Historic Building Lobby – working with a group

Historic Building Lobby – working with a group

Sound familiar?
We’re familiar with the ‘old song’ about the difficulties that can occur getting 2 people who share a home to agree on design decisions.

As pleased as I was to be asked to consult with the owners of a historic Boston co-op building, I was equally aware of the challenges in satisfying the requirements of a group of property-owners sharing a very real interest in the same building.  The subject of my work for them was to create a new color palette for the lobby and vestibule of their 1924, “classic Old-Boston” building in the historic heart of Boston.

The Challenge
My first meeting with the property owners included at least one person representing each unit. After our introductions, we had a vibrant dialogue that consisted primarily of their expressing personal likes and dislikes. Starting with the existing bright yellow in both the vestibule and the lobby itself, opinions were effusive and diverse!   “I Hate Yellow!” …”I’d Kill for Yellow!”

Original colors: Yellow Entry

Well, the fact is that the existing color Was yellow, in the lobby area as well as the entry vestibule. The dialogue continued, then, with a review of the purpose of my working with them and defining the goals. Having listened to–and Hearing–their concerns, I described the approach I would take to meet the goals.

The Process
Basically, it came down to “what is best for the building will be best for the group.”  This is a good example of communicating when it’s necessary to leave the individuals’ strongest color preferences in their own interior spaces. As a core belief I hold for this kind of situation, it was my consistent emphasis at that time and throughout the entire extended process of the renovation.

During that first day, I selected a variety of colors to create an overall palette direction. I focused on a range of warm and cool “earth-tones” with a few accent colors as options to consider.

The points that were the focus of my approach in meeting their requests included:

  • Make the most of the beautiful, historic building.
  • Classic colors that suit the building. A palette that’s distinctive, not “ordinary,” yet one that’s comfortable and welcoming.
  • Focus on the architecture.
  • It’s often about moving beyond what is currently there, what we’re used to seeing. Change can be traumatic.
  • What’s the experience we, and others, have when coming into–and leaving–the building?
  • Respect for and reflection of the quality and style of the current panel murals. Not matching, but rather enhancing and supporting.

The Spaces
I was asked to consult about paint colors for “a lobby.” When I arrived at the site for our first meeting, I discovered something a bit more complex. Yes, it was actually two spaces–not one. But what a pair! The entry vestibule, and the actual lobby.

Here are the new colors you can compare with the original yellow, shown above.

Final colors: 2 Views in the vestibule, left and right sides.

Timing is important!
Because the color selections were just one part (but a critically important part!) of the process of the extensive renovation of the space, it was good to be brought in at the beginning of the process rather than right before the painters were to start. I visited the site throughout the construction process for color-plan reviews with the group’s point person. Sometimes 2 or 3 people met with me but that was a good thing to continue to communicate and confirm our direction and the ultimate selections.

After developing the main palette for the two spaces, which included a variety interesting, yet conservative, colors, they asked me to add an alternate palette they described as “bolder, brighter, and  ‘cheerier’.” Remember, they are coming from …bright yellow.

Entry vestibule
Coming in from the street, the vestibule has some natural light–but of course being very dimly lit at night with limited light sources. Lots of an almost-pink color marble, a high ceiling, and beautiful black, wrought-iron crafted doors. Bright yellow walls!

Original colors: Entry – come up the stairs

The Lobby Area
A long, narrow rectangle – you enter on the long side. At each end of the room there’s an entrance to an individual condo. Each of the upper stories of the building has only one unit per floor. The walls are divided into sections, with moldings framing mural panels. The walls below the chair-rail molding are divided in the traditional manner with sectioned frame-style molding.

Original colors: Half of the lobby area.

Overhead fans with lights, and 2 table lamps make the yellow walls even more glaring.

The Murals
As it happened, and what came out in conversations, people had reactions to the murals that were as strong as their feelings about the current yellow wall color!  Some of the owners even said they had never really liked the murals.

But most were wanting to keep them, so the questions became:  How to select a color that will support the hues and tone of the mural panels, yet not have to “match” anything there?

Original colors: Mural wall – closeup

Near the murals, the space called for a particular color type.
The lower part of the wall had some other requirements because it was adjacent to the marble (same as vestibule) as baseboard, with a multicolored stone floor that had very different color indications.

