Avenue Magazine: Calgary's Colour Palette
When asked to provide insight into the Calgary colour palette by Avenue Magazine, it gave me an opportunity to see my city from a different perspective. Drawing inspiration from Calgary's river valleys immediately sent me to the colours of the surrounding rocks along the river banks rather than the blues of the water or greens of the nearby trees. The shades of grey, cream and rust are a natural combination. The article also covers city, mountain and prairie perspectives and inspiration from several of Calgary's designers and decorators. I find it fascinating to learn the different perspectives from each designer. Read below for more of my colour story on the river valley and head to Avenue's website to read the full Calgary's Colour Palette article.
Drawing colour inspiration from a river valley around Calgary, would you choose bold and vibrant hues or softer, tranquil tones? Please specify which ones you would choose. My ideal colour palette inspired by the rocks of the Calgary river valley would consist of deep greys, a medium shade of caramel/ rust alongside a light warm grey. Most specifically Kendall Charcoal HC-166, Acorn 1125 and Grey Mist OC-30, one of my all time favourite colours. Grey Mist has a chameleon quality to it and changes beautifully with the Calgary light.
Do any accent colours come to mind when you imagine a Calgary river valley colour theme? I feel the perfect compliment to this trio is a pale mauve, something similar to Benjamin Moore Mauve Blush 2115-40.
How might different seasons affect a colour palette inspired by Calgary’s river valleys? For me the biggest impact the change of seasons would have on this colour palette would be lighting. The low light, cooler feel and overall darker vibe in the winter, compared to a brighter, warmer feel during the long days of summer.
How would moving water impact the colours within a river valley themed palette? Moving water would not only enhance the colours, it would also provide a light reflective quality to the colour palette and would be heavily impacted by the sunlight or lack thereof. With the amount of sunny days we are blessed with in Calgary, using light reflective finishes and materials is a great way to add impact within our homes regardless of the colour.
Thank you Avenue Magazine for including Nyla Free Designs Inc. in your article!