Our monthly series asks: How do you bring color into a luxury home? Dark blue is a crowd-pleaser—and complements almost any shade, writes Jill Krasny
Brooklyn, New York | Sotheby’s International Realty – Downtown Manhattan Brokerage
Ever notice how some homes energize you while others make you more relaxed? The colors in a design scheme may be a factor.
Whereas citrus shades tend to jolt you awake, blue can help soothe the mind and the body, and may even lower the heart rate. The next installment of our series on color in luxury home design takes a closer look at a perennial favorite: cool and calming dark blue. “Blue is a crowd-pleaser,” says Lisa Shaffer, the chief executive and creative director of Lisa & Leroy, an interior design firm based in Washington, D.C. “If you ask clients to name their favorite colors, blue always hits the top three, every time.” For one thing, it evokes the wonders of nature, like a clear blue sky hanging above San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.
Pacific Heights, San Francisco | Sotheby’s International Realty – San Francisco Brokerage
A thoughtfully rebuilt Victorian in the city’s Pacific Heights neighborhood conjures similar images with its moody blue exterior. The surrounding homes are subdued enough to make this one the star attraction, says Shaffer, “but it’s the crowd-pleaser because it’s interesting.”
The external paintwork easily accommodates the contrasting red of its front door, she says, not to mention the bright flowers in planters. It could even support a boldly painted garage. “The color is very easy to add a punch to, especially in this tone,” she says.
Pacific Heights, San Francisco | Sotheby’s International Realty – San Francisco Brokerage
A spacious kitchen in a three-storied condominium, also in the Pacific Heights area, features a classic but contemporary blue and white color scheme. Going all white might have felt too sterile in such an open space, Shaffer says, and the dark navy makes a crisp statement under the marble countertops and higher cabinetry without being overwhelming.
And where the kitchen feels pleasingly light and bright, the property’s color-drenched master bedroom is enveloping and warm, thanks to the green-toned blue of its walls. “By painting the ceiling, they have brought it down a bit and created a backdrop for the cream-white furniture,” says Shaffer of this jewel-box effect. “It’s making the room a lot cozier.”
London, England | United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty
A contemporary mews house in the heart of Marylebone, central London, manages to feel both period appropriate and fresh thanks to its gray-blue exterior. “This is just a great example of paying attention to a color wheel and how shades either complement or contrast with each other,” says Shaffer, who finds the contrast with the orange brickwork appealing.
“I also love that everything is painted in the same color,” she adds. “It makes it feel like a larger space, but also just really sophisticated and new.” This is helped by the spiky green palms in the window boxes, which keep things modern.
Ocean Hills, Bermuda | Rego Sotheby’s International Realty
Blue is a common color in coastal properties, but rarely used to such bold effect as in this standalone condominium in the Ocean Hills neighborhood of Bermuda. It almost blends in with the sky, while subtly contrasting with the turquoise of the sea beyond.
Though the color lends itself to this beachside setting, it also plays well with the porch and railings, and the orange-toned teak inside. “It’s not just about the architecture of the house,” Shaffer says, noting the inspired selection, “but how it sits with all these natural elements.”
Color Chart: Why zingy orange is a palette cleanser—and works well with greenery
