Click an image for a larger version.

Introduction   Page 1

Color is the backbone of decorating. Whether you're painting walls, staining floors, choosing fabrics, or buying carpeting, color comes into play in nearly every decorating decision. Yet too often color is neglected, misused, and misunderstood. If you've ever wondered how selecting a color could be so difficult, you're not alone. Even trained designers tend to fall back on whites and neutrals because they're intimidated by the overwhelming world of color. And it's particularly easy to fall out of your comfort zone when you're trying to decide if two or more colors go together — which is virtually all the time because colors never stand alone. But, in truth, it is just as unreasonable to expect yourself to pick a perfect palette as it would be to sing a Callas-caliber aria. Unless, of course, you happen to be a professional opera singer. We've all known someone who can hear a note, identify it immediately, and then sing it with perfect pitch. Surprisingly, there are people who can do the same with color. They are able to identify hue, value, and chroma — color's equivalent to notes, chords, and scales — with amazing accuracy. While I can't sing on key, I do happen to enjoy a natural ability to compose palettes that invite people in and ask them to stay awhile. In fact, working with color is my singular passion, and my hope is that The Color Palette Primer will provide color-phobic amateurs, sophisticated professionals, and everyone in between with an easy reference for creating a harmonious environment.