The Color Red: How to use it in Decorating

Color: A trip through the Color Wheel starting with RED!

This is the first in a series of six articles about the wonderful world of color and how to select and use the colors that speak to YOU!

When I started my interior design business, it was my love of color, color combining, and decorating with vibrant colors that got me started. My favorite class in design school was the color theory class where our professor required us to mix two complimentary colors until we created medium gray…an exercise that fascinated and puzzled me. Look at the combination of so many colors represented in this beautiful piece of slate stone...and the result is basically...grey.

Mixing compliments trains your eye to understand how the six basic colors in the spectrum interact with one another and how color combinations…sometimes in very minute amounts can make or break the resulting color creation. So, let’s meet Mr. “Roy G. Biv” (this acronym is the easy way to remember all the primary color names) and get an introduction to each of the colors in the spectrum…Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and Violet. I hope through this journey you will better understand why each of these colors (and their secondary friends created by various color combinations) can create such a different message and impact when we see it, dress in it, and live with it!

RED

What comes into your when someone says RED? The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. It is also the color of love. In decorating, red is usually used as an accent...unless you dare to make a statement! Make that statement in the entry of your home...by welcoming your guests with an inviting shade of red that sets off the Oriental rug and tansu chest in this Walnut Creek home.

The various shades of red evoke different meanings and feelings… The warning “that’s a red flag”, a Red Herring…meaning …………., taking the “Red Eye” from coast to coast, something we’ve seen lately…lots of companies “in the red”…fire…”from the frying pan into…”Blood Red” (life or death)…fear or warning.

In this Piedmont home, the dinining room could not have been MORE BORING! The room was a cold interior dark room, so it needed to be warmed up with both lighting and a bold shade of orange/red...and now it's fit for a dinner party!

Light red represents joy, sexuality, passion, sensitivity, and love. When red is combined with its compliment, green...look at the impact in this interior dining room.

Check out the red walls in this master bath. Again, the color makes you look beautiful...even after a short night and an early morning! Combined with the warm golden travertine the room is both inviting and envigorating!

This powder room is perhaps the only room in the home where a guest will be all alone...so make it memorable with a punch of color and lots of interesting details like the Asian-influenced mirror and lighting.

Want to add a bit of drama? We painted the insides of these plain cabinets with Chinese Red, and lacquered the outside in glossy black. Now the beautiful contents shine!

Before a rather major remodel, this room was a dank, dark "basement room" that was transformed into a warm inviting library and office by combining an earthy red with the concrete flooring, maple cabinetry and soft furnishings. Can you believe this is the same room in these photos?

Pink (Red toned down with white) signifies romance, love, and friendship. It denotes feminine qualities and passiveness. The red in this traditional dining room has a pink undertone which makes people look beautiful...in any light!





The Rust accent wall in the Berkeley Condo Kitchen was intended to draw your eye to the beautiful deck and foliage outside and add some warmth to the almost industrial feeling of the white Italian cabinetry and laminate flooring.

So...give RED a try in your home...it's only paint!

If you don't like it...try moving on to orange...!

First Friday's Art Attack!

Join the neighborhood each first Friday of the month for the Albany/Berkeley Art Attack! Featuring local businesses, community members are invited to walk the avenue and visit participating shops open late (until 9pm!) to discover new and provocative art.

Mention this posting and receive 10% off any artwork purchased during Art Attack! Next one is April 3rd. See you there!

Read SF Station's March 6, 2009 article: Art Attack

Our Furniture Moves In the White House

Michelle Obama selected a Vanguard Settee for Malia and Sasha

Conover, North Carolina - Doug Jones is focused as he wraps the sturdy wood frame with fabric. He's making a sofa for the First Family - Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha Obama. Jones has a long way to go and a short time to get there. The order came into Vanguard Furniture late Tuesday. It's Thursday morning, and the sofa must be on its way to Washington, D.C., in just a few hours. Today, the sofa will go to the White House.

"This sofa is built totally from scratch," said Steve Gaddy, manager of Vanguard's upholstery division. "We built the frame from the ground up. We'll ship it right after lunch," Gaddy said Thursday, "the fastest way possible." The piece Barack and Michelle Obama chose is a reproduction of an antique for their daughters, with different color fabric and buttons allowing a little fun to be sewn in.

"They chose one of the most time-consuming pieces we make," Gaddy said. All of Vanguard's furniture is custom-made. Store that sell Vanguard get the specifications from the customer and place the order. "It's personalized furniture," Hubbard said.

