SEEING RED

One of the tried-and-true primaries, red is a colour that people either love or hate. I have to admit that I am indifferent to it—at least when it comes to interiors. Make no mistake, I understand the drama of red and the need for red; it’s just that I generally have a ‘meh moment’ whenever I encounter it. 

To be fair, there are many reds I like, but they tend not to be that classic fire engine red that everyone gets so wound up about. I generally prefer the ones that are more bastardized—the skeleton-in-the-closet reds that are just slightly off. You’ll notice a few hues down that I similarly characterize my preference for certain blues and yellows; my need for the primaries to be, well, less primary. It may stem from a bad experience I had with them in pre-school. Or I may just be a terrible person—it’s hard to say. Nonetheless, here are three variations on “black sheep” reds that make this old carcass of mine feel something akin to passion…

Blue-reds: Oddly, despite my aversion to its closest kin, cerise (or cherry, en anglais) ranks among my top five favourite colours. I remember when I was in university a house around the corner from where I lived in Victoria’s Oak Bay had a cerise front door with a diamond-shaped window of amber and blue leaded glass, done in the classic harlequin pattern. Devastating. I was late for class often because I would go out of my way to look at that door—in the fog, in the rain, in full sunshine, in leaf-dappled autumn light. If they ever change the marriage laws to a drastic extent I will propose to—and wed—that door. But I digress. Favourite blue-reds of mine are: Farrow & Ball’s Rectory Red; Venus Envy from C2; and Crushed Velvet and Pomegranate, both from Benjamin Moore. Big box pick: Behr’s Strawberry Daiquiri

 

Red-reds: OK, so there’s a gun to my head and I have to pick three; these are the ones that will save my life: delicious in dining rooms, dignified on front doors and delightful on the inside of closets. Two favourites from Benjamin Moore include Caliente and Vermilion, but let’s not forget Farrow & Ball’s Incarnadine or C2’s devastating, jazzily named Bang. Big box pick: Licorice Stick from Behr.

 

Orange-reds: seriously, if the right orange-red asked “Who’s your daddy?” I would blush hotly and swoon. I adore this colour—and was in seventh heaven when a client of mine (a very traditional doctor, no less) agreed to let me paint her living room/dining room in a hot-cha-cha rendition from C2 called “Mojo”. Needless to say it resulted in quite an enchanting love triangle: me, the good doctor, and Mojo.

Less harsh and more flattering than red-red (which can make you look like you’ve just had bargain dermabrasion if the reflection is just so), this hue offers the most wonderful, healthy glow to all who bask within range. Frontrunners include: C2’s Persimmon and the aforementioned Mojo; Bonaparte and Rustique from Benjamin Moore; and Farrow & Ball’s Blazer, which is as natty as it sounds. Big box pick: Old Glory by CIL.