So I was delighted when contributing writer Courtney Lake decided to tackle the topic this month in his most recent article. Please welcome back Courtney and his reflections on this often ignored color that deserves a second look.

“There is something delicious and whimsical about the color of pink yet frequently the hue is aligned with Barbie’s Dream House or romantic sunsets. There is a dichotomy to this color that can’t be ignored – it is what I think represents the best of design duality. Pink certainly has the ability to skew towards juvenile delight but also to uptown sophistication. It’s because of this dueling personality that I find it to be one of the most interesting, under-utilized, and least appreciated colors in a designer’s arsenal.

Country Living

Elle Decor

Pink is technically a tint of red – a red base that is then augmented with white, which gives unbelievable control to a designer to create the perfect intensity of color. So when a client states that he or she doesn’t like pink, I always ask them to point out what their concept of "pink" on my color wheel and without fail it either veers towards Bubble Gum or Hot Pink – both of which lean toward a younger audience. 

It is only when I inform them that pink encompasses all the hues from pale pink to purple leaning magenta that they start to fully comprehend that pink can be a sense of depth, visual interest and calmness to a room that few colors can match. Keep in mind that pink plays well with other hues from blue to yellow to green, and gets along superbly with dramatic black.

Michael Wells Photography

 

Tobi Fairley

 

Photographer Hallie Burton captured the dreamy mood of pink in this space where there’s a sense of calm from the tonal multiple hues of pink which create a design that is both sedate and sophisticated.

 Hallie Burton

    

Designers Suzanne Kasler and Francesco Lagnese use pink as the backdrop to their mostly neutral designs. In the case of Lagnese, he employs a poppy fuchsia shade of pink to showcase his gold and lacquered black accents in a masculine way, and tempers the whole design with a healthy dose of white. Kasler uses a more subtle shade of pink in her design with a mix of natural fibers. The effect is more soft, feminine and grounding, but still unmistakably pink!

Lagnese in House Beautiful

Suzanne Kasler for House Beautiful

   

You may have noticed that I used the term "masculine" and “pink” in the same sentence. This is by no mistake! Aside from the fact that historically pink was the color of male nobility, it is also a great foil to modern architecture. The unexpected combination of modern lines and arches with the color makes for an unexpected pairing that can inject energy into space and make it feel less staid.

The design featured on Apartment Therapy mixes mid-century aesthetics with accents of pink in the rug, curtains and accessories. The room reads as masculine but not predictable. The design featured on Coastroad Hearth combines soaring ceilings and windows with a coral leaning shade of pink. You can tell the room had a woman’s touch with the addition of the lighting and upholstery but I am sure the man of the house feels right at home.

Apartment Therapy

Coastroad Hearth

 

Designer Lindsey Harper works what is often dubbed the forbidden hue into her library design including this striking color on the millwork. Traditional built-ins are given a modern twist with a bold injection of color.  Miles Redd, famous king of color partnered a vivid shade of deep pink with brass trim. If you are not that daring, then try back painting plexi panels to sit on top of your shelving or paint the rear of the bookcases instead to give your room a shot of color in a more subtle way.

Atlanta Homes Magazine, design by Lindsey Harper 

 Miles Redd

 

Continuing with the millwork theme, San Francisco-based design Grant K. Gibson used a paler shade of pink to paint the millwork in a recent design showcase house with stunning results. The pink door and jamb beautifully outline the entry to the bathroom, creating a beautiful frame that welcomes guests.

Grant K Gibson

Speaking of bathrooms, this boldly striped bathroom from Lonny Magazine screams fun and preppy before feminine. The mix of pink and orange is a vibrant choice for a bathroom and one that results in a refreshing space.

Lisa Sherry in Lonny

Pink is neither masculine nor feminine, juvenile or adult, traditional or modern when executed well. It is a color that easily adapts to the needs of modern design, adding fun, vitality and a beautiful background from which to build from. So the next time someone raises an eyebrow when the color pink is suggested, just remind them that they are missing out!”

Thank you Courtney for your insight on the color pink today! Catch up with Courtney at his blog Courtney Out Loud for all his food adventures and observations on great interior design.

How have you incorporated pink into your home?  Have you been bold enough to add pink to walls or added bright pink accents to your decor?

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The Power of Pink is a post from Centsational Girl Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of copyright law. © 2009-2013, all rights reserved.

I spied this beautiful room on the pages of the Wisteria catalog last week and fell in love with all of it, the textural elements, touches of warm metallics, and the fruit punch palette combining shades of sangria and tangerine. It’s a great example of decorating with analogous colors, those that sit next to each other on the color wheel. Here are this week’s five takeaways!

