Getting the Blues
By Caroline Barry
Forget baby boys' rooms, blue is the hue for sophisticated serenity anywhere
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Blu Dot's Dodu Bed in felt makes cool aqua warm; $1,099-$1,499 through designpublic. |
A modern landscape in waves of blue. This natural approach to art is just one pick from m-dc; $179-$349. |
Get the blues and wake up a dull room with the cool color that carries warmth and ties together any space.
True Blue: The Moods of Blue...
Feng Shui experts praise blue as being calming, soothing and tranquil. They say it seems to lengthen time, symbolizes understanding and can give an upscale look (historically, blue's a color of royalty).*
Debbie Zimmer, color and decorating expert with the Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute says the soothing, tranquil qualities of blue make it ideal for bedrooms. But she says, "Since blue works as an appetite suppressant (perhaps because there are few blue foods) it is not the best option for a dining room...unless you're on a diet."
Old Blues: Blue in History & Culture...
To the Egyptians, blue represented faith. The Greeks thought sapphires could help with physical health and mental composure; they used the airy hue to represent water, sky and truth. The Chinese used blue to represent the east and, along with green, the spring season of growth and rebirth. For early Christians blue symbolized the divine. In Islam it stands for winter, night and old age.**
But whether you're attracted to aqua blue's watery appeal or navy blue's relaxed formality, you can introduce this hue's mood in a million stylish ways. These are 20 of our favorites...
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The Apollo Chair is comfortably refined optic seating by Patrick Norguet for Artifort, a range of blues available; $2240-$2895 at Surrounding. |
Sleek, modern and ergonomic, Artifort's minimalist Ondo affords max style in aqua; $4,115 from hive modern. |
Alvar Aalto's Savoy (Aalto) Vase & its taller iteration, the Finlandia, are iconic pieces that lend a sophisticated pop of color; $109-$183 at aalto.com. |
left–Karim Rashid's take on traditional Turkish forms, these vibrant glass shapes hold candles or single stems, but look just as good empty. Try them in a group as a table centerpiece, in pairs on each end of a mantle, or as single aqua exclamation points throughout a room. $140 each through retromodern.
right–Modern lighting gets the blues in Fl/y (top) and Standing Blue Lamp. The luminous pendant is by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell; $249 at hivemodern. Isamu Noguchi's 1952 standing paper lantern is new this Spring at NY MoMA, $275; $247.50 for members.
Table & Chairs
right-Polycarbonate goes natural with etchings of gingko on Usame by Patricia Urquiola for Kartell, a coffee table and magazine holder in one; $272 from Unica Home.
left-Fontana Arte's Orio Occasional Table makes good use of a small space. It's easy to move and a perfect party surface. $708 at retromodern.
below-Stanley Jay Friedman's space age two-piece sectional, a big bang that will explode in a neutral room. Available at ContemporaryFurniture.com.
left-The Super Love and Big Love Bowls from Alessi are plastic outside with removable stainless steel inside. Great for fruits, chips, ice cream, cereal, and attractive enough to leave on the counter. $45 and $98 at Alessi.
right-Lulu DK's River fabric can become a duvet cover, pillows, drapes or a modern wall hanging, but please, use restraint. Custom colors also available, contact Lulu DK.
below-Sustainable salt and pepper Orbs by Andi Kovel for Portland Oregon's Esque. Made from recycled glass stock in a wind-powered electric furnace; $159 Branch Home.
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*Feng Shui tips from FENG SHUI: A Practical Guide for Architects & Designers
; Vincent M. Smith with Barbara Lyons Stewart; Kaplan Publishing 2006.
**Historical and cultural info on blue from Color for Interior Design Ethel Rompilla; Harry N. Abrams, 2005.
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