Tag: dance and design - Mary Ann Benoit-Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

Contrast is the Key to Striking Beauty

While in my doumbek class last week, my drum teacher Amir Etemadzadeh, who is a native of Iran was talking about the importance of being able to distinguish clearly all the notes we can make on our drums. The more notes, the better. The more clearly they are different from each other, the better and more beautiful it sounds to the listener.

Amir describes it as creating a beautiful and delicious meal and all the notes are like the spices and layers that make it delicious to the ears.

I Learned to Solve all my Interior Design Problems by Playing Music — Mary Ann Benoit of Tavus Dance Company performing on her doumbek for a show in Anchorage Alaska.

As he waxes poetic about the beauty of contrast and how critical it is to distinguish the doum from the slap, and how the Teks and Kas should be as bright and high as possible, my mind wanders to Interior Design and the importance of contrast there as well.

In music, if the notes are not easily distinguishable, they can all start to sound the same, and some notes will make others sound muddy or dull because each is not living up to its full potential. Your playing becomes boring for the audience.

Interior Design Lessons from Dance

What does it have to do with Interior Design?

Just as a drummer wants their music to sound delicious to the ears, we want our rooms to look delicious to our eyes. Contrast is one of the keys to creating great beauty.

This is Part 1 in my revelations from playing music on how to create your perfect space.

The older I get, the more I realize the connections between all things artistic. The same principles apply to making the magic happen in Interior Design or any other art form. You just need to open your eyes, listen, and feel it to notice.

It always seems to come back to the alignment between art (creativity), science (color), and energy (connection) that makes the magic happen. I use this alignment to create both beautiful dance pieces and interiors.

You might also enjoy my series on lessons I learned about Interior Design from dancing:

I Learned To Solve All My Interior Design Problems by Dancing : The Magic of Transitions.

I Learned To Solve All My Interior Design Problems by Dancing : Surprise Me.

I Learned To Solve All My Interior Design Problems by Dancing and Learning to Tell a Great Story.

I Learned To Solve All My Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Bring on the Bling.

I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing- There Can Only Be One Star.

I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Be Brave.

I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Create Drama with Shapes.

I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Create Drama with a Focal Point.

I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing.

How Does Contrast Relate to Interior Design?

Contrast is important in creating interest and making you feel something in the room. You can create contrast with color, texture, shapes, lighting, levels, patterns, sizes and more.

The more contrast between things, the more they each stand out and shine with their own inherent beauty, complimenting each other, rather than one stealing the spotlight and making the other look dull.

There is a lot of complexity to this subject. Today, I will focus on color.

Creating Contrast with Whites and Neutrals

As my teacher spoke about the sounds of the drum, the first thing that came to mind was how important contrast is when using the color white.

White. How seemingly simple but how complex. Many, when confused about color will say, lets just paint it white and be done with it. Haha, well, that just opened a big can of worms.

There are so many whites out there, it is amazing. Why? Because white is a color, just like any other, and is ultimately, the least saturated or a low saturation of a hue. Example, take a blue and reduce its chroma until it looks white, It is still that same blue, but with very little chroma. That is why all whites look so different.

P. S., it has nothing to do with so called “undertones”, which is just a word people use that do not understand color science to subjectively describe what they see.

No big deal, until you decide to mix whites in your space. One white can make another look muddy, or dirty, or just “off”.

Why? You need to make sure there is enough difference in chroma to easily distinguish the two whites. And there should still be some color harmony between the hues the whites come from. Whites that are opposites on the color wheel look better together than ones that are so close to each other that they look off.

Neutrals are the same as whites. They just have a little more chroma.

Finding the beauty of a neutral palette using various shades of whites, off whites and neutrals with enough contrast to see all the variations can be gorgeous. Throw in a variety of shapes and textures to add even more interest and variety.

Get the Look

Here is an example of a beautiful and relaxing Edesign I created using whites and neutrals with contrasting colors and textures.

Creating Contrast with Opposite Colors

Of course, you can get maximum contrast with saturated hues. The highest degree of contrast comes from either using black and white, or opposite colors on the color wheel, which creates a complimentary color scheme.

Maximum Contrast with Black and White

Maximum Contrast with a Complimentary Color Scheme

Blue and yellow are opposites or compliments on the color wheel. Each makes the other look even more vibrant.

