Linda Hales (The Post)

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Design Online
What's Modern Now?
Hosted by Linda Hales
Washington Post Design Page editor
Thursday, April 12, 2001; 2 p.m. EDT

Join Design editor Linda Hales and Washington interior designer Victoria Neale to talk about making the most of color in modern rooms. Neale is one of 14 design teams involved in the Washington's Spring 2001 Design House. This showcase of rooms is open to the public into the summer to serve as a source of idea about "What's Modern Now." The answer is bold, vibrant color.

Design is where you find it. Hales edits the Design page in Saturday's Style section. She writes regularly about home and design trends and is as comfortable talking about designer tea kettles as the curves of a Ferrari.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Linda Hales: Welcome to today's hour of Design Online. I'm just back from the Milan furniture fair, and I can say with certainty that color is everywhere -- in upholstery, walls, glassware, accessories, and of course, fashion, where these trends begin. Some of you may have seen the Emilio Pucci-inspired chair that ran on the front of Style last Thursday, with my first report from the fair. (Milan is Ground Zero for design, and we'll be focusing on that topic in a couple of weeks.) The Pucci chair reflected the passion for hot pinks and reds that was omnipresent...But frankly, I'm a little unsure how far this trend will go in home furnishings. Happily, we have Victoria Neale with us today. She has great color sense, and so, Victoria, welcome, and help us get through this tidal wave of red, orange, green, blue, hot pink, acqua....

Washington D.C.: Great topic, but I'm one of the color-challenged. Can you build up my confidance so I can paint my walls something more exciting than Washington Yellow? There must be a trick to living with ocean blue walls?

Linda Hales: Welcome, Washington. I'm on your wavelength. If this were True Confessions, I'd have to admit I live in a house with all white walls. I've been saving magazine articles with pictures of yellow walls for years....

Victoria Neale: It's tough to get me past yellow because that's my favorite color! Blue is also great, though, and there is a good way to go about it. don't try to just pick a "pretty blue" from a paint wand. you'll end up with a blue that matches nothing in the stores for bedding, furniture, etc. I recommend that you find a fabric you like and want to use with blue in it, then select your favorite from the fabric. I find that most people "chicken out" and go lighter - DON;T! Try a swatch of the blue and see how it goes. sampling on the walls is a great way to see the color without painting the whole room. Be sure to make a big swatch - 3 feet by 3feet is best.

Victoria Neale: Hmmm...purple is not my very favorite, but I like it mixed with other things. there is a great, albeit traditional, purple toile fabric with purple plaid on the cover of last month's Southern Accents magazine that lookds terrific. I would try mixing it up with other tones like natural linen colors (taupes), creams, and soft greens.

Washington, DC: I have a question about color and about how much is too much. I just painted my bedroom a very pale, pleasant sunny yellow and the carpet is neutral. I have a black wrought iron bed set and a rich purple comforter set. I think the purple is too much--but it looks nice against the yellow. Yet, I don't want the room to look like it has too much happening. Also, I haven't yet figured out what to do with window coverings. My goal is to have a restful place to sleep. Do you have any advice for me?

Thanks!

Linda Hales: Oh, I like this question. Purple, by the way, was very prominent in Milan. Victoria?

Victoria Neale: OOps, fsorry. i missed the actual question! Why don't you try taking a solid or neutral fabric about the color of your carpet and putting a banding in the purple on all four sides. Alternatively, you could use a fabric the same color as your walls with the purple banding. you'll get the colors connected together without needing big purple drapes, which would be overwhelming.

Washington, D.C.: Maybe you can resolve a dispute between my boyfriend and me.

We have a smallish living room that currently is painted renter white. We have southern exposure, and three very large windows looking out over a park, so when the sun shines it's a very bright room. Our couch is sage green and off white, with a flower pattern, the rug is a very light gray sisal, and another couch is brown.

We can NOT come to an agreement on what color to paint the walls. I want a very very light color in the orange family, to complement the earth tones that dominate the room. He wants ... well, anything but that. Grays won't work because of the rug, earthtones won't work because of the furniture, and we don't want anything too outrageous because there is a lot of artwork on the walls, and we wouldn't want it to be overshadowed. Help!

Linda Hales: Welcome, Washington. You raise a ticklish point. Not only do people have different tastes, but they "see" color differently. Victoria, how do you work through these differences with multiple clients?

