Concept Before Color
The most common question I have been asked as an interior designer over the years is, without a doubt, “What are your favorite paint colors?” I suspect it ranks among the most popular design topics of all time. Funny thing is, I don’t have favorite paint colors (shock, awe!). I do not have a stable of SW’s BM’s, or F&B’s that I play on repeat. I liken that to a makeup artist applying the same look to a young, cherub-faced, blonde as she would a middle-aged, raven-haired woman with high cheekbones. Each home has its own architecture, light, and vibe that necessitates its own palette and specific application. How do you figure out that palette and specific application?! Start with a concept.
Example 1 | Delray Beach, FL
CONCEPT
COLORS
RESULT
WHO/WHERE: A beachfront, second home in Florida for empty-nesters.
VIBE: Relaxed, soft-modern
PALETTE: A low-contrast range of beiges and browns with accents of silvery, blue-grey
Example 2 | Washington, DC
CONCEPT
COLORS
RESULT
WHO/WHERE: A city townhouse for a young couple and soon-to-be parents
VIBE: Old-school formal meets youthful cool
PALETTE: From ecru, cafe au lait, and green-grey to caramel, peacock blue, and near-blacks
What you’ll notice is that the Delray Beach and West End palettes are not in opposite hemispheres; there is overlap. It’s the contrast, variety of hues and color temps, as well as the adjacent materials and finishes that set them apart. Both interiors may have shades of creamy-white, but we selected different versions because the light and vibe in DC varies considerably from the light and vibe in Florida. And, of course, the floors were a factor as pairing paint with white oak is worlds away from pairing it with an ebony-stain.
Visit the Delray Beach and West End portfolios on the Huntley & Co. website for a more comprehensive view of each project (note, not all rooms are photographed). Go to Tiktok and view my companion video to this post for additional examples of the concept-color-interior throughline. I am on a quiet mission to change hearts and minds! #conceptbeforecolor
{ PS: Photography and online screens distort the actual colors of the samples shown above. }
All work and projects above are by Huntley & Co. Interior Design
