Designer Palette: Blend of Blues
Blend of Blues
Inspired by an aqua-and-navy Morrocan tile, designer Jessica Brende combines the serenity of blue with the sophistication of gray in this livable color palette.
Designer: Jessica Brende
Getting Started:
Use a ratio formula to help you put together a color scheme. Choose one main color to serve as 40-60 percent of your color palette, then one to two supporting colors to comprise 30-40 percent of your color palette, and fill the remainder with one to two accents. Thinking of color this way can help you determine how much of each color to use. Go to the next slide to see how this scheme breaks out.
The Colors
The navy blue and aqua in this palette are colors you can easily live with says Brende. Start with a aqua blue-based gray as the main color, employing it on the walls and on an upholstered chair. Use a true gray as the supporting, secondary color (such as on a sofa and accent wall). Fill in with navy blue and a grayed aqua blue as accent colors.
Blend of Blues: Style Vibe
"This palette conveys a young at heart style, with a touch of sophistication," says Brende, "It would work well in a transitional environment." To create a look that spans two styles, apply modern finishes to classic elements (such as black lacquer to traditional trimwork) and juxtapose elements from both ends of the spectrum side-by-side (such as timeless navy blue swoop arm chair with a global patterned trim).
Blend of Blues: Finishes & Fabircs
Use an array of linen and linen-like textures and cerused or bleached oak wood tones with this palette to round out the beach vibe. The addition of ombre, such as on curtains or throw pillows will keep the ageless palette trend forward.
Blend of Blues: Accessorize
With this palette of blues and grays, Brende recommends accessorizing with old and new pottery pieces in white and aqua, driftwood, and agate bookends. Matte silver, such as upholstery nail heads or hardware, will bring sparkle to the room.
Get the Look!
Ready to decorate? Shop the products that will help you bring this look home!
Resources
Background: Sisal grasscloth in Twilight, Twenty2, twenty2.net
Use for: Walls
Blue ombre fabric: Forster in Marine, Nantucket Collection, #F1719/03, Designer's Guild, designersguild.com
Use for: Curtains
Medallion Fabric: Medallion in Indigo/Midnight, #1004-1, Vanderhurd, vanderhurd.com
Use for: Pillows
Striped wallpaper: Ribbon in Midnight, Galbraith & Paul, galbraithandpaul.com
Use for: Accent wall or for lining a bookshelf
Dark gray fabric: Legacy Linen in Slate, #11285, Calvin Fabrics, calvinfabrics.com
Use for: Chair upholstery
Light gray/blue fabric: Harrison in Aqua, #F3922/02, Colefax & Fowler, colefax.com
Use for: Curtains or sofa upholstery
Blue woven fabric (lower right corner): Virelle in Indigo, Moselle Fabrics collection #F1961/03, Designer's Guild
Use for: Bench or ottoman upholstery, pillows
Trim: 1/4-inch Sabine Cord with Tape (#981-56042) in Persian (#23), Samuel and Sons, samuelandsons.com
Use for: Upholstery trim
Medium blue-gray paint (top swatch): Tranquility, AF-490, Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.com
Use for: Walls or accent furniture
Light gray paint (middle swatch): Silver Satin, #856, Benjamin Moore
Use for: Trim
Blue paint (bottom swatch): Van Courtland Blue, #HC-145, Benjamin Moore
Use for: Wall or accent furniture
Give a room a new look by decorating in blue. A blue room can take on different styles and looks, depending on what hues you use. See how to create a blue color scheme and start crafting a blue look for your own space.
More Tips
Learn the secrets to decorating with blue.