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| Color
Enhanced Architectural Concept |
The
owners of this 1970s-era split-level on Lake Calhoun recently
added a third story bringing the home up-to-date with
attractive soffits, angles, and half-walls built to create
depth and dimension. But in a house where every room registered
a dull white, a healthy dose of color becomes the true
force for modernizing this space. The homeowners asked
Otogawa-Anschel to bring color into their lives.
The standalone fireplace in the room’s center wears
an entirely different chromatic palette on each side.
From the sleeping area and looking out toward the lake,
cool tones tease out the aqua and dark blue in the slate
fireplace surround. From the opposite side, warm hues
pick up the rose and violet of the same material. The
wall separating the bedroom from the bathroom boasts a
rich adobe red, set off by a gold soffit and a rich chocolate
panel. The bold, earthy color triad serves as the eye-catching
anchor point for the room.
Asymmetrical glass block flanking the bathroom vanity
opens up an otherwise restrictive space, allowing it to
communicate with the walk-in closet on one side and the
natural light spill on the other. Because the green glass
block diffuses the light, the room’s colors work to compensate
for this softening. A mix of tangerine, pale green, and
lemon yellow tile used in the shower find a place on the
floor and walls as well for a burst of synthetic sunshine
designed to shift and bend depending on vantage point.
The gently morphing pattern eliminates the flat sterility
of white tile and ordinary glass block.
The transition from the second floor to the third floor
features a combination of yellow hues that also appear
to shimmer and shift with the movement of natural light
through the space. In the intense afternoon sun, the pigments
lose their distinction and become a solid glowing wall.
As the sun sets, they regain their individual character.
Like any healthy relationship, the living room and dining
room work together while maintaining independence. In
the living room, a soft suede wall gives way to the room’s
large bank of windows and smartly complements the stone
fireplace. Muted greens and golds segue effortlessly to
the spectacular lake view. Meanwhile, the vibrant tones
of the dining room tastefully contrast the cool calm of
the living area. |