Victoria Neale: Boy, this is tough! yes, i happens to me all the time with couples. I usually try to offer options and let the couple work it out! it does not pay to take sides, I can tell you. The orange tones could look great, but be careful with that family. if you go too light, you'll end up with a sweet peach color that I suspect no one will like! another option is to paint stripes on the wall in tones that you both like - maybe an orange tone and a green tone, or a sage green and off white mix that will work with your current couch. Keep to the "dustier" side of the colors so they will not glow when the sun streams in! Also, see my comment about big color swatches. Watch what happens to the samples on the wall one sunny saturday.

Reston, VA: I have a question about color on the outside of a house. We bought a house with light blue siding, bright blue garage doors and cream trim. (not my favorite combination!) I think the siding will have to stay, but how do I go about choosing the right color for the doors and trim. Holding color samples up to the house just isn't working. Are they any color recommendation books out there for the outside of the home? thanks!

Linda Hales: Hmmm, you could use a computer simulation. Meanwhile, there are books, but primarily focused on Painted Lady Victorians. If you can delve into back issues of The Washington Post at you library (I don't think they're online, but do check), you may be able to find an excellent article by my colleague Jura Koncius on exterior paint colors. It goes back to the 1990s, and if I can dig up the date before we're done, I'll pass it along. Meanwhile, Victoria...

Victoria Neale: since I don't select exterior colors often enough to get good at it, i have a sneaky secret for you. get and keep a paint wand set in your car. when you see a house that looks like the color of yours, with trim that you like, try to match the color to your paint wand! I'll admit that it's easier if you have a good color sense and are used to using wands, but it's not that hard.

If the cream trim is not bad, i would recommend sticking with cream to offset the blue. If the garage doors are too prominent (which they certainly are now!), you could paint them the color of the house to make them blend in.

Alexandria, VA: How can I mix bright, clear pastels with my contemporary bedroom? Most of the house has dark or bold colors, which is fine -- I still love them. But I was looking forward to doing the new master suite in cool pastels to match pictures and odds and ends that I've collected over the years. I even bought a canopy bed and sheer swags to drape over it. Kind of a light filmy fantasy alternative to the harder, more stark look elsewhere in the house. Now that it is almost finished, I'm not sure how my blues and lavendars are going to blend with the maple shelving and the dark-greyish-green slate floor.

Should I paint the walls pale blue or leave the walls white and paint the trim (baseboards and window) blue or lavendar?

Linda Hales: Victoria, I'll turn this over to you with my own query: are we making decorating too complicated? Help, please.

Victoria Neale: When in doubt, always start with the colors you have now... How about pulling a soft blue-green that works with the slate floor - that should give you a greenish-grey blue that could work with the blues and lavenders - it's hard to tell without seeing it! I would not paint the walls white and the trim a color - i think you'll find it distracting rather than serene.

Fairfax: My husband is finishing a huge addition on our house - a dining room and sunken family room. The room looks out onto our back yard and has lots of windows and we don't plan on covering them as our backyard veiws are great most of the year - maybe swags, but that's about it. The trim is light oak, the dining area will have a light oak hard wood floor. The problem is, he INSISTS on painting the entire thing white, as is every other room in the house with the exception of the master and guest bedrooms. Don't get me wrong, I like white, but would like more diversity. In hopes of marital bliss, can you suggest any ways to pull other colors into the room?

Linda Hales: Sorry, I'm with your husband. White, whiter, whitest...The only problem is selecting from a zillion shades of white -- pink, green, gray, yellow etc. etc.. Do be careful!

Victoria Neale: I love the color, but which one?! I find that new construction always looks fresh and crisp in white - that may be why he wants to keep it that way. Again, I would look at the furniture and upholstery that you're going to put in the family room and dining room and work from there. If the sofas are a camel/beige tone, for example, try a lighter version of that. It does not sound like you're going to get anywhere with red or anything, but... If you can sell the idea, try a big swatch, or even one wall, and see how he likes it after living with it for a few days.

Alexandria, VA: In my small guest room/upstairs sitting room, I have peach-colored carpeting, and lots of wicker/rattan furniture - a rattan sofa bed with pale blue, aqua, peach, ivory woven fabric, honey-colored wicker bookcases, end tables, and wall mirrors (2). The hall carpet just outside the guest room is pale celadon green. Right now the walls of the guest room are pretty enough, a very soft yellow, but I'd like to punch the room up a little bit with the two window treatments needed. Overall house style is colonial, so windows are 6 over 6 double windows. Any suggestions?

