Decorating with Color

It’s a design truism that a little bit of color goes a long way. Three industry
pros share tips for how to employ it with care.
James McAdam, a designer based in East Hampton, New York City,
and the Hudson Valley:
“Our customers tend to go for greys and earth tones, so as a counterpoint,
I encourage them to use accent pieces in contrasting colors. If you have
neutral-colored walls, bring in an interesting flat-weave rug in teal or
blue or coral, and you’re practically home-free on the color front. Or you
could add some great colored throw pillows. Some of the most popular
items at the shop are pillows by the amazing Judy Ross, which we were
very lucky to get. Ross has an incredible eye for design and texture, and
two or three of her pillows can really pull a room together, turn it into
a finished space. Another fantastic resource for color is the Dunes and
Duchess design team. They design and fabricate lacquered candelabras,
tables, sconces, and lamps in bright colors. And if you’re on a budget, soft
cotton throws from India are a fast way to dress up a neutral sofa.”
James Michael Howard, a designer of many notable East End homes:
“I always say that ceilings are among the most overlooked opportunities for
designing with color. A ceiling defines a room, binds all its elements together.
So if you have neutral walls but you love color, put the color on the ceiling.
I’m partial to light blue because I’m from the South–everyone there paints
their porches blue because of an old wives’ tale that the color blue keeps
birds and bugs away–and where it hits the crown molding, it makes a soft
statement. I also like a shiny lacquer blue for its skylike ethereal quality.
Sometimes I’ll choose a wall paper with a lacquer finish. I just covered the
walls of a library with a faux snakeskin wallpaper that I tinted in multiple
shades of spruce-green–a medium-bodied color that looks great at night. I
then waxed the paper, which gave it a wonderful richness and luster.”

Kathy Perriera, co-owner of Phoebe and Belle, a lifestyle store in
Cutchogue:
“To add a quick burst of color, I’m big on throw pillows, which I swap out
with the seasons. In the summer, pops of red create an inviting feeling and
I love the warmth of tartan plaids and navy blues in the winter. If yellow
is the dominant color in a living room, you could enhance it with a splash
of purple. Similarly, if you have beige walls and white couch, you could
accent the room with turquoise pillows. If you paint your house white,
you can paint the shutters Federal blue. My favorite color combination
is lime green and turquoise. The other day I saw a suede pillow with
turquoise-fringed pompoms and I was all over it!”

RESOURCES
James McAdam Design, www.jamesmcadamdesign.com
James Michael Howard, Inc., www.jamesmichaelhoward.com
Phoebe and Belle, 37070 Main Road, Cutchogue, New York.