During the Historic colors pack a modern punch event hosted by Colonial Willamsburg and Pratt & Lambert I saw and learned so many things that I want to share that it is going to take a couple of post. This is second and you can see the previous post here.
There are so many great color schemes used in the rooms of Colonial Williamsburg but this bed chamber in the Governor’s Palace is among my favorites. It was a real treat to have Edward Chappell, Director of Architectural and Archaeological Research share that the once green walls had been changed to a soft neutral.
The bed is trimmed with an olive green and the bamboo chairs are painted a very deep grassy green with gold accents. Changing the color changed the look of the room and mood of the room. It also put the focus on the bed draped so beautifully in the eggplant toile.
You can see a picture of the room painted green in the book Williamsburg Decorating with Style.
The U-shaped medallion bed carpet incorporates the eggplant and green along with three brighter colors that add punch to the palette.
The eggplant, olive and gold combination has always been one of my go to schemes but I appreciate the addition of the “China Closet Red” and “Tucker Cupboard Orange”*
The wooden header on the canopy had the same toile applied (glued?) to it so that it showed off the profile of the woodwork and felt solid yet married perfectly to the soft scalloped valance. I think there is a DIY project in that idea somewhere although on a much smaller scale…like a picture frame or little box…but just loved the idea.
The color palette in this room may not be one that comes to mind immediately when you think of a traditional scheme or Williamsburg colors but as you can see these colors are perfectly at home in this historic bed chamber.
Coincidentally for the House Beautiful Color Institute presentation I did recently I chose a purple and green scheme as a color palettes that would give traditional furnishings an up-to-date look. Purple and green both are on trend right now but this combination has its roots in history so is perfect for a traditional home.
This is my working photo of Duralee and Highland Court fabrics I had pulled for the House Beautiful Color Institute presentation.
One of the reasons that we love the historic colors of Williamsburg is that they have a feeling of stability and permanence because they connect us to history. These colors have withstood the test of time. They give us the sense that they have been appreciated for a long time, will continue to be loved for years to come and can give any home the feeling of timeless style.
Resources:
Learn more about Colonial Williamsburg
See the Williamsburg paint color palette from Pratt & Lambert
Visit Williamsburg Marketplace online
