Pink: It's The Color of Passion

Philip Treacy

To quote Aerosmith:

Pink it's my new obsession

Pink it's not even a question

Pink on the lips of your lover,

cause Pink is the love you discover

Okay, so perhaps pink isn't exactly a new obsession of mine -- in fact, I've showcased a number of stunning rooms that I have incorporated pink in the past (see HERE and HERE), but I haven't really waxed poetic about pink (until now). I thought in honor of Valentine's Day, I'd give a true homage to pink interiors. After all, it's pink (not red) that's the color of passion.

Pink is a universally flattering color, both in fashion and in interior design. Pink warms a room like no other color and it has a way of making everybody's skin look better. Unfairly labeled as fussy or feminine, pink is making a comeback and leaving the confines of sorority houses and little girls' rooms to become the color du jour for dining rooms, living rooms and even foyers.

The picture above is the pink lounge at The G., a boutique hotel in Galway, Ireland, that Dave and I had the pleasure of staying in during our vacation to the Emerald Isle last summer. Would you believe me if I told you that the room is actually less overwhelming in person? And, of the three lounges at the hotel, this pink room was definitely the crowd favorite -- in the three nights we stayed there, I could never snag a table!

Ruthie Sommers

A small confession: this month's Traditional Home is the first copy of the publication that I have ever read, let alone purchased. And I loved it. I've never really thought of myself as "traditional" but if the likes of Ruthie Sommers (and Kara Mann) qualify, than so must I. In any case, this gorgeous dining room by Ruthie Sommers is such a glorious example of how gorgeous (and unstuffy!) hand painted wallpaper can be. The seagrass rug and painted chairs keep the room feeling more casual and more approachable, but my favorite detail is the coral trim around the window frame.

Amanda Nisbet

Amanda Nisbet is one of those designers whose work just makes me smile -- and this teen bedroom is no exception. The hot pink is girly and youthful, but not babyish (very important when you're 14 and trying so very hard to be grown-up!). I particularly love the floor to ceiling drapes in hot pink and coordinating lantern.

Jeffers Design Group

I normally prefer my stairs left bare, but this cherry blossom runner is the icing on the cake in this gorgeous entryway from Jeffers Design Group.

Mary McDonald

The lounge at the Luxe Hotel in Bel Air is entirely neutral, except for the small shots of pink the the pillows and the artwork -- and yet these touches make an enormous impact. The pale pink shines brightly, almost like small points of light against the dark sofas and gray walls.

Canadian House & Home

Hot pink is a great accent color in this otherwise white bedroom by Rosie Daykin. Note the raspberry leopard print on the Bergere chair -- tres chic!

Jeffers Design Group

The pink walls in this California living room are almost coral and I love how well the tone works with the yellows, golds and taupes used throughout the space. The feeling in this room is unmistakably Moroccan, but with a sunny, updated color palette that works perfectly for West Coast living. Did you notice the raspberry welting on the golden leather chairs in the foreground? It's little details like this that can really pull a room's color palette together.

Palmer Weiss

A lot of little girls' rooms are too sweet/too precious for me. They're often over the top: too much fabric, too many frills and even too much pink. And yet, while this room theoretically falls within that "over the top" category, I'm really attracted to it. Perhaps it's the more modern floral pattern (that also happens to incorporate a lot of green) -- or the fact that the pink is bolder and more intense than the pale, girly pinks most little girls' rooms are doused in. I also think Palmer knew exactly where to draw the line with color when she selected a simple white coverlet: anything else would have pushed it over the edge.

Miles Redd

A red and pink room sounds like a definite "don't", but the indomitable Miles Redd somehow makes it work -- and makes it feel sophisticated and even a bit masculine at the same time. I think the key here is the rather serious looking artwork.

Windsor Smith

The spread of Windsor Smith's house in House Beautiful ranks as one of my all-time favorite shelter magazine features. The house was just as beautiful, well designed and well lived as you would expect from one of the pioneers of new traditional style. Of all the rooms featured though, this salmon pink sitting room was my favorite. From the bright paint to the gorgeous white molding, from the chevron-patterned chair to the bright blue sofa, this room is absolutely perfect.

Jonathan Adler

When I started getting interested in interior design a few years ago, Jonathan Adler was one of the first designers that I really gravitated towards. His designs are always fresh, modern and colorful and his mix of pattens is always inspired. In short, Adler is a trendsetter and this room is a great illustration of that as there are so many elements here that are (and have been for a while) major design trends: wallpaper, white ceramic animals, capiz shell lighting, mirrored furniture, natural hides as rugs, owls, faux-bamboo, and gilt.

