Espresso has been a big influence on my sense of style. It was part of my life at an early age, when I observed the somewhat sacred ritual of it's preparation. All that work and it was enjoyed in no more than two quick gulps. It's strong taste is often misleading. Ounce for ounce, it has the same caffeine content as regular coffee, but not the typical italian serving known as "ristretto."
When allowed to choose my own room color, I had my parent's painter match the deep tan color of a perfect "crema" that was formed from the pressure of a fine espresso maker. Inspired by this rich neutral palette, I established my design portfolio with creating sumptuous living spaces devoid of color. I relied on shape, light, texture and proportion to play the leads. My beige rooms were never boring!
This lead me to deeper tones from chocolate to coffee bean. One of my favorites is Benjamin Moore's Brown Horse, # 2108-30. It's a deep, dark brown, slightly on the grey side. I think everyone should have one dark, cozy room in their home, especially if they don't have the luxury of a paneled library or study. In past years, brown was made popular when paired with ice blues and pinks, but it's more exciting now when used with turquoise, emerald greens, sunflower or persimmon.
My fuel... is it the flavor or the color that attracts me to it several times a day?