Linda Hales: Thanks for the question Alexandria. Victoria, how does the size of a room impact on color choice -- or decorating all together? Are there any rules for small spaces that you could pass along?

Victoria Neale: Color works well in a small room! I do tend to keep the number of colors to a minimum, though. it sounds like the upholstery fbric on the sofa bed is a woven. You could look for a printed fabric with the peach, ivory, and celadon colors in it to pull all the colors together.

Fairfax, VA: HI,
I love color and collect contemporary crafts that are colorful, lots of jewel tones. My house has a very open floor plan, very few solid walls, and several walls with large openings to other rooms. Can I use color on my walls, especially to pick up colors from the crafts that I decorate with?

Thanks, Cathy

Linda Hales: Victoria...

Victoria Neale: A tough issue that I have to confront often. you'll have a tough time changing colors from room to room without having that weird "seam" between paint colors since your rooms are so open. What I do is select a color that has character, yet is eesy to live with all the time, like a soft gold or yellow or green, then paint it everywhere. that will keep you from having to have white walls everywhere, and the colors from your crafts and paintings should look great.

Washington, D.C.: All the magazines are promoting colorful fabrics, but how long is this trend likely to continue? Upholstery and curtains are an expensive way to stay current. Is this trend for real?

Linda Hales: Thanks, Washington, for the reality check. Victoria, how far into the future can interior designers see? Are we too driven by fashion? Are the magazines?

Victoria Neale: I try to stay away from trends, and i really find that color is a matter of personal preference, not trend. you may see a color trend, like the chartruese we had a few years ago - remember when everything was grass green? Certain colors come and go, and when they're "in", they're just easier to find! i think that if you like color, then go for it.

Chicago, IL: Hi! So glad this it the topic for today... We're moving into an old Victorian, and while most of the colors are fine, I'd like a fresh look. Since we don't have a color scheme for some of the rooms yet (linens, etc), can you recommend a good "neutral" that will give us flexibility? I'd prefer not to have every room in some shade of eggshell white. Thanks for your help!

Linda Hales: Welcome, Chicag. My former home town and a wonderful city. You're giving us an opportunity to explore another issue: local light. Depending on where you live -- close to the lake or far inland -- natural light could play an important role.

Victoria Neale: I recently had to select a light neutral for a house under consturction where we have not yet selected fabrics. I would recommend finding a color family (like yellow, green, blue) and getting a tone in the famliy that is almost white. Then you'll have a color of sorts on the wall, but will not have "painted yourself into a corner" since the color is so pale.

Washington, D.C.: Okay, okay. I'm old enough to have lived through avocado and gold. What makes this latest rash of chartreuse, lime, whatever you want to call it, any better? Those greens are beginning to look olivey -- and that's not far from guacamole, if you ask me.

Linda Hales: I confess I've been wondering when someone would remember the 20th century's least favorite Retro combo. Victoria, are the trends going in circles...

Victoria Neale: yes, it's like the J Crew catalog - same color, new name! I think the greens have been getting olivey, but somehow they still look fresher to me than the avocado refriderators... it does seem like i see "new! color! in the magazines every year or so, like it's a new concept. I do think that the newer green tones are more clear, and less muddy, even those that seem to veer toward guacamole! also, it depends on the other colors in the scheme... there are really no new colors, after all.

NW DC: Perfect timing for this discussion! I just bought and moved into a small apartment and got to pick paint colors for the first time. I fell in love with the idea of a combination of pale sage green (on the walls) and rusty reds and browns (furniture and Afghan kilim). Sounds weird, I know, but a Laura Ashley book I bought had something similar, with an Indian theme. Now that it is reality, though, I am not so fond of it. It''s just a bit too much contrast. Short of repainting, is there some way to get the colors to work together? Thanks.

Linda Hales: We're here to help. I'd love to see that picture.

Victoria Neale: Why don't you try to bring that green onto the furniture with pillows or throws? that will break up the browns, and liven up the furniture.

Washington, D.C.: Dear Victoria

I am really fascinated by the process of creation involved un various artistic dsciplines. My sense is that Interior Designers are very good at vizualizing and seeing how the final project will look like. I do realize that, Interior Designers work within some parameters provided by the space, the client ... But I would like to know, whether in visualizing a project, the colors come first, or whether other aspects (light, shape, configuration...) come first. Another way of asking the question I guess, is whether Interior Designers dream in color or in balck and white.

