HOME TRUTHS: Color Matching Made Simple

With the help of Palette Generator, I'm going to try this multicolored palette, seen on the cover of our January/February 2008 issue, in my dining room.

When I began thinking about designing the interior space in my renovated apartment, I needed inspiration. To start, I thumbed through catalogs and magazines and kept a binder of my favorite rooms. I'd carry my idea-filled folder everywhere I went (I never knew when I might spot a find) and attempt to match sofa fabrics, rugs, and other objects with these glossy tear sheets. It proved to be difficult, because I never clipped monochromatic schemes or those with just two or three colors. No, the palettes I fell in love with were always a blend of several shades that were nearly impossible to copy.

That was until I found a fantastic online tool that helped me replicate these whole-room color designs. Palette Generator lets you upload any photo (or a scan made from a shot you've taken from a magazine), and in seconds, it extracts all the colors—including variations in shades—to create a printable palette. (Note: The generated color names and numbers correspond to web-based codes used by graphic designers.) Use the swatches to match paint chips, fabrics, even furnishings.

-Wendy Manwarren
Senior Remodeling & Design Editor, Home