Turnaround from order to delivery is usually about 30 days. "This is not ordinary," Gaddy said about the rush order for the White House. "We made an exception for President Obama," interjected Dixon Mitchell, company president. He's checking on progress. On time, he's assured.

All the while, Jones is busy placing padding just so, smoothing the linen fabric and punctuating his movements with the rat-a-tat-tat of his staple gun. He's a master upholsterer, a 27-year employee at Vanguard. Jones says little, smiles often. "I enjoy what I do," he said. "Been here forever. It makes a big difference to be able to do what you like to do." The seat is done. Jones pushes long, thick needles through the back of the sofa. They're threaded with stout yard to tie down the buttons. The yard, of course, matches the fabric. Jones doesn't waste motion, and he doesn't stop moving. "I'll have something in the White House," he smiles without breaking his focus. The shop is a beehive of activity with the hum of the air handlers and staccato of the air-driven staplers keeping a steady, if uneven, beat.

The workers know the importance of the sofa, but they have their own specialities to produce. "We're busy," Gaddy said. "We're working." Recent years haven't been kind to the furniture industry. Thursday, however, saw assorted sized of sofas and chairs, some with woven fabric, some with leather, being framed up and covered. "Everybody's excited about having a pieces in the White House," Gaddy said. "It's our first one," Mitchell said.

"It takes four-and-a-half to five hours to upholster a piece like this," Mitchell said. "That's after the frame is finished." Jones never lets up, deftly placing the big needles with the kill of an acupuncture expert. Gaddy and Mitchell watch with approval. "We're honored to do this," Mitchell said. "The orders mean producing and shipping faster than normal, redoing your schedule. But everybody wants to beat the deadlines. This is special."

Jones allows himself a grin. It's a Vanguard sofa that's going to the White House, but his handiwork is what everyone will see.

- Excerpts from the Hickory Daily Record, by Larry Clark, published January 15, 2009

Relieving The Pain of Your Utility Bill with Higher Efficiency Window Coverings

Did you know energy loss through windows is ten times greater than through walls? If you have older windows and are not ready or cannot replace them, energy efficient window treatments may be your answer to savings. Some carefully selected window treatments can reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer.

Shades should be mounted as close to the glass as possible with the sides of the shade held close to the wall to establish a sealed air space. You should lower shades on sunlit windows in the summer. Shades on the south side of a house should be raised in the winter during the day, then lowered during the night.

For greater efficiency, use dual shades—highly reflective (white) on one side and heat absorbing (dark) on the other side—that can be reversed with the seasons. The reflective side should always face the warmest side: outward during the cooling season and inward during the heating season. They need to be drawn all day to be effective.

Quilted roller shades, and some types of Roman shades, feature several layers of fiber batting and sealed edges. These shades act as both insulation and air barrier. They control air infiltration more effectively than other soft window treatments.

Several manufacturers have designed two- or three-cell pleated or honeycomb shades with dead air spaces, which increase their insulating value. These shades, however, provide only slight control of air infiltration. You need to caulk and weatherstrip around windows to reduce air leakage.

Also, layered treatments, like layered clothing, can trap dead air helping to control the temperature but effectiveness depends on the number of layers and degree of air penetration. Drapery panels are the most common window treatment. More folds and fuller panels result in more trapped air. Lined, even interlined draperies are better insulators than unlined while separate linings are slightly better than attached linings. Combining several kinds of energy saving coverings such as draperies or cornices with blinds, shades or shutters help you get the most energy efficient solution possible.

Additional sources: U.S. Department of Energy, J. Simpson

What makes an upholstered sofa or chair “Green”?

How to Buy a Sofa - Part III

There is much controversy over the definition of green, so consider these things if you are buying furniture with an “eco-conscience”:

1. Frames: The newest green development is discontinuing the use of solid hardwood and using cross-laminated veneers. Some believe the lamination process adds even more strength to the piece. An alternative is using wood from sustainably harvested forests, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which certifies forests with the affiliated Rainforest Alliance.

2. Manufacturer Location: Buy from a manufacturer that limits the travel time required to make, sell and deliver you a piece of furniture. The large furniture manufacturers are generally located in North Carolina, Michigan, and Los Angeles.

3. Glues and Wood Stains: Water-based wood stains and glue are as protective and supportive to wood as chemical based replacements for the most part. In place of petroleum-derived solvents, they use water, making then preferable in terms of health and environmental impacts.