Linda Hales: Washington, you've cut right to the heart of the matter. I'm wondering if decorators dream -- or just have nightmares! It's not an easy job solving problems for people like us.

Victoria Neale: it's funny that you ask this question! i defintely dream in color, and I find that, if I give it time, the rooms come up in 3-D in my head - pretty weird, but true. One thing that I tell my clients all the time is that the house will tell you what it wants. They laugh, but it's true. i always start with a plan, and that guides the process. the color can be inspired by a favorite color or fabric from the client - it depends.

Arlington, Va.: Can you make a suggestion for a coordinating color to paint my living room walls? The furniture in the room includes a red and white check sofa with a coordinating floral fabric of red, white and sage green for the other chairs and window treatments. Currently the wall are painted an off white which is very boring.

Linda Hales: There's that sage green again. Should I take this to mean Washington is not into chartreuse? Victoria, are we too traditional, too conservative? We're still doing florals, and we like Afghan kilims, and we're happiest in Colonials. Do decorators ever get to break out of the mold, here?

Victoria Neale: i can tell you that sage is very popular, and yes, sometimes it is a challenge to break out of the mold. Why don't you try that sage green on the walls - it will make th checks and florals a bit less seet, and add character to the walls. That white background in the floral and the check will look great in contrast to the sage.

nyc: Help! I'm in a color bind that's threatening my relationship with my roommate!

I have a very small living room combined with eating area (NY apt.), and so my roommate and I have had to mush all of our furniture and decorating taste into the same small room. As a result, of course, nothing matches. A beige wrap-around couch (hand me down) and dark brown wood coffee table on top of a muted brick red carpet with navy and turquoise flowers in the corner. Cream walls and hardwood floors. Beech kitchen table. You get the idea.

The decorating has been simple--just framed pictures of vintage fruit posters, architect's rendering of bridge, etc. I just bought two area rugs from South America that didn't look right on the floor, so I hung them on the one blank wall as side-by-side tapestries. I think they look great. The roommate hates them and says nothing matches (one's bright red, one's bright blue).

So I have two questions: one, how can we coordinate everything, and two, do we really need to? Does everything need to be the same style or color? How can I make it all look better?

Oh, we have no windows, so coordinating window treatments are out.

Thanks.

Linda Hales: Welcome, New York. Sounds like you have more than a color challenge. We sympathize with your lack of windows, most of all. Victoria, we've got small spaces, bad light, minimal budget and too many personal treasures...

Victoria Neale: I have the same problems - too many things and not enough space! A couple of suggestions... why don't you try editing out some of the treasures on both sides. take it home to mom for strauge or whatever - that apartment is not going to get any bigger! It all sound neutral enough to work together, and at this point, I'm not sure you'll ever be able to make it any better without a big redecorating binge.

about the rugs - why don't you let your roomate pick one to hang (his/her favorite) and take one down. It sounds like the blue one will work best, based on your description. you might then try to find a couple of pillows that bring the blues/reds onto the couch.

Arlington, VA: Do you have any suggestions for adding color to a rented condo with off-white walls and carpet? Obviously, painting is not an option, but I'd love to experiment somehow!

Linda Hales: Welcome, Arlington. Your option with furnishings is wide open, unless of course, the furniture is rented too? In that case, go for the bouquets. The landlord can't regulate your choice of flowers. Meanwhile, Victoria, where would you start?

Victoria Neale: I agree with you, Linda, that furniture is the place to start. I would not get too wild, though, if this is a temporary settlement. Buy things that you love and want to live with for a long time. If it does not go perfectly with the carpet, ignore the carpet. You could also put an area rug over the carpet for interest.

Linda Hales: Victoria, one last question before we sign off. You and I have talked about using bold color as a "neutral" and you mentioned it quickly in this discussion. Can you take a moment to explain that notion once again. If we take one lasting lesson away today, that could be it...

Victoria Neale: Sure! I love to use color, yet I don't like rooms that are all color and not calming to be in. One way I do this is by using one color as the "neutral". If the walls, window treatments, and most of the upholstery is all one color, like yellow, for example, then the yellow is the nuetral, and I use other colors as accents on pillows, benches, etc. Even red can be a neutral if you use it everywhere. Hope this makes sense!

