A top commenting rule on the blog is, “No one can be made to feel bad for their choices.” So I am breaking my own rule and will probably regret it. However, I can no longer contain my rant against “greige” — that drab, virtually colorless, gray-green-brown-beige — that has begun to permeate the contemporary interior design world. Above: from Restoration Hardware. This is their second season, at least, deep into the doo doo (pun intended) of greige. I know times are really tough, and that a somber mood, on many occasions, is called for. But, this palette (can you even call the absence of color a palette?) … makes me depressed. I encourage the secret society of people who plan the “hot colors” for years forward to, instead, consider promoting a palette that reminds us to smile… that lifts us up… that gives us some hope! We Americans are an optimistic, extroverted, hard-working bunch, and we’ll pull out of this malaise. We are Not a Greige Nation. Oh and one more thing: Please remember that the Marketing Machine wants to convince you to throw out everything you bought five years ago for whatever is new today. Train your own eye, surround yourself with what makes You happy, and ignore what any trend pundits — including me-ish — say.
hot57chevy says
Greige reminds me of the Disney kids show Imagination Movers. Their neighbor, Mr. Nit Knots greige office, his clothing, the pictures on the wall, right down to the paper clips and chewing gum is greige boring. But his helper, Nina brightens things up in her colorful outfits! I would turn greige if someone was to replace my circa ’57 “Primrose Skylark” formica( yellow w/ boomarangs) counter tops out of my original ’50’s kitchen. No granite counters in my house!!
MrsErinD says
I agree Pam, greige everywhere is depressing and ugly! Grey mixed with pink is pretty, but like you said, all over- yuk!
I am redecorating now (40s/50s) with pink, teal, aqua, chartruese and black accents, all taken from my 40s tropical zomba drapes/fabric I just bought, and I LOVE all the bright color, makes me happy!
Petra says
I discovered your site (love it!) while looking for information on Youngstown Kitchens and The Mullins Mfg Corp (after listening to an NPR story about a 1926 kitchen in Frankfurt Germany, which was taken apart and reconstructed at MoMA in NY). Thank you so much for this post! I’ve never quite understood the appeal of Restoration Hardware, though I did find one of my absolute favorite heavy chenille throws there – which put me on their mailing list. When the “greige” catalog arrived at my house a few days ago, I thought at first that I had received a defective catalog that had escaped the printer’s notice. Then I realized that the washed out look was intentional. Who wants to live in a world without color??? I ditched the catalog and decided I would never buy another thing from RH — no matter how comforting and fuzzy their chenille may be. LONG LIVE DEEP, BLOOD RED (especially for lipstick)!
Katie Hatch says
Thank you!!!
I was hoping the book would be a big failure and RH would move on, but to the contrary, at the Las Vegas Furniture Show this summer I saw a whole herd of Greige (perfect word btw) knock offs. I think some of the goods were even coming from the sme factory. uggh. Combine with the trend of washes linen faux french vintage sack fabric on everything from bedding to sofas, it’s like a San Fancisco summer foggy gray drizzly cold yuck. (btw I live San Fran, but u have to admit it’s butt cold in July).
But the saddest part of the RH books are their juxtaposition of iconic modern furniture in equally subdued colors. FREE the MID-MODERN Furniture from your Greige prison RH!!!!
Tina says
Brings to mind “The Banger Sisters” and Susan Sarandon’s line: “I’m the same color as the DMV!” Dullsville!!
61futura says
Between this, the Tuscany look, and “cottage-izing” everything, it’s enough to make me reach for the vomit bag.
dede says
it looks like it’s been left out in the rain!!!!!
Tonja says
I can’t stand these sage colors that everyone is going after! But I love a warm gray… it’s so soothing. The feature walls in my living room is painted a warm gray that has a tiny, tiny touch of green in it. It brings solidity and a strong feel to the room. It’s the color of stone. It looks great with my black fireplace and red oak flooring. I might add a touch of red velvet to the room!
Martha says
The Renovation Hardware photo looks kind of like a faded old sepia photographic print. Get some Photoshop work going on it, add some splashes of real color and it would look ok…maybe.
Margaret Roach says
You know me: I’m somewhere over the rainbow over here. I like very neutral window trim so that it frames the outdoors rather than distracts from it — mine is a very pale platinum gray. But my doors are bright red and the floors are yellow ochre and so no, no monochrome of any kind for me really.