Ever have trouble Picking the Perfect Paint Color?

I met Bill Baccini (pictured left) this past fall when he gave a presentation on “picking the perfect paint color” at Twist Gallery in Philadelphia, during the weeklong DesignPhiladelphia event. Bill is a professional color consultant and has kindly agreed to answer your color questions!

Have a question for Bill? Email info@modernismmagazine.com or join this blog! You can send questions, photos, your own thoughts on color…whatever you want.

Here is the first question Bill received:

I live in a ranch house in Ft. Collins, CO, where we receive a considerable amount of snow. My living room has large expanses of glass and all of my furniture is white. The walls are currently painted white and combined with the furniture and snow, I’m starting to suffer from sensory deprivation! Can you suggest a color that would complement my all-white modern furniture, while not competing too much? The flooring in the room is a gray slate, and I have shag white area rugs. I have one large abstract painting that contains mostly whites and blues.


-Jenny Johnson, Ft. Collins, CO

It sounds like it may be a bit cold inside as well as outside! To warm up the space but still stay somewhat neutral (allowing you to stay in your comfort zone), I suggest a pale butter cream yellow or a light dried parsley color. Both of these directions would coexist nicely with gray floors and the blue in the painting, while also creating a sophisticated backdrop for your white furniture. As a final note, if the majority of the light in the room is northern light, which is a cool light, you would want to go with a bit warmer shade.

General thoughts on the color white…White or Not?

White is a strong choice and not the noncommittal choice that some think it is.

Whites can be very tricky but should follow the same rule of thumb as above - choose warm vellum whites or cool-cast whites (such as chalk) depending on the space, what it holds and its end use. Using a variety of whites in one space can be subtle but complex. This could be influenced by how light enters the room and what will be on and in front of specific walls.

Got a question for Bill? Send it to info@modernismmagazine.com!