New consult color challenge. Help.

[Katie Fitz]

Sooooo . . . I have a consult tomorrow. Now color selection is not necessarily my strongest suite, but I do ok. But this one is making me cross my eyes from the descriptions. Here's what the lady said on the phone.

"The house is Italian, but we want to go French. The kitchen is red and yellow. The living room is predominantly sage green. There is burnt red tile throughout the house, with oriental rugs. We want the hallway finished with something that will bring it all together. You can do that, right?"

"Of course!" I say as my eyes cross more.

I'm now spinning my color wheel like a Magic 8 ball. Any suggestions? I haven't gotten anywhere past "beige goes with everything."

[sonol'artista]

It seems that warm tones are predominant now....those red tiles must be dealt with :wink:You could always do a ochre hallway, but that is playing up the Italian....can you post some photos of the rooms?
I would consider doing the hallway a blue to offset the other rooms of yellow and red floor, lots of washes... from pale soft blues to almost cobalt with some umbers thrown in. Really need photos to give any good advice though!

Theresa

[cleta]

yes - I agree with Theresa on the blue in the hallway...anywhere...to sort of pull things together and get to the "French" theme. so...does "burnt red tiles" mean...oh - let me think here...terracotta??? well, terracotta works for both italian and french themes, so that would be a plus.

yeah, soft washes of color, too like Theresa said...

Oriental rugs??? this makes my head hurt.

so - this makes me think about our conversation in Portland. Does any of this really go with the style of the house? of course, it's the clients wishes that dictate. just wondering....

[Katie Fitz]

I don't have pictures yet. I"ll post them tomorrow, when I'll be seeing the space for the first time. But based on the phone call and description, I need to pull sample boards tonight and be ready with color suggestions.

And yeah, Cleta, we'll see if any of these styles actually go with the house. I'm suspecting the house is Mediterranean, since that's what's prevalent around here.

I had been thinking purple as complimentary to yellow but slide towards blue for French, but lacked the backbone. Thanks for the backup!

[Katie Fitz]

Here are the pictures of the space. Aside from the sage green couches in the living room, there really were no cool colors in the house, so I’m not sure where this “going French” thing was coming from. The house is NOT Mediterranean as I suspected – it’s not ranch, craftsman, or anything I could really put a name to (and I forgot the exterior photo). I pulled out the blue samples, and the client and I immediately agreed this was not a good direction.

This turns out to be one of those clients who says “I’m not an artist. I don’t know colors” and basically wanted me to tell her what to do. I find this situation very difficult as color and texture (and tolerances there of) are so personal. Although she said she likes bright colors, any sample with multiple colors got the raised eyebrow. She initially liked a very quiet VP in camel. Then I pulled out a parchment finish and she got very excited about that. She has commissioned me to create two sample boards in the parchment finish, one in “Oklahoma Wheat” (siennaish-beige) and one in “Fernwood Green” (sage).

So how do you handle clients who want you to tell them what to do? I’m a bit baffled by people who don’t know what they do and don’t like.

[Katie Fitz]

Client choices . . .

[Linda Marsteller]

Go to the library and look at books or magazines that are about France -- decorating, etc. To see real life homes and their color schemes is very helpful when you start a project like this. French homes are very eclectic in texture and color. Orientals and brick/tiles included. That's my advice, even after the first meeting. Then you have book/magazine material to show them, too. This will also give you more confidence in the presentation. I often show book/magazine examples of my ideas when I do something like that. Very helpful.

[Deelite]

Check out the Sept issue of Veranda...there's a great article on a french style home.

[brendainkc]

After seeing the photos I would suggest going with the green. The golden color probably won't look much different than the kitchen. I see a large mix of styles going on, from the Oriental rugs to the very formal looking table in the hall.

I have clients look to me all the time for direction. My main goal isn't always to go with a certain style (French in this case), but to work with what they have going and help them "pull it all together". The sample that they chose is very similar to one I have and it works with many styles, depending on how they chose to use accessories. Sometimes I've had clients tell me what style they have and when I get to see the space, I don't see any style. Instead of correcting them, I let them think what they want about style, but I guide them into choosing colors and patterns that will work in their space.

Brenda
MorningStar Studio

[strongv]

sell her a rustic plaster that leans towards the warm tones in that yellow swatch. Pale, at little crusty but overall soft.

She wants texture not just color and its a great opportunity to upsell.

[Katie Fitz]

Good catch on the texture, strongv. After she told me for the 3rd time that she liked color and I wasn't really seeing anything, I picked up on the texture as well. I won't be doing plaster, although she did initially like a VP sample. The parchment finish she picked can be very rustic, it's one I use a lot, and goes with everything. And I am going for the up-sell. The back side of her front door has some panels that are crying out for ornamentation. We'll see what happens.

Normally, I do NOT have a problem telling people what to do, or giving strong hints (just ask my husband!) but this is just different for me. I think I haven't absorbed a lot of the color counseling for clients at the brain-stem level. I have to work for it, so it feel odd guiding others through something that isn't second nature yet. An area to work on.

Thanks for sharing, everyone.

[KathyFakesIt]

You see that pinky/salmony/reddish colour of the flower in that stuffed arm chair by the fireplace? Not the throw pillow, but the more muted tone in the chair.

Dial the value of that hue down a bit and put that on the wall in your finish - it will gloriously set off the sage green couches that you can see when you look into the room, as well as bring those two rooms together - the living room and the armchair room that is - plus it will kind of tie in the red in the kitchen.

PLus, It will definately push her just a little out of her comfort zone, give her something out of a magazine and be just a little more dramatic. A hallway is a good place to do that.

[codyhalloran]

Good information and to see the homes of real life and its color scheme is very useful when you start a project like this. French is very eclectic homes in texture and color. Eastern and bricks / tiles included. That is my advice, even after the first meeting.

[alliekat]

i find that soetimes a homeowners idea of "italian" and "french " arent exactly what is italian or french , i ask them to explain what it is about "italian or french or bright colors they like or what they mean because sometimes they have a different definition..like red...is it italian or french? seriously..sometimes when a client says they like color they could mean biege instead of white

[samanthasmithin]

French interiors are high on detailing from walls to the furniture. Your suggestion of beige is a safe bet. Creams, off-white and pale yellow too can be considered.

You can add the French appeal to the home by adding in accessories like chandeliers, candle holders etc.