Selected Project

Capitol City House

Carol Ann Kell, President of Kell and Associates, engaged Millett Design to renovate both the exteriors and interiors of a once splendid downtown residence. This was a rush job on a stringent budget, yet both client and designer were delighted with the result.

Carol Ann Kell's color scheme suited not only her bright and shining personality, but also her professional work. The first floor of her house was devoted to business: hence the calm, welcoming yellow tints, combined with serious black, gray, and white for her TV studio. Yellow, in varying degrees of saturation, literally leads the eye upstairs. Warm grays unify the scheme, and lavender provides diversion in her private spaces.

Kell's 3-hue scheme is a classic "complementary" approach - 60% yellow, 30% gray, and 10% lavender. The subtle tonal variation (light to dark) is what gives this scheme special character. We worked our way up and down the color strips attached.

All the paint samples were tested on site to be sure they met Ms. Kell's needs and desires. Many variables had to be taken into account: real and artificial lighting, her eye sight and that of her clients, the views from windows, time of day, seasonal changes, and most importantly, Ms. Kell's pronounced sense of style.

Please note that I am presenting this scheme only as a sample for you to see how one client made effective choices. In creating your own color combinations, please begin by selecting your own favorite hues. Also, please keep in mind that the colors you see on a computer screen vary from monitor to monitor. And remember paint samples change all the time: when wet or dry, when painted over other colors, when seen under warm or cold illumination, and so on, and on. The only way to minimize risk and maximize effectiveness is to paint actual color on actual walls.