Unfortunately, safe can also be quite boring, and boring is generally not what we want when design matters. Too often, the absence of colour reflects an absence of creativity.
Of course there are always exceptions. As a conscious choice, and applied purposefully and uniformly, white can make a powerful statement.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s legendary apartment at the Dakota building in New York comes to mind – the floors, the furniture, the woodwork, their clothes ... even the grand piano was white. It was probably a good thing they had such colourful personalities.
Personally, minimalism makes me nervous. I like the richness, the boldness, the sensuality of colour. Deep jewel tones on the walls, even in small rooms, add intimacy and excitement. Topaz, amethyst, celedon, indigo, bronze – these are the colours that add interest.
Warm brick reds, tobacco, ivory, burnt chocolate, old silver; rich tones such as these create an instant aura of timeless luxury. Add a few accents of citrus yellow or deep turquoise, and you are on your way to making a design statement.
These choices are not for the feint of heart. Lose your nerve, and you will end up with pastels or some washed out, watered down version of a good idea. Neither can one afford to be reckless; choosing and combining colours is an art, and if you are not sure, best to get professional help.
The well-trained human eye can differentiate 40,000 shades of blue. If you are not used to working with colour every day, you might want to hire someone who is.
Where to start? First, you will need some ideas. Hint: Visit high-end clothing
stores. Fashion designers are experts in choosing and combing colours. It is easy enough to copy their ideas onto your walls and sofa.
Next, you will need access to some beautiful colours from which too choose. If you visit your local paint store, you are likely to find a broad selection of colours that run the gamut from lurid to lifeless. No wonder so many people choose white.
Hint: American and Australian paint brands, like Sherwin Williams and Porter’s Paints, are now available in Thailand. Pick up some samples and you will be amazed at the difference – the amount of pigment in the paint is roughly triple that of Thai brands.
Nor do you need to limit yourself to standard acrylic house paint: metallic plasters, venetian stucco, tinted clay, and lime paint – the choices are nearly limitless.
Textures, colours, and surface finishes abound.
But we are in Phuket – not London or Milan – you might say? Nowhere to find such materials or expertise on our sleepy little island?
You would be wrong, I am happy to report.
Please meet Narong Vanavisutra, proprietor of Paint FX. Khun Narong imports – and will apply to your walls – a variety of paint, plaster, and other specialty finishes from Italy, Australia, and America. He has brought life to walls from Bangkok to Bhutan, LA to Dubai, and he would be happy to do the same for you.
To see samples of his products, visit his showroom – still a work in progress – at 65 Chao Fa West, about two kilometres south of Central Festival. You can’t miss it – it’s the only steel, glass, wire, and plywood sculptural hut on the block. When you see the building that looks like a cross between I. M. Pei and Blade Runner, you’re there.
Scott Gorsuch is Principal, Leisure Design Group, a Phuket-based design development and project management company. He can be reached at sg@leisuredesigngroup.com