THE COLOR PURPLE
The color purple is really hot now days. Yes it is. It's splashed all over the design magazines and TV shows, it's the "it" color at this very moment. Purple has always been by oldest daughter's favorite color.
Now I am not afraid of color and never have been. Bright reds, greens of all shades I can work with and it will not look like a Christmas scheme. I love the challenge of making bold colors work in spaces. I never feel the urge to plaster or cover everything in whites, tans and beiges, never have. When I enter a home on a Consult I make every possible effort to work with the existing color scheme unless it is very dirty or dingy and not salvagable.
I must confess that Purple and Pink scare the living daylights out of me. They take me back to many former house hunts where I ran across the purple and mauve color scheme. This color would cower me in fright and indecision. I absolutely hated it and was very vocal about it to anyone who would listen. When I think purple, I think Barney The Dinosaur.....yea let's not go there!
Recently though, I have seen some really exceptional use of the color purple in Staging. It gives me pause and makes me think there is hope for me yet. I just need to get over it and take the plunge. So I thought it would be really great to see some examples from any fellow Stagers out there who are using this color and how. I recently saw a blog where the color purple was worked in through dining room chairs. Absolutely beautiful.
So it is my hope that any of you fine Stagers out there that are using this very trendy color will post some of your examples to inspire those like me who are chicken. Either Redesign or Staging examples would be great. Also, I would like to know if this color is getting good reviews from clients both Redesign and Staging.
Happy fun and safe Halloween!
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Ana - I didn't realize that this was the trendy color these days. I have, however, seen a lot of lime green and black lately.
I can go with purple... but the hot pink kinda scares me.... And it is not a soothing color. At least, not to me! It is hot, though!
Ana, hang in there----it will turn into mauve soon enough:)
Hi Jason, Lime green is still ig out there and even though many people cringe at the thought it is actually a very easy and fun color to work with. I have an eleven year old that is absolutely in love with black and it is fun to work with too. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Kathy, I am with you on the hot pink! Lots of pink tile here in so cal, except it is pepto pink lol! thanks so much for commenting.:)
Oh Charles, I hope not I couldn't take it! I am certainly sure you have seen your share of the pink and mauve house LOL
LOL! I love purple. I am looking at some purple accent pieces in my office right now.
PS-Remember Penny Balogh at the Summer Meet from Sherwin Williams told us the new mauve is called Dusty Rose.
Ana, some of the things I have learned about color over the years. Our tastes change all the time. All colors can be made to "work" relative to other colors and forms. There is no such thing as color memory. Personal preferences often cloud our ability to appreciate the power of color.
Personal preferences must come into play for any professional stager regardless of how much you try to be objective. I am sure that there are lots of ways to work with colors. As an artist, I love experimenting.
Hi CATHY, I do remember her. You know I still haven't received my color kit from her. Did you ask for one and did you get it? Dusty Rose...well now
Charles, while you are right about tastes changing, that is one combo I have not as yet embraced. I have never been afraid of color and it is tricky for me when recommending colors because I know no matter how well a certain combination works, it may not be the thing to do when staging...mass appeal and all.
Hi Charles P, I like experimenting too, I have messed up on more than one occasion but learned from it too. Thanks for commenting
Ana, I've always told staging clients that any shade or tint of purple is not a good idea when staging. Do I need to change that now. Maybe just use it with accents and accessories...but on walls???
Ana ~ As you said, purple can be a stunning color -- when used in staging, perhaps best used in accents like throw pillows, dining room chair seats, and accessories.
Ginger ~ Purple walls for staging? Not in any of my clients' homes LOL!!
Hi Ana, Purple is such a taste specific color, especially when it's bright! We recently staged a home where all the bedrooms had an eggplant purple colored carpet. Our goal was to make the purple part of the overall color scheme, not te it. Here is one of the twin bedrooms we staged with the purple carpet:
When I used to sell in Palm Springs, California, I used to love showing a condo where every room, every where was bright pink and bright lime green. Shag carpet, wall paper on light switches, etc. It was like stepping back in time. I kid my clients that all colors and styles eventually return!
Hi Ginger, thanks for commenting. I would work with it, but It's not in my wheelhouse as far as picking it to decorate or stage with. I agree with Charles P that my personal preferences may play in to my choices when staging and designing for someone although I try to keep that to a minimum.
