Decorating & Design
8 Radiant Rooms That Make A Case For Color
Published on November 2, 2016
Celebrated designer Gil Walsh has built a career out of harnessing hues and bright shades to transform simple rooms into showstopping spaces. In her new book, Gil Walsh Interiors: A Case for Color, she divulges her tricks and tips for using color, and looks back on a lifetime of living brightly. Here are some of our favorite colorful rooms from the book. Are you brave enough to try them out?
In the foyer of a client’s Palm Beach home, an oriental rug provided the color inspiration. A soft coral was picked up from the textile and taken onto the walls, ceiling, light fixture and upholstery. Done in a subtle shade, it doesn’t overwhelm.
This loggia living room wows with hits of green carefully used on the millwork and trim and a few choice accents. The walls are decorated with a pale pink trellis pattern which adds even more visual interest.
Elsewhere, the green millwork theme was used again — this time elevated with gold relief work. A pale blue on the walls sets off the green detailing even further, while darker elements ground the decorated ceilings.
In Gil’s eclectic dining room, a deep majestic purple on the walls helps the dark furniture blend in. The dark-on-dark scheme creates a welcoming cocoon and helps to make the colorful blue drapes pop.
This room has a definite colorful feel despite being white-walled. Instead, two bold colors complement each other. Sticking to two main colors — blue and tones of yellow — provides a cohesive balance.
The soft blues of the mural tie into the classically styled valence and skirt, lending a light and breezy feel to a formal reception room.
For the home of an artist, a bold hue was the way to go. Rather than plain white walls behind the gallery, the blue walls act like a piece of art themselves. The black window frames and trim provide a further pop of graphic style.
Gil’s trademark style is incorporating color into all aspects of the room, creating a holistic experience. Here, the bright coral on the walls is echoed on the chair at the head of the table, on a painted ceiling medallion and in the rug’s coral notes.
While it might be an unusual choice, Gil says, “Green should never be overlooked.” Here a bright apple green provides a dramatic backdrop for a simply decorated front entrance. Gil relied on the dramatic and decorative qualities of the color to liven up the sparse space.