photography by Jason Jung & Scott Hasson

Denver Magazine
April 2009
Pg. 28-30
written by Dana R. Butler

When the owner of Vain Salon first contacted Katie Schroder of Atelier Interior Design about turning her space into something special, she said she wanted “a colorful, warm, Dr. Seuss” look. Still, when Schroder and her team suggested a very bold color palette, the salon owner was a little wary, but the owner was wild about the finished product. So wild, in fact, that when Revive Day Spa moved in to the other half of the building, the owners asked Schroder to work her magic in their space as well.

Schroder chose strong paint colors and stained the concrete floors. The front desk is made of metal, hand-ground to create the pattern seen here. The circles are of colored resin, and the desktop is espresso wood.

Schroder went with a selection of custom fabrics for the pendant lamps that hang over the reception desk and for the large drum lights seen throughout the space. The “Vain” sign and the color-blocked wall were done by Kerry Aufderheide of Blue Table Studio.

Drapes of white eyelet from Pollack add length and light to the mani/pedi room. The walls here combine a springy avocado color with floor-to-ceiling tufted white vinyl above the built-in pedi chairs. At right, a bamboo pattern painted directly on the wall was more cost effective for the project than a similar wallpaper. The floor lamp at left is from West Elm. The manicure table is a custom bentwood piece. The armchairs are from the Hammer Collection, upholstered with another Pollack fabric.

The Revive reception desk is fronted with tufted white vinyl for texture, and all the furniture in the greeting area is custom made. The wall behind the desk is another creation of Blue Table Studio. The faux wood panels are softened by the zen-inspired branch motif. The wall sconces are from Fine Art Lamps. Other walls are white to give the space crispness, and then Schroder added pops of avocado for color. The 20-foot ceiling soars overhead, and the Atelier team painted it chocolate brown to offset the height “” in addition to ordering lots of extra arm for the pendant lamps.

Issue: April 2009

Luxe Magazine

Following is a list of color tips from Atelier Interior Design, which was an interview with Luxe Magazine, The Colorado Home Redefined. See Atelier Interior Design, in print in the Design Minded Section on pages 304 and 308, Volume 4 Issue 1.

1. Bright & bold colors are wonderful to use as accents. Vases, pillows, rugs and lamps act as the jewelry in the room. Often people are timid about using garish colors because they do not consider them to be natural and they fear they will grow tired of a certain hue. The truth is that all colors are natural. Deep red roses, the plumes on a tropical bird or a beautiful gem are all examples of incredible deep rich colors that people never grow tired of. People are finally taking the plunge and embracing color by making a strong statement in brightly colored cabinetry or a large piece of furniture and using that as an anchor instead of a neutral. Neutrals can now be seen as the trim rather than the bulk. It depends on what the person wants to convey, bright and bold or cool and serine.
2. People always feel good in colors that look good on them. Just like clothes, you should be appealing in your own space.
3. To avoid over saturation of a color select a hue that is slightly muted or “off” in color. These colors are often, more appealing and less shocking to the eye.
4. Pairing bold colors with neutral tones calms the color down but allows the bright to have its punch. Subdued colors pop with a deep chocolate brown, the dark and light are a nice contrast.
5. Monochromatic rooms are a great way to invite wild patterns without overwhelming the space. Bold and big damask or brocade patterns have appeal when the overall space has a simple color scheme. Stripes are also popular when used with tone on tone colors. Painted on the wall stripes can be a stunning backdrop that still allows fork strong pattern.
6. Black and white has come back with the popularity of retro designs and Hollywood glam. This resurgence works well when great old design lines are brought back with simple colors like black and white. The true essence shines with a contemporary twist. We love pairing black and white with the boldest of colors like hot pink, Kelly green, turquoise or orange. Another route would be to use only neutrals that vary in deepness like grays and tans. Always be intentional and whatever you are trying to achieve will be a grand success.
7. Green design has really popularized natural color schemes. Several clients have conveyed that they want to achieve a spa feel. Browns and greens that bring the outdoors in paired with stark white gives a fresh feel that is both rejuvenating and calming. Using ultra contemporary lines makes the earth tones feel more uplifting.

• Don’t do just one accent wall. Instead, if you don’t want four red walls, paint the top halves of the walls red, add a chair rail and paint the bottom halves a warm neutral.

• Mix red with white trim for a classic look. Or pair red walls with a metallic ceilings (consider Benjamin Moore’s Studio Finishes) to give the room a comtemporary feel.