The exterior of Vero Building in Auckland.
It's 5AM Thursday and I'm sitting writing and listening to the rain gently falling and the different birds that congregate on a wet morning.
Sometimes we need some peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle and stresses that are created in our everyday lives. It may be a space to sit quietly and reflect or a spot in the sun to read a book and escape for awhile.
I thought I would talk about quiet grey today and its associations. Words that spring to mind are old, dreary, overcast, downy feathers, stormy, sands, neutral, mist, early dawn ... the list goes on.
Every colour has an association in a positive or negative way but, in the true sense of the word, grey is not actually a colour. It is termed achromatic - void of hue - and is the direct descendant of black and moves down the value scale from deep charcoals to pearly light tints.
Grey is not a colour I use often in my work but I do love the pure grey which is varying shades or tints of black and white only - they tend to be more subtle in the lighter tones than gray that has an underlying colour.
It has a long association with silver. In ancient Mesopotamia times, the Chaldean communities believed that a silver moon sent wisdom and peace of mind to its people. What a great colour to use if you are requiring a quiet space.
Grey can be eerie ... the darkest tones of gray are the ambiguous feelings of black. It is powerful and can bring sorrow, sophisticated or sober, dominating or drab. I find black powerful but drab at times - if I walk into a meeting where everyone is wearing black it definitely brings me down.
But present me with gloss black granite in a kitchen, it is a totally different feeling - it is timeless sophistication.
Change the scene to a black windy night with threatening thunderstorms and you have the eerie scene of a horrible movie, haunted houses and windswept coastlines.
Solid grey in the dark tones represents strength and longevity associated with granite, rock and stone. In ancient times, cities were carved out of rock and have stood the test of time and grey is still used on the exterior of buildings.
Grey is also the colour of intelligence - grey matter, contemplation, truth, knowledge and wisdom with lighter grey in old age. Medium greys are more conservative, dignified and subtle. I love the mix of soft tone greys as an accent on old villas. White walls with grey window and door frames and a bit more depth of colour on the sill keeps the colour scheme fresh and clean and detail easy to see.
Neutral greys are closer to white - soft and more fragile, delicate feathers and downy softness of rabbit fur. I have fond memories of lamb's ears, a soft leafy plant that used to grow in my grandmother's garden. It was always so soft on your face, the leaf itself being a soft green grey.
When used in decorating there is always a tint, tone or shade of grey that will work with any colour. When used on its own in a monochromatic colour scheme, there needs to be the right balance in texture and pattern within the room - one would need to consider lustre or sheen and matt finishes along with smooth and rough or highly textured combinations, then add self-patterned fabrics or other shapes for interest.
A grey room can be appealing as a backdrop for other finishes or as a complete room with a few accent colours added. If the grey being used is dark, the room will become very masculine, perfect for a den or the back drop for a library.
It also fits very well with the minimalistic room, keeping the greys lighter and more reflective so there appears to be more visual space than there actually is. Grey is a serious colour so should really be chosen with the thought on what you are trying to achieve with a space.
I have slept in a mid-tone grey room which was stunning - grey walls, high gloss white timber joinery (an older style home) charcoal-textured carpet that felt like your feet were being massaged when you walked, crisp white bed linen, black bedside cabinets in a traditional style, and silver lamp bases with black feathered shades.
The room had a feeling of luxury and serenity about it and the finishing touch in the room was a huge crystal vase filled with cream lilies which had a hidden light source behind it so the light reflected off the water.
Grey can be such a lovely, sophisticated colour to use ... but use it wisely.
If you have any questions about issues discussed, call 027 6023298 or drop me a line on terry@terrylobb.com