Hi Maureen, I agree the accessories are a great way to work it in...art, pillows and such, walls not so much for me either!
Hi Diana, your work is a great example of really toning down a strong color. Eggplant carpet might send most of us running for the hills lol! Beautiful job and thanks for sharing your picture.:)
Hi Douglas, you are so right. Just like fashion as I see leggings are back in vogue for the ladies. It all makes it's way back around. In my visits to homes in Palm Springs, Salmon seemed to be quite popular....YUK sorry, can't take it LOl. Thanks for stopping by and Aloha.
Oh my Ana, I can do purple accents but not an entire wall or fabric covered furniture! I actually like it with orange & gree. I'm a basic color fan for the biggies and then on those trendy colors adding a splash of accents.
OMG, did Charles say mauve was coming back, just shoot me now : /
I agree with Cynthia, just shoot me if mauve comes back. My mother had mauve in every room and we moved her out of the house we found mauve candles in every drawer and closet. I'm a little bit mauve traumatized.
Purple and pink really are personal colors, and I wouldn't think they would have wide application in staging beyond accessories. But they could certainly make a home stand out from the crowd if used well. Let's just hope the color forecasts are not completely accurate. A dusty rose by any other name is still mauve.
Hi Cynthia, I like it on accents too, I think a room using this color on the walls has to have the perfect light, some shades can turn out either too cold and others very very obnoxious.
Hi Tara, Mauve should only be used by professionals LOL. It has it's place.
Hi Laurie, I agree totally! Thanks for commenting
HI Ana! I did receive my paint fan right ater our meeting-I use it all the time. I would contact her. Maybe she lost your contact information.
Ana,
Purple indeed is a hot color, it has been sneaking into the decor palette over the past few years. For those of us that carry fabric lines, it's been in the new samples books as a stand out. Purple can run the gambit from your Lilacs to your Prunes. I just picked out Arresting Amber SW-6034, for a client's two story family room as the fireplace accent wall color
Paired with Golden Fleece SW-6388 as the main color
Can't wait to see it up on the walls!
Hi Ana, I had to come back to your post, I recently attended the International Furnishings and Design Chapter meeting here in GA and purple was the top color they stated as being the new big thing. I do like Julea's choices above, very classy!
BYW~ love your new avatar, too cute!
Thanks Cathy, I think I lost her contact info, we're both not doing to well!
Hi Julea those samples look great togehter. I did recently see purple on a fireplace accent wall but It was a wrong shade, that looks much classier and rich. Thanks for commenting.
Hi Cynthia, I will have to step out of my comfort zone and have some fun with it!
I have been using the avatar for my outside blog and other non AR blogging. I am in the process of getting new pics to replace my old webcam photo and figured it was a more fun replacement for the moment, so thanks!...still not as cute as that little bit above!
The raspberry tones are what has really drawn more interest in design shows these days. I have always liked the mix with rich royal purple as well....against a vanilla background. Also wonderful with steel grey. Very contemporary in feel and can refresh a room when used in moderation!! Accents for me, less so for a large piece.
Hi Ana - I haven't seen too much purple lately. Most of the homes here are still variations on beige. A little splash of purple sure would liven it up!
Hi Ana- I actually love certain shades of purple and used Benjamin Moore's Violet Stone in a small bath area in one of my own previous houses. But to use it in Staging? Perhaps in accessories, And, please no more mauve, we're inundated with it here in South Florida!
Hi Kathleen, that rasberry color is really strong but I have seen it used beautifully in accent or accent walls.
Hi John, too much beige does make for sleepy town! I know lots of houses you see are tan outside, you walk in and everything is tan too, yawn! Another vote for purple:)
Hi Kathy, yes I believe Florida is the CAPITOL of mauve haha. I can only imagine some of the challenges you face :)
WOW haha Barney is right! HEHE
I agree the fuschia is gorgeous. But it does take a special circumstance to make it work. It sure does in that pic.
As for mauve/dusty rose, ERRRRR...I'm in the Southwest, and it was REALLY prevalent thru the 90s. Aqua and mauve carpet! Eeeeeeee!
Hi Candice, I prefer to leave those colors in the sunsets of the southwest. I lived in Tucson for a few years and remember two things the most. The gorgeous sunsets and the crystal clear night skys with all the stars.