Color Wise. A sophisticated pastel palette gives this 1830s home a refreshing new look.

Transcription

1 Color Wise A sophisticated pastel palette gives this 1830s home a refreshing new look. by ruma an alam photos michael partenio produced by stacy kunstel Cool walls and warm accessories create a comfortable balance in Barbara Pervier s living room. 54 bet t er hom es a n d g a r dens m a rch bhg.com

2 Farrow & Ball section department Cord No. 16 Sherwin-Williams Rain SW6219 Love doesn t always strike at first sight. I was so cavalier, Barbara Pervier says, recalling her first visit to the condo she now calls home. Under 700 square feet, the space seemed too small, so small that Barbara wondered whether her bed would even fit in the bedroom. I took one look at that room and said, No way, she says. But Barbara couldn t forget the tiny condo s biggest feature: commanding views of a picturesque Salem, Massachusetts, park. It wasn t long before Barbara, an interior decorator, had a new home and the condo had a fresh face, largely through smart use of color. Many times, people are afraid of using color in a small space, but color can actually make it feel larger, Barbara says. Here s how she did it and how you can, too. PHOTOS: CREDITS Find your muse. Barbara s love of her home s outdoor views guided her color choices. In the living room, for example, she brought the sky indoors by painting walls a pale blue. The cream-colored ceiling is painted in an eggshell finish to reflect light and make the room feel airy. Although these colors can be considered cool, Barbara says, in this instance they feel fresh and breezy. Let colors speak to your style. A predominantly light blue and white color scheme plays well with Barbara s affinity for Scandinavian style. The Swedish look is serene and quiet, she says. And I love the warmth and simplicity of Swedish furnishings. These colors are light and unobtrusive, allowing individual objects to stand out. Call attention to details. In addition to the views, Barbara was drawn to her home s historical roots. Yet some of the original architecture in her apartment, housed in an 1830s Federal-style brick building, had been stripped away during earlier renovations. In the living room, Barbara added crown molding and painted it an unexpected tan-gold instead of white. I m a huge fan of painting molding in a contrasting color, she says. It helps the millwork shine. Often moldings disappear into the ceiling. Mirrors and glass surfaces reflect light in Barbara s living room, above and opposite. Glass adds sparkle and doesn t take up any visual space, she says. Barbara warms her cream-color furniture and carpeting with wood finishes such as pine, light mahogany, and cherry, above. When light comes through the room, there s a nice glow, she says. Use key colors more than once. The molding s slightly gold color overhead picks up other gilded touches below, from accessories to the metallic Greek key trim on the draperies. Add some contrast. Barbara took the edge off what could have been an overly sweet color scheme with her contemporary mix of furniture that combines warm wood pieces and comfortable creamy upholstery. She added punch with a few bold magenta accessories. For buying information see page XXX. bhg.com m a rch bet t er hom e s a n d g a r dens 57

3 Benjamin Moore Sail Cloth Ext. RM Find your true colors Barbara Pervier s color palette reflects her love of Swedish style. Go to BHG.com/ findyourcolor to discover your personal palette. Use pale colors in low light. Creamy hues secondary in Barbara s living room get top billing in her bedroom, which is small and has only one window. The creamy-tan walls are a reflective color to make the room feel more expansive, she says. Find the perfect partners. Barbara chose lavender in the bedroom and kitchen to pair with blue throughout her house. I wanted a color that would travel from room to room, she says. Lavender is analogous with blue on the color wheel, so they blend well. Make fast fixes with paint. Walls and ceilings weren t the only surfaces Barbara painted. To age her brass side table and mantel sconces, above, she sponged them with goldleaf paint. I just used a foam brush to paint them, and now they look antique, she says. The chandelier in Barbara s bedroom is a home-center find. She made it special by sponge-painting over the silver finish with a gray hue. Now it looks so soft and pretty, she says. 58 better homes and gardens march 2012 bhg.com

4 C2 Paint Alpine C2-270 Barbara highlighted the lavender undertones in the kitchen s blue wall color by using lavender linen on upholstered dining chairs. Be consistent but not boring. Blue carries through from the living room to the eat-in kitchen, left, keeping the overall home palette cohesive. But here, the blue is different, tinged with lavender instead of green. Simplify with white. Barbara carefully balanced her love of color with some visual room to breathe. Crisp white molding frames the kitchen windows and doorways, and cream-color carpets top the wood floor. bhg.com march 2012 better homes and gardens 61

5 The palette Pale blue dominates this color scheme with coordinating greens and lavenders to refresh a historical home. Cream, gold, and small doses of bold pink make the pastel palette more interesting and sophisticated. n For buying information see page 200. bhg.com march 2012 better homes and gardens 63