2nd Place: Red

Red came in 2nd place via the poll recently held here. Red is a fun color to work with and I certainly can understand how some may be reluctant to paint walls red for fear of it being overpowering or too loud. Above (top) is Benjamin Moore's Red Oxide, picture via Apartment Therapy. What a great looking room. The walls have such a nice warm glow yet the color does not overwhelm or overpower everything else in the room. 2nd from the top is Farrow and Ball's Blazer red. The walls aren't too loud as the navy area rug tones down the red and makes the room feel more grounded. Below is Benjamin Moore's Spring Tulip, a pink red. The color is much more pronounced and becomes the main feature of the room. It's a matter of personal taste.


Below are some nice reds from Benjamin Moore's Aura line, a low VOC paint.

I love the Pomegranite and the Caliente is nice too. There are several neutrals shown that would work well as companion colors. Using a muted or dulled red will prevent your walls from being too loud. First decide whether you prefer a yellow based red or a blue based red. The yellow based reds are warmer and some are shown on the top row below. Blue based reds are shown on the bottom row below.

If you've been wanting a red room or just a red accent wall then you should give it a try. Red walls envelop a room, making it feel cozy and intimate. A dining room is a great place to try red and subdued reds also work well in living areas. You should start with a duller red and go brighter or more saturated if you feel like it. It's easier to add color than to cover it up. Reserve your judgment of the red until you bring your furniture and accessories back into the room as those other items will make a big difference.

Red Hot Finds

Following up on my earlier post, "Red Hot", here are some fabulous finds in reds. Above Unison Bedding, via Design Public. I like the teal accent pillows against the poppy red, it really pops!

Below a bold and beautiful chandelier and floor lamp. I'm sorry I seem to have lost the link to where I found these because I saved the images a week or so ago!! Kick me! ; ) I'll figure it out and let you know where you can get these! In the meanwhile, if anyone knows, please send me a note. : )



Local San Francisco artist, Rachel T Robertson, makes beautiful, unique art collages. Below is her red rose collage. You can learn more about Rachel here.





Above a beautiful Angela Adams rug in red and pink.


Jill Clarkson Color and Design offers color consultations and design services throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information email jill.clarkson@comcast.net

Red Hot

I just LOVE red, it's a fabulous color that gets your attention and even speeds up your pulse. Red has many different meanings across the world but the main keywords for this color are energy, stimulation, power, action and excitement. I like a little something red in every room if even just for a small pop of color like in the pictures below. The red kitchen above is so dramatic and probabaly a bit too much for most of us in day to day living, but I do like it!!





This darling house sitting by a river is charming, almost sentimental, in a story book kind of way.



A red painted door is said to bring good luck. In early america when people traveled by horse and carriage they had to stop often and a red door was a sign of welcome meaning they could stop there for the night. In Ireland a red door means you've paid off your mortgage! In Feng Shui red belongs to the element of fire and is the most auspicious of colors. The door into the home is where all good energy enters and so it is painted red to attract postive energy and prosperity.


more on red coming up