Red rooms will make you hyper - but only if you believe that kind of stuff...

When you get right down to it, the use of color and light are, hands down, what really make outstanding design possible. Fully trained by the IACCNA (International Association of Color Consultants, North American Chapter) we are in tune with how color affects us all at a primal level and how to divine the appropriate use of color for each situation. We caution our clients that color trends or recipes (i.e. “A yellow room will make you happy.”) do not serve anyone well because so many other factors come into play. For example:

• Which colors are true expressions of you, and not the paint company marketing their latest product?

• How do the colors affect the synesthesia of your space?

•  How is the room lit? Is there natural sunlight or artificial? What color temperature exists in the lighting and how will it affect color choices? Is metamerism at play?

• What is the balance of color from an energetic perspective? Does it feel too hot or cold? Heavy or airy? Cozy or uncomfortable? Is your ceiling light or dark?

• What does the research show about the application of color in homes versus offices?

• What are the needs of the people using your space? Are they children, elderly, employees of a company, or have special needs?

And the list goes on. Most people choose color while standing in an artificially lit retail environment (with yucky fluorescent bulbs) and fail to understand why their rooms don’t turn out the way they intended (see “metamerism”). The aforementioned considerations point us toward “why”.  

E-design. Seriously?...

Choosing color is a complex process that is tied to the individual project and cannot be mass marketed. The growing trend of e-design (where people seek advice of designers over the web based on pictures they’ve uploaded of their rooms – oh, the horror) is an example of how the design industry has abandoned its roots. The proportion, lighting, energetic and physical feel of a space cannot be evaluated from a photograph. It’s one of the reasons why it is so important to use the services of a certified color consultant. Many designers and decorators advertise that they provide color consulting services, but in reality their true knowledge about color and environmental psychology is minimal – trust us. We’ve had clients come to us after having paid expensive “color consultants” and were unhappy with the results because their needs and environments had not been appropriately assessed. At Hearthstone Interior Design LLC, we have developed a process that has resulted in selections our clients love – every single time. That’s because we understand the basic components behind creating environments that work… and you won’t find that on the web.

Learn More About:
 

• INTERIOR DESIGN
• DESIGNING WITH COLOR
• FENG SHUI