Monthly Archives: October 2011

Shades of grey

Grey is a versatile neutral with a broad tonal range from silvery white to charcoal. While grey may have immediate associations as being a cold and dreary hue, it can quickly move into the warmer tones with even the slightest touch of red or yellow. Grey is also a shade that is very sensitive to the quality of light surrounding it. In a northern facing room with little natural light, it will lean toward the cooler side of the spectrum.

Photo by Jonathon Kambouris

The Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi (1864-1916) painted with a palette comprised mostly of grey tones. He is best known for his paintings of interiors, which are spare and quiet, often with only the back of a lone figure. He was known to have reclusive tendencies, so most of these paintings take place in his 17^th century house in Copenhagen, and the figure is usually that of his wife Ida.

Hammershøi expressed the elusive quality of light and shadow with subtle gradations of color. While he seemed to rarely veer from his grey palette, the range of tonal variation and intensity feels infinite. These paintings remind me of the intricate link between light and color.

Paintings by Vilhelm Hammershøi in order:

Dust Motes Dancing in the Sunbeams 1900, Interior Strandgade 30 1901, The Tall Windows 1913, The Sunny Parlor 1901, Sunshine in the Drawing Room III 1903

Shades of grey in today’s interiors:

Interiors in order: John Saladino via Splendid-Sass, photo by Tria Giovan, via 1^st Dibs Introspective magazine, Mathew Patrick Smyth, Jean Louis Deniot, Tom Fox and Joe Nahem of Fox-Nahem Design via Elle Décor, Steven Volpe via Elle Decor

Kitchens; a little bit country and a little bit rock-n-roll

When kitchens are, “ a little bit country, and a little bit rock-n-roll,” they marry rustic and contemporary elements without hitting any false notes. The look is unique and timeless. It is not simply about the choices in materials, but the way the finish details pull everything together.

S.R. Gambrel design

In this Steven Gambrel designed kitchen, the stainless steel on the traditional La Cornue range recurs in the the industrial style refrigerators, while the brushed brass finish is balanced by the creative touch of the nail head trim around them. The yellow-gold of the brass is subdued by the juxtaposition of the muted wood cabinetry, and the soft finish of the wood floors.

The cabinets in this island have the look of an old-fashioned ice box with the modern twist of stainless steel feet. The black hinges integrate with the dark finish of the traditional style bridge faucet, and the top of the range.

Ken Pursley design

This kitchen by architect Ken Pursley has what he called, “an early american language,” (via article from House Beautiful) with furniture like details on the cabinetry. While Pursley references the style of a colonial kitchen, nothing about the design feels like a textbook imitation.