The Skirted Roundtable interviewed Mary Douglas Drysdale on their podcast this week and Mary said that when her living room done in yellows (this is one of her projects not THE living room) was photographed years ago, everyone came to her for yellow after that, so much that she has a book which showcases her ‘yellow period’.
Above images source
It got me to thinking about the ‘fresh green’ period I’m having. Ever since this loft that I designed was photographed and showcased in BC Home last September, a lot of my clients are loving this same green (below). Click here to go to my website to see the whole project.
Kimberley Seldon a Canadian Designer said the first project she had published was a French Country living room and to this day people say to her “I know you like French Country, but can you. . . ?” How about you? Ever had the same experience from having a project photographed?
Interior by Maria Killam Colour & Design
I’m not complaining, I love all these colours, I was just fascinated by the whole thing. So I’m doing a poll. Are you loving a ‘fresh green’ over a funkier ‘yellow green’ these days or is it just me?
If you would like your home to fill you with happiness every time you walk in, contact me for on-line or in-person decorating and colour.
If you would like to transform the way you see colour, become a True Colour Expert.
Need help choosing the right neutral or colour? My How to Choose Paint Colours: It’s all in the Undertones ebook takes the hundreds of choices down to 9 neutral undertones along with list of all my other go-to best grays, broken down into 3 undertones, green, blue and purple. The beige undertones of pink, yellow, green, gold, orange and taupe along with the best greens and blues.
My bonus book of colours is worth the price of the ebook alone but you will also get my system of understanding undertones so you can stop making mistakes when sourcing tile, carpet, countertops, etc.
Related posts:
The Difference between Fresh Green and Yellow Greens
Warning: You are the Colours in your Home
Three Different Shades of Yellow
New to this Blog? Click here ; Subscribe to my Monthly Newsletter; Become a True Colour Expert
While you’re here, subscribe to this feed so you don’t miss out!
My Mum killed green for me for awhile….. it was everywhere in her home. Now I seem to be gravitating toward it again. I like them both (maybe more yellow green?)but in the above pictures, the bottom pic is closest to my style. 🙂 Chartruese has been done to death but it's still a great colour. 🙂 Can't make up my mind: lovem both! lol!
Maria,
Just worked with a client this week who asked me to select a "fresh green" as they told me they thought of me and thought of fresh green!
I think my entire life has been one huge "green" period.
I am loving the grassy greens.
pve
You are so right about the different greens and people's reactions. I have used BM Dill Pickle and Pale Avocado for some but for others, they can't possibly go there. For them, it's BM Soft Fern or November Rain. All great colors depending on the context.
Definitely a fresh green over a yellow green! A few years ago I couldn't say that. I still love grey greens though like Soft Fern as the previous commenter noted.
Please stop by my blog for my 1st giveaway!
It's interesting, all the comments so far start out saying they prefer one green and then end by saying BUT I like this other green too. And I agree with all of them. The reason most of us will never really settle into one green is because nature produces all kinds of greens. Some of my favorite gardens are simply green and white, but it's never just one green because nature didn't make it that way. It goes back to context and the existing surroundings and furnishings that you are working with. Does this make any sense at all?
I'm liking any green right now — which is interesting because I had previously rid my house of green.
But I do like spring greens especially right now. They just seem so fresh and lovely.
mmmmmm…. in the pictures here.. I gravitate towards the green…but in my house as I look around.. I think I would be a yellow gal…. interesting….
Maria! I just went to your website and looked at all the wonderful projects that you did! WOW! Beautiful work… I love your style!
I do gravitate towards greens. Even in clothes. But I have also loved yellow or a yellow/golds. Funny thing is I grew up with green 50's tile in our bath. My mother always hated them and tried to work around them. So I too grew up hating them and now I am drawn to greens, strange!
I have to say I am also a yellow nut…it is such a happy place with yellow in a room….however your fresh green is beautiful and doesn't green have yellow in it…?? I get the same feeling from your pretty greens that I do from yellow….My huge sectional is a pretty soft green…with the walls in a yellow of course! Btw….that big yellow coffee table is spectacular, I've never seen anything like that!