Linda Hales: That makes a lot of sense, thank you! And thank all of you out there for your questions. See you in two weeks (April 26) for our next Design Online discussion. And that's the last word for today.

Linda Hales:

That was our last question today. Thanks to Victoria Neale, and to everyone who joined us.

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Linda Hales: Welcome to today's hour of Design Online. I'm just back from the Milan furniture fair, and I can say with certainty that color is everywhere -- in upholstery, walls, glassware, accessories, and of course, fashion, where these trends begin. Some of you may have seen the Emilio Pucci-inspired chair that ran on the front of Style last Thursday, with my first report from the fair. (Milan is Ground Zero for design, and we'll be focusing on that topic in a couple of weeks.) The Pucci chair reflected the passion for hot pinks and reds that was omnipresent...But frankly, I'm a little unsure how far this trend will go in home furnishings. Happily, we have Victoria Neale with us today. She has great color sense, and so, Victoria, welcome, and help us get through this tidal wave of red, orange, green, blue, hot pink, acqua....

Washington D.C.: Great topic, but I'm one of the color-challenged. Can you build up my confidance so I can paint my walls something more exciting than Washington Yellow? There must be a trick to living with ocean blue walls?

Linda Hales: Welcome, Washington. I'm on your wavelength. If this were True Confessions, I'd have to admit I live in a house with all white walls. I've been saving magazine articles with pictures of yellow walls for years....

Victoria Neale: It's tough to get me past yellow because that's my favorite color! Blue is also great, though, and there is a good way to go about it. don't try to just pick a "pretty blue" from a paint wand. you'll end up with a blue that matches nothing in the stores for bedding, furniture, etc. I recommend that you find a fabric you like and want to use with blue in it, then select your favorite from the fabric. I find that most people "chicken out" and go lighter - DON;T! Try a swatch of the blue and see how it goes. sampling on the walls is a great way to see the color without painting the whole room. Be sure to make a big swatch - 3 feet by 3feet is best.

Victoria Neale: Hmmm...purple is not my very favorite, but I like it mixed with other things. there is a great, albeit traditional, purple toile fabric with purple plaid on the cover of last month's Southern Accents magazine that lookds terrific. I would try mixing it up with other tones like natural linen colors (taupes), creams, and soft greens.

Washington, DC: I have a question about color and about how much is too much. I just painted my bedroom a very pale, pleasant sunny yellow and the carpet is neutral. I have a black wrought iron bed set and a rich purple comforter set. I think the purple is too much--but it looks nice against the yellow. Yet, I don't want the room to look like it has too much happening. Also, I haven't yet figured out what to do with window coverings. My goal is to have a restful place to sleep. Do you have any advice for me?

Thanks!

Linda Hales: Oh, I like this question. Purple, by the way, was very prominent in Milan. Victoria?

Victoria Neale: OOps, fsorry. i missed the actual question! Why don't you try taking a solid or neutral fabric about the color of your carpet and putting a banding in the purple on all four sides. Alternatively, you could use a fabric the same color as your walls with the purple banding. you'll get the colors connected together without needing big purple drapes, which would be overwhelming.

Washington, D.C.: Maybe you can resolve a dispute between my boyfriend and me.

We have a smallish living room that currently is painted renter white. We have southern exposure, and three very large windows looking out over a park, so when the sun shines it's a very bright room. Our couch is sage green and off white, with a flower pattern, the rug is a very light gray sisal, and another couch is brown.

We can NOT come to an agreement on what color to paint the walls. I want a very very light color in the orange family, to complement the earth tones that dominate the room. He wants ... well, anything but that. Grays won't work because of the rug, earthtones won't work because of the furniture, and we don't want anything too outrageous because there is a lot of artwork on the walls, and we wouldn't want it to be overshadowed. Help!

Linda Hales: Welcome, Washington. You raise a ticklish point. Not only do people have different tastes, but they "see" color differently. Victoria, how do you work through these differences with multiple clients?

Victoria Neale: Boy, this is tough! yes, i happens to me all the time with couples. I usually try to offer options and let the couple work it out! it does not pay to take sides, I can tell you. The orange tones could look great, but be careful with that family. if you go too light, you'll end up with a sweet peach color that I suspect no one will like! another option is to paint stripes on the wall in tones that you both like - maybe an orange tone and a green tone, or a sage green and off white mix that will work with your current couch. Keep to the "dustier" side of the colors so they will not glow when the sun streams in! Also, see my comment about big color swatches. Watch what happens to the samples on the wall one sunny saturday.

