Here
comes the sun in Kirby Kendrick’s whimsical and enchanting adobe
kitchen, which gleams with light and warmth radiating from the
yellow walls. The artist’s other favorite color, blue, lends a cool
contrast to the cabinets, which are topped with silver zinc counters.
Black and white checkered tiles serve to ground and enhance this lively
palette, while the red lampshades, pots and dishes add a fiery burst of
color.
The
irreverently shaped steps, sensually curved openings and unexpected
fireplace let you know this is no ordinary passageway. Mellow yellow
stucco walls, stairs, kiva fireplace, nicho and arched doorway lead to
a contrasting persimmon-colored room. The color of the old bricks
visually connects the two rooms and harmonizes with the rustic wood
ceilings, while black and white tiles from the adjacent kitchen
add a touch of crispness to the buttery hues.
Golden
slumber awaits guests as the light from the windows and lamps bounces
off yellow walls, creating a cheery and open feeling in this tiny
bedroom retreat. Shades of blue in the stenciled floors, painted
railing and vintage double wedding ring quilt float beneath like a
sea of tranquility to comfort a weary soul on a cold New Mexico night.
Blue
and white tiles edged in yellow grout pop in contrast to lemony walls
in this fanciful bathroom. The funky old clawfoot tub stands in proud
defiance of the cleanly geometric tiled wall, and red tulips complete
the primary color palette for a spirited yet serene setting for the
lucky bather.
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YUMMY
Yellow
"It
is the color closest to light. In its utmost purity it always implies
the nature of brightness and has a cheerful, serene, gently stimulating
character. Hence, experience teaches us that yellow makes a thoroughly
warm and comforting impression."
- Johann Goethe
Expression of an Impressionist
The
postcard-blue sky and almost constant sunshine of Santa Fe, New Mexico
in August are brought inside as the palette for the adobe home and
studio of Linda’s friend and client, artist Kirby Kendrick.
Kirby’s passion for yellows and blues is evident in her contemporary
impressionist art, but did she really trust that passion enough to want
to use yellow so broadly in her home? Most designers advise against it,
but with Linda’s encouragement, Kirby’s instinct paid off big time. Her
home reveals her artist’s soul and warm personality around every corner.
Happy Yellow
Van
Gogh called yellow “a color capable of charming God.” It is the color
of sunshine whose brilliance embraces us in joyfulness and exuberance
that can produce a smile from even the surliest curmudgeon.
It’s almost impossible to be truly sad on a sunny day.
Serious Yellow
Scientifically,
yellow is the most visible color, and the one seen from farthest away
in space. Schools and offices take advantage of its powers of
stimulation on the mind to help students study and workers concentrate.
Stairwells and hallways that receive little or no natural light are
often brightened by yellow because of its ability to reflect light.
Tricky Yellow
While
it’s true that yellow can be challenging to use in large quantities in
your home, it can give you a wide range of options. Yellow can be
soothing and sincere, or mouthy and cloying, but it doesn’t need to be
confined to a sunroom, kitchen, or child’s room. Since it is a primary
color, it pairs beautifully with many of its complementary and
analogous neighbors on the color wheel, as long as you are careful
about balancing the intensity of the colors you are combining. As with
all color, but particularly one as reflective of its surroundings as
yellow, be careful choosing the correct shade for your walls, and never
trust a small paint chip to make your decision. Always try out samples
at least 24” x 24” in size, and observe them at different times of the
day from a distance alongside the rest of your finishes and
materials.
If your heart cries out for yellow, use these photos for inspiration. They are anything but chicken!
"How wonderful yellow is. It stands for the sun."
- Vincent Van Gogh
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