How climate affects color choices
In San Francisco, the fog rolls in, covering everything in a blanket of subdued gray. Other locations deal with white hot sun beating down daily. While some cities fight the wash-out from weather with brights (think Albuquerque or Miami), San Francisco opts for a more sophisticated palette of hues. Now, there are certainly exceptions to the rule: take Painted Lady Victorians, for example. But even within that palette, you won't find much lime green or turquoise as the dominant color.
image sourceDo you think the regional climate in your area has an effect on how you chose colors for your home? If you've lived in different cities, did your palette change, depending upon where you were living?
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11 comments:
The designers in the SF Chronicle article don't mention anything about personal needs of individual clients. (Do they?) Yes - of course region influences people with their color choices. But how much of that influence is based on what colors we THINK we should use, as opposed to what colors we WANT to use? As color designers, it makes sense to take fog into consideration, but is there really a single way to go about finding the right color solutions? Doesn't each project need to be handled on a case-by-case basis, depending on the individual wants and needs of a client? Maybe I'm just missing the point of the SF Chron article, but this happens to me often. Especially in the Home and Garden section. :)
thanks for the post, Rachel.
What about all the pink houses in San Fran?
I think this is a fascinating topic. I think the quality of light has such an immense effect on the way we see color that it has to have an impact on the colors used in various regions. It would be an interesting experiment to take a paint chip and travel the world with it, seeing how the color changed towards the North Pole and at the equator. Now if I could just find a paint company to finance the trip....
"For designers who work in the city, the fog and climate can impact their visions for a space - especially when it comes to the color palette."
Whaaaaaa! but... but... the fog got in my eyes and the dog ate my favorite fandeck.
There are fundamental inaccuracies sprinkled throughout the article when it comes to natural inherent light as it relates to and influences wall colors. I've long believed that designers/decorators don't automatically by default of profession make the best or most informed color consultants. I find that opinion proven correct quite often.
Kelly, I don't know if you missed the point. I'm thinkin' it's more like you made a better one than the article.
I heartily disagree with Martha Angus's approach. Cool blues and greys in a fog-enshrouded city? Brrrr. I'd be more apt to take one of the other 2 designers' approach. Kelly makes an excellent point about the client's preferences...yeah, the client. Remember them?
Great post, Rachel. Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention.
glad ya'll enjoyed this post. Sometimes, I am so befuddled by articles like the SF Chronicle's, because as you all so astutely pointed out, there are SO many other factors involved in color selection.
the quality of light is fascinating, and instrumental in how a color is perceived, but there's so much more to it. maybe next time, they should interview one of us, instead!
Thanks Annie and funcolors. :) I have a whole stack of SF Chron Home + Garden articles that make no sense. Always planned on writing in, but never did. The client is consistently "forgotten" in the name of design. ugh.
funcolors - once again, you crack me up. "the fog got in my eyes and the dog at my favorite fandeck". lol.
Rachel - what do you think? :)
Kelly- i totally agree, it should all be about the client and each specific project. Their environment, the architectural features, the aspects they want to (de)emphasize, their aesthetics, function of the space...the list goes on and on.
You really should write to the editor with your comments about this article- i think it's important for them to be informed and put out accurate data.
let's write one together. as reps of the IACC-NA. we can sign it like a bunch of congress people in support of a measure on the tax ballot.
(sharpening pitchfork and will light torch on Kelly's cue) :~D
To answer one of Rachel's original questions instead of my just being a Ms. Snarky-Pants...
When I switched climates of living - and it was a dramatic change - it's not just the climate but indeed a change in cultural color influences as well. Hafta say what regional color shifts, not just climate shifts, really meant didn't fully register with me before.
As the bands of climate shift across the U.S.and affect color discrimination and appearance, anticipate that cultural color influences can shift along with climate adding yet another layer to consider. Latitudinally more so that longitudinally climate-wise, IMHO. i.e. Just how different is a rainy day on Long Island, NY from some place in the PNW? But comparison of the color cultures of the two locales could be far more robust.
Excellent question. Here in the west coast with all our rain, we like our grays warmer. Also because the colour is gray, bright screaming colours do not work at all! (hey now that I'm here I need to go to your most recent post to see what you said )
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