A Chat With Victoria Neale

Molly Pastor: Describe what a signature Victoria Neale room looks like.
Victoria Neale: It has a strong connection to the architecture of the house. For example, I would not suggest putting a neoclassical interior into a stone cottage. I always use color. In fact, I use color as a neutral instead of beige. My rooms include an eclectic combination of furniture and accessories―I never stay with one furniture period or one finish. The same goes for fabric textures and patterns. I like to mix both.

MP: Many people have been living with neutrals for years and would like a change. What advice would you give to those who feel color-challenged?

VN: It's hard for people to understand how the color and fabrics are going to work in the spaces just by looking at fabric samples. The samples are generally all the same size, though in reality the colored neutrals predominate in a room. I spend lots of time talking with clients about how the neutrals and accent fabrics are placed. There are so many examples of color gone awry, and that's why people get scared.

MP: What's the best way to start a room? Do you start with a fabric, wall color, rug, art?
VN: I always, always start with the furniture plan -- the room comes up in 3-D for me while I'm planning the furniture layout. Then I choose what I call the "catalyst" fabric. That's a fabric that speaks to the client and provides the inspiration for the room or even for all of the main rooms. The fabric may be used only as a pillow in the end, but the colors in the room have all been based on it. Wall color or finish is almost always last; I select it while I'm determining which fabrics will go on which furniture pieces.

MP: When working with color, how do you make a house flow?
VN: I'm from the "public spaces have to flow" school of thought. I don't like having a different color for every room. They don't all have to be the same color, but rooms need to relate to one another. For example, if I'm using gold as the neutral in the living room, with reds as the strongest accent color, then the walls might be a gold tone-on-tone stripe. The dining room might have gold wallpaper with a rug that is predominately red.

MP: What are your favorite color combinations?
VN: Red with gold is a longtime favorite. Currently I'm also having fun with fresh, chartreusey greens. And I'm particularly partial to anything in the orange family. Orange is a word that scares people, but this color family is huge. Terra-cotta, pumpkin, saffron, persimmon, Creamsicle: They are all gorgeous and welcoming. At the moment, I also love brown with almost anything: greens, yellows, and turquoise.

MP: Is there any color that you won't use?
VN: I hate purple, so I don't use it voluntarily. I never use grays and rarely use black fabrics (though I do love furniture with black finishes). Warm blues are great, as are crisp blues when used with warmer tones, but I don't normally do all-blue rooms -- too cool for me.

MP: Which four paint colors could you not do without?
VN: Farrow & Ball's Dorset Cream -- a wonderful apricoty beige; Benjamin Moore's Shaker Beige (HC-45) -- a sand color that looks fabulous with art; Farrow & Ball's Cooking Apple Green -- a delicious fresh green; and Benjamin Moore's Powder Sand (2151-70) -- a great trim color that is not stark white.

MP: Do you like contrasting trim?
VN: Generally I like to see low contrast between the walls and the trim, especially if the trim is less refined. My favorite trick is to pick a wall color from a paint deck that shows color gradated on a single card. Go up to the top of the card for a suitable trim color -- that's the easiest way to keep these tones in the same family.

MP: Which furniture styles appeal to you right now? Do you have a favorite sofa? Chair?
VN: I have two favorite sofas at the moment: the Jimmy sofa from O. Henry House and the traditional Knole sofa from Lewis Mittman. My favorite lounge chair is the Catherine chair from JJ Custom -- it's perfect for any space. It's tall, has a rounded back, and is very comfortable, but only measures 36 by 36 inches, so it doesn't take up too much floor space.

MP: What kind of flooring do you prefer to use?
VN: I love wood floors and really enjoy using antique wood flooring. I don't like a lot of flooring changes in a house. My pet peeve is the white marble entry floor with oak on either side -- I'm always advising clients to replace the marble with hardwoods. I also like to use stone; my favorite is Beaumaniere limestone.

MP: No room should