Hue Are You? with Gretchen Black
Hue Are You?
Designer Spotlight: Gretchen Black
Gretchen is the owner of Greyhouse Design, an interior design firm in Louisville Kentucky. She and her husband Jason Black, builder of Artisan Signature Homes make a dynamic duo creating beautiful custom homes. I met Gretchen and her husband during our yearly meetings for the Southern Living Custom Builder and Designer Network Conferences. Their homes are crisp, clean, open and the attention to detail is outstanding. If you follow Gretchen on IG, you can see her signature style immediately. Now let's hear her views on color and creating that signature look.
Susan Jamieson: What one color represents your design style?
Gretchen Black: Aqua has been a favorite color of mine for as long as I can remember. It reminds me of the ocean and the beach.
SJ: Do you use color as a dominant role in your designs or as an accent?
GB: I use color as an accent in a space, keeping the background fairly neutral.
SJ: How do you feel about matching colors in a room?
GB: I love using colors that compliment one another but they don't necessarily have to match.
“HAVE NOTHING IN YOUR HOME THAT YOU YOURSELF DON’T FIND BEAUTIFUL OR USEFUL”
SJ: What color represents your personality?
GB: Any shade of Blue.
SJ: What color comes to mind when you talk about:
Your favorite City .......
GB: Charleston is my favorite city and hues of green come to mind because I love all the beautiful live oak trees.
The House You Grew Up In .........
GB: Blue. We had blue shutters on our traditional cape cod style home that my parents built.
Last Fabulous Dinner You Had ........
GB: Shades of red because I love making my husband's family's yummy homemade marinara sauce over lamb.
Your favorite Flower .......
GB: Pink Peonies. I wish their bloom time was longer. They are my favorite.
Your favorite season ......
GB: Summer. The skies are bluer and I love hanging by the pool.
Your Favorite Art ......
GB: Irises by Vincent Van Gogh. I love all the shades of blues and greens.
Your Favorite Room in Your Home .....
GB: Family room because it has white shiplap walls with pops of navy and aqua and lots of live plants.
Your Favorite Beauty product ....
GB: Matte black mascara. I try not to ever leave the house without at least having mascara on.
Your Favorite Article of Clothing ......
GB: Shoes. All colors and styles. A girl can conquer the world in a great pair of shoes.
SJ: Name a color you never use?
GB: Purple. I know it's ironic since it's the color of the year!
SJ: Name a color you use frequently?
GB: Gray, it's my go to wall color.
SJ: If you could pick a name for a color what would it be?
GB: Tranquil because all spaces you live in should give you a sense of peace and tranquility.
SJ: Do you have a pet? What color reminds you of him/her? Do you have a nickname for this pet?
GB: Our golden doodle Hudson is the color of the beautiful beaches along 30A in Florida.
SJ: What is the Now Neutral?
GB: Gray. I think it is still going strong.
“I LOVE MODERN DESIGN WITH A TWIST OF VINTAGE STYLE”
SJ: What is your prediction for the next big color trend?
GB: Navy Blue
SJ: What are the best color combinations?
GB: Aquas and grays and then navy and blush.
SJ: Best advice when it comes to picking paint colors?
GB: Hire an expert. There are so many factors that come into play when choosing the right color for a space. A color that looks great in your neighbors home may not look the same in your home. Lighting, windows, flooring all can change the way a color looks in your space.
FOLLOW GRETCHEN ON IG @GretchenBlack
WEBSITE: www.greyhousedesign.com
