Red, White and Blue Done Right (Part 2)

By Marni Elyse Katz
June 28, 2011

The upcoming Fourth of July holiday may bring out your patriotic streak. But most likely, you'll eschew star-spangled walls and a giant bust of George Washington in favor of something more temporary—like a flag hung out on the porch and a festive tablecloth.

Nevertheless, it is possible to do red, white and blue well—and permanently—without degenerating into full-on kitsch. While there are times when the trio of colors can work in their purest forms (for example, in a nautical-themed Nantucket abode), in the spirit of July 4th, we set out to discover what it takes to create a more sophisticated interior design using versions of this Americana palette.

The Inside Source spoke with three talented interior designers, Tobi Fairley, Ellen Hamilton, and Jill Goldberg, all of whom have created chic, red, white, and blue spaces without a hint of Yankee Doodle Dandy. Here, they deconstruct the perfectly executed spaces, and provide tips for pulling off the look yourself.

[Editors' Note: We've applied the same All-American treatment to our wardrobes. See how to wear red, white and blue stylishly. It turns out its a look designers are loving right now, too.]

Tobi Fairley, Tobi Fairley Interior Design

Tobi Fairley

Room in the 2010 Richmond Symphony Orchestra League Designer House in Richmond, VA, designed by interior designer Tobi Fairley

For the 2010 Richmond Symphony Orchestra League Designer House room in Richmond, VA, interior designer Tobi Fairley of Little Rock established a patriotic color story with the contemporary painting by Arkansas artist Scott Carroll, which hangs over the sofa. She achieved a harmonious balance between the red, white and blue color-scapes by starting with a cream-colored backdrop and adding a playful element with a blue ceiling. "The largest areas—walls. sofa, and drapes—are left neutral so that the colors can really stand out," she says. "If the walls had been painted a darker color, the effect would have been lost. By painting the ceiling sky blue, I was able to create a calming effect which envelopes the space. It’s so cozy!" She also used a coffee table and ottoman base with a brass finish—a look we've been seeing a lot of lately. "I’ve never not used brass. Its popularity is coming back around, but to me it’s always been a rich, classic finish," Fairley says.

Interior design Tip: Fairley says the trick to keeping this very stripe-y red, white, and blue interior from looking like an American flag is the color variations, which "help the room transcend the stereotypical red, white and blue vibe... The black and white stripes of the rug help ground the space and also lend a bit of classic formality. I used multiple shades of blue here—some light, some dark. There are also variations of red."

Ellen Hamilton, Hamilton Design Associates

Ellen Hamilton

Guest suite at Ian Schrager's 40 Bond in New York City, designed by in interior designer Ellen Hamilton

Brooklyn-based interior designer Ellen Hamilton of Hamilton Design Associates designed this room at Ian Schrager’s 40 Bond in New York City as a guest suite for the client’s grandchildren. She points out that the color scheme is “all about the blue," with just a pop of red in the low-slung and curvaceous sixties-chic French chairs. Hamilton says, “This is just the perfect shade of sleepy blue, with a peck of red to keep it happy." The swirly patterned Persian rug and drapey white curtains add to the dreamy atmosphere. (Design note: For those of you looking to recreate the effect, the blue paint color is Pantone 18-4222.)

Interior design tip: Use either blue or red where you would normally use a “neutral.” In this case, the walls, the floor plane, and the main furniture in the room are all blue. Red and white are “happy” complements to the blue; use them sparingly, but within interesting patterns and combinations. The room really does not read “red white and blue” because blue dominates in the scheme. (photo by Brian Park)

Jill Goldberg, Hudson

Private living room in suburban Boston designed by interior designer and boutique owner Jill Goldberg

Boston-based interior designer and proprietor of Hudson home furnishings boutiques Jill Goldberg applied more traditional shades of red and blue to this suburban Boston living room, and even incorporates a Union Jack pillow. But still, she managed to create a fresh, clean look. The walls are neutral, but textured, done in a raffia wall covering. The goat hair Neta Benches by Oly (available at Hudson) add another textural, sophisticated element to the room. The club chairs are upholstered in a bold graphic, while the throw pillows are a strong and solid block of red.

Interior design tip: Goldberg says the colors work together because only one is “the pop.” She advises, “Group a large amount of white and blue (or white and red), then pop it with the other [color]. It’s about creating a base, then topping it off.”