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Holiday Essentials:
Nature, Color and
Candles
Last
month, Linda talked about bringing the outdoors in for your
Thanksgiving table. For many of us, December is not too late to go
shopping in our backyards for Christmas, too. It doesn't cost
anything,
and spending time in nature is always invigorating.
To
decorate her holiday fireplace, Linda cut pyracantha and pittosporum
berries and their leaves from her garden and wove them through an
antique wrought iron sconce above the fireplace. She layered hydrangea
leaves that
had turned red and green around the berries, and finished by placing
Appleglow candles among the foliage, some set on bricks for added
height.
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Linda
dressed the antique
wrought iron sconce above her fireplace for the holidays with red
pyracantha ("Firethorn") berries, orange pittosporum ("Mock Orange")
berries, and their foliage. The red and orange
berries and apricot walls are complemented by the green foliage,
and the neutral
wrought iron grounds the palette.
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Our Old Friend the Color
Wheel
Colors next
to each other on the color wheel are called analogous
colors. Analogous colors look good
together because they are related to each other by the primary color
they share. Red, orange and apricot work together because they all
contain
red. Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel.
Use them to create contrast in your palette and make it pop. Neutral
colors such
as gray and brown are not on the color wheel. Use neutrals to
ground your colors and add depth to your palette. If you have
any doubt
about what colors to use together, go outside and look at how
nature does it. Red and orange berries are set off by green
foliage and
grounded with brown branches. Perfect! |
Linda's
red and orange brick fireplace is transformed into a
holiday tableau with "Mock Orange" and red
"Firestorm" berries, red and green hydrangea leaves, and lots
of Appleglow
candles. The colorful palette is grounded with the
copper apron at the top of the fireplace opening and the
antique wrought iron andirons.
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Use Your Fireplace
If
you are lucky enough to have a fireplace that works, use it this
holiday
season. Nothing is more inviting than a crackling fire, and the glow
from firelight flatters everything and everyone. But if you have a
fireplace
and can't light it, you can get the same effect with candles, as
shown in the photograph. Linda used her Appleglow candles in all six
colors
(Ginger Glow, Crimson Glow, Verde Glow, Sea Glow and Golden Glow) to
light her holiday arrangement of berries and leaves.
Linda's fluted Appleglow candles are available in six colors and
sizes in our online
store. Order soon for delivery before
Christmas! |
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Musical
Colors
For her recent presentation at Stroheim & Romann's
showroom in
the San Francisco Design Center titled "Don't Be Afraid of Color,"
Linda paired quotes from artists with some of Stroheim's
exciting new fabrics. In the slide at left, Picasso's question could
have been inspired by the boldly striped "Bellaria" fabric behind it.
Why do
these two colors sing? Perhaps because they are analogous to each other
on the color wheel. (Fabric by JAB available through
Stroheim.)
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Oranges,
golds, and reds create warmth in this colorful
room while an array of soft greens cool the space. Legs on the chair
and ottoman, the coffee table, and picture frames ground the vibrant
palette with
a variety of wood tones.
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Su
Casa
The title of Linda's latest column
for Su Casa
magazine, Fear No Color, is also her mantra. We
hear from so many people who are afraid of using color
because they don't want to get it wrong, but you can do it
with the help of a few basic principles. Read on for a sneak
preview...
fear
no
color
By Linda Applewhite
Photography by Claudio Santini
Excerpted from Su Casa, Winter 2008
During
my time in New Mexico, I have noticed many
homes with white or brown kitchens and baths, white walls, dark wooden
floors, chocolate-stained vigas, and earth-toned tiles. Homeowners
across the
country and even professionals in the design industry can be reluctant
to use color, but I was surprised that houses surrounded by such
exquisite
color and light from their high desert backdrop often contain so little
color inside. When I asked locals what prompts this brown and white
color
scheme, I was told repeatedly: tradition—a reflection of New Mexico’s
history and geographic presence as part of the
West.
In
remodeling my 1930s adobe on Santa Fe’s historic eastside, I decided
to break with tradition and celebrate color. I often take my cues from
nature, and it doesn’t get any better than New Mexico’s abundant
colors. The stunning sunsets inspired me to bring the outside in,
reflect the beauty of the high desert vistas, and make my home feel
good.
♦
The
above
is an excerpt from Linda's latest column, "Living in Beauty," in the
Winter issue of Su Casa magazine. The entire article will be available
on
Su
Casa's website and at lindaapplewhite.com on December 12, and on
newsstands December 22.
We wish all of our friends a vibrant and colorful
holiday season filled with warmth, light, laughter and
joy.
And don't forget to count your blessings!
We certainly count you among ours.
Linda, Janine, Pat E, Laurie, Shawn, Ellie, Pat
W,
Jackie, Seth, Marshall and my pal
Joey |
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