Sunday, August 30, 2009

Color Therapy



Do you ever wonder how this all began…our fascination with color in our home?


In 1666, English scientist Sir Isaac Newton discovered that when pure white light is passed through a crystal prism, it separates into all of the visible colors. What an amazing and beautiful sight that must have been.
There are some colors whose effects have universal meaning. Colors in the red area of the color spectrum are known as warm colors and include red, orange, and yellow. These warm colors evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility. Colors on the blue side of the spectrum are known as cool colors and include blue, purple, and green. These colors are often described as calm, but can also call to mind feelings of sadness or indifference..... Or even depression


It is now accepted that color can be used to stimulate or inhibit certain behaviors. Advertising executives are well aware that a product can have a completely different impact if the color of the packaging is changed. Psychologists have found that certain colors in our immediate environment can help us perform some tasks. For example, exercise is best performed in an environment of warm colors, such as reds and oranges, whereas the tranquil blues and greens are ideal for mental concentration.
Several ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and Chinese, practiced chromotherapy, or using colors to heal. In this treatment:

· Red was used to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation.

· Yellow was thought to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.

· Orange was used to heal the lungs and to increase energy levels.

· Blue was believed to soothe illnesses and treat pain.

· Indigo shades were thought to alleviate skin problems.
Hhhmmmm ....Interesting....soooh......

What does your color choices reveal about yourself and your home?
Look below and experience your reaction.






























Sunday, August 16, 2009

Transform your walls


Architectural mouldings are the easiest way to transform an uninteresting room into something truly dramatic.


Below is the living room of interior designer Phoebe Howard’s Atlanta apartment. Walls are painted Farrow & Ball's Clunch, a soft warm white. The room's showpiece is a George III gilded mirror with a broken pediment. Curtains in Schumacher cotton sateen are tucked directly under the cornice.Her husband, architect James Howard, installed classical revival paneling with acanthus corbels and moldings. The ceilings are only eight and a half feet, but by using an egg-and-dart cornice that projects into the rooms and onto the ceilings, rather than one that sits flat on the walls, he created the illusion of greater heightin this room.