Benefits of colour, light

Press, 16 May 1985, Page 8

Benefits of colour, light

‘Lwing

By

PRUDENCE ROTHENBERG

Today a reader requires assistance in furnishing her husband's office suite. As in the home, colour in work spaces should flow from one area to the other. QWould you please give me suggestions for a colour scheme for my husband’s office? The reception area, and through to the office, has a green, tone-on-tone carpet. The main office has gold carpet. Perhaps I had better tell you about each room separately. The reception I thought would require wallpapering. It has two armchairs, and a form with squabs. These require new upholstery. My husband's office has five chairs to be covered. His own chair is covered in cream wool. The walls require papering, and

would you please suggest curtains.

There are glass windows through from the reception area to the main office, which I thought could be painted. Would you also suggest curtains for the area. They will be seen from the reception area. J.R. St Albans.

Awhere work is to be carried out good colour and light will improve morale, and increase productivity and efficiency. In fact, it is essential for the well being of all workers. As in a home, colour should have continuity, blending from one area to another.

When decorating a main office I always ask employees if there is a colour they feel unable to work in. It is not very often that I am told of one, but if so it is obvious that is a colour to leave out.

For the reception area, I suggest you paper with Loomstyle Fine Textile Wallcoverings, number L.P. 590. This is a cream, textured paper with subtle gold and green leaf pattern. These leaves are

only visable in some lights. Upholster the chairs in a strong commercial cloth, Vyking Woden Amber. The squabs can be in the same cloth, but the colour jade. The paper for your husband’s office, L.P. 533, is similar, but slightly more gold, and without a pattern.

Tonsberg Caribou would be suitable for the chairs. This is a textured, tonal brown and tan fabric. Curtains in Sekers Gigi, colour mushroom, with an interesting diagnol stripe in naturals, tans, and browns, would be a smart contrast.

Paint the walls in the main office Resene grey olive, and the windows white. Hang curtains a fine pin stripe of golds, greens, and tans, pattern “shades,” colour gold.

I do hope you will include paintings and prints in these areas. It is possible to rent prints and paintings, which are changed every month or so.

I hope this is of some help. You are taking on a big job. If you have any queries on home decorating for Prudence Rothenberg, address them to “Living Space,” Home and People Page, “The Press,” P.O. Box 1005, Christchurch. Queries can only be answered in this column. A nom-de-plume can be used for publication.