4. Seat Cushion Foam: The latest eco trend is replacement of traditional latex foam core with cushions that combine a soy-based foam core with a mixed down or feather fill around the center cushion, and covered in a down-proof cotton cover.

5. Eco-green fabrics: Upholstery fabrics manufacturers are offering all types of new options.
Modal is made with reconstituted cellulose from beech trees.

• Modal is a luxuriously soft and extravagant eco-friendly fabric. 100% biodegradable, this bio-based fabric is 50% more water-absorbent than cotton, but it dyes just as well, holds color fast, and is resistant to fading.
• Quickly renewable, bamboo grows easily without the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and can even be used to stabilize erosion and deforestation. Bamboo pulp is bleached without chlorine and is easy to dye, thus lessening the environmental impacts of cloth production.
• Hemp is eco-friendly, sustainable and much easier to grow (without the use of pesticides) than cotton. Cotton fields account for 50% of the world’s pesticide use; hemp fields don’t even register on the scale. Hemp has many uses, is easily renewable and highly versatile.
• Organic cotton is grown in soil that is certified free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for at least three years.
• Buyer beware...fabrics should be "organic fabrics" not simply fabric from organic fibers. More on sustainably "Green" textile choices in a subsequent newsletter.........

So, what have we learned in Part I, II and III about How to Buy a Sofa?

Quality isn’t a luxury…it’s a necessity. And, good quality means long-lasting construction, long-term value and sustainability.

According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), over 8.7 million tons of furniture and home furnishings are dumped into municipal landfills annually. Junk furniture ends up in landfill.

Quality furniture becomes an antique that is passed on and appreciated for generations…

Upholstery Fabric Considerations

When choosing fabrics for upholstered furniture, keep in mind that tightly woven fabrics tend to wear the best. Durability is determined by the number of threads per square inch rather than the thickness of the yarn used. Generally, fabrics that have their pattern woven in will wear better than printed fabrics. For a nice selection of quality fabric, check out mastercraft upholstered furniture. There are many types of fiber used in the manufacturing of upholstered fabrics. They each have unique attributes that must be considered in making a selection based on the planned usage of the upholstered furniture. In addition to their look and feel, factors to consider are wearability, cleanability and sensitivity to direct sunlight. Natural fibers Prized for their soft "hand" and versatility, the natural fibers remain popular as coverings for upholstered furniture.

Cotton
Cotton takes color well (soft and pliable), blends well with other fibers, and is durable with unlimited styling potential. However, continuous exposure to direct sunlight will cause the cotton fiber to disintegrate on your upholstered furniture. In damp climates, cotton may tend to mildew. It is somewhat less stain resistant than synthetics.

Flax/Linen
With a strong, cool, crisp "hand", linen is one of the most durable fibers available for upholstered furniture. It has a tendency to resist color and is often found in natural coloration's as a result. Linen reflects heat somewhat better than cotton, but will disintegrate in intense sunlight. It is at the higher end of fabric cost.

Wool
Naturally springy and resilient, wool is extremely durable for upholstered furniture. It tends to take color softly and has good resistance to abrasion. Wool has natural stain resistance, but should be mothproofed before using.

Silk
Without question the most beautiful, yet fragile, of all upholstered furniture fabrics. Soft and lustrous, strong light will tend to discolor and disintegrate the fiber. Difficult to clean, the fibers will tend to mildew in damp climates.

Rayon/Acetate
Made of processed cellulose, it can be woven to emulate silk or linen. Its low cost and blendability with other more expensive fibers make it a popular choice for upholstered furniture. The fiber is reasonably colorfast and abrasion resistant, but will tend to rot under long exposure to direct sunlight.

Synthetic fibers
These petroleum-based fibers have been developed over the last sixty years as an alternative to natural fibers and are often blended with them in an effort to achieve the best properties of each in upholstered furniture.

Polyester: a polymer that takes vibrant colors well. Polyester is strong and cleanable and stands up well under direct sunlight. Flame and abrasion resistant, this upholstered furniture fabric is often blended with natural fibers to soften its feel. Recent developments have led to a finely extruded polyester fiber that resembles the look and feel of silk.

Olefin: known by many people by the trade name, Herculon. Strong, with natural stain resistant properties, olefin is a bulky fiber with a coarse "hand" that does not hold up well to direct sunlight. Often it is used to create heavy textured causal fabrics in upholstered furniture. These fabrics when loosely woven require a latex backing for added strength.

