Annie Selke's Designer Insights
Color, texture and unique finds are this designer's secrets to bringing a home to life
Annie Selke, founder and designer behind an acclaimed trio of interior furnishings companies: Pine Cone Hill, Dash & Albert and Potluck Studios, is a master at decorating creatively with color. Here are a few of her tips on using it in your own rooms:
Guide to Decorating with Color
• Choose colors that you love or that evoke the emotion you are hoping to achieve in each space.
• Keep a picture journal. Photograph scenes or items whose color schemes you respond to and figure out how you can use the same scheme in the space you are working on.
• Remember that magazines are your friends. "Tear and file the pages that attract you even if you aren't working on anything at the moment—when you do start a project you can refer to them," she says. "I find looking for the similarities in the chosen images often helps you focus on what you really are drawn to."
• Test drive a color. If you're trying to decide on a paint hue, get large pieces of foam core and small cans of colors you want to try. Paint the foam core and look at each color at various times. The light in any space will change quite dramatically during the day.
• Don't play it safe. "Shake things up and put some of your personality into your space," says Annie. "Your space is for you to love and live in. Don't concern yourself about what others may think."
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