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Color Therapy: Grey In Every Way

We often mistakenly consider grey to be an unemotional color, detached and neutral, impartial and indecisive: in fact, the contrary is true. A principal color in Nordic design, grey gives off an aura of calm, its presence both solid and grounding. With a poetic narrative and strength of character, the color grey connects on an emotional level, alleviating tension and anxiety. Grey is smoky and translucent, bold and light, emphatic and understated. More than a dismal rainy day or dull concrete block, grey has a formative influence on the use of other colors. Promoting stability and harmony, grey is undoubtedly one of the design world’s foremost color foundations. Dare I say that grey denotes good taste: design aficionados covet its urbane lure, its confident presence and unassuming air.

In furniture, objects and lighting, grey is a truly noble choice.

The Elegant Ant™

Arne Jacobsen’s Ant™ is Danish manufacturer Fritz Hansen‘s Choice 2016. For a limited time, the classic chair is available in an elegant dyed grey oak veneer with powder-coated bronze legs.

RELATED: Fifty Shades of Gray: Design Ideas and Inspiration

Ant™ chair. Photo by Peter Bangsbo © Republic of Fritz Hansen 2016.
Ant™ chair. Photo by Peter Bangsbo © Republic of Fritz Hansen 2016.
Ant™ chair. Photo by Peter Bangsbo © Republic of Fritz Hansen 2016.
Ant™ chair. Photo by Peter Bangsbo © Republic of Fritz Hansen 2016.

Concrete Hideaway

Refugi Lieptgas is a concrete Alpine hideaway in Flims in the Swiss Alps. Built on the site of an antiquated log cabin, architects Nickisch Sano Walder made use of the old cabin’s logs as a mould in which to cast the new concrete cabin’s walls. Notice the woodgrain patterns, notches and nicks in the concrete facade. The cabin’s minimal design is both intimate and snug.

Refugi Lieptgas. Image © Gaudenz Danuser via ArchDaily.
Refugi Lieptgas. Image © Ralph Feiner via ArchDaily.

Kitchen Inspiration

The Vipp kitchen gives shape to the concept of “form follows function”. The aesthetically pleasing black modules are further augmented by the use of grey in these images.

Vipp kitchen inspiration in Copenhagen. Image © Vipp.
Vipp kitchen inspiration in Brittany. Image © Vipp.

Industrial Grey

Founded in 2010, Supergrau® is a well-bred design venture that values sustainability over excessive consumption. Its products are created “in the (super)grey sphere of an industrial culture” (grau meaning grey) and imbued with a tactile industrial aesthetic. The grey lacquered doors on the Supergrau® Starbuck Sideboard are bold and beautiful.

RELATED: Color Therapy: Quell Those End-of-Summer Blues!

Supergrau® Starbuck Sideboard. Image courtesy of Supergrau®.
Supergrau® Starbuck Sideboard. Image courtesy of Supergrau®.

Northern Lights

Oslo-based Northern Lighting understands the indispensability of light in creating and enhancing mood. Established in 2005 by Norwegian-born Ove Rogne, Northern Lighting’s designs draw inspiration from Norway’s unique topography, natural light, culture and disposition.

Designed in 1952 by Birger Dahl (and relaunched by Northern Lighting in 2013), Birdy (pictured in grey metallic) is a delightful modernist floor, table and wall lamp.
Designed by Mads Sætter-Lassen, Buddy (pictured in dark grey) is an unassuming little helper and desk companion.
Designed by Atle Tveit, Acorn (in grey) is a contemporary pendant whose shape is inspired by Norwegian autumn forests and the oak acorn.

Grey Water

Designed by Ole Jensen for Normann Copenhagen, the rubber Washing-up Bowl is a dishwashing classic.

Washing-up Bowl & Brush. Image © 2016 Normann Copenhagen ApS.
Washing-up Bowl & Brush. Image © 2016 Normann Copenhagen ApS.

A Poster Child for Grey

Playtype’s Grey poster collection is studied, smart and simple.

RELATED: Color Therapy: Go Green

Playtype Grey poster collection, printed in Noir Text Bold. Image © 2016 Playtype ApS.
Playtype Grey Poster – G. Image © Funktionalley Ltd 2016.

A Snug Homey Hug

Grey linen is perfect for that snug homey hug on a cold winter’s day.

Alte bedlinen from By Nord Copenhagen. Image © By Nord Copenhagen ApS.

Gerard McGuickin

Gerard is a writer, a thinker and a modern-day gentleman living in a modish neighbourhood in south Belfast. Walnut Grey Design is his popular manifesto of good design. From Gerard’s discerning perspective, design should be aesthetic, smart, honest and gratifying. Moreover, it must be for keeps. A self-confessed urbanite, Gerard is enthralled b[...]

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