Use white, or very white

Feb 2012

By Jody Brown — Filed under: Coffee with an Architect

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What color should you paint the walls? …, that’s a trick question….

You’re an Architect. All walls should be white.

Of course, they should. Obviously, that’s the only choice, The ONLY choice, no options, no other possiblities, none, nothing, just go with white…

whitey, white, white, whitey, white with extra whiteness. WHA-ITE!

But, I have witnessed a handful of clients who resist this. (I know…?!) Some have suggested that a “color” might “warm” up the space. Some, have suggested a “bright” color, or even (gasp) a “pastel”! Ridiculous, right? But it has happened, and you should be prepared for this, because, try as you might to convince them of the clear benefits of white walls, sometimes your client will want a different color.

You should try to guide them away from any use of color. You should point out that white will make the space seem larger. You should use terms like “purity”, “simplicity”, or “elegance”. It’s also effective to wave your arms around in wide circular patterns. Look like you know what you’re talking about. Repeat the word “simple” as often as required. Try to associate this with “less expensive”

But, don’t say “less expensive”!!! – Just imply it, or better yet let them infer it.

Usually the client will get fatigued. Or, they’ll need to leave for another meeting, and you’ll be able to leave all the walls white. When they call the next day, send it to voicemail. They’ll probably give up eventually. Plus, if you wait long enough, you can point out that you don’t have time to change the wall colors if they want to meet their deadline.

As a last resort, here are the only architecturally acceptable alternatives to white:

Clear
White Birch
Transparent
Really expensive
Metallic
more white

Stick to your guns on this one. There are some things we can’t compromise on.

Otherwise, the terrorist win.

all photos are very white and from kevindooley’s photostream on Flickr (used under creative commons license)

About Jody Brown: Jody Brown, is an Architect running INFILL, pllc. in Durham, NC. His work focuses on urban infill projects, mixed-use, urban design, and urban renewal. When he’s not doing that, he’s blogging about his ideals at Coffee with an Architect. In other words, he’s just an Architect, standing in front of an ideology, asking it to love him. You can follow him and his blog at www.coffeewithanarchitect.com, on facebook, or on Twitter

Cite:
Brown , Jody . "Use white, or very white" 07 Feb 2012. ArchDaily. Accessed 25 May 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/206357>

Comments (16)
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Scott Sowers says:

Very funny ! And mostly true I reckon.

# February 7, 2012 at 10:43

James says:

Allow me to be the first person to say this blog post is idiotic.

# February 7, 2012 at 11:36

jeb says:

you think you’re the first?

# February 7, 2012 at 12:03

-1

jason says:

No.

White is boring. Everybody has white. I don’t want the space to seem larger. Color is always better.

“OMG the [insert color here] walls look so cool!”

Because white is boring.

# February 7, 2012 at 12:13

i wouldn’t trust the opinion of anyone who says “OMG the [insert color here] walls look so cool!”

# February 7, 2012 at 14:17

john m says:

come on. let’s step up the comments on this board. does no one understand satire? not that this is great satire, but at least understand the point…

# February 7, 2012 at 12:25

The quality of the comments is most likely a reflection of the quality of the writing.

# February 7, 2012 at 12:43

Bálint Marosi says:

this is (as the prevoius ones as well) really boring and way too simple. When I read one, it’s still boring, but reading 4 of 5 of them: you know what is next, you know what you get, you know what the next sentence will be: the nihillist comments of a very tired man.

I’m just too bored to ever read ONE more.

# February 7, 2012 at 13:13

well Jody, time to hang up the ole typewritter. Balint and Jason are bored. (yeah, I guess satire is harder than it looks)

# February 7, 2012 at 13:26

Hm, I don’t think there is any problem with satire – but when ALL these works build up ALLWAYS the same way, when one from almost the title can say what todays whining will be about, and how… yes, THAT’s boring…

Good and really funny satire would be warmly welcome!

# February 7, 2012 at 13:31

Jamie says:

Yawn, these post have gone downhill. Not that they were great to begin with, so i guess you could say they started off downhill and are now floating in some underground sewer. Can we have some more cartoons please?

# February 7, 2012 at 14:09