued traditional palette, the client adds a striking abstract painting to the score!
Integrating this piece into the evolving melody, we decided to play to its strengths:
color and more color!
I think the result sings!!!!!!
Having visually soaked up the amazing green of the Pacific Northwest, I am now reflecting on another regional color statement……ORANGE! Perhaps in an attempt to counteract the many gray days, orange is everywhere, even enlivening the exteriors of building and bridges.
Nowhere is the hue showcased better than at
Two locations in Seattle:
86 Pine Street in the Courtyard of the Inn at the Market
1022 First Avenue at Spring Street
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Thank you to Ted for graciously allowing me to photograph the shop on First Avenue
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another bit of ‘orangespiration’ from a private home
Filed under Inspiration, Travel
Visualizing a beautiful space, incorporating my client’s wishes and dreams, and my concept of bringing them to reality…only part of the job. Conveying my concept to the client is the next step. Much of this process requires words…. words of explanation, description, education, persuasion. Since some of the needed words can be technical in nature, I have decided that a good way for me to grow in this area is to ‘tighten up’ my vocabulary – starting with the words we use about color.
hue, tone, value, saturation…
Webster defines hue: a gradation or variety of color, tint
hue = color
again defined by Webster, tone: a quality of color with reference to the degree of absorption of light, a slight modification of a given color
tone = shade of a given color
value: a degree of lightness or darkness in a color
value = lightness or darkness of a certain color
saturation: the degree of chroma or purity of a color, the degree of freedom from admixture with white
saturation = degree of purity of a certain color
in the classroom we would now be asked to use each word defined above in a sentence……………
‘The value of the tone of the hue is saturated.’
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
another example of the Master Designer’s work….
Patience is a virtue on so many levels……..
……as is decisiveness!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-words do not do them justice-
I shall let them speak to you……….
dedicated to Karen Donnelly Blake in memory of her mother
Filed under Garden, Inspiration, Nature
As spring color invades my world here in Santa Barbara, one last look at Martha’s Vineyard.
A monochromatic palette has a beauty all its own.
I believe the eye hungers for and seeks color – even in the midst of monochrome.
Happy spring everyone……….especially to those who have waited so long!
Even as spring is held at bay on Martha’s Vineyard, the flora of winter shares its beauty and subdued color
the fence posts blossom
tree trunks shed bark to reveal color
the landscape and the locals all longing for spring………..
‘Blizzard’ is not a word in my experiential vocabulary! Being a California girl, the prospect was exciting. Arriving on Martha’s Vineyard in the evening with a storm predicted the next day, the locals were downplaying the possibility – selfishly I was hoping…. Waking during that night to howling wind, I was not disappointed!
Morning provided this scene
through windowpanes rimmed with ice.
Snow blown against the house by gale-force winds.
The storm abated, night descended, color returned.
Glorious color!!!!!!
– first in a series from a recent trip to Martha’s Vineyard –
Susan Wennerstrom | W designs 