Design Confidently, Live Comfortably




by Bill Moore

When our remodel was finally finished and it was time to choose colors for the rooms, I had this suggestion for Tom: Let's paint it all white. We burst out laughing, not only because we were so exhausted and desperate to get back in our house, but because neither of us could believe such a suggestion would come from me -- a creative director for a cosmetics company, for whom color is all-consuming.

I started by doing some research. Not from history, but from what I had seen in magazines, films, and nature. Despite our respect for the period, Tom and I never aimed for a by-the-book historical renovation. We wanted the house to reflect a warm, modern, open feel, and we wanted the colors to be interesting and fun. So I drew my color inspirations from the world around me. I was especially influenced by the film comedies of the mid-to-late '60s. It's not about choosing one color but about how the entire scene comes together.
The green room The shade we chose for our family room is so striking that the room has come to be known as "the green room." Green is my favorite color. But where others see vibrancy, I see green as a neutral. Look outside, and you'll see that green complements and coexists wonderfully with everything around it.

I wanted a color for the family room that would really bring the backyard into the house. We had opened up the back of the house structurally; now, by using color, I wanted to create an effect similar to that of living in a deluxe treehouse. With the heavy white molding, 11-foot ceilings, and new windows, a strong green was important. Inspired by the trumpet vine just outside, I chose Pampas (#1644) from Pratt & Lambert. It was the perfect choice -- warm and inviting to us, maybe a bit of a shock to others. But that's part of the fun -- we love the reaction we get.
The dining room When I was debating which shade to use in our dining room, our contractor, Ken, had just one concern. "Are you sure you want to paint it brown?" he asked. I just laughed and told him to trust me.

From the start, I knew I wanted the color of the dining room to be dark. Dark colors evoke an intimacy that encourages conversation and friendliness. We also did not want a color that was too brassy in a room already outfitted with an over-the-top glass chandelier and sparkling, Elizabeth-Taylor-inspired cabinet knobs. I also had to consider that this room was in the middle of the house: With the green room in the background, it was important not to have competition between the two.

It was in an old film, Up the Sandbox, that I saw the dining room color I had in mind. I found just the right shade in Pratt & Lambert's Dansbury Downs (#2285). It works because it's indistinct: Depending on the time of day, the color reads from gray to lavender to dark olive to just plain brown.

Our choice was also influenced by the adjoining kitchen with its white cabinets, white marble with gray veins, and turquoise-tinted sea-glass backsplash. Brown, white, and turquoise always look great together, so our choice was sealed.

Intimate spaces I wanted the front parlor to be light and airy. It's a small room and one of only two that we left in their original states. I also wanted a color that reflected an urban environment. Pratt & Lambert's Brevity (#2295) is a soothing light-oyster color that allows the room to be a continuation of the street outside. Besides, I wanted the surprise to be left to the green room.

My choice for the master bedroom was inspired by the sky. Pratt & Lambert's Astrachan (#1279) is a great to wake up to and is peaceful at the end of the day. What's more, it matches the mini-view of the sky through the transom window.



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