An Analogous View

In designing, use analogous colors as a palette of neighboring color combinations to blend together a friendship of harmonious unity.

Analogous colors are neutral, intense, and at times saturated. An analogous example is a room of botanicals oozing with reds, orange, and yellow. If the room is saturated with a focal point of vibrant yellow, a warm supporting group of burned orange and reds with a fringe of green enhance the botanical theme. A nice example is art like Sunflowers by the impressionist Vincent Van Gogh. With this theme of neighboring colors the room would show warmth and comfort as well as intensity of color. Analogous colors are less contrasting and energetic than other combinations such as monochromatic or complementary themes.

The Beauty of an Analogous Theme

If the homeowner prefers a cooler theme of blues and green, the theme may change but the analogy of an analogous palette stays the same. A fine example of cool analogous themes are the evening sky rich with blues, purples and magentas accented with hints of yellow as defined in Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Another look is the sunglow of gold, russet reds, and burned orange of the Mohave Desert. An artist can look at anything of nature and define an analogous theme. An interior designer can also look at nature and define a theme of interest. As the designer looks to nature for an analogous theme, he or she develops a palette from furnishings, accessories, and paint.

An Analogous Design

As a focal point, a forest thick with pine trees has a relationship with intensely dark and light greens, blues, and purples for depth within its theme. Within a home, like Mother Nature, the designer would look into a dominant color as the focal point in design. The natural focal point should stand out from the rest of the room. For an example, a designer should use the sofa as a focal point. The sofa should be used as an anchor. An anchor in design is the darkest object to give weight to the aesthetics of design. Using a lighter color is backward and can create a completely different look to the theme. The tone to use in an analogous theme should not interrupt the design. Therefore, use a darker color for a dominant theme base.
In design an analogous theme consists of three to five neighboring colors. Some new designers learn to use half of the 12 colors on a color wheel to accentuate his or her design. This process will enable the designer to introduce more accents to the design. As a designer becomes more seasoned in the design process, he or she will follow a true analogous theme of three to five colors. When designing a space, the designer should use a formula of 60-30-10. Sixty percent of the space will have a reserved or neutral color. Thirty percent of the space will portray a medium blend of dark colors, and ten percent of the space will have a bright and saturated color as an accent in the room.

Accessorizing With Color

Designers will often use greenery to accent in fresh tones of calming shades of green. This way the room has a natural look of nature inside the home. The designer should use a screen or an accordion partition accented with colors from the room to pull all the colors together. This will wash the room with an analogous theme. Designers often use layers of fabric to accent a window to the focal point like the sofa. This process gives form and continuity to the space. Using wood tones will dramatically ground the natural effect of an analogous theme as the colors saturate the room as a force of nature.
Although an analogous color theme is easy to create, the themes can become repetitive. It is the use of values and varieties as described in this article that will intensify the arrangement and increase interest. Designers will develop an easy way to achieve interest in an analogous color theme by placing emphasis in that dominant color or focal point.

A Monochromatic View

With many color combinations, it is color theory that makes a design stand out. This view demonstrates the monochromatic appeal to interior design.

The color theory of a monochromatic theme is the use of one color in multiple shades that gives off a unified look of that one color the homeowner adores. The reader should look at what colors offer the most aesthetic or pleasing look of that one color that he or she would want to live with. If a certain color does not make the reader feel good or make the homeowner sigh in relief when they see the home, then maybe that color is not the right one.

For an example, the reader may appreciate the fine hues of a turquoise blue. If the reader or homeowner walks into a room and a “calming” flows through the homeowner, then turquoise blue is the color he or she should use. By adding other shades or tints of blue, the homeowner adopts a monochromatic approach to design. To enhance this look, the homeowner should use a neutral color such as white or light gray to make the look more appealing to the senses. A good combination of denim blue, slate blue, and white can reflect a certain look that may remind the homeowner of sailing on the sea, whereas a denim blue, slate blue, and cocoa brown may reflect a more modern style of the city or a contemporary apartment.

Combining Colors in Design

This method of combining colors can be used with every color. For instance a room in monochromatic reds can accentuate passion, love, rosy skin, candied apples, or a fiery lipstick. A green can reflect a dense jungle, or forest with large palm trees and spiny pines; a lake-front property or the entrance into a beautiful garden also can be a reflection in a green combination like blades of grass, avocados, limes, and green apples.

