Color inspiration is everywhere. A recent trip into the woods to gather apples for homemade applesauce inspired me. I snapped this photo of the apple tree against a blue sky to demonstrate an asymmetrical color story. The blue, red and green work beautifully together because the saturation or intensity of the colors are balanced. In addition, the combination of warm (red) and cool (blue and green) colors creates instant interest. Asymmetrical palettes are perfect for family rooms, kitchens, dining rooms and more because of their versatility.
When selecting a palette for your client or your own home, mix warms and cools for interest and versatility with the seasons. Keep your eyes open for inspiration everywhere. Build a palette portfolio by having your camera always at the ready. Once your eyes are spinning from inspiration, head home with gathered apples and make a pan of homemade applesauce…perfect for a fall day.
JoAnne’s Chunky Applesauce
Ingredients
3 to 4 lbs. peeled, cored and sliced apples (about 7 to 10 apples, depending on the size), I love to mix different varieties together.
3 to 4 T. lemon juice (more or less to taste)
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. brown sugar (may need more if apples are sour)
1/4 c. white sugar
1 cup water (add small amounts of extra water as apples are cooking down(
1/2 tsp. salt
Method
1 Place apples into a large pot with all ingredients and bring to a boil. Lower temperature, cover the pot, and maintain a low simmer for 30-40 minutes, until apples are cooked through.
2 Remove pot from heat. If you don’t like a chunky applesauce, run apples through a food mill, or purée in a blender. Add more sugar to taste. If too sweet, add more lemon juice.
Delicious hot or chilled. Freezes well and will last at least a year in a cold freezer.
Monochromatic Color Palette
When you think of working with only one color, the thought is it might be boring. The reality is tints, tones and shades of the same color can create a beautiful visual particularly when punctuated with Whites, off-whites, or black. Monochromatic color schemes are perfect for bedrooms to create serene surroundings. A recent flight over Lake Erie inspired me as I appreciated the color story of blue-greens out my window. The color of the wing against the background of color creates color highs and lows resulting in a palette that works every time.
by: JoAnne Lenart-Weary