Jonathan Berger

Berger's pink-infused townhouse was featured in House Beautiful in the July 2009 issue and this was another very memorable feature for me. I absolutely adore the bold fuchsia walls in the entryway (which continue up the stairs to the landing). The pink is such a bold, modern contrast to the very traditional furniture pieces and chinoiserie accessories. It's also a crisp counterpart to the white molding and the black stair treads.

Be Bold, Go Blue.

Sherrill Canet

There seems to be a general resistence in the design world to decorating a kitchen in anything other than neutrals or whites -- probably because of the expense and difficulty of overhauling a kitchen should you decide just a few years later that you're no longer so enamored with, say, peach. And that's fair. I, too, eskewed bolder choices in favor of safer, buyer-friendly selections when I designed my kitchen last spring. But the end result is that, while I like my kitchen, I don't really love it. So I wish I'd stretched myself a bit more, been a bit bolder with my choices and maybe gone with, say, a blue kitchen.

The great thing about a blue kitchen is that, while it's a bit of a departure from the oft-used white, it's still fairly traditional. Nobody is going to think you've gone completely off your rocker and there's a good chance that you'll still love it in a few years' time. And even if you don't, repainting cabinets (or riping out backsplash) isn't the enormous hassle or expense that it's often made out to be.

One of my all-time favorite kitchens is this one by Sherrill Canet (shown in two photos above). Of course the towering cathedral ceilings probably have a lot to do with it, but I also love how Sherrill used a lighter blue on the wall cabinets and a darker blue on the island to anchor it in the space. My favorite element though is the glimmering stainless steal subway tile backsplash around the oven and the gorgeous stainless steel hood.

Elle Decor

This kitchen deservedly made the rounds in the design blogosphere when it first appeared in Elle Decor. I love the contrast of the large white island with the indigo wood floors and cabinets. The pendant lights and the milk glass chandelier are also envy-inducing.

Massucco Warner Miller Designs

A more modern take on a blue kitchen. I absolutely adore the (Silestone?) countertops and backsplash. The reddish tones in the natural wood floors and trim are a great contrast to the stainless steal and the cool blue of the cabinets.

Michael J. Williams

This kitchen from Michael J. Williams was featured in the latest issue of Traditional Home. As a brief aside, if you haven't picked up the February issue of TH yet, I highly suggest you do. Between the spread on Ruthie Sommers' latest work and Kara Mann's, it's one of the best issues I've seen from any shelter magazine in quite some time. Both spreads are also so reminiscent of domino that I found myself flipping back to the cover periodically just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating and reading a "new" issue of domino. In any case, the blue on this island is almost a chambray and it's this denim-like quality that I think really gives the space a laid back, family-oriented vibe.

Retro Renovation

This kitchen is retro to the point of kitsch, but turquoise and red always make me smile.

domino

When this kitchen first appeared in domino a few years ago, it made me desperate for a chandelier in my kitchen. I love the contrast between the ornate black glass fixture and the sleek and modern kitchen.

House Beautiful

I love the deep royal blue featured on all the cabinetry -- it works so beautifully with the pops of bright citrus that the stylist brought in for the shoot. The color choice here is undoubtedly brave, but it's what elevates this kitchen into magazine-worthy status. The designer also wisely kept the rest of the kitchen quieter with classic Carrera marble counters and backsplash. Matching your counters to your backsplash is a great way to create a seamless and sleek look, which is ideal if you've got a lot of "look" going on elsewhere in your kitchen.

Frank Roop

The Ann Sacks tile featured on the backsplash in this kitchen makes me a bit weak in the knees. It works perfectly with the sleek gray (soapstone?) countertops without feeling overly match-y. I think backsplash is a great way to bring color into a kitchen if you don't want to go for a bold color for your cabinetry. If your tastes change, it's also not nearly as onerous to replace.

I want more Shade

I thought I'd leave you this weekend with some images of the very, very cool Harlem home of designer Roderick N. Shade. Shade's home is the kind of place that makes me want to know the owner/designer -- after all, any man who can embrace fuchsia like Shade did (or who even has a name like Shade!) must be fabulous.

Shade's tiny 550 square-foot apartment was featured in this month's Architectural Digest and I think it might be the first spread in AD that I've actually been inspired by. [Every month when my AD arrives, I'm typically just reminded how inadequate it is as a replacement for domino and do little more than half-heartedly flip through it before putting it in the recycling bin.] By sticking to a (hopelessly hip) color palette of khaki, white and fuchsia throughout the tiny apartment, Shade creates a sense of cohesion and increases the visual space as each room flows seamlessly into the next. I also love how he was able to take a tiny, cramped, poorly lit hallway and make a real showstopper out of it. In many ways, it's my favorite part of the apartment.

