In this San Francisco North Beach Victorian, blue combines with
yellow, red and orange to create a colorful yet cozy hearthside.
Handmade blue, orange and yellow tiles were installed over white
Carrera marble, while the formerly white mantle was painted black to
ground the vivid hues. Linda’s clients selected the blue rug and
wanted blue tiles as well, so Linda suggested bringing in the oranges
and yellows to warm up the palette.
Linda’s clients wanted their contemporary home to look like Henri
Matisse lived there. They wanted color and lots of it – like the
13-foot-high blue wall in the living room that harmonized with their
view of the San Francisco Bay. But to keep their home happy with such a
large expanse of blue and the soft gray ceiling, Linda and her clients
incorporated orange, yellow and green to convey a playful feeling in
this home filled with kids, dogs and lots of sunshine.
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“There is no blue without yellow
and
without orange.”
- Vincent
Van Gogh
Van
Gogh may not have known the science and psychology of blue - that it is
calming, cooling, and thought to be an aid to intuition and an appetite
suppressant. He probably didn’t know that blue is our
overwhelmingly favorite color, yet is represented only
marginally in the foods and flowers of nature. But clearly, Van Gogh
knew his color wheel.
To
keep your cool blues from freezing you out, warm them up with
their opposites on the color wheel. Add some yellows and oranges to
make your blues come alive. But remember, always ground a
colorful palette with neutrals such as grays, browns and blacks. So
if you love blue, consider combining it with orange and
yellow to create a warm and lively room that's inviting and
guaranteed to glow.
Your blues
will sing your praises, and so will Van Gogh!
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The
cool blue walls, artwork, furniture and accessories are enhanced by the
warm tones present throughout the main floor of this whimsical
home. Originally, Linda’s clients wanted all blues and greens to go with
the stunning water views from their four-level San Francisco Bay Area
home, but after living with the cool colors, they found they were always
cold! To solve the problem, Linda returned to help them choose a deep
shade of burnt orange for the dining room walls, restoring warmth
and comfort to their colorful home.
Summer caresses our senses as we drink in the sight of this
pristine swimming pool set against indigenous California Redwood
trees. While the green treetops recede in the background, the brilliant
blue pool shines like a jewel amid the oranges and yellows of the window
treatments, table, chairs and light fixture.
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