New England Fall Palette

Today, we are oh so very fortunate to have Barbara Jacobs guest blogging for Hue! Barbara's website was the very first one I discovered when I began my eager search for information on becoming a color consultant.

An IACC-accredited color consultant based in the Boston, Mass. area, Barbara has worked locally and nationally for over 20 years to help people create supportive environments for home and business. Since 2005 her fine arts background and long-time interest in traditional textiles and textile design have converged with her passion for color, bringing to life her line of hand woven rugs, Silk Road Weaves.

Musings on End of Summer…Suddenly it’s Fall in New England
A transition from the hot, hazy summer to a fresh entry into new creative work.
by Barbara Jacobs

Is it something in the air? To me, it’s a different feeling and smell of the air, a change in the quality of the light, a feeling of activity and energy. Translating this into color is exciting.

I want to share with you some of my favorite images that express the feeling of seasonal change here in New England. The palettes I've created reference Ellen Kennon Full Spectrum paints.

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For those who are unfamiliar with this brand, I really like her paint because Ellen mixes her colors using pigments that reflect all the hues of the spectrum. Perfect for “fall” lighting, even colors that look grayed or toned-down have a luminous quality. The number of colors that go into each can of paint make it easy for you to use paint colors that do not exactly “match’ your furniture. There will almost always be a way to create a harmonious and unique environment. And isn’t that what makes it so rewarding?

Fall palettes draw heavily from nature; just look around you, the possibilities are endless.

Top left: Rust, top right: Citrine, bottom: Tulip Leaves, center: Peridot, bottom center: Silk Road Plum

Deeper, richer and more saturated on one hand,

Clockwise from top left: Bronze, Morning Yellow, Ginger Ale, Spring Green, and Olive (center)

and earthy hues on another. In any case, a punctuation of vivid accent or very dark outlines can add an energetic dynamic.

Clockwise from top left: Wedgewood, Spring Green or Jaunty Jen, Buttercup, Cognac, Kennon Ivy (center)

In Maine, on an island…a time to contemplate, do Nothing, watch the ocean, the sky.

Clockwise from top left: Sky, Stone, Camel Hair, Mustard Seed, Olive (center), Verdigris (center outline)

Crisp colors and the trees change color and texture almost before our eyes—while we get ready for the next season.

Clockwise from top left: Peridot, Milk Chocolate, Jaunty Jen, Terracotta Sand, Bronze (center)

Farmer’s markets still make available local produce—peaches, nectarines,

Clockwise from top left: Rust, Berry Red, Chestnut, Luminaire, Chartreuse or Jaunty Jen (center)

and the new Fall apples combine to create a sense of transition.

Clockwise from top left:Emerald, Wheat, Chestnut, Pumpkin Spice, Dean's Dream (center)

We’re starting to see the winter squashes with their protective shells and colors that are simultaneously vibrant...

Clockwise from top left: Sandy Lagoon, Parchment, Chestnut, Clay, Morning Yellow (center)

Clockwise from top left: Stone, Edgewood Green, Bark, Chestnut, Terracotta Sand (center)

and earthy, reminding us to be ready to take shelter and get warm.

Clockwise from top left: Silk Road Plum, Peridot, Magnolia, Amber, Jaunty Jen (center)

Changing leaf color—even if it’s not dramatically brilliant foliage—can be a beautiful color inspiration. Even desert colors will also be influenced by seasonal changes.

Clockwise from top left: Magnolia, Terracotta Sand, Mocha, Tuscan Sun, Dean's Dream (center)

Using color in our homes to express a transition in mood can be a challenge. Talking about paint, maybe you are inspired to make a change. Change in seasons often has that effect! So, wherever you live, I’d encourage you to look at your natural surroundings and think about what the changes have been from the previous season. Live near water? Is the river, lake, ocean that’s near you a different color than it was when it reflected the summer sky?

Enjoy bringing the seasonal change into your own home!

NOTE: as with all color representations on a monitor, please remember to see the actual paint colors for an accurate view.

all images copyright Barbara Jacobs

A colorful history of the wedding dress

Welcome back, Hollie! You might remember Hollie as a guest blogger for Hue. She always has something fun up her sleeve. Here's a little more about her:

Hollie Jackson is a LEED Accredited Professional and an associate member of the IACC-NA. She has been involved in color and material selection for interior and exterior commercial projects for the past 8 years. Hollie lives in Sacramento, California and hopes that all her research on wedding dresses becomes relevant in her personal life very soon.

A colorful history of the wedding dress
by Hollie Jackson

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Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Wedding Portrait has always been one of my favorite works of art. I love all the detail in the painting and how I discover something new every time I spend some time looking at it. I came across it while browsing the internet recently and had a thought: this is a wedding portrait, but she’s not wearing a white gown. It got me curious about the tradition of the white dress. I know that other cultures have different ideas about what colors brides wear, and I’ve read about the histories behind those, but I’ve never given the white dress thing a second thought. Just took it as something that is, was and always will be.

I did some digging and learned that Mrs. Arnolfini’s gown (painted in 1434) was green to symbolize the couple’s hope for fertility in their marriage (which is funny since she already looks totally pregnant. I guess that green gown did the trick!) Before white became the standard, most brides opted for color. Wedding gowns were meant to be incorporated into the bride’s wardrobe after the big day, so practical colors and fabrics were chosen.

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For the wealthy, the wedding ceremony was a time to show off the bride’s value and that of her dowry, so rich, opulent colors produced by expensive dyes were used. Blue, not white, was thought to represent purity, as well as fidelity and eternal love, making it a popular choice.

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The tradition of the white dress is said by many to have started with Queen Victoria. She chose white for her gown so that she could incorporate of piece of lace that she had into the design. Her wedding portrait was widely publicized and brides-to-be all over the world jumped on the white dress bandwagon. Who wouldn’t want to look like a queen on her wedding day? Since then, the queen’s color choice has come to represent purity and chastity, which seems appropriate since in Victoria’s day, even tables kept their legs covered to avoid appearing unseemly.

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Today, the white wedding gown (or its sisters in ecru and ivory) is still pretty much the norm here in the West. A few designers, however, are taking some chances with color. In some instances, the dress is still white with a pop of color found in a sash or other detail.

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And for the bride who wants something completely unique, there are options that forgo the white altogether. Check out this citrusy green number by Vera Wang. This dress apparently caused quite a stir at New York Fashion Week. Although Wang and other designers have had offerings outside of the white range for the past few years, most colored gowns tend to stay within the muted tones and still have a very traditional effect.

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Wedding attire in Eastern cultures is much more colorful. In this photo, showing traditional Chinese wedding clothes, or hanfu, the bride wears red, a symbol of good luck in her culture. Modern Chinese brides commonly have two or more wedding ensembles that they change into over the course of the day to mark different parts of the ceremony; one of these almost always includes a red gown.

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In India, the traditional wedding sari is also typically red, but modern Indian brides have many other colorful choices available to them like the one shown here in a beautiful gold and red combination. The most elaborate of these saris is made from the finest silk and richly-embroidered with thread made from real gold!

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The great thing about the modern wedding here in the West is that anything goes. Although the white wedding dress is still the only option for some, for brides with more colorful personalities, there are many, many great alternatives out there.

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And as our society becomes more and more globally-minded, I’m sure that the rich colors found in the East will regain popularity with Westerners and maybe eventually knock that tired white dress off of her pedestal.

Any engaged folks out there considering a non-traditional outfit for your special day? What about you all who have already tied the knot? Did you knock everyone's socks off in something unexpectedly colorful? Please share!