Color Recall: The 1990's

Number five in a series of design thoughts through the decades of my mothers life...

COLOR RECALL

This era invoked a decorating epiphany for me.   Once the 80’s “mauve” era was over, in my mind design took on a more classic look.  

Image via Architectural Digest

Neutral colors created restful palettes and eclectic looks were popular.  Feng Shui was also in there somewhere.  This allowed home owners to mix and match their home furnishings.    Identical lamps on identical end tables became passe and furniture no longer hugged walls, but moved to face focal points in a room (e.g. a fireplace) or placed in areas for reading or conversation. 

Image via Architectural Digest

Hardwood floors replaced carpets and the latter was relegated to bedrooms or eliminated altogether.    Modern, professionally-styled kitchens were coming to the fore even though people were cooking less and less. 

Image via House Beautiful

In line with my new way of thinking, we moved to London, England at the end of the 1980’s and were there into the early 90’s.   

Westminster Palace via Wikipedia

During our stay we joined a historical society that entitled us to visit the historic homes and landmarks in the United Kingdom.  We must have gone over the edge because the owner of this blog made her father and I draw up an agreement that she would accompany us on these excursions, but would not be required to go inside.  We all signed the document and as a result, on many trips to these glorious homes she sat in the car and we would run out and check on her every so often. 

Chiswick House Interior via the culture concept

Now, of course, she regrets her lack of interest because inside these homes, many of which hearkened back to the 1500’s, were design elements that she is now using in her own home and writing about in this blog.   The craftsmanship and opulence of these dwellings opened up a whole new world of home decorating for me.   

Hampton Court Dining Room via you and your wedding

Of course I knew that I couldn’t replicate the décor at Hampton Court, Henry VIII’s magnificent mansion south of London, but I could use the rich colors and French inspired themes in my own modest home.

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Thanks again mother dear...looks like I ruled the roost back then ; )! Not only was I travelling to historic homes with my parents, I was also visiting many of these same homes as part of  school field trips. At some point I had had enough of these manors and castles, but my mother is right, I regret not writing copious notes and taking countless photos to catalog my visits. I do have fond memories of the historic home I lived in as well as those of my friends. No one lived in a home younger than 200 years old. I vividly remember high ceilings, divided rooms, white walls, chintz, majestic curtains with valances, floor base molding as large as the crown molding, large leaded windows, hidden rooms, spiral staircases, crystal knobs, gilt mirrors and gorgeous fireplaces in every room. Living in London was truly a visual and design paradise. 

Below is a favorite image of mine that reminds me of London with a modern twist...

Jonathan Berger via House Beautiful

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! xx Danielle

Color Recall: The 1980's

The following is number four in the series called color recall written by my mother...

COLOR RECALL

As usual, our family spent most of the 1980s abroad.  

Image via Picasa

I do recall mauve and a grayed blue (what we still thought of as Williamsburg blue) were extremely popular at the time.  

Image via Architectural Digest by Angelo Donghia

With deep regret I recall an interior decorating project with my sister during the early 80’s.  She had recently moved back into the house we grew up in.  A pre-civil war dwelling, it was one of the oldest houses in our small northern town.  Because of the previously mentioned design trend, we got into our heads that the wainscoting in what had been our family dining room should be updated.  What we failed to take into consideration was that our plan involved tampering with an original (historic) cherry finish.  This is a task only the seriously deranged would undertake.   With scrapers and paint remover in hand, we painstakingly removed all the original finish and then painted the wainscoting off-white.  This color, coordinated (in our minds) much better with the new highly sought after mauve-blue decorating scheme of the rest of the house.  Our mother, who had passed away many years before, would have never forgiven us—and adding insult to injury she HATED blue…and I wonder why so many years later we even considered doing such a thing as we  both value “old things”.  My house is full of vintage furniture and hers is bursting at the seams with country memorabilia .    But none the less, we bowed to a theme that never really appealed to me -- I am not much for pastel colors and neither is she—but one that seemed feminine and ultra modern.   

Image via William Miller Design

My sister and I have grown older and wiser, but we will never forget growing up in a home, reputed to be a rest home for soldiers returning from the Civil War,  and both of us still make our living space part of ourselves.  The comparison between the city mouse (me) and country mouse (her) is the subject of a separate posting.  I’ll also tell you more about our old house--that is if Fresh Quince will give her mother another opportunity to revisit the past.

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Thanks once again mom! What do you all recall about the 80's? As for myself I have a distaste for light grey, pale blue and pink together but I've found a few images that make the color combinations a little more palatable to my modern aesthetic...

Bremmerman Image via Little Green Notebook

Image via Bijou et Boheme

Image via unknown source

Hal Williamson via House Beautiful

Hillary Thomas via Lonny

Gil Shafer

Have a wonderful Monday! xx Danielle

Color Recall: The 1970's

Installment number three in my mother's 'color recall' series, in which she remembers the colors of her decades and I then share how to incorporate the colors in modern decor....

COLOR RECALL

There were two colors hard to avoid in the 1970’s:  orange and yellow...

via art skool damage


image via retro renovation

They spread their citrusy cheeriness in home décor and clothing and just about everywhere.   Perhaps people were sick of the dull gold, avocado, and rust of the previous decade and chose these two colors to represent a new outlook on life.  