With such pleasing color choices, the way to design is limitless. As a designer, he or she should try to paint a young teenager’s room with his or her interests. In one such design, for a teenage girl who loves red and adores her friends, the designer should paint the room in a strong raspberry red color and accessorize the room with many shades of reds, pinks, and plum color to reflect the teenager’s color interests. The designer should then take photos the teen has of her friends and copy them in an achromatic tone to create wallpaper of the teenager’s pictures. With this wallpaper idea, the designer should cover the teen’s focal wall behind the bed and add black lamps and white candles in crystal holders. The majority of the room will reflect a monochromatic design of reds with a splash of neutrals to accentuate the teenager’s new personal wallpaper.

Monochromatic Room Ideas

If a room seems too empty and boring and the walls are lacking in art, adding a monochromatic paint pattern such as stripes or blocks can create an artistic design. A homeowner should enhance a room with dramatic colors by adding a strong hue of color for the bedding. If the duvet, shams and back pillows have saturation in rich tones of a preferred color, this will create an intense and pleasing monochromatic look to the room. The opposite is to add a relief of color to reduce the overwhelming tone of the hue used in a room. This effect will balance the room and make a monochromatic room more appealing to the homeowner.

Using a monochromatic design will not only enhance the room but also make the room a conversational piece for the homeowner for many years. Accessories may change in the future as the homeowner’s interest may change. Later if the homeowner grows bored with the color in his or her room, 2000 plus other colors are available to choose from. Maybe he or she will want to use an analogous design for the next big design endeavor; as of the present time he or she can sit back and relax by enjoying a monochromatic room with a view.

Designing in Today’s Market

In design, mixing styles can be fun and cost effective.  No longer specified as Eclectic, it applies to the world of design in blending various styles from a combination of origin and era.  A mixed style should present pieces with shared aims to generate unity within the design.  Eclecticism is definitely not a jumble or mish mashed collection of arbitrary pieces but an intended and considered design.  When a shared component or idea ties the home together, the home can take on a character of personal preference and unique style.

When furnishings communicate to each other in scale, shape, pattern, texture, color, or finish; a mixed style of interior design can enhance the room and bring it together. Contrast is an important element for a mixed style.  As a general rule, a color scheme can be universal by using neutral colors as a backdrop or for large furnishings. Furniture no longer has to match perfectly but a mixture of related furnishings can embellish a design nicely.

In various design schemes such as rustic living, Asian traditional or Country French, mixing furnishings will complement the appeal to the homeowner.  The homeowner looks for appealing design styles.  One of the most beneficial resources is consignment or vintage shops.  The consignment shop holds treasures of quality or name brand merchandise at a discounted price.  These furnishings are unique in design as it gives new life to many styles and themes many people look for in decorating his or her home. Obtaining quality at a lower price is a valued perk for the do-it-yourselfer or the professional designer.

Rustic living is a relaxed, lived-in style and there is no reason to fear sitting in a rustic living- room or stop by for a chat in a rustic style environment. A rustic design style is informal with a complement of well made, sensible furniture, colorful material, and functional rather than trendy accents. With rustic styles, adding multiple textiles and countrified furnishings can be obtained by visiting these treasure troves of recycled design and style. 

If the homeowner is looking for something more traditional, he or she could find Asian inspired furnishings that display bold colors along with ornate furniture and accessories. Asian furnishings are ornately carved designs with craftsman painted details or lacquered finishes. When looking through consignments ask the salesperson for assistance. The shop may have everything the homeowner is looking for; they just need to look around as everything is transitional in the store.  Another nice benefit is the shop owner displays mixed styles within the shop to aid in complementing the various pieces on display.

Some various pieces can enhance this dramatic style by featuring animal prints and astrological signs, such as tigers and fire-breathing dragons. Creative ginger jars, large vessels, and beverage pots painted with exaggerated design in varied colors or in the traditional blue and white glazes are also fashionable in Asian interiors. The most prominent color in Asian style is the color red. This is because red defines good luck in Asian cultures. The most traditional items recurrently seen are wall murals, shoji tri-fold screens depicting characters of historical and legendary folklore. These are regularly painted in striking or vibrant colors. The majority of these items are sporadically on display throughout the shop.

