My Whole Story of Color
From a young age, color has shaped my world in profound ways.
A Childhood Discovery
At just seven years old, I stood in my backyard, mesmerized by the sunlight filtering through scattered trees. As I squinted my eyes, a dazzling display of golden and prismatic colors burst into view, shifting and dancing with every slight movement of my eyelids. It was as if I had discovered my own personal light show—always available, anywhere I went.
That same lawn became the canvas for countless breathtaking sunsets. Some were so overwhelming in their beauty that they brought tears of joy to my eyes. The way the colors reflected off the white bark of the birch trees, the deep blue-tinged shadows stretching across the grass—every moment felt like a masterpiece in motion.
A Lifelong Passion for Color
Color and light have been my lifelong fascination, constantly shifting and transforming with the
truly slow passage of time each day.
In my twenties, I rediscovered The Luscher Color Test, a book that explores personality through color. One night, as I sat at my table in Tiburon overlooking the Bay, I couldn’t put it down. It was a revelation—an awakening.
From that moment, I immersed myself in studying color. I scoured libraries, devouring books on color theory, healing through color, chakras, architecture, and the psychology behind color choices. It became clear that color was not just about aesthetics—it was about energy, emotion, and transformation.
Turning Passion into Expertise
My career in interior design began right out of college, but my true expertise developed through years of hands-on experience and relentless pursuit of knowledge of color. I sought out the best classes, including:
- Lee Eiseman’s color workshops in Seattle
- Gail Lawrence and Susan Day Studio color mixing courses in San Francisco
- International Association of Color Consultants training in San Diego
- Color Marketing Group (CMG), where I collaborated with industry professionals to forecast color trends across all sectors
My studies expanded into lighting design at Berkeley, deepening my understanding of how light interacts with color. From there, I even experimented with theatrical lighting—mixing colored gels, setting up a mixing board, and creating immersive light experiences. But that’s another story!
The Art of Color in Design
Pure experience has taught me the subtle yet powerful ways color interacts with a space:
- How colors shift under different lighting conditions, from morning to night
- How shadows influence color perception of texture
- How natural light, geography, and room proportions impact color choices
- How reflections between walls create unexpected color effects that may be more intense than planned.
Every room tells a story, and intentional color choices shape how we feel within a space. When designing, I consider the people who will live there: Are they a young family, retirees, professionals? Is the space formal, casual, vibrant, or serene?
A successful design isn’t just about trends—it’s about resonance. I guide my clients toward their colors, creating spaces that feel personal, harmonious, and deeply connected to them.
Because when color speaks to you, it transforms everything in your visceral and emotional field.