In the Edesign below, the green in my Spring Fractal Art is the complement of the purple walls. It has the effect of making the art really pop!

Are You Ready to Create Beauty Through Contrast in Your Home?

Now that you know some of the elements that work together to create your perfect space, are you ready to take action to make it happen in your home? If you knew absolutely for certain that creating a perfect space would create a better life for you, you would do it, wouldn’t you?

Let’s tell your unique story and find the alignment of art, science, and energy that makes you happy. Let me help you take that trip to your perfect space in a Ferrari instead of a stagecoach. Try my Aligned Design consultation and let’s get started.

Curious about your Interior Design style? Take the quiz and find out.

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Bring on the Bling

A dance performance needs some bling.

It can be sparkly and glittery jewelry or fabrics that create magic under the stage lights. It can be accessories that make musical or percussive sounds as you move. It might be the tassels and sparkly bits that show off your movements. It could be or a costume with cultural elements that tells the story of the dance or the culture it came from. The bling adds depth, excitement and the final touches.

It is about more than beauty. It’s about the story it tells and the mood it creates.

It’s like the jewelry that completes the perfect black dress. The jewelry says who you are, how you are feeling, and the mood you are setting for your evening.

It is also like the elements or accessories that finish off the perfect space in your home.

I Learned to Solve all my Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Bring on the Bling — Me taking a bow after performing a classical Persian dance. I designed the coat with a peacock on it to represent our dance company, Tavus, which means peacock in Persian.

For example, I am in a dance company named “Tavus”, which means peacock in Persian. The peacock is a sacred bird in Persian mythology and a symbol of royalty and power. The peacock has been sacred and revered throughout history by many cultures.

We designed classical Persian coats by attaching beautiful peacock appliques to sequined blue material to tell the story of our dance company. We designed hats that have a peacock and peacock feathers. Our jewelry highlights the peacock colors and resembles a peacock tail. Everything sparkles under the lights, shows off movement, and a variety of textures.

Our bling tells the story of who we are, and adds depth and texture, like adding the shadows in a painting so you bring out the three dimensions.

Interior Design Lessons from Dance

What does it have to do with Interior Design? I learned to solve all my Interior Design problems by dancing. This is Part 6 in my revelations from dancing on how to create your perfect space.

Learn more in my other five articles:

I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing- There Can Only Be One Star.

I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Be Brave.

I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Create Drama with Shapes.

I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Create Drama with a Focal Point.

I Learned to Solve all My Interior Design Problems by Dancing.i

I Learned to Solve all my Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Bring on the Bling

How Does Bling Relate to Interior Design?

As in dance, bling, is what finishes off the room, creates the mood, and helps tell the story. Bling is the special elements, accessories, and accents.

Here are some examples of some favorite accessories or elements that can help create your perfect space. Some contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you buy something at no additional cost to you.

It is about more than beauty. It’s about the story it tells and the mood it creates.

I Learned to Solve all my Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Bring on the Bling

Fire Can be the Best Bling

Fire adds light, sparkle, warmth and a magic all its own. It can be your best bling. A fireplace is perfect in a bedroom or living room. Candles can create the same effect on a smaller scale.

In the Edesign I created below, the fireplace and candles are the main bling. Additional accessories which would highlight the colors and natural elements of this beach front bedroom are listed below.

https://northernlightsstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Copy-of-Animated-Fireplace.mp4

I Learned to Solve all my Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Bring on the Bling

Natural Elements Make Great Bling

Nature is great bling. A spectacular view highlighted by natural decor elements creates an inspiring and relaxing space.

While accessories made of natural elements such as wood, stone, plants, metals, and more are not often shiny, sparkly, or dramatic, they add warmth and texture and align the energy in your space with the outdoors.

In the Edesign I created below, the view is the bling, highlighted by natural elements for the decor such as the wood table, stone lamps and planter and plants. Everything is very simple, letting the view stand out as the main decor element.

I Learned to Solve all my Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Bring on the Bling

Lighting is Great Bling

Lighting adds beauty, color, style and creates the ambiance that can really make a room. Layers of lights create the magic. Use overhead lighting, floor lamps, table lamps, and spotlighting for art and other elements. Learn more in my blog article, How to Make Magic Happen in Your Home with Lighting.

Below are some of my favorite table lamps. Some contain affiliate links.

I Learned to Solve all my Interior Design Problems by Dancing- Bring on the Bling