I prefer a fresh green!
I had the pleasure of meeting Kimberley at one of her design seminars. Fantastic designer and a very warm person.
Never a fan of green…until I found the perfect fresh green ("verde erba" I call it)to cover my sofas (together with hot pink, years ago when this combination was not trendy). Ciao.
I'm a huge yellow and green fan for years, they are two of the most livable colors that also never feel outdated in a home. Right now BOLD mustard yellows with a hint of chartreuse, and fern green and fern toned olives are my favorite hues.
I lean toward the green. Both colors make me smile but Green makes me happy!
Ruthie
Maria,
With color once we discover the variations how can you deny a fresh green or yellow green. There's a color out there for everyone.
The effects that color has in a room either intensifies or dilutes the original. So you're never living with pure color and all colors can be enjoyed. Just like in nature we live in color everyday.
Bette
Fresh green for me. I picked up a yellow green coat rack for a pop of color, an unexpected one, and I'm definitely going to need to spray paint it. I've been seeing if it might grow on me but I think I need a little for lichen color.
I'm personally drawn towards Kelly Green right now, but still love those yellow-greens. Come to think of it – I like the blue-greens, too! I guess what I'm not a huge fan of are the really greyed down greens…although my clients still seem to want them!
Green. Give me green. ANY green. Can you tell? I {{{LOVE}}} green…
Hi Maria,
I absolutely adore green! My living room is Benjamin Moore's November Rain and the upstairs hall is Dill Pickle. That said, however, the kitchen/dining room/library space is Delaware Putty (if Dijon mustard cream sauce and putty had a baby, it would be Delaware Putty), so I definitely like yellow, too. As long as it's muted.
Where did you get that gorgeous ceramic garden stool in your picture? I love it!
Happy weekend!
count me in the leafy green side. no more yellow please.
I've never met a green I didn't like, but I flip-flop on what a like at a time. I'm liking the fresh greens that lean towards lime, but I'm over the really limey greens for now. I love the mix of the green with the purples in your project. My post today is about purple, so check it out.
I'm known for using warm colors…copper in particular…I think it's the red hair LOL
Interesting topic, Maria!
Love, love, love green! And depending on the shade, yellow is a great color too. Mary has always done a lovely job with yellows and other strong colors. She pays a lot of attention to detail with the use of quilts and other handmade things.
yellow green for me. 🙂
Maria, after tons of discussion and debate, Rebekah and I decided on a pale yellow for the sewing room even though the curtains, and table covers will be shades of green and cream. We thought green walls would be too much green. It is our accent color though. I was discussing this with my best friend who does decorating and restoration and she thought the paler dusty yellow would compliment the olive green of the house. I'm going to be looking at some color samples at the store and see which one 'calls my name'. :o) I am thinking of the color in the pale yellow bedroom you showed. I love yellow and green so much. She suggested that the frames for the photos not be painted green…leaving too much yellow and green, but instead a burnished, metallic antique brass to coordinate with the antique lamp which is huge and a central feature of the decor in the room.
I love this post about color trends! Very thought provoking.
Love the room you did!! Definitely for fresh green. It's the best neutral out there!
I love your rooms and that one is my favorite so far. So yes, I would love to do fresh greens if only my husband would cooperate. 😉
Do you feel that designers are sometimes put in a box creating the same rooms over and over when photos of your rooms are circulated and clients want similar rooms? I'm sure I would tire of doing the same room over and over. On the other hand, the old saying that imitation is the highest form of flattery could apply.
I love decorating in green – and I usually find a way for a little surprise yellow somewhere in each room. Both colors make me happy.
Green, blue, and orange are big for me for now. And I never put two and two together, but my last two published articles had those colors. Crazy!
