Purple

Violet and lavender: their histories are as colorful as the namesake plants. Their associations are numerous -- purple is the color of royalty; violet symbolizes delicacy. And of course, there are more recent connotations from the psychedelic '60s and '70s.

On fabrics, purple is most often grouped with the colors of spring (green, white, yellow, pink, blue), though it does have a more baroque side. When arranged with red or raspberry -- deep colors, without an easygoing pastel in sight -- purple takes on a serious tone.

RESOURCES: Interiors by José Solís Betancourt and Paul Sherrill, Solís Betancourt, 202/659-8734, www.solisbetancourt.com.


 

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