Reston, VA: I have a question about color on the outside of a house. We bought a house with light blue siding, bright blue garage doors and cream trim. (not my favorite combination!) I think the siding will have to stay, but how do I go about choosing the right color for the doors and trim. Holding color samples up to the house just isn't working. Are they any color recommendation books out there for the outside of the home? thanks!

Linda Hales: Hmmm, you could use a computer simulation. Meanwhile, there are books, but primarily focused on Painted Lady Victorians. If you can delve into back issues of The Washington Post at you library (I don't think they're online, but do check), you may be able to find an excellent article by my colleague Jura Koncius on exterior paint colors. It goes back to the 1990s, and if I can dig up the date before we're done, I'll pass it along. Meanwhile, Victoria...

Victoria Neale: since I don't select exterior colors often enough to get good at it, i have a sneaky secret for you. get and keep a paint wand set in your car. when you see a house that looks like the color of yours, with trim that you like, try to match the color to your paint wand! I'll admit that it's easier if you have a good color sense and are used to using wands, but it's not that hard.

If the cream trim is not bad, i would recommend sticking with cream to offset the blue. If the garage doors are too prominent (which they certainly are now!), you could paint them the color of the house to make them blend in.

Alexandria, VA: How can I mix bright, clear pastels with my contemporary bedroom? Most of the house has dark or bold colors, which is fine -- I still love them. But I was looking forward to doing the new master suite in cool pastels to match pictures and odds and ends that I've collected over the years. I even bought a canopy bed and sheer swags to drape over it. Kind of a light filmy fantasy alternative to the harder, more stark look elsewhere in the house. Now that it is almost finished, I'm not sure how my blues and lavendars are going to blend with the maple shelving and the dark-greyish-green slate floor.

Should I paint the walls pale blue or leave the walls white and paint the trim (baseboards and window) blue or lavendar?

Linda Hales: Victoria, I'll turn this over to you with my own query: are we making decorating too complicated? Help, please.

Victoria Neale: When in doubt, always start with the colors you have now... How about pulling a soft blue-green that works with the slate floor - that should give you a greenish-grey blue that could work with the blues and lavenders - it's hard to tell without seeing it! I would not paint the walls white and the trim a color - i think you'll find it distracting rather than serene.

Fairfax: My husband is finishing a huge addition on our house - a dining room and sunken family room. The room looks out onto our back yard and has lots of windows and we don't plan on covering them as our backyard veiws are great most of the year - maybe swags, but that's about it. The trim is light oak, the dining area will have a light oak hard wood floor. The problem is, he INSISTS on painting the entire thing white, as is every other room in the house with the exception of the master and guest bedrooms. Don't get me wrong, I like white, but would like more diversity. In hopes of marital bliss, can you suggest any ways to pull other colors into the room?

Linda Hales: Sorry, I'm with your husband. White, whiter, whitest...The only problem is selecting from a zillion shades of white -- pink, green, gray, yellow etc. etc.. Do be careful!

Victoria Neale: I love the color, but which one?! I find that new construction always looks fresh and crisp in white - that may be why he wants to keep it that way. Again, I would look at the furniture and upholstery that you're going to put in the family room and dining room and work from there. If the sofas are a camel/beige tone, for example, try a lighter version of that. It does not sound like you're going to get anywhere with red or anything, but... If you can sell the idea, try a big swatch, or even one wall, and see how he likes it after living with it for a few days.

Alexandria, VA: In my small guest room/upstairs sitting room, I have peach-colored carpeting, and lots of wicker/rattan furniture - a rattan sofa bed with pale blue, aqua, peach, ivory woven fabric, honey-colored wicker bookcases, end tables, and wall mirrors (2). The hall carpet just outside the guest room is pale celadon green. Right now the walls of the guest room are pretty enough, a very soft yellow, but I'd like to punch the room up a little bit with the two window treatments needed. Overall house style is colonial, so windows are 6 over 6 double windows. Any suggestions?

Linda Hales: Thanks for the question Alexandria. Victoria, how does the size of a room impact on color choice -- or decorating all together? Are there any rules for small spaces that you could pass along?

