In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I am saluting one of my favorite colors – pink. 

This lovely hue often gets a bad rap.  People think it’s a saccharine shade that should be

 reserved for little girls’ bedrooms and bubble gum.  But pink can be as versatile and sophisticated

 as any color in the spectrum.  I’ve used it in dining rooms, bathrooms and living rooms.  And it’s

always warm, sexy, feminine and inviting.  Now before all you modernists and men poo-poo this idea,

 I’ll let you in on a little secret.  Whenever I use pink in a room, the crew on site (plumbers, electricians,

millworkers, etc.) always love it.  I”m talking about macho, physical, hardworking guys.  But believe

it or not, if you envelop them in pink, they suddenly feel calm, comforted and completely at home. 

I’m not kidding.  It happens without fail.  Maybe pink isn’t just for girls after all?

A pink gown – in the right color, the right cut and with the right complexion – can be an absolute stunner.

L to R:  Diane Kruger in Christian Lacroix, Naomi Watts in Stella McCartney and Natalie Portman in Rodarte.

My girl Gwen rocked a custom John Galliano pink and white ombre silk faille dress on her wedding day.

 I keep these heart-shaped “Make Out Mints” at the ready in case of an intimate chat or smooch.

A rose quartz cabochon ring by Arunashi Jewelry.

Pink, polished and modern.

Leigh Viner’s work is utterly feminine but with a sexy edge.  Find this freelance artist

and photographer’s collection of prints and original works through JKL Design on Etsy.

Miles Redd is never one to shy away from color and his New York living room is no exception.

A lipstick red sofa against bubblegum pink walls.  Yes, I actually love this combo.  Granted, I

would probably tweak the saturation and tone of each of these hues (case in point – the

Huntley & Co. dining and living rooms below), but I do think Mr. Redd is on to something.

Another “Redd” room – these pink walls have a base that’s more salmon, less blue.

This shade of pink is a beautiful foil for the graphic black and white of the chair and artwork.  

I spotted this delicate chandelier with pale pink crystals on Friday at the

Ebanista showroom in DC.  It’s elegant, charming and not too sweet.  

And I stumbled upon this GORGEOUS light fixture while trolling online.

It speaks to the “bubble” chandelier look that’s been popular the past few

years, but is a warmer, more organic version … like candy-coated jellyfish.

I recently purchased this Modern Alchemy candle from And Beige in Adams Morgan.

I can’t get enough of the scent and am equally amused by the company’s description …

“When unbridled lust is confined within a single sexually charged location, the perfume is unmistakable.

This torrid fragrance is of sultry orris root, musk, ancient civet, peru balsam and rarest plai.”

I always go to Saipua – floral designers in Brooklyn – for color inspiration.

Their arrangements are so lush and gorgeous with an effortlessness about them.

This is how you arrange pink flowers.

A painting by the 19th century portrait artist Giovanni Boldini.  Portraits as beautiful

and seductive as this one of Marthe deFlorian are, unfortunately, remnants of the past.

The Boldini painting above reminds me of this study I designed for a client.  She requested a pink and

blue color scheme for the space and I was notably doubtful at first.  I’m not really a pastel kind of girl

(unless you counteract it with something dark or edgy), so this was new territory for me.  But it turned out

beautifully.  The soft colors were the key to creating a peaceful work environment for a busy woman.

 A year or so later, the same client wanted her dining room reinvented.  Again she was

drawn to pink.  This time I didn’t hesitate.  Soft rose-colored walls and coral/brick red

mouldings and trim throughout.  It’s an unusual color scheme that has a magical glow

during candlelit dinner parties.  I love trying new things and clients who takes risks.

Indeed, 2009 was the year of pink for Huntley & Co.  Probably because we were fortunate

enough to have independent, savvy female clients who wanted to bring fashion and glamour

into their homes [and lives].  This metallic, faux bois wallcovering is one of my all-time

favorites.  It comes in several incredible colors including this blush one.  I had it cut into

squares and hung in contrasting directions to highlight the pattern and luminosity of the paper.

I carried this pink tote around all summer and was sad to retire it for the season.

To all the women, including my late Grammy P, who have waged the war against breast

cancer with courage and dignity.  We honor you this October and all year long. 

Tricia xo