Many of the furnishings were repurposed flea market (and even dumpster!) finds. It just goes to show you what a little paint and fabric can do. Suddenly a seen-better-days chair is the highlight of the entire room. I also think one of the keys to the success of this space is that all the furniture is appropriately sized for a small room -- there's no big, monstrous sectional taking up all the visual (and literal) space. I also like that by keeping all the furniture low to the ground, the room appears taller, and thus larger.

With the metallic sheen on the fabrics, plush pink carpeting and matching floor-to-ceiling drapes, this room evokes a hip downtown lounge vibe that makes me want to kick of my heels, grab a cocktail (or two) and kick back

Like Beth over at Chinoiserie Chic, I love the idea of using a screen as a headboard and this pink one is a real show stopper. With a little paint and ingenuity, Shade created a wonderful fuchsia trompe l'oeil ceiling medallion around a simple and inexpensive Japanese paper lantern and I think it really makes the room. I also love the white bedding with the pink and chocolate brown stripes -- I wonder if Shade made these himself or bought them as-is?

All told, Shade spent just under $23,000 to completely gut, renovate and furnish his home. Shade's website (currently under construction) promises potential clients that they will "experience world-class design that's astonishingly affordable and joyously collaborative". If his own home is any indication, I have little doubt that Shade will deliver on this promise.

Turquoise is a Neutral

Sean Scherer

I know that for a lot of people, color can be a scary thing. Hours can be spent agonizing over a bold color choice for walls or upholstery (or even just a throw pillow): "Will this color work with the other colors in the room?" "What other colors could this work for in the future?" "Am I limiting myself to only working within a narrow range of colors and/or styles?" That sort of thing.

If you happen to fall into this color-cautious camp, then please allow me to make a suggestion: go with turquoise. Whether in accessories to give an otherwise neutral space some pop or as the dominant color in a space, turquoise (or turq-WAZ as Alison would say) is a surprisingly versatile color and should under no circumstances be relegated to the kids' room. In fact, I'd venture so far as to declare turquoise a neutral; it can work with just about any other color and in any style of decor.

Kim Coleman

Here, I love how the turquoise really plays off an otherwise black and white space to give it some serious sophistication (and a dose of fun). The bright turquoise border just under the crown molding and above the base boards is a brilliant (and easy) way to put some bold color on your walls without the commitment. This would also add some faux-architectural interest to an otherwise boxy room.

Christina Rottman

What's interesting about this turquoise kitchen is that it's the only colorful room in a very neutral (albeit lovely) house. I remember Rottman discussing in the accompanying article that she chose the kitchen for her bold color statement because it opened on to several rooms so the color could spill into the rest of the house.

Jamie Drake

Here again turquoise is used as an accent color, but this time in a very colorful room. I love the asymmetric placement of the art on just one side of the window, which balances off the small table and accent chair anchoring the opposite end of the long MCM sofa.

Ruthie Sommers

The pops of turquoise add some visual noise to an otherwise quiet palette in this sitting room designed by Ruthie Sommers. I particularly love the pale lavender walls that cast such a lovely glow on all the white furniture.

Ashley Whittaker

Admittedly Whittaker uses a softer version of turquoise in this dining room, but this is a quieter, more traditional take on the color that may be more palatable to folks looking for a more subtle statement.

Massucco Warner Miller Designs

I love the high contrast between the turquoise ocean prints on the wall and the bright orange curtains and pillow. The turquoise/orange combination is a very of the moment take on a traditional red and blue. This room is also a great example of how a neutral base can be easily punched up with colorful accessories (that could just as easily be switched out in a few years if your color tastes are running in a different direction).

Rob Southern

This library was just about the only room I liked in the feature on this Houston home in a recent issue of House Beautiful (black vinyl walls, oh my!). That said, that deep turquoise (or peacock blue) paired with that gorgeous ikat print and stunning Persian rug make my heart skip a beat.

Jodi Macklin

While turquoise does indeed deserve a place outside the realm of childrens' bedrooms, it is nevertheless a great choice for the under-18 set. This room designed by Jodi Macklin takes full advantage of turquoise's youthful, bold spirit by pairing it with hot pink and lime. The plaid bedskirt and floral curtains are also a great illustration of the golden rule (keep the palette the same, but vary the scale) on mixing patterns.

Steven Gambrel

I love how Gambrel is able to successfully incorporate turquoise walls into a masculine interior. I never thought turquoise could ever read as "moody", but with the dark curtains, pendant and fireplace, it somehow does.

John Willey

The turquoise lamp that launched a thousand posts. Still stunning after all this time.

Massucco Warner Miller Designs

Another gorgeous example of a turquoise chandelier, this time courtesy of Massucco Warner Miller out in California. I love this paired with the very traditional, very orate ceiling medallion.