Nylon: The strongest and most dirt resistant fiber, nylon is used often in commercial applications where it will take a beating. Until recently, nylon upholstered furniture typically had a high luster. However, now it is often available with a delustered wool look and feel. Its only drawback is its sensitivity to sunlight.

(Source: About.com)

What Do I Get For My Money?

Part II of How to Buy a Sofa
What you get for your money:

• $1,000 or under
  This sofa is headed for landfill…how “green” is that? At this price you usually get plastic legs screwed into the frame instead of wooden legs that are part of the posts or bolted into the frame, a webbed seating support system with no springs, low-density-foam cushions that will break down quickly under normal wear and tear, inexpensive single-color fabrics, or inexpensive prints where the pattern is machine-stamped on--not woven into the fabric, cheap zippers on the cushions…and you’re lucky if you will get five years of use out of this sofa before it looks pretty bad. The cushions fill will start to fail after about 1 year of normal wear and tear, so considering a $2,500 sofa will last 5-7 years, you just wasted a lot of money.
  
• ~ $2,000
  Some corners might be cut to meet this price point. Instead of eight-way hand-tied springs, some manufacturers use a sinuous wire spring suspension system. Watch out for construction shortcuts like using cardboard instead of wood to form the rolled shape of the arm (it WILL break down under normal wear) and nailed or tacked on fabric (like you may have seen on the 1-hour TV show sofa transformations on Trading Spaces and the like) instead of hand sewn seams. Ask questions before you buy in this price range.


• Above $2,000
  You should be getting a quality product from a time-honored manufacturer. This price range should give you solid frame construction with a lifetime warranty, 8-way hand tied suspension, your choice of seat and back fill, and a quality, durable fabric. If you are buying from a private-label store, ask them who manufactures their product and how long they have been in business. If they are a newcomer, delve into their manufacturing techniques and warranties to insure quality for your money. Much of the cost at this price point (40-50%) is the fabric, and it’s worth careful consideration.

Decide How much to Spend:
Ask yourself:

1. Is this sofa for a seldom-used “ceremonial” living room?
   If so, almost any upholstery-grade fabric will do.


2. Is this sofa for the family room of an active family?
   If so, select a tightly woven, easily cleaned fabric. Mohair wears like steel, but is expensive. (Watch for new improved versions coming soon at a better price point.) A high quality Micofibre or ultra suede is durable and practical as spills sponge off. Tightly woven linen, linen/cotton blends, cotton/polyester blends are appropriate. Be careful of chenille fabrics that are not backed for upholstery use as they are too soft to withstand the wear and tear of an active family with kids and pets. Read more on upholstery fabric considerations here.

Where Should You Buy Your Sofa?

The Internet Yes, there are literally hundreds of websites but how do you know that the cushion feels right for you, the seat depth matches your body type (you don’t really want your feet dangling as you try to look cool impressing the boss, do you?), the fabric feels soft to the touch (called the “hand” in the fabric industry) and the size is really as you perceive it. In other words, unless you are a furniture designer who can evaluate these details, or you are buying for “show” and not for personal use, this is not recommended.

Department Stores As you can imagine, the big guys buy in bulk so get great prices, but before you go there, do your homework. Ask who manufacturers the sofa, how long the company has been in business and what is the warranty on the frame and the cushions. Department store prices are notoriously inflated (how else can they do those incredible 50% off sales?), so if you must, wait for a sale and then ask for an additional discount.

Specialty Furniture or Home Décor Stores Smaller stores are probably a good bet since they have done their homework on the manufacturer(s) they represent, have made a considerable investment in filling their showroom with samples and are interested in customer satisfaction for their limited customer base. Once again, ask for the warranty on the frame and cushions, and how long the manufacturer has been in business. Just be sure you are buying at your price point from a reputable supplier, and most important, from a trusted manufacturer who stands behind their product even if the local merchant stops representing their line.

Interior Designers Designers work closely with the local furniture manufacturer showrooms (at the San Francisco design center area there are over 100 in a 3-block radius) so offer they widest variety of styles, price categories and an unlimited selection of fabrics from this plethora of resources. If you have engaged a designer, use him or her to narrow the choices for you based on your needs, your personal style and color preferences, and budget, then go for a test drive of 2 or 3 pieces to make your decision and the final fabric selection. The designer will then order both the fabric and furniture for you, coordinate delivery from the manufacturer to a local receiver, inspect the piece for accuracy to your order, then make arrangements for local delivery to your home. If you believe the saying “variety breeds confusion”, then hire an interior designer to guide you to make the right choice for your lifestyle and your budget.