Heidi Rawson––The magic of color: inspired by nature

The Magic of Color: Inspired by Nature

By Heidi Rawson for North Valley Magazine

As Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “Nature is the inspiration for all ornamentation.’

We all want to live in an inspired space, one which momentarily lifts our spirits, in a place we can call home.  I want to share with you some of my tried and true designer secrets for creating a fabulous space inspired by the colors of nature.

Many times when embarking on the daunting and exciting task of designing our new homes we ask ourselves , “Where do I begin? ”  Nature has always been a source of inspiration for me.  Think of the turquoise waters and pink sands of the Bahamas, or the beautiful colors of a hummingbird, could these colors possibly translate into the design of a space?  Absolutely.

Recently, when designing a new loft space, in Scottsdale, my client and I used this formula to create a beautiful interior.  For this specific interior we chose the desert as our inspiration.  We took the colors of the beautiful desert landscape and interpreted them into a color palette.  One can create this palette by putting together paint chips. We then used those beautiful colors,  to strategically design the space.  We applied the gorgeous, muted green color of cacti to the walls and grounded the floors in dark brown wood.  In the Master Bedroom we anchored the tufted headboard in a suede desert sand. The space was punctuated with vibrant shots of orange, which is representational of the desert sun. We used this color in the art and accessories. We loved the theme so much we even installed a lighting pendant, over the dining room table, which was the figurative expression of the clouds.

Have fun with color and remember there is always nature to inspire your home

About Heidi Rawson

Mixing traditional elements with modern sensibility, award-winning designer, Heidi Rawson creates fresh and timeless interior spaces. Rawson, a Scottsdale resident, began her career at the esteemed Pavlik Design Team, named Interior Design’s Top 100 Giants. Rawson continued on to become design director at the prestigious Breakstone Homes. There her work was featured on HGTV and in numerous periodicals and publications. Since establishing her firm, Heidi Rawson Design, she’s had the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse and high profile clientele. Her design inspiration comes from her interest in photography, art, international travel, and nature.