Currently as well as historically, the color purple evokes an aura of royalty, mystique, power, wealth and magic.
Purple reigns supreme, as togas in rich shades were worn by all the powerful Roman Emperors and it was a favorite color of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. Spiritually, it reflects pure thoughts and symbolizes intelligence and creativity.
The U.S. Military awards the Purple Hear, a decoration given to soldiers wounded in battle to recognize bravery. 
Several hues of the purple palette include grape, lavender, lilac, orchid, plum and aubergine.
Purple commands the eye to take notice and is prevalent in home interiors today. Using softer tones as a backdrop or as an accent color brings a regal air of beauty and harmony to any decor.
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Reader’s color dilemma:
I’m going to turn this into a bistro. Would love some suggestions. The theme is Mediterranean ( mostly Italian). Inside decor will be darker (mostly reds and browns) Any suggestions would be appreciated.– janemuir
Kate suggests:
I think this home will make a cute bistro. While the darker colors you mention could work on the interior I would start with something a bit lighter on the exterior. It will not only make the place look a bit bigger but will give you a canvas to add some details that can carry your theme to the exterior.
I’d start by painting the main part of the house with a color like Valspar 3004-8A Oatlands Gold Bluff or the slightly lighter 3004-6B Oatlands Yellow. Use a creamy white for the trim that has the same undertone.
I would go with a toned gray for the shutters. Something with a bit of color in the gray but not too much. 5001-4C Slate Court could work nicely but before putting it on slap on a coat of reddish brown first and let it dry. You don’t have to do this to carefully because it is an undercoat. Just avoid sloppy paint spills or drips. Once dry give the shutters a nice coat of Slate Court. When completely dry…and I mean completely…hit some of the high points with sandpaper to allow some of the undercoat color to come through and give you an aged look.
You can do the same thing with the door. You could use the same undercoat color as long as it looks different enough from the door color or you could go with a shade of blue or even use the leftover paint from the shutters. Again give the door a nice coat of a color like Valspar 1008-5A Belle Grove Flamestitch Red and then give it an aged look with a bit of sandpaper.
You can try out the look on a piece of scrap wood to make sure you like the way the undercoat looks when it comes through. You should also test out the main exterior, trim, door and shutter color on test boards so that you can confirm that the colors work perfectly before you begin painting.
You don’t mention if you are going to keep the awnings but if you could match them to the main house color, the trim color or do something a bit creative.
Giving the aged finish to the door and shutters will begin connecting your guest with the theme before they even get inside. A bit of landscaping to anchor the house and a few planters that look like they came directly from the Italian countryside and I think your place will say “Italian Bistro– Come on in!”
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Today’s decorating dilemma: My boyfriend and I are trying to complete our bathroom, the floor is in dark brown tile with chai tea wall tile color. After going crazy searching for Tiffany blue I wonder if this would be the best combo for a relax bathroom, what do you think?? Should I go for it and use Erica’s pick????
Look forward for feedback! ~Helena
Bethany’s Suggestion:
Tiffany’s Blue definitely has some pizzazz. The dark, chocolatey browns that you described always look good with (more…)
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Today’s color dilemma…
Hi Kate. We are in the process of finishing our basement. It is about 2100 feet and will have a main living area (pool table, air hockey, TV area, and a large bar/kitchen), exercise room (the wall that connects to the main living area will be half glass with glass doors), a bedroom and a bath.
The bar and pool table will be a medium oak. Our house is decorated in warm earth tones throughout, and we would like to carry this down to the basement. However, we don’t want to simply replicate the upstairs. I would like it to be a little bit more lively and fun.
We have no direct light from windows, so we are concerned about the space feeling too dark. If you have any color suggestions, we would love to hear them! FYI, our contractor includes Behr or Benjamin Moore paint. Many thanks, Francie
Note from Kate–
Hi Francie, I am out of town presenting at the House Beautiful Color Institute in Chicago but your in luck because the very talented Barbara Jacobs will be responding to your question. Take it away Barbara.
Barbara suggests…
You are thinking in the right direction to want to make your more active space have a more energetic and lively ambiance. Not only will it create variety of design in your home, but it is really more effective from the ‘color psychology’ perspective to create a more high-energy feeling in the kind of social area you’ve described. (more…)
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Last month I wrote about Cottage Magpie’s green challenge but this month I decided I would play along and share some of the yellow things in my home.
I have lots of yellow kitchenware from the 40’s and 50’s. I started collecting Harlequin dishes and Hall pitchers when I was in college and still enjoy them.
The Harlequin teapots are my absolute favorite and I have them in 9 or ten colors. I just love the pointed handles and bright colors.
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Today’s color dilemma…
I’ve been reading about Dorothy Draper but most of the pictures are in black and white. Can you give me some examples of the colors she actually used? I’d like to decorate my apartment in bold colors and thought her palette could inspire me. Thanks, Riley K.
Kate suggests…
Benjamin Moore put together a special palette of their colors that captured the style of Dorothy Draper a year or two ago for a museum retrospective show. Here are the colors they included:
Dorothy Draper was the Grand Dame of using bright, bold color and texture combinations in her day and thought to be quite outlandish. While in her day using these hues might have seemed quite brazen today it is no longer that unusual and in fact quite fashionable.
Find out more about America’s first interior designer in my article on Sensational Color…
Resources:
- Type in your zip code for a list of Benjamin Moore dealers near you.
- Do you have a color dilemma? Post it in the Makeover Gallery at RoomVues.com and you could be the next reader to have your color question answered on the Color For Your Home blog.
**Please note: Due to individual computer monitor limitations, colors seen here may not accurately reflect the paint colors. Please refer to an actual sample of the paint for an accurate rendition of the color.
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Today’s color dilemma…
I’m looking for help with natural oak trim and wood floors. Pretty good light and great artisan wood side tables and hutch. Anything but yellow? Anything bolder? What about something in a green?
2nd question– I’m interested in some ideas for color for living room and dining room with beautiful natural oak trim and molding. There is no way we are going to paint this wood, but we would like ideas for a natural match. Help!!!! –Eileen
Kate suggests…
Green would be great choice with your oak floors and trim.
When I read your question I immediately thought of Edgewood Green from Ellen Kennon Full Spectrum Paint. This is a (more…)
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Today’s color dilemma…
Thanks for finally addressing the bricks…The front of my home has partial red brick and the rest is stucco. I am in Florida on a small lake.
The house was painted beige with the mauve trim, plenty of trim includes the garage. The house next to me had the mauve color shot and painted their house in it. The color is ok but not fantastic. It is midtone. What color can I use. Should I color shot the mauve ( from the 70s) and tweek it a little?
I like colorful; One house on the lake is a violet periwinkle and is pretty. Also 2 yellow houses on the lake. The house on my other side is white with lt. blue trim. Can you please show your color chip selections I just love that! — Criztina
Kate suggests…
I’m imagining that your mauve tends towards red if it goes well with your brick and if you are happy with that color than certainly tweaking it a bit is an option but it seems that you might be ready for a change.
Yellow and creamy tan are colors often used on homes that have red brick combined with stucco but with two other homes close by already using yellow I don’t think it would be best to have your home in this range of colors.
I like the idea of (more…)
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Please join me at the House Beautiful Color Institute on March 13th where I will be talking about creating sensational color combinations for your home.
Each event takes place in one of the many incredible designer showrooms. I will be (more…)
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Once again for Fall 2008 Pottery Barn has partnered with Benjamin Moore to create a palette that perfectly complements their line of furniture and home accessories.
Note the number of blues in this seasons collection. The popularity of this color continues as we make our way into fall.
More color at Pottery Barn
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