Image source Wisteria

What do you love about this breezy beautiful space?

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Takeaway Tuesday: Pink + Orange Living Room is a post from Centsational Girl Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of copyright law. © 2009-2013, all rights reserved.

I started clearing out closets on Sunday, minimizing clutter in my quest for a home that is simple and meaningful, and then spied a project I started a few weeks ago so I finished it.  When we visited Hawaii in March I was inspired by the motifs I saw in the traditional Hawaiian quilts that date back to the early 1800s, a technique brought over by missionaries. Funny, in previous years I’ve never been drawn to them but something about the intricate and handcrafted nature spoke to me on this recent visit.

I came up with an aloha inspired appliqué pillow cover, one that adds a dose of watery aqua blue for summer and also adds a touch of the islands I miss so much.

In Oahu, I visited the Polynesian Cultural Center and spent half an hour chatting with the Sisters. This quilt was on the wall was so impressive, that green pattern is cut from one single piece of cotton cloth and sewn by hand. Incredible.

You spy these patterns all over Hawaii in shops and hotels, I love the unique designs that repeat around a central point.

The Hawaiian quilt is traditionally done completely by hand. You start with a template, fold the fabric, cut the design, baste it, and then stitch the motif to a separate piece of cotton cloth. Once the design is attached, the quilt is layered with batting and further stitching just like in this step by step I snapped a picture of when in Oahu.

I decided to speed up the process by using my awesome sewing machine (worth every penny) and the decorative stitch options, but first, the template!  I haven’t mentioned this yet but I have been immersing myself in the Adobe Illustrator program, taking online classes, watching videos, and familiarizing myself with the tools which are taught to graphic artists and surface designers. I started to learn them because knowing how to create any image or pattern I envision has proven extremely useful for textile design (my prints will be available soon, pinkie swear!)

I was inspired to create a floral-ish motif based on a pattern I saw while visiting Hawaii. It took me an hour or so to create the design in Illustrator and to test the repeat so it looked like what I wanted.

Hey look at that, so cool!

I printed out the template, cut it, and pinned it to my aqua cotton fabric (you’ll need ¾ yard of 44” wide cotton for the applique and for the back of the pillow cover.) Fold your fabric in half, then in quarters, then in eighths and align the template. Same concept as cutting a snowflake!

When it’s unfolded you get a perfect repeat – I used pins to secure it to another 22 x 22” piece of white cotton.

I tested various decorative stitches on a scrap piece of fabric for the surface and settled on the second from the left.

It makes sense to start at the center which is what I did, working slowly around the middle circle to secure the design to the white cotton.

I worked my way around the edges slowly, the whole pattern took about 30 minutes of concentrated stitching. I messed up a little in a few places but from a distance you can’t tell. :)

I used the same aqua colored cotton for the back and actually sewed a zipper into a pillow this time. Usually I’m lazy and do an envelope or pocket style closure but I’ve been practicing zippers and I’m getting much better at them.

It turned out better than I expected, I love it! It reminds me of the quilted patterns I saw while visiting the islands, but with a modern twist. 

If you’d like to recreate one for yourself in a 20” x 20” size, feel free to use this template!  

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Aloha Inspired Appliqué Pillow is a post from Centsational Girl Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of copyright law. © 2009-2013, all rights reserved.

And a few other links I enjoyed this week:

50 designer tips for choosing a sofa. 

Oooh I want one: a mason jar coffee brewer 

Have you seen GeoGuessr?  You have five attempts to guess where you are in the world based on Google map images and get points based on how close you get. My high score was 8,561 after three tries and a lucky guess. Turning the image helps.

This lip sync battle on Jimmy Fallon is hilarious (via Iowa Girl Eats)

Which summer movie are you looking forward to? For me it’s a toss up between Star Trek and The Lone Ranger.

I had no idea there were this many Sherlock Holmes.

Here’s a gorgeous (and educational) print on pairing food & wine.

I’m taking notes for the future on this stunning Sonoma vineyard wedding.

A reflection on surviving divorce and the rainbow after the storm.

A not to miss photo dress up series for girls.

Hexagons are so hot in design right now. Here’s a fascinating look at the Honeycomb Conjecture and why bees create this efficient and elegant shape in their hives.

Have a fab weekend! 

top image + book letters via Design Milk

Weekend Reading is a post from Centsational Girl Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of copyright law. © 2009-2013, all rights reserved.