Vintage 70's Dress via Etsy

I always liked orange, but apparently it didn’t like me.  I proudly wore an orange pure silk blouse with beige lace trim on an excursion with a single friend of mine.  She kept asking if I was feeling well and my eldest daughter said I looked yellow.  In later years when I had my colors done in the “are you a summer, spring, winter or autumn?” era, I found out that orange, along with camel, were my absolute no-no’s and I haven’t worn either color since.  

via zoe zombie

Orange as a home accent is forever etched in my mind  because of the home of an acquaintance.  She lived in an elegant, but rustic A-frame home in a heavily wooded development in southern Virginia.   One evening, my husband and I were invited to a party at her house.  She answered the door looking terribly sophisticated in an orange silk halter top and skimpy white shorts (I was jealous!)-- large orange and turquoise beads circled her neck.

via color lovers

She led us into her open living-dining room area where the color orange literally coruscated from silk pillows, dinnerware, glasses, and fruit bowls.  A wonderful mobile with shiny orange objects dangled gracefully from the high ceiling.  It was impossible to be in a bad mood in that room, mostly because of her graciousness and the warmth emanating from the color orange. 

via flikr

via art skool damage

Returning to my earlier mention of the other 70s color, yellow-- I have to say it was not my favorite, but there were, of course, yellow objects in my home at that time.  I had to keep up with the trend.    

-Sandy Tuberson 

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Thanks again mom for another fun post! I think I know which decade I like the best...bring on the orange, yellow and chrome. Below are some modern interpretations of 70's use of bright color...

If too much orange is overwhelming, why not add just a splash on the ceiling...

Lynn Amon

Or maybe you want to spice up your dining area...

unknown (please leave a comment if you know the source)

via Elle Decor

Did you know Farrow & Ball, a wonderful eco-friendly paint source, came out with a new color this year???? It's called Charlotte's Locks and it is possibly the most gorgeous shade of orange...

image via Farrow & Ball

And lastly I can't forget yellow! My first home was painted bright yellow through out and it always looked cheerful. 

A bright yellow living room looks more current than ever, as evidenced in Rebecca Robertson's living room featured on Martha Stewart...

image via Martha Stewart

I don't think you could ever be down coming home to this...

image via Scandinavian Retreat

I could go on and on, but I shall stop here as I plan on revisiting color in future posts. I have always loved color and will be sharing pictures of my first home with you all, as soon as I digitize them. My family referred to it as the citrus house, as yellow, touches of orange and bright lime permeated throughout my home with turquoise and navy accents. Needless to say it was a cheerful home!!! 

Hope you all have a wonderfully warm and colorful week!! xx Danielle

Color Recall: The 1960's

The following is number two in the series called color recall written by my mother...

 COLOR RECALL

Color-wise, the 1960’s are somewhat a blur, not because of any psychedelic  experience (honest), but because our family spent that era overseas.  But I do recall a plethora of EARTH colors every time we returned to the US.  

via English Textile Designer John Hopper's Flikr collection 

Appliances had suddenly morphed from white or off-white to harvest gold, avocado green or a bronzey brownish color that reminded me of shiny rust. 

Vintage Kitchen Aid Mixer

And who goes for shag carpets now {i do}?  Earth-toned multi-color shag carpets looped through every room of our 60’s era house that we bought in the early 80’s.  

Via Retro Renovation

Of course, there were some avant -garde decorators who went for the psychedelic look, but most mainstream décor in the 60s was all about earthiness. 

via Art Nector

Thinking back to our overseas experiences, I wonder if any of those pink and black tiled bathrooms still exist. 

via Apartment Therapy

We lived in lovely homes, but the bathrooms were more than likely tiled in black and pink, two colors that are extremely hard to make earthy. I still can’t bring myself to wear or decorate with black and pink.   

By: Sandy Tuberson

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Much appreciated mom!!! I must say I actually like the first two interiors, they have potential to look current with a little finesse. Below are fresh modern takes on 60's decor:

You could paint your walls a deep rich avocado green. To modernize the look add bright white accents, gold tones and a splash of true blue...

Nick Olsen's Apartment using Ben Moore Paint in Oregano. via domino 

I have posted this before and I'm sure I'll post again, as I just adore this living room below with the shag rug...

Jill Crawford

Instead of a pink and black bathroom, why not kitchen...

via Good + Glam

Have a wonderful week! xx Danielle

Color Recall: 40's and 50's

I am hosting a new series called 'color recall' written by my dear mom...Sandy!

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COLOR RECALL

While some people may spend a lifetime without giving serious thought to color, I think about it all the time.  The other night I was recalling my aunt’s kitchen in the 1940’s and 50’s.  Her appliances were aqua and her kitchen accessories pink.

 

Image via History Scoop

 I realize now that she kept up with modern trends even though I didn’t realize it at the time.  For instance, her decorative objects had all the earmarks of 50’s design:   a starburst clock, a sleek black leopard statue, fiesta ware, and boomerang shapes on fabric cushions.  

fiestaware via you go girl

Black Panther on Etsy $10

boomerang fabric via no pattern required

Her kitchen table and chairs were vinyl with metal trim—the table top was a mottled gray faux marble—I frequently see people who are trying to get the 50’s look by buying similar sets at flea markets .  I really admired two Chartreuse clad Asian ladies that served as lamp bases in her living room.   Coincidentally, they resemble a second-hand lamp that currently sits in the living room of Fresh Quince...

This aunt favored aqua, pink, black, and chartreuse during that era—she was also the one who made delicious fried pork chops and ate the all surrounding fat (it was crispy and delicious).  Her more delicate sisters (one of whom was my mother) discarded this part and severely warned that there would be dire consequences of eating pure fat.   These warnings went unheeded and my aunt  passed away in her 90s. More next week!

Written by: Sandy Tuberson
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Thanks so much mom! For inspiration, below are some modern interpretations of the 40's and 50's decor...

Pink kitchen. Domino

Turquoise kitchen. Judith Balis Designs

Black Panther painting. Miles Redd

Happy Presidents Day and hope you enjoyed 'color recall'!!!!