Maria Killam

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An Exception to Mixing Clean and Dirty Colour

11/15/2011

Hi, I'm Maria

I help homeowners and design professionals create beautifully decorated spaces, by showing them how to use colour - the right way.

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Occasionally I come across an exception to mixing clean and dirty colours that actually works. Today I’m sharing one of those examples and why it works. 

This is a cactus sculpture in the lobby at the Westin Lost Cabos where we are staying this week on a much needed vacation! How cute, right?

An exception to mixing clean and dirty colours.

Ok, this is what I wanted to show you.

See the muted or you could say “dirty” terra cotta colour and the screaming clean yellow? Well, the reason why mixing clean and dirty works here is because the rest of the building just blends into the landscape.

It’s like discovering a yellow flower walking along the red sand of the Mexican desert.

source

Frank Lloyd Wright was another architect who designed buildings who incorporated colours that blended into the landscape.

If you didn’t see my post earlier this week, the Westin was designed by Javier Sordo Madeleno and there are more photos here.

That’s why there really are no RULES in design. Just guidelines. Be sure to read this post if you are still unsure by what I mean when I say clean and dirty colours.

Vacation Fun

Today we did an excursion. Part of it was a tour of a glass factory where I got to try my skills at making a glass ball.

Blow, blow, blow, he kept saying. . .as my cheeks got bigger and redder!

This is me laughing at my creation (which did not make the photo) haha, and you are not missing anything.

And here is what they are supposed to look like! We were going to buy one to hang in the garden but then thought it would take too much effort to get home without breaking!

I am not looking very stylish today wearing a white crew-necked t-shirt to make sure I did not get any further sun on my chest! Apparently though, I do have some thoughts about looking stylish and they are over at Inside Out Style today!

Well off to the pool again! xoxo Maria

To learn more download my eBook, It’s All in the Undertones.

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Related posts:

Clean vs. Dirty Colour

Don’t make these 5 common mistakes with your exterior colour

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  1. Maria – thanks for participating in my Stylish Thoughts series and you definitely do have some great thoughts on looking stylish!

  2. Kelly says:

    Glad you are having fun on your much deserved vk. If you rent a car, and have time, take a trip over to ToDos Santos. Artist town. And if you drive watch out for the cows in the road!

  3. Donna Frasca says:

    You are just cute as a button Maria!
    What a great post.

  4. I would hate to be the person that had to install that cactus sculpture! ouch! The glass factory tour looks like it was fun. You should have bought one of the glass balls. Women seem to have a knack for getting awkward things home no matter what! (especially if they are free!) 🙂

  5. What color glass ball did you buy? Yellow? We need to know these things!

    Looks like fun!

  6. Enjoy your vacation! I’ve always wanted to go to Los Cabos, but it’s quite a trek from the East! Loved your Inside out Style post – you always look so put together!

  7. Dina Eisenberg | DinaLoves says:

    How cool! I’m vacationing in zihuatenejo not far from you. Mexico is lovely isn’t it? I’ve been inspired by the sunrise- the amazing spread from midnight blue to rust to pink to creamy white. I have my eye out for textiles – a lot easier to fit in the suitcase. 🙂

    Enjoy! Warmly Dina

  8. Catherine says:

    Your look is Jackie O summer classic~easy grace-love it
    Your breath is permanently in that glass creation-so powerful!

  9. I agree with other posts…. I think you look very cute in the white tee and your little hat! Classic!

Hi, I'm Maria

I help homeowners and design professionals create beautifully decorated spaces, by showing them how to use colour - the right way.

Not sure where to start? Take the quiz to find the best colour solution for you.

Decorating Advice

Timeless

Neutral Undertones

Colour Trends

Bathrooms

Kitchens

know what works
and why

Life’s too short to live in a home you don’t love, and it’s too expensive to start from scratch when you don’t have to.

 Let me help you make confident colour decisions for every project in your home.

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