Villa D’Este Rome – The Avenue of 100 Fountains
Living in Italy as a 6-year-old with my parents had a profound effect on my creativity and craving for history and tradition. Since then, I remember the smell of moss at the Villa D’Este Rome (The Avenue of 100 Fountains), the color and texture of Pompeii, the grandeur of La Scala in Milan, the historical towns of Positano, and the canals in Venice.
The ruins of Pompeii
There was one item that my mother, Emilia, had bought me at the Vatican that changed my perception of the color, blue. It was a light blue colored rosary bead. I wasn’t sure how to use it, but I was intrigued by the pristine and innocent color. It was these moments at the Vatican when my mother gave me this rosary bead that caused this color evolution for me.
The Blue Rosary Beads.
Now, this color triggers a sense of enlightenment, tradition, family, curiosity, tranquility, beauty, and happiness.
There were two opportunities that I was able to use blue as the primary color for a residential and a workplace project. I then had to visually explain why this was the right choice and how this scheme related to their space.
My residential client purchased a lovely home in the Woodlands, Texas. Both are career professionals that value family time and entertaining with friends, so the focus was to redesign the dining room into a special and inviting space.
My clients dining room before renovations.
The dining room is in the middle of the house that has a wall filled with large windows looking into a courtyard. Therefore, there was a good amount natural light. I wanted to introduce a damask wall-covering from Cole & Son which had a reflective silver imprint that would help reflect the natural light. We then traveled to Houston and New Orleans for Italian and French 1900 century antiques and lighting that had soft natural tones with ornate details. The rug and accessories were sourced at the Decorator Center Houston.
Dining room with blue colors – Schumacher fabric window treatment, Cole & Son wall-covering.
I recognized that their dining room had to have a sense belonging and an attraction that appeals to special moments. Blue was the perfect color for this scenario. The design would be a blend of history, culture, vitality, and sophisticated styles.
My client Pike Electric wanted a space where everybody could be open to discussion, ideas, and problem solving. Even though Pike Electric’s logo is blue, it was important that I structured other shades of blue to balance the darker tone. My source for auxiliary furniture that had the perfect blue fabric was from Andreu World, one of my favorite sources for commercial projects.
Pike Electric – Winston-Salem, NC
This is an example of how memory of colors affects our environment. My perception of blue has transcended into the lives of others, now influencing their interiors that represent a higher level of wellbeing to build fond memories for the future.
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