Victoria Neale: Color works well in a small room! I do tend to keep the number of colors to a minimum, though. it sounds like the upholstery fbric on the sofa bed is a woven. You could look for a printed fabric with the peach, ivory, and celadon colors in it to pull all the colors together.

Fairfax, VA: HI,
I love color and collect contemporary crafts that are colorful, lots of jewel tones. My house has a very open floor plan, very few solid walls, and several walls with large openings to other rooms. Can I use color on my walls, especially to pick up colors from the crafts that I decorate with?

Thanks, Cathy

Linda Hales: Victoria...

Victoria Neale: A tough issue that I have to confront often. you'll have a tough time changing colors from room to room without having that weird "seam" between paint colors since your rooms are so open. What I do is select a color that has character, yet is eesy to live with all the time, like a soft gold or yellow or green, then paint it everywhere. that will keep you from having to have white walls everywhere, and the colors from your crafts and paintings should look great.

Washington, D.C.: All the magazines are promoting colorful fabrics, but how long is this trend likely to continue? Upholstery and curtains are an expensive way to stay current. Is this trend for real?

Linda Hales: Thanks, Washington, for the reality check. Victoria, how far into the future can interior designers see? Are we too driven by fashion? Are the magazines?

Victoria Neale: I try to stay away from trends, and i really find that color is a matter of personal preference, not trend. you may see a color trend, like the chartruese we had a few years ago - remember when everything was grass green? Certain colors come and go, and when they're "in", they're just easier to find! i think that if you like color, then go for it.

Chicago, IL: Hi! So glad this it the topic for today... We're moving into an old Victorian, and while most of the colors are fine, I'd like a fresh look. Since we don't have a color scheme for some of the rooms yet (linens, etc), can you recommend a good "neutral" that will give us flexibility? I'd prefer not to have every room in some shade of eggshell white. Thanks for your help!

Linda Hales: Welcome, Chicag. My former home town and a wonderful city. You're giving us an opportunity to explore another issue: local light. Depending on where you live -- close to the lake or far inland -- natural light could play an important role.

Victoria Neale: I recently had to select a light neutral for a house under consturction where we have not yet selected fabrics. I would recommend finding a color family (like yellow, green, blue) and getting a tone in the famliy that is almost white. Then you'll have a color of sorts on the wall, but will not have "painted yourself into a corner" since the color is so pale.

Washington, D.C.: Okay, okay. I'm old enough to have lived through avocado and gold. What makes this latest rash of chartreuse, lime, whatever you want to call it, any better? Those greens are beginning to look olivey -- and that's not far from guacamole, if you ask me.

Linda Hales: I confess I've been wondering when someone would remember the 20th century's least favorite Retro combo. Victoria, are the trends going in circles...

Victoria Neale: yes, it's like the J Crew catalog - same color, new name! I think the greens have been getting olivey, but somehow they still look fresher to me than the avocado refriderators... it does seem like i see "new! color! in the magazines every year or so, like it's a new concept. I do think that the newer green tones are more clear, and less muddy, even those that seem to veer toward guacamole! also, it depends on the other colors in the scheme... there are really no new colors, after all.

NW DC: Perfect timing for this discussion! I just bought and moved into a small apartment and got to pick paint colors for the first time. I fell in love with the idea of a combination of pale sage green (on the walls) and rusty reds and browns (furniture and Afghan kilim). Sounds weird, I know, but a Laura Ashley book I bought had something similar, with an Indian theme. Now that it is reality, though, I am not so fond of it. It''s just a bit too much contrast. Short of repainting, is there some way to get the colors to work together? Thanks.

Linda Hales: We're here to help. I'd love to see that picture.

Victoria Neale: Why don't you try to bring that green onto the furniture with pillows or throws? that will break up the browns, and liven up the furniture.

Washington, D.C.: Dear Victoria

I am really fascinated by the process of creation involved un various artistic dsciplines. My sense is that Interior Designers are very good at vizualizing and seeing how the final project will look like. I do realize that, Interior Designers work within some parameters provided by the space, the client ... But I would like to know, whether in visualizing a project, the colors come first, or whether other aspects (light, shape, configuration...) come first. Another way of asking the question I guess, is whether Interior Designers dream in color or in balck and white.

Linda Hales: Washington, you've cut right to the heart of the matter. I'm wondering if decorators dream -- or just have nightmares! It's not an easy job solving problems for people like us.