Hi Maria, I just wanted to add my answer to your poll…fresh green is my favorite. I just don't care much for yellow green. :o) By the way, after reading your fabulous post on Styling for a Photo Session (can't remember the exact title) I went shopping for decor today with Rebekah!!! It's not the FLUFF store (actually it was a THRIFT store), but we had a blast!! We filled two carts with new stuff that truly belongs in a 'rustic home' including some curtains for the dining room. I'm going to ebay YEARS of 'stuff' that I've collected or been given. I actually CHOSE the decorations for my home, instead of using the gifts and do-dads from 23 years of different houses and out of date color schemes and styles. I can't wait to take pictures and show you!! I'm putting to good use some of what you've taught on your blog..especially about tablescapes. I should have it ready for Monday morning…and you will, of course, get FULL CREDIT for your part in it. I'll be linking to your post on tablescapes for sure. :o) Thanks for making my home more beautiful!
I think it depends on the mood Im in, I find fresh geen calming & soothing, I find yellow greens cheery & uplifting. I love them both…I also love your blog & have passed a blog award your way, so if you have time drop by my blog & pick it up!!!
Cheers
I love fresh green..uhm…I love almost every shade of green…
So I like your green period,and LOVE that space you designed,pictured here… natural colors with purple…absolutely beautiful..want to live there..
I used the grey greens for years with my clients, like BM Tree Moss 508, but now I am over the grey greens…I think they are dull and tired. I do see a trend towards fresher brighter colors.
Then the yellow greens came along and I fell head over heels with them, and used BM Folk Art 528 and Chameleon 526 and it looked fresh and new compared to the dull grey greens….Ballard Designs catalogue reinforced that trend I think. My home office has a yellowy green, and I still enjoy it. But like a mother who cannot pick one child, I am also getting excited by the golf green, the country club green, the truer crayola green, and am going to try int in my powder room if I don't wallpaper with it with the same color green in a pattern. I would probably use BM Aurora Borealis 565 or BM Branch Brook Green 572.
I love purple or pink with green. I am also a huge yellow person and think yellow is such an upbeat color. Ijust painted my diningroom BM Harp Strings 213 and paired it with a geranium pink color on the bottom of the chair rail. I LOVE it! so happy and fresh and cottage fresh. Yeah, I love color. I love reading about your take on color Maria–thank you!
Amy
Yellow has always been my favorite color; painted my bedroom yellow when I was 12 and have been painting rooms yellow ever since 🙂 Every room but one in our old house was painted some shade of yellow BUT I confess I've "gone green" since moving to Argentina two years ago. We're renting so the rest of the house is white BUT I talked my hubby into letting me paint the living room a soft green. The curtains in the dining room have green in them. I'm using green wherever I can these days! Including my clothes. LOL I was doing laundry a while back and realized I had no fewer than seven shirts in some shade of soft green, plus two pairs of capris.
I have had greens and I have had yellows but personally I gravitate towards all blueS! -Brenda-
I adore green, have some in my home. Yellow can be done right too but green is 'it' now!
Lime green that's not in-your-face or a paler fresh green.
Dear Maria,
Into fresh green like you are. So crisp fresh and delicious.
I like fresh green!
I never used to like most green colours, but now I love them. I still like yellow but I feel that colour is a bit more dated now. I still can't stand yellow-pukey-green colours (I'm guessing they have brown mixed with them) like mustard or pea soup colours. I love fresh apple/celery greens though. It's apparently all about food with me!
I like every green except sage. (Even though it suits me clothing-wise.) I think the late 90s scarred me for life w/ the overabundance of that color!
Love this post, Maria – thank you!
Maria, I was drooling over two of the photos in this room and really over all of them.
I'm starting to tire of all the dark and bold colors we have used for decorating for so many years. I love that yellow bedroom and the first living room.
It made me realize that country doesn't have to be dark. We need new livingroom furniture and I would so love to change the color scheme all together and paint whatever I have to to lighten up our home.
I'm getting to that "wanting to start from scratch' stage, I think. Maybe it's just 23 years of the same set of colors. These pictures make me want to move…or figure out how to change our house. If I could change the living room…it would be easy to get the rest of the house to follow.
I just don't know where to start..but I do know I love these photos. I think maybe I'll just start a little file of photos from your blog that look like what I want. Like a dream room or something and then try to figure out what it is about those rooms that I love so much.