Marilyn G. Russell, President & Principal Designer, Design Magnifique
BLANCO welcomes guest blogger and BLANCO Design Council member Marilyn Russell, President & Principal Designer from Design Magnifique, Inc., an award-winning agency specializing in residential and commercial design based in Orlando, Florida.
We sat down with the talented designer to find out why color is so inspiring to her.
Marilyn, as a designer, how do you choose colors for a room?
It’s never an easy task selecting color. This is why people contact us for assistance. I always try to understand and really get to know the clients I’m designing for; get to the heart of what they want accomplished for their new space. Listening to what a client is saying and not saying is the crux of any successful interior design project. The other element of selecting colors for a space is paying close attention to what people wear or glancing at their wardrobe. If someone constantly wears blacks, grays and navy blues, then one can get a sense of what colors they’re strongly drawn to.
Why do you think color is so important in design today?
Color is very important because that is the world we live in. I take a lot of my color cues from Mother Nature who never fails – color combinations are done flawlessly. Incorporating colors from the outdoors into one’s design is not that difficult; color pairings are already completed; you just have to open your eyes. Just a little touch of color makes for a very happy space.
How have neutrals evolved in design and what is working right now?
Neutrals were once thought of colors in the beige, brown, white, gray and black families. Now, neutrals have evolved to include selective tones of just about every color. Think of neutral colors as a backdrop for other aspiring colors – neutrals do not compete but rather complement. I consider these colors to be safe but also quite elegant when applied with interest. Far from boring, one can do so much with neutral colors through applications of creative paint techniques, textiles and architectural finishes including flooring and wall treatments. Manufactures are constantly developing creative prints and designs for neutrals.
BLANCO’s latest color introduction is CINDER – a structured gray, back and brown mix that integrates classically with today’s natural surfaces. What are your thoughts on CINDER and what is your favorite BLANCO SILGRANIT® II color and why?
BLANCO MODEX in new CINDER
I love BLANCO’s new color, CINDER, which is a great mix of gray black and brown. This new color will complement just about any countertop – I’d love to see it with a red quartz countertop. One of my favorite BLANCO sinks is the BLANCO DIAMOND™ Super Single bowl. I recently installed the café brown, which was the perfect complement to the mid and dark brown tones blending well in the kitchen.
Where do you think color will go in the future? What is the next neutral to watch?
I think color will continue to evolve while still remaining the most important element in design. As long as manufactures continue to push boundaries with product design, interior designers continue to be creative with their selections and customers continue to be open and trusting of new opportunities, color will always elevate a space. In terms of the next neutral to watch for, while I was at High Point Market in the spring, I saw lots of yellow. Of course it was more on the bright side; however, there are those beiges with yellow undertones, which I think will make a big splash on the home front. Besides, yellow is a happy color.
Neutrals were once thought of colors in the beige, brown, white, gray and black families. Now, neutrals have evolved to include selective tones of just about every color. Think of neutral colors as a backdrop for other aspiring colors – neutrals do not compete but rather complement. I consider these colors to be safe but also quite elegant when applied with interest. Far from boring, one can do so much with neutral colors through applications of creative paint techniques, textiles and architectural finishes including flooring and wall treatments. Manufactures are constantly developing creative prints and designs for neutrals.
