The Many Sides of Red

“There is a shade of red for every woman” -Audrey Hepburn

“Everything utilitarian needs a little red edge” – Reno Dakota

The Color Red

Red is a warm, primary color. It is a bold and symbolic hue that is often associated with strong emotion. Red grabs our attention, pulls us in, and makes us aware of its presence. It calls us to action and gets us motivated. If you are looking to create a cozy and intimate space, red is the way to go. This catching color reminds us of beautiful things in nature like sweet strawberries, delicate roses, falling autumn leaves, and calming sunsets. Let’s not forget red is also a symbolic color of our great country, representing hardiness and valor. The flat
lay below incorporates a mix of red, white, and blue, inspired by our beautiful star-spangled banner.

How Red Affects Mood & Behavior

Did you know that all colors have a different psychological effect on us? The human mind processes colors in diverse ways causing us to feel and act differently. Colors affect how we react to sounds, smells, taste, and time. Some colors can even help heal sick patients and aid in their recovery.

Red is often associated with love, danger, anger, excitement, fire, strength, confidence, and luxury.  In Chinese culture, red is very popular for weddings and acts as a symbol of happiness. Bright, warm colors like red are also quite prominent in the restaurant industry, a perfect choice to stimulate the appetite of consumers. If you think of it there are tons of fast-food places that use red, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Chick-fil-A, Sonic, Pizza Hut, and Dairy Queen, just to name a few. The reason behind this is simple, red is bold, catches our attention, and somehow makes something in our brain say, “Hmm I could go for some food”. Not only does this hue cause change in mood and behavior but studies show that it can physically cause our body temperature to rise and make us feel warmer.

All these emotions and meanings behind just one color! Because red is so lively and simulating it should be used in moderation and with care. As designers, we take into consideration these effects that color has on the human mind to help us determine the best use and fit for each space. We suggest using red in entertainment spaces such as the living and dining rooms. Red is also a great choice for window treatments, pillows, and accent furniture. Here you can see how red steals the spotlight in a dining nook. The drapery, art piece, and accessory tray all pull red from the seating creating a fun layering effect that fills this small space with excitement.

This nightstand is a perfect example of using red on a piece of furniture to create a fun accent and carry it throughout the room within the artwork and area rug.

Colors That Pair Well with Red

There’s no doubt that red makes a statement on its own but that doesn’t mean you have to pair it with neutrals to make a space look great. Many times, red looks best when paired with colors that are just as vibrant and eye-catching. Check out the interesting mix of patterns in this photo! The scheme in this living area uses red in combination with blue, teal, and green making a space that is daring yet visually appealing to the eye.

Red’s complement is green and although most of us associate those colors with the holiday season they can be combined in a way that is not so literal by using variations of the hues. To avoid making your space look like a holiday party we recommend pairing it with a sage green or mint green. Other select colors that work well with red are teal, navy blue, peach, and yellow. If you choose to take the neutral route but still want to create a dramatic ambiance, use black, white, or gray or a combination of all three to really make the space pop. In this unique bedroom, we placed red accents on a neutral black and white background adding to the already existing moody vibe of the artwork.

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Project Spotlight: Open to Traditional

On one of our favorite projects of 2019, we transformed a traditional house design. Through both small impactful additions and large features, the home went from drab to refreshed. The design had to be kid and dog friendly. Throughout our renovation process, we always incorporate existing furniture pieces that are either meaningful to the family or ones that would still work with their vision. As certified aging in place designers, we could also ensure the design would be adaptable for the family for years to come.

Kitchen

Our client got the kitchen made for dreams! We knocked down a large wall that divided the space from the living room. This allowed for the addition of a 14-foot Cambria quartz countertop island. There is lots of additional seating and storage available here, necessary for their family’s needs. The all-white cabinets and subway tile backsplash is a timeless design decision and complimented by updated stainless steel appliances. Perfect for entertaining as well. This large island has a built-in wine cooler. The silver-finish lights above the island are simple for continued open-sightlines and hung in three for a balanced lighting feature.

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Living Room

The transformation in the living room was simple but impactful. By changing the layout, there’s more seating and focus on the characteristic, exposed brick fireplace. On the built-ins, we simplified and decluttered the items and painted them a refreshing blue to suggest a coastal cozy feel. Matching the existing coffee table, we added sofa tables, and most significantly, stained the ceiling beams to match. The XL sectional is upholstered with performance fabrics to keep up with the family and pets for years to come.

Dining Room and Foyer

Now to the dining room! We actually switched this space with the original office space to allow for a better flow of the open-concept. Equipped with 10 seating spots, it is perfect for large holiday dinners. The most unique part is the blue and gold peacock wallpaper from York Wallpaper. These modern colors perfectly incorporate the traditional pattern into the formal space. It is simply decorated with some existing gold accents, credenzas, and hemmed ready-made window panels.

The dining room highlights the unique foyer showcasing beautiful sentimental pieces from the client. The table was a dated hutch, so to better fit the space, we took the top off. The plates were sitting on the top, so we hung them to created a masterful artsy use of them. The antique mirror reflects the dining room’s existing chandelier and light to enlarge the space. On the mirror, you can see a posed Anhinga bird, which perfectly matches the peacock theme from the dining room. It also adds the perfect Florida home touch, for these birds are easily seen along Florida’s waterways.

Slim lamps from Uttermost and faux flowers from Stacked and Co. complement the existing pieces to create a unique, modern foyer.

Master Suite

The biggest renovation of this project: a master bedroom and bath addition! This created the perfect getaway space for the parents. The decor was kept simple and colorful for an eccentric, modern feel. In this space, we continued the emerald green color that they loved from the foyer plates! These unique Currey Co. lamps add an elegant touch to the youthful pillows and mirror. For the window curtains, we embellished ready-made panels with decorative trim for an affordable, individualized touch.

These clients wanted the house modern where it mattered; before in the kitchen, now we reveal the updated bathrooms! With continued white cabinetry and silver-finishes, this bathroom will be in style for years to come. Don’t be afraid to mix finishes either, you can see we did that here with the black hardware and silver decor. The continued floral tile wainscoting unifies the walk-in shower area to the free-standing tub. A luxurious water faucet and wine table are placed right next to the tub for those lavish bath-spa evenings.

Flex Room

To better meet the family’s needs, we transformed a guest bedroom into a more flexible space. The closet was gutted and a desktop was added for a special home-office space. The scholarly York wallpaper and storage is perfect for the kid’s future study space. In this room, there’s also an existing daybed for guests.

Before and Afters

Through the before and afters, you can truly appreciate were this house started and ended. With some mindful design decisions like tearing down a wall and switching room purposes, the house was transformed. It is now completely functional for the family and looks brand new, even though we incorporated lots of existing furniture. Remember, paint is the most inexpensive, but significant, change you can make, and don’t shy away from wallpaper because it looks intimidating!

 

A Designer’s Touch

Throughout the house, our main vendors were Uttermost, Currey Company, Hooker Furniture, Surya, and Safavieh. One pro of redoing your house with a certified interior designer’s help is that we can buy these items for lower than what you would find at a showroom. To finish up, our biggest tip is run to a Home Goods near you to add the perfect decor to enhance your personalized style in the space. Check out more beautiful spaces designed by the A.Clore Interiors team on our Houzz page!

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Thank you for being an A.Clore Interiors Blog reader…..

Don’t forget: you can find us on Facebook – “like” us to keep up with the latest and greatest!

You can always find more design inspiration on our Pinterest and Instagram pages!

Connect with us on Google+ and LinkedIn

Visit our Website for more information on what we are about and how interior design can change your life!

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