Country French is an epitome by a palette of bright colors. This south of France design is reminiscent of colors that include deep aubergine (dark purple) and vibrant lavenders. Other provocative colors used for porcelain are bright cadmium yellow, and cerulean blue.  Furnishings usually with a small floral or animal pattern are typical fabric motifs for Country French design.  Not unlike rustic styles, basic Country French furniture is pine or maple in structure with a sturdy functionality. An ample plank-style dining table is traditional Country French furniture.  Caned chairs usually accompany this elegant piece, which is not to be confused with wicker.  Other telling furniture is armoires or four-poster beds with massive carvings and embellishments. Lavender wreaths with wheat shafts and wrought-iron gates surrounded by roosters, lamps, and sprigs are perfect accents and accessories for this style.

With today’s market, budgets are reduced by half.  Knowing that the homeowner has the option to find high-end or brand materials at a discounted price is a plus when he or she looks for that perfect piece or style furnishings. By frequenting a consignment or vintage shop the homeowner or designer will always find that special treasure that will complete a design. When finding just the right piece one can usually expect to find just that, one item so it is important to understand the art of mixing styles.  Mixing styles can aid in making sure the means of the budget are met while bringing fun and excitement to the adventurous homeowner.

Patrick S. Tremblay

Tremblayisms

Life should not be a journey to the grave with intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body; but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and Screaming, "WOO-HOO...What a ride!"
-Yal B. Mert; Unknown

One step is all it takes...your journey will begin!
-Yal B. Mert

"TRY TO KEEP UP!"
-Amanda Tremblay

People are richly rude, facetious, and mean; mainly they are just unhappy so they want to spread the wealth.
-Yal B. Mert

Writing is the only way to say what you imagine, and then you can live up to it.
-Patrick Tremblay

"I write what I feel, not what I fear!"
-Patrick Tremblay

Your intelligence is not defined by your grades, but by your actions to complete your education.
-Patrick Tremblay

If you fail to plan; plan to fail.
-P.Tremblay

Don't say I'll try to do it; you have already accepted failure. 'I will do it!' That is the proper way to say it
-PT

Do you hear that whine?
It's a tiny violin,
Playing your theme Song.
-Mori Awanabe-Haiku Black Belt

Never write to someone and say, "I hope..." you sound unsure.
-Yal. B. Mert

You deserve what you accept.
-DVG, used by PST

If you announce, "Honestly" in the beginning of a statement, you are also announcing you are lying the rest of the time. Everything you say should be honest.
-Patrick Tremblay

Why worry? The majority of what you worry about, never happens.
-P. Tremblay

Never cheat, it robs you of your soul.
-Grandpa Figueroa

Welcome everyone as an aquaintance until you know them. Their actions will prove themselves worthy of friendship.
-Yal B. Mert

Give from the heart fully, whether it is time, love, money, or advice.
Yal. B. Mert

Don't borrow, but if you do, return it twice fold.
-Armando Figueroa, Patrick Tremblay

One shouldn't stir the pot too hard, because sometimes the cook is the person who gets burned first.
-Patrick Tremblay

More doors will open in your future when you apply a softer knock.
-Patrick Tremblay

When faced with a challenge, I like to ask why not, whereas others only ask Why?
-Yal B. Mert

When I was a kid, we were so poor that we had rich week and poor week. Rich week was payday night. Poor week was all the days before Rich week!
-Steve Tremblay

Follow your heart; if it takes a detour, still follow, it knows where it is going.
-PTremblay

Let's be honest, there are at least 100 designers that are better than I am, but there are Thousands that are worse!
-Patrick Tremblay, Owner Tremblay House of Design

With maturity comes unwanted responsibility, but you can not have one without the other.
-Patrick Tremblay

"That is so wrong... I love it!"
-Patrick Tremblay

"Be good, and if you can't be good, be good at being bad!"
-Yal B. Mert

"Parenting sucks. Not mine...everyone elses!"
-Patrick Tremblay

Say sorry immediately, but mean it first!
-Yal B. Mert

Speak to the left with dishonesty; speak to the right when unsure; and speak straight-ahead from the heart.
-Patrick Tremblay

I will begin my life today, and try everyday until I am happy!
-Yal B. Mert

When someone asks, "What's your name again?" They won't remember again, because they don't care.
-Observation from PTremblay

I am glad stupid has a tendency to gravitate around others constantly, and around me sparingly.
"I just don't have the patience for stupid!"
-Told to PST by a good friend