Even though I intended to keep all the background wall colors very “neutral,” personally I thought that it could be interesting to pick up one or another of the mural colors in an accent…even a very thin pencil-outline around the mural frame, as if using a fillet in the mat and framing of artwork. I still think this would have been an interesting way to make the murals be more like individual fine art pieces, since they were each already framed as if they were individual paintings.

I was asked to consider a variety of decorative treatments that would have been completely appropriate to the space, the history, and the architecture, but budgetary considerations brought us back to the paint-only model. For this, even though I had many years of experience in these artistic applications, I would have brought in another professional to do that work.

The Floor
In any location the floor is usually a large portion of visible surface. Even with furniture in a room, it’s a big consideration in any space because, after all, it is at the base of what every other surface relates to in some way, either perpendicularly or in parallel.

Original wall colors – Granite tile floor.

One of the parties had  a personal request to see something like a very pale pink on the walls with a grayish greenish white on the trim–or even perhaps a stronger color like “a soft orange, with a cream trim.”  She mentioned it being difficult for some people to go from bright yellow to “gray,” so they wanted to see a brighter, more vivid, option. Having no problem with this request, I did present another palette that would also represent the goals for this space. Ultimately, they selected one of the original color combinations.

The Lighting
Knowing that there would be an entirely different lighting setup once the construction was done–yet working in a very yellow type of low-light situation during the entire paint specification process was interesting. It required quite a bit of imagination and awareness of the impact of lighting on how color will really ‘look’ in a particular area under different lighting conditions.

I had no real examples of the specified lighting, where I could refer to my actual painted color cards for a representation of my palette in the renovated space. I just knew somewhat the type and basic “color” of the specified lighting.  It was helpful to consult with the lighting designer for this project, Doreen LeMay Madden of Lux Lighting Design, about what I might expect, in general, from the lighting plan she had created for this space.

Getting Married
All these elements that were not so noticeable at first glance, with the overpoweringly hued yellow walls and the inadequate lighting. But when you take away the distractions of the extreme yellow and the green rug, the marriage had to go forward into a future of the two spaces having compatible and complementary, harmonious existence!

New Colors, New lighting, Elegant New Look!

A quick example of color changes

A quick example of color changes

Shown ABOVE: another new color concept!

Enjoy the views of these two more color concepts for a California home in the hills. When you want to paint your home, it’s great to be able to see what it will actually look like before you buy any paint at all! This feature, Designer Color Palettes™, is part of our unique consultation process.

Second color concept for new house colors. Warm and cool neutral style colors are complemented by the surroundings. Also shown, new painted garage door idea and gutter colors.
Second new color concept
One new color concept for a contemporary California home. Front view with new proposed gutters.
New color concept - view 2
One new color concept for a contemporary California home. Side view.
New color concept - view 1

Concept development for a California house in the hills, using our Designer Color Palettes service

Two of the new concept developments for a California house in the hills, using our Designer Color Palettes service.

Put the “Fun” back into “Functional Color!”

Put the “Fun” back into “Functional Color!”

     What I call “Supportive color design”—meaning, using color to really help create the desired results—does not have to be boring. In fact, part of the “function” in the functional-color-focus of supportive color design will vary depending on the location and goals. 

It’s the word that skews the imagination. We’re aware that language, and words in particular, can really create an impression that precedes the experience. Paint color names are just on example, setting the mental stage for what to expect. Flowers, food, travel, history…just a few of the kinds of associations that come with paint color names and other types of marketing.

The phrase “functional color” sounds so Dry.  In reality and practice, however, the function of a space or place in general is the key to creating color palettes for paint and other materials that will help achieve the goals of the homeowner, architect, business owners.

It’s actually a very exciting process regardless of the size of the project.

     For example, the goal might be to create an environment that facilities study, quiet time, communication, comfort and security, celebration, relaxation, or energizing. In a workplace or business maybe it’s communicating elegance, authority, delicious food, efficiency, safety.

Health care spaces have their own concerns, the function being to create surroundings that will help with healing and create a comfortable and welcoming, ‘supportive” surrounding for visitors. 

Locations specializing in care for elders have their own unique set of additional concerns about how we are affected by colors as we age, and about designing spaces that focus on the needs of the particular people using the space—whether they are residents or visitors.

It’s always easiest to generalize about color use, like: “Blue is relaxing, Red is stimulating. ”  In a sense that’s true but the larger picture is to examine the specific goals, and architectural configuration of any space, to arrive at the choices of the best colors to apply in each material used, and how they will be used together.

That’s where the FUN of color design really enters in.