Victoria Neale: it's funny that you ask this question! i defintely dream in color, and I find that, if I give it time, the rooms come up in 3-D in my head - pretty weird, but true. One thing that I tell my clients all the time is that the house will tell you what it wants. They laugh, but it's true. i always start with a plan, and that guides the process. the color can be inspired by a favorite color or fabric from the client - it depends.

Arlington, Va.: Can you make a suggestion for a coordinating color to paint my living room walls? The furniture in the room includes a red and white check sofa with a coordinating floral fabric of red, white and sage green for the other chairs and window treatments. Currently the wall are painted an off white which is very boring.

Linda Hales: There's that sage green again. Should I take this to mean Washington is not into chartreuse? Victoria, are we too traditional, too conservative? We're still doing florals, and we like Afghan kilims, and we're happiest in Colonials. Do decorators ever get to break out of the mold, here?

Victoria Neale: i can tell you that sage is very popular, and yes, sometimes it is a challenge to break out of the mold. Why don't you try that sage green on the walls - it will make th checks and florals a bit less seet, and add character to the walls. That white background in the floral and the check will look great in contrast to the sage.

nyc: Help! I'm in a color bind that's threatening my relationship with my roommate!

I have a very small living room combined with eating area (NY apt.), and so my roommate and I have had to mush all of our furniture and decorating taste into the same small room. As a result, of course, nothing matches. A beige wrap-around couch (hand me down) and dark brown wood coffee table on top of a muted brick red carpet with navy and turquoise flowers in the corner. Cream walls and hardwood floors. Beech kitchen table. You get the idea.

The decorating has been simple--just framed pictures of vintage fruit posters, architect's rendering of bridge, etc. I just bought two area rugs from South America that didn't look right on the floor, so I hung them on the one blank wall as side-by-side tapestries. I think they look great. The roommate hates them and says nothing matches (one's bright red, one's bright blue).

So I have two questions: one, how can we coordinate everything, and two, do we really need to? Does everything need to be the same style or color? How can I make it all look better?

Oh, we have no windows, so coordinating window treatments are out.

Thanks.

Linda Hales: Welcome, New York. Sounds like you have more than a color challenge. We sympathize with your lack of windows, most of all. Victoria, we've got small spaces, bad light, minimal budget and too many personal treasures...

Victoria Neale: I have the same problems - too many things and not enough space! A couple of suggestions... why don't you try editing out some of the treasures on both sides. take it home to mom for strauge or whatever - that apartment is not going to get any bigger! It all sound neutral enough to work together, and at this point, I'm not sure you'll ever be able to make it any better without a big redecorating binge.

about the rugs - why don't you let your roomate pick one to hang (his/her favorite) and take one down. It sounds like the blue one will work best, based on your description. you might then try to find a couple of pillows that bring the blues/reds onto the couch.

Arlington, VA: Do you have any suggestions for adding color to a rented condo with off-white walls and carpet? Obviously, painting is not an option, but I'd love to experiment somehow!

Linda Hales: Welcome, Arlington. Your option with furnishings is wide open, unless of course, the furniture is rented too? In that case, go for the bouquets. The landlord can't regulate your choice of flowers. Meanwhile, Victoria, where would you start?

Victoria Neale: I agree with you, Linda, that furniture is the place to start. I would not get too wild, though, if this is a temporary settlement. Buy things that you love and want to live with for a long time. If it does not go perfectly with the carpet, ignore the carpet. You could also put an area rug over the carpet for interest.

Linda Hales: Victoria, one last question before we sign off. You and I have talked about using bold color as a "neutral" and you mentioned it quickly in this discussion. Can you take a moment to explain that notion once again. If we take one lasting lesson away today, that could be it...

Victoria Neale: Sure! I love to use color, yet I don't like rooms that are all color and not calming to be in. One way I do this is by using one color as the "neutral". If the walls, window treatments, and most of the upholstery is all one color, like yellow, for example, then the yellow is the nuetral, and I use other colors as accents on pillows, benches, etc. Even red can be a neutral if you use it everywhere. Hope this makes sense!

Linda Hales: That makes a lot of sense, thank you! And thank all of you out there for your questions. See you in two weeks (April 26) for our next Design Online discussion. And that's the last word for today.

Linda Hales:

That was our last question today. Thanks to Victoria Neale, and to everyone who joined us.

Design Online at 2 p.m. EDT
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