BEYOND COLOR SCHEMES: THE IMPORTANCE OF TEXTURE
Avoid Oppressive Color Consolidation “Stay away from using the same color sofa and accent chairs. Having more than one piece of furniture in the same [color] fabric or leather is too heavy for the room. Instead… add in your secondary color with your accent chairs, then add your third pop of color with your rug or accent tables.”
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HEN DESIGNING INTERIORS, color can be an excellent starting point. Color is aspirational! It tells everyone the energy you want to set in a room. But equally important to the mood of a space is the feel. Texture holds visual, physical, and logistical influence over any design. Take a white or extremely pale color palette; generally it will set a calm, clean, and spacious vibe. But a futuristic and mod room can be white, with smooth transparent glass, shiny molded fixtures, and be cool to the eye and touch, while a farmhouse chic room can be white, with rough painted pale wood, rustic linen drapes, and invoke a homely, warm welcome. To elaborate on making these texture decisions while designing, we spoke with Sandra Hurtley, a designer whose attention to detail makes her exceptional at crafting layered texture in her spaces. Learn more about Hurtley and see her work at positivespaceinc.com.
Moderate your Modern “On season 2, episode 2 of ‘Unsellable Houses,’ I challenged myself to come up with a new look for the incredibly popular and overdone ‘modern farmhouse,’” Green says. “While [the Modern Farmhouse design] has so many appeals, ultimately the black and white color palette is too cold and doesn’t lean into any of the warmth that the PNW has to offer.” She recommends spicing these types of design schemes up with a warm wood, or pops of yellow, blue, and green.
Photo by Snowberry Lane Photography
Photo Courtesy of Sandra Hurtley
Q&A WITH SANDRA HURTLEY OF POSITIVE SPACE INC.
Hi there! Please introduce yourselves to our Bellingham Alive readers.
My name is Sandra Hurtley and I am the owner of Positive Space Inc. I graduated from Heritage School of Interior Design in 2008 and started Positive Space in 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia. I have been back in Whatcom County now for six years. I have lived in many beautiful places, but Whatcom County is where I grew up and I’m so happy to be back. I live at the beach and love our quality of life here in the “upper left.”
So, if you could ballpark a value on it, how important is texture to successful interior design, and why? Often, the best designs look “effortless.” In reality all good design follows a formula using the elements and principles of design. Texture is one of the seven elements and plays a very 50
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big role in the look and feel of a space. Texture determines whether it’s cozy or formal, organic or modern. A space can feel completely flat until you start to add pillows or an area rug with texture. Layering texture is what gives depth and interest. It’s a balance and extremely important.
What are your favorite types of texture in design? And how do you put them to use? I love texture on walls— think seagrass wallpaper or a Venetian plaster fireplace. Also, light fixtures with a lot of texture always make a big statement and become a focal point. Fabrics are a great and easy way to incorporate texture through draperies, furniture, and accessories. I love choosing fabrics!
Any tips for using complementary or contrasting textures?
Have an idea of the overall feel you are trying to create and think about how all of the elements of the room will work together. Good design has layers. Try not to overdo it, texture is visual as well as tactile.
Any other parting thoughts about using texture in interior design? Texture is one of the elements that people respond to the most. If a fabric is soft velvet or a tile is smooth marble, it is irresistible to touch. Consider the style of space you are trying to create and always consider where the texture will come from.