The Retro Renovation 2012 Color of the Year is Bitossi Rimini Blu, a shade named after the famous, rich, deep glaze on Italian-made Bitossi pottery designed by Aldo Londi around 1959. Also known as Cobalt Blue, this is a classy, retro color that “plays well” with a wide variety of other shades, including orange, gold, avocado, brown, red — it’s very versatile. To demonstrate, I roamed all around my house on Saturday and took photos of art and accessories that that incorporate this color. Note, in this study, I have been pretty liberal about the what goes in this color family. It’s all good. Read on for a festival of blue — 28 photos in all.
I have two bona-fide Bitossi Rimini Blue vases. Chippy of World of Tile had them in her stash. Over the months, we have become good friends, and she sent them to me. In return, I am giving her free advertising on the blog. This photo was taken in natural light. I did dial up the “black” in Lightroom a wee bit. Note: I retouched most all the other photos as well, improving the exposure and dialing up the contrast and black and, in some cases, the saturation. My photos as taken were a bit washed out because I was using an automatic point-and-shoot camera, and it was a pretty sunny day. What I mean to say is: Cobalt blue is a rich, high-saturation color. No “low chroma” greige here. It is an assertive color.Following are my studies. First: Framed textile art from the 1960s, I went nuts with this, due to my exceptional visual intelligence:
Painting study — I purchased this painting when I lived out in the country about 20 years ago:
A little bit of a Joan Miro poster from a Museum of Modern Art exhibit that I went to in 1986. I am feeling old writing this story:
Framed vintage needlepoint mimicking a Chinese Ancestor painting. I bought this piece cheap last year and layered it into the tablescape sitting in the arched, mirrored built-in cabinet in the dining room:
A study in blue from around the house: Pillows, figurines, glassware, in vignettes and tablescapes collecting lots o’ dust here ‘n there:
gsciencechick says
We have cobalt blue pendants over our sink, in the hanging light fixture over our kitchen table, and in the ceiling fan in our LR.
Annie B. says
You’ve definitely got a case of Cosmic Blues! I am green with envy over those Bitossi Rimini pieces. Chippy, I wanna be your friend, too.
Great great stuff, Pam. Let’s see more of the old home place, please.
RudigerVT says
My mom is all about blue, blue, blue. “Blue Onion” dinnerware (actually Lipper’s ‘Blue Danube.’) Some Wedgewood. But I sent her a link to this posting as she’s debating a re-do on her house’s main bathroom. I say, Mom….blue, blue, blue!
Stacey says
I absolutely love this color! And I love the blue things in your house, especially the blue & gold rug, blue vase, and the pillows. Hey, I know what you mean about 1986 – but it reminds me that I have a Calder poster with this blue as the main color. I need to get that framed.
Thanks for sharing pictures of your beautiful blue things with us!
Veronika says
What?! No cobalt blue glass bottles? These are my favorite sitting on a window sill. I have cobalt blue perfume bottles from an ex boyfriend’s grandmother. Love love cobalt glass….
Tami says
Ditto on the blue-painted bedroom, but ours is a very dark shade of cobalt: Majestic Blue from Olympic’s Biltmore Estate collection. I’ve found bedding in combos of tans and golds go very well with it. I also made drapes and covered lampshades with a fabric mentioned on here once, Bosporus by Covington. They look terrific together.
I love this year’s choice! You’re right, it plays well with so much.
Ann-Marie Meyers says
Loved it! Blue keeps creeping into my kitchen. I took the red out and blue wants in.
Emily says
Thanks for the inspiration – again! We painted our master bedroom a similar blue called Blue Luxury from Behr and I have been having a heck of a time finding coordinating bedding outside of whites and grays. I’m especially liking the combo with the pink in the Miro print.
clampers says
I like this color. Am currently (maybe) looking for a cobalt blue shower curtain to go with the vintage towels I just bought off Etsy. Haven’t received them yet so I need to see them first to be sure about the color.
JKaye says
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDvuLJk9Sjc
I think we need to listen to this recording of Blue on Blue by Bobby Vinton while looking at Pam’s lovely blue touches.
I think I could come up with just as many blue touches around my home, too. I say that green is my favorite color, but it always gets so bossy, and I just use a little of it. But blue, particularly this lovely cobalt blue, is so easy to live with.