Navigating Neutrals      Back in the 1500s, Italian Renaissance painter Jacopo Bassano described brown as the “color of home.” While that could have been because he lived in a house with a dirt floor, we prefer to think he meant something more impassioned - such as how the natural color of trees and earth filled him with comfort and security. That is the nature of neutral colors – to provide a balance to the vivid hues in our environment, indoors and out.   Mill Valley, California’s lush Mount Tamalpais is the backdrop for this month’s study of the dramatic results Linda achieved using a color palette based on neutrals. Straight trees, curvy mountains and dramatic summer shadows inform the subtle but never boring interiors of this spectacular home, which takes advantage of but never competes with its majestic setting.   WHAT IS A NEUTRAL? From an interior design point of view, basic neutrals are colors that are not found on the color wheel: black, brown, white, gray, beige, silver and gold, and all the shades created by mixing them together. They comprise the largest share of the paint market in the western world. Most people regard them as safe, inoffensive, all-purpose and BO-RING. We disagree. Versatile, yes… boring, hardly.   THE BASICS Linda often uses a neutral palette in homes where her clients want to showcase an element other than the furnishings, such as a great art collection, bold architecture, a dramatic setting, or a spectacular view. Neutrals are an effective way to balance these stronger features, while still creating an environment that reflects you and your home’s personality – whether casual, formal, earthy, or cosmopolitan. The difference is in how you combine them and the amount and type of texture you use in your materials. In the home featured this month, Linda’s goal was to showcase the fabulous mountaintop setting while reflecting her clients’ cultural interests and sophisticated tastes.   COLOR AND TEXTURE Most paint color and fabrics that appear neutral do contain some color, and this subtle variation allows you to bring warmth (add red or orange) or coolness (add blue or green) to your color scheme, as Linda has done with the addition of pinks and apricots, and one bold splash of violet. Black and white can be cold and impersonal on their own, but when used sparingly, offer contrast that frames and enhances your midrange neutrals. Texture is key in any neutral palette, as it adds interest, diversity and character to the subtle colors. Highly textured, rougher finishes and abundant shapes will create a more casual or rustic atmosphere, while polished surfaces, smooth fabrics and straight lines contribute to a more contemporary and elegant look. In these photos, you can also see how light plays an important part in the design, and how the shadows are another pattern adding to the layers of texture.   So don’t let your fear of boring stop you from having a dynamic home that fulfills your personal desires. If neutrals make you feel at home, ban the bland and go for the gold!