New construction allows for the most creativity. I’d call that “Fun” also. But what we did in this orthodontist’s office, that I enjoyed being part of, were all the elements.

This included design of the reception desk, paint colors, carpeting and lighting selections, and furniture selections.

The unique reception desk was challenging and exciting at the same time. Selecting the laminate colors for all the surfaces, and implenting the colors in the 3-d design, was a tactile, visual, and spatial experience.

A bit of creative “whimsy” was intended, yet wanting to be far from a childish space  since the orthodontic patients are of all ages. From the shapes to the color use, the enironment is one that welcomes vistitors with a smile, and that feeling of  “welcoming confidence” carries throughout the other areas.

Not all the spaces in this office are as whimsical as this area…some are of course more serious and focused, as they should be, while providing a space where patients of all ages can be comfortable.

I look forward to addressing the effects, “meanings,” and the use of specific colors in future posts.

If Your Walls Could Talk, it’s a Powerful Message

If Your Walls Could Talk, it’s a Powerful Message

Ideas about color abound, and new ones come up all the time. If your walls could talk, they would tell an interesting and maybe even surprising story! But who are you? The powerful message includes minimalist, brave, shy, bold, extravagant, frugal, cautious, athletic, social…? The list can go on and you can add your own ideas in the comments!

What is “Applied Color Psychology?”
For now, I’ll offer a few ideas according to theories of “applied color psychology.” I’ll even offer a little “quiz” right here, for you to have fun with. When you think about your answers and how you match up the color blocks with the various descriptions, remember it’s not for selecting a house color or a room color. That’s a more detailed set of questions and personal considerations. And, it’s a topic for another time!

If this quiz image inspires you to share it–and I hope it does–please remember and respect that, as with all copyrighted materials, this requires permission to reproduce or share directly. Just share the post instead!

I look forward to hearing about your ‘answers’ and your ideas, in the comments to this post.

Where do our personal preferences come from?
It’s a complex and multi-leveled process…So from the bottom up, please consider these levels of influence
:

    • Biology-Physiology: the lightwaves that make up all colors do have an effect on us, we’re just not usually aware of it.
    • Colors in Nature and materials: From plants and rocks, water, animals and more, we are surrounded by colors of nature
    • Colors as archetypes: Consider how a bee, if black-and-yellow, carries it’s own warning signs. We use these colors intentionally i our world also.
    • Social and cultural constructs: Different cultures assign a variety of important characteristics to various colors. Red, and white, being two of them. Opposite in one culture from another!
    • Fashion, politics, trends: I call it “planned preferences” when color trends take center stage. It’s about marketing and sales. But on the bigger and more fundamental level, these ‘color trends’ have a deeper beginning.
    • Personal life experiences: Do you have a color you Love or Hate, that was present in your youth or in a relationship or other experience? That carries onward as we get older.

    Adapting to client requests…Collaboration is the Key!

    I am often asked by clients to state my favorite color. My answer is typically something a question, like…For what purposes? or In what situation? or even more often, just stating that I don’t really have one single favorite color. Take yellow, for example…a color that is often difficult to use for interiors because it can easily become dominant–not connecting–and loud, too bright, and creating discomfort. (Clue to the above ‘quiz.’)

    Personally, “yellow” is not a color that I’d use in clothing for myself.
    Why? It doesn’t do anything positive for my appearance (!) BUT, I can use a chartreuse, a very strong green-yellow, in some cases. Then also, however, in a home there could be many wonderful places where a strong yellow color could be beautiful. Accessories, for example, are a great way to include a more “extreme” color to great advantage, depending on what else is in the room. Of course, a warm, pale type of yellow is often a beautiful color to be surrounded with.

    A client “case study” story…for an example
    For Exterior color for a Victorian style home in the Boston area, the client very strongly stated they wanted PINK. Ok it’s an unusual request. In that case, as with in other similar situations where a client felt attached to a particular color, I always try to be collaborative. I believe it’s important to always consider client wishes. I can be definite in my recommendations and am always happy to state the reasons for my choices that I consider to be in the best interest of the client’s stated needs. But I have no interest in being a designer-dictator, making it only my own way.

    What happened in “The Case of the Pink House” was that I created a few different color schemes with “pink” as the focus. While it would not have been my own, personal first choice, the goal was to find the Right “pink” that would satisfy the client while being in alignment with my professional concerns. So, in collaboration with this enthusiastic and happy client, the outcome was what you see in image #13 here, in the slideshow gallery, about The Pink House.