And, of course, what would this post be without a roundup of my favorite turquoise items?

Sourcelist (clockwise from top left): 1. Christina Table Lamp by Bungalow 5 from Clayton Gray Home ($450) 2. Blue Beaded Globe from Pieces ($695) 3. Vintage French Glass chandelier from Revival Home & Garden ($1,200) 4. Mira sofa from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams ($) 5. Vince and Vincent Lamp from Stray Dog Designs ($425) 6. Zebra Waste Basket and Tissue Set from Clayton Gray Home ($160) 7. Lacquer Umbrella Stand from Jonathan Adler ($295) 8. iittala mug from AllModern ($14.40) 9. Turquoise Glass Jars from Grace Home Furnishings ($35-$55).

Sourcelist (clockwise, from top left): 1. Lush square pillow by Unison from AllModern.com ($36) 2. Turquoise Vases from Jayson Home & Garden ($80-$98) 3. Large lucite frame from Dabney Lee at Home ($120) 4. Azure pillow from John Robshaw ($98) 5. Writing Desk from Russell and McKenna ($2100) 6. Amanda Blue quilt by Roberta Roller Rabbit ($125) 7. Turquoise Pill Carafe from Jonathan Adler ($48) 8. Cyan pillow from John Robshaw ($105) 9. Ginny Shower Curtain from India Rose ($95) 10. Turquoise Moroccan pouf from John Derian ($265) 11. Turquoise Art Deco lamp from Target ($59.99).

Colorful Backdrops

Mary McDonald

In the past 18 months, I've managed to build up quite the collection of virtual tear sheets -- rooms and vignettes that have caught my eye as I've embarked in the past year or so on my design self-education. Looking back over my many images (and trying to organize them in some useful way), I've begun to notice themes emerging, perhaps my own elements of style. Colors, patterns, styles and ideas that I've found attractive over and over again. One of the biggest recurring elements is my love of bookshelves and built-ins with colorful interiors (particularly in bold/high contrast colors). Perhaps these are the interior design equivalent of colorful linings in coats and bags, but I love how this simple trick can highlight art or beloved objects and tie together a room.

Getting this look yourself is an easy enough DIY for a weekend when you've got some extra time and some extra paint (and how often can that honestly be said about much of what we see in shelter magazines?!). I know that as soon as I get the funds to have my own built-ins installed I'll be in hot pursuit of the perfect background color to really make them pop. That said though, as many of these images show, there's absolutely no need to limit yourself to built-ins. Bookshelves, curios, china cabinets, entertainment centers (indeed just about all casegoods) can benefit from this easy upgrade.

Rob Southern

Here, a chocolate brown serves as a wonderfully rich backdrop for the owners' collection of white pitchers. The rich tone works equally well with the pale blue vases in the bedroom designed by Mary McDonald at the beginning of this post.

Mary McDonald

In this dining room, designer Mary McDonald uses a bold apple green to highlight the beauty of the historical built-in. This sole shot of color in an otherwise neutral space is a great modern touch in a traditional room.

Ruthie Sommers

The blush pink backdrop in these slender bookcases is a nice shot of femininity in this office space and ties in to the pale pink accessories and rug.

Canadian House & Home, October 2009

Four IKEA Billy shelves were given a built-in look with inexpensive moldings painted the same color white. The royal blue backs give them added weight and are a fun contrast to the chartreuse walls.

Elizabeth Martin

I actually don't subscribe to Elle Decor but when this living room appeared on the cover earlier this year, I instantly bought the issue off the newsstand. The rest of the house didn't disappoint but the gorgeous gray walls and muted blue in the bookcases is still my favorite moment in the house.

Amanda Nisbet

Like chocolate brown, black is a great choice if you have a lot of white or light colored objects or china to show off.

Erin Gates from Elements of Style

The peacock blue (especially with the orange upholstery and curtains) is utterly bananas. I want.

Diamond Baratta Design

I love the turquoise in these kitchen cabinets. Sure, with the backsplash and countertops, it's all a bit "matchy-matchy", but I'd argue that this is mid century modern at its best and most exuberant. That said, with less colorful countertops and backsplash, this would be a great way to bring a shot of color into a white kitchen.

Martha Stewart

As far as bold color choices go, I think coral might just be my favorite for the backs of bookcases. It's also a wonderfully warm contrast to cool blues and grays.

Amanda Nisbet

If you've got open-backed shelves a similar effect can be achieved by simply painting out the wall behind the units. I also like how Nisbet extended the bold pink to the area behind the sofa, creating a nook of sorts. This would work wonderfully in a loft or large great room where you're trying to delineate smaller, more intimate areas.