The Rural Voice, 2002-02, Page 35How
By Patti Robertson
Q. Patti: I overheard you
counselling a young lady in a
decorating shop not too long ago, and
you were saying something about a
"colour story". I assumed you were
discussing her home and found it
interesting since I've never heard of
this before. Could you please tell me
more?
E. C. Wingham
A. The young lady was my
daughter Heidi and yes you definitely
heard me discussing the "colour
story" of her latest apartment.
Between you and me, my daughters
have had four apartments each over
the past 10 years as they settle into.
adult life and progress within their
careers. Heidi is definitely my most
difficult client ... not only does she
challenge my expertise, she doesn't
pay me! (I guess it's the mother and
daughter thing eh?)
So, now to enlighten you on a
home's "colour story". All well
dressed homes, be they a single
room, an apartment, a condo or a
single residence will have a
fashionable "colour story". Like all
the best novels, there will be a catchy
introduction, a plot with
heroes/heroines, sub characters,
twists and turns to create depth in the
tale, and of course a satisfactory
ending.
In our homes this translates into
the front door being the introduction
to our home's "colour story". The
front door should prime us for what
we are about to see and experience.
Once inside, the background of our
rooms will create the setting of our
"story" (walls, ceilings, floors and
often as not window fashions).
Colourations in our settings should
blend and flow harmoniously
throughout.
A maximum of five colour
families is the most any smart home
will sport but I have found tightening
the colour range to only three main
colourations on the background to be
even more intriguing, plus this is in
Home Decorating
to tell your `colour story'
high style at the present time. Many
of the homes I assisted with over the
past year simply utilized one colour
in a variety of tonal values — very
haute couture! In essence this theme
creates the setting for the home's
furnishings, some of which are our
story's sub
characters with a
few main
characters
thrown in.
The real
heroes and
heroines are
one's
accessories: the
lighting in our
home and how it
is utilized, the
artwork, statues,
ornaments all the
bits and pieces
that truly differentiate our home from
our neighbours' and family's (like the
difference between a good mystery
and a romance novel). It's one's
accessories that express what's
important to us as individuals and as
a family unit, what we truly care
about and what is of interest to us.
Accessories are what takes any house
and turns it into a home! Accessories
will usually be chosen to enhance the
setting in which our "story" is taking
place. Unity, continuity, cohesion are
presented through the blend, flow,
and melding of all the odds and ends
within one's home into a perfect and
desirable "colour story".
You can easily evaluate your
home's "colour story" by simply
taking a tour with pad and pencil in
hand. Start at the front door and
wander as an outsider may
throughout your home. Look for a
great colour flow and blend that
incorporates all the elements that
make up the essence of your home.
Of course in all great books there
will be a few surprises. Just watch
that the surprises do not sully the
actual story one is telling, and
remember Rome was not built in a
day. If you find your setting,
characters and plot are in disarray,
use this as an opportunity to set goals
and as you redecorate, work with
these principles of telling a great tale
and incorporate the theory into your
next decor!
All successful "colour stories" will
lead one through the home anxious to
peer around yet another corner,
curious to see what's up around the
bend, or on the stairway, constantly
intrigued by all the bits and pieces.
And when it gets to the end, wanting
to start all over again ... excited
about the next invitation to visit.
So, this is your personal "colour
story". Always be glad to return
home to your house, a feeling which
is not unlike getting to the end of a
great book and wanting to re -read it
all over again!O
Patti Robertson operates Classic
Interiors in Wingham.
PATTI ROBERTSON'S
au'
iiferiors
Unique Residential and
Commercial Interiors
135 Victoria St., WJNGHAM
3.57-2872
• Custom-made Window
Fashions, Bedspreads
& Accessories
• Fine Domestic &
Imported Fabrics
• Select Wallcoverings
• Furnishings, Lighting
& Artwork to suit
any interior...
FEBRUARY 2002 31