A Fall
Palette with Flair
In
the July newsletter, we featured a home in which Linda used soft
neutral colors to showcase but not distract from the contemporary home’s
spectacular views. This month, we want to show you an example of how
she used a similar palette with an autumn flair, but in a completely
different way.
This
home in a canyon in Kentfield, California could be described as
Mediterranean contemporary. Its architecture features clean, straight
lines and large windows and doors inside, with a stucco exterior and a
red tile roof. The owners wanted an elegant and understated design, with
rooms that reflect their love of music, antiques, and all things
Italian.
To
fulfill her clients' vision, Linda started with a traditional English
rolled arm sofa and chairs and kicked it up a notch with some
contemporary pieces and pops of color. Though it represents a mix of
styles and countries, from the Italian Fortuny silks to the hand-woven
Turkish rug, the finished look is eclectic but not busy because the
neutral colors are restful to the eye, and the diversity of textures
keeps it interesting. This high-end home contains only superior quality
furnishings, fabrics and artwork, but is still comfortable and
approachable and doesn’t take itself too seriously.
The
cozily elegant living room establishes the sophisticated fall color
palette for the home. Linda chose soft shades of gold, apricot and cream
overall, then grounded the ethereal palette with touches of dark bronze
and black metals, and finished with a judicious use of deeper, more
saturated hues in the accessories. What makes the mix of styles work is
the continuity of the neutral colors. While the coffee table is
contemporary in shape and material, it pairs beautifully with the
classic design of the sofa and chairs. Italian silk pillows, antique
French confit pots and a big splash of nature in the tree provide
punches of color that add interest but don’t distract from the perfect
balance of textures, shapes and materials.
A
splurge-worthy idea to note here is the addition of a custom handmade
fireplace screen that replaces the folding glass doors on the home’s
original and somewhat unsightly firebox insert. Linda designed the
screen in keeping with the detail above it using a 2” flat bar border
and hinged doors. You would never know this was not a custom built
fireplace!
The enchanting
powder room is a haven of classic design and materials. The countertop
is finished with a 2” rounded edge for just a hint of a contemporary
touch to mesh with the traditional mouldings and wainscoting. The
antique French Anduze pot, delicately ornate accessories and embroidered
fingertip towel create a serene and quintessentially Italian
tableau.
The runway shows
are over, fall is in the air, and neutrals are all around us. Use them
in your home as you would in your wardrobe - combined in layers of
texture and popped up with a touch of color for a look of classic
elegance that never goes out of style.
