Yesterday I was thrilled to guest post part of my Inspirational Palette series on Jennifer Sergent’s DC by Design blog. If you haven’t visited this lovely blog from the former editor of Washington Spaces, I encourage you to stop by!
For now, I’ll share a portion of my guest post with you here:
Because I felt so good about my Beet Salad Room, I’ve been hunting down more images to play this game with. I would love to share two more wonderful imaginary spaces with you.
The Orange Room is inspired by this gorgeous photo of Squash and Soba Noodles with Tofu from the New York Times food section.
Gorgeous Orange!
I love the texture amidst the almost monotone palette. It’s so cozy and inviting, but also really vibrant. Putting this room together was an experiment in tactility; the chunky textiles, the shiny mirrors, and the smooth silks coexist in a way that’s true to the dish…and gives a nod to the sesame seeds. See for yourself:
Clockwise from upper L: Cube Cocktail Table, Shine Furniture; Bench, John Richard; Galiano Pendant Light, Propellor Design; Orange Chair, a flea market find in Atlanta; Cork Wallcovering in Aluminum, Innovations Wallcovering; Scrap Wood Table, Uhuru; Sheesha Pillow, John Robshaw
As you know, all goods things end with dessert, so I had to do an Ice Cream Room. The inspirational image behind this collage is one of the most beautiful food photographs I’ve ever seen: tiny individual take out portions of ice cream from Quality Meats in New York City.
Stunning Take Out Ice Cream from Quality Meats
The garnishes here are just as visually important as the ice cream itself, and the variety of colors and shapes is stunning. The room I envision is anchored in beiges, aquas, and subtle yellows, but would really pop with a bright green plan or two and some chocolate brown accents (velvet maybe?).
Clockwise from upper L: Circular Oak Mirror, Sears (yes, Sears); Effervescent Chandelier, Anthropologie; Beverly Side Chair, Oly Studio; Scales Linen Pillow, Clayton Gray Home; Aqua Petal Pillow, Pier One; White Resin Stool, Oly Studio; Blocks Rug in Citrus, Warp and Weft; Hanna Chair and Ottoman, Oly Studio
I think that the nail heads, petals, patterns and lines here really speak to the sprinkles and special touches on the ice cream. The metal finish on the Beverly chair seems to me like a playful spoon that brings these elements together.
Often my clients or my students ask me if there is a rule about color palettes, or if there is a limit as to how many colors you can have in a room. That’s such a hard question to answer seeing as how design is an art and not a science, but I think we can all take a cue from these lovely food photographs when it comes to color: every room is different and can be beautiful in it’s own unique way. Kind of like a salad.
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