Nobody does it
better than Mother Nature when it comes to combining blues and greens.
The sparkling blue of the bay reflects the soft blue California sky,
while the shades of garden greens offer a lively yet harmonious
contrast. Our nerves are soothed as our eyes are filled with the
magnificent combination of these two analogous colors. The orange
umbrella, red geraniums, pink and yellow cushions and terra cotta bricks
add both subtle and brilliant contrast to the blue-green palette.
The
color palette in this contemporary home on the San Francisco Bay takes
its cue from the view – but with a twist. Walls are painted periwinkle
and aqua, honey-colored frames, doors and chairs soften the palette, and
black grounds the bold yet harmonious colors. The result is playful and
unexpected, yet sophisticated and edgy.
The rug in
this small family room emulates the sea with its turquoise waters
filled with colorful fish. Above the fireplace, artist Virginia Hall
used green and blue to create an aqua background for her happy,
red-roofed houses. The painting, found on Santa Fe’s Canyon Road,
provides contrast, while the gold, green, cream and black tiles pull the
room together, and the neutral wicker chair and pewter table soften the
strong palette.
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Shimmering
ocean blues,
grassy greens, turquoise lakes, lush meadows. The warmth of summer
invites thoughts of cooling blues and greens – colors that evoke
tropical islands, sandy beaches, underwater seascapes, and heavenly
mountains.
The exact words and origin of the phrase are sketchy, but
apparently, a foolish person in desperate need of a rhyme once said
“blue and green should never be seen,” and ever since, some people have
been afraid to use these two colors together. Nothing could be more
absurd. In fact, it’s hard to think of a more pleasing and serene color
combination in nature. Outside your window, you can see and feel the
calming effects of emerald trees against a robin’s egg blue sky, or hike
in the mountains and let the flowing streams and majestic forest bring
clarity to your thoughts.
Let's talk about two ways of combining blue and green. The
first is by using them side by side, along with their range of colors in
between. The second is what you get when you actually mix the two
colors together. Equal parts of blue and green produce a tertiary color
on the color wheel called blue-green. On the blue side of blue-green is
turquoise, and on the green side is aqua.
For contrast, look to the opposite side of the color wheel –
the warmer, golden/red side – for accents that pop and balance the
cooler hues. Or, stay within your analogous color scheme but increase
the intensity of one or two bold accessories.
In these photos, Linda combines blues and greens in six
different ways, from elegant and refined to audacious and high-spirited.
It’s time to bury that old wive’s tale forever!
"I never get tired of the blue sky."
- Vincent Van Gogh
"I never get tired of nature's infinite and delicious
shades of green."
- Linda Applewhite
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A
treasured family heirloom, this hand-painted screen provides the
backdrop for a serene bedroom corner. Shades of turquoise and aqua
combine with soft peach, yellow, purple and periwinkle blue to create a
mostly analogous palette where one could relax into a peaceful haven for
reading or just daydreaming.
Pale
turquoise walls and a lime green rug form the canvas for this softly
sensual living room. Shades of green and blue in the artwork, books and
glass sculpture add interest and dimension to this study in color.
Complementary reds and oranges provide a bit of contrast to the calm and
soothing palette, which is grounded by the neutral black fireplace. The
lime green book, while in the same blue-green palette, pops because of
the intensity of its hue.
Shades of
turquoise and aqua create a study in blue-green in this restful corner
vignette. On the blue side are turquoise pillows and walls, on the
green side are aqua chairs, and completing the palette in blues and
greens are the ottoman, pitcher and plant for a still life where one
color fades seamlessly into the next.
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