Architectural design isn’t black and white.
Several years ago, we designed a four-storey apartment building. We asked the contractor to supply several large boards painted with a selection of whites. I remember coming on site and one of the carpenters said he thought us mad as white was white but once he saw all the whites together, he understood. There are many whites but each with an undertone. Warm white with yellow, cold white with blue.
Whites change colour dependant on scale, the amount of light they get or what other colours are next to it. A house up the road was recently painted a lovely grey which worked well with the white joinery. However, its neighbour has a red roof, and that side of the newly painted house has a red tone to the grey, not so lovely.
I like white or rather I like bright and light, I’m not that fond of all black kitchens and dark rooms but I do find a white white too bright and stark to use internally. Same for appliance white. I like softer, warmer whites. I do like a contrast and enjoyed the black/white colourway when it was in vogue.
Generally, men are not that good at colour, and I wondered why. Standing by my wife looking at a hundred shades of red lipstick I suddenly understood. Maybe men see red, dark red, pink, salmon but women can see ‘pirate red’, my wife’s current favourite.
Whites in the bathroom have also amused me. The bath, wash hand basin and toilet are never a matching. Not to mention the tiles. Noone seems to care or notice.
paul@leuschkekahn.co.nz
021 894 895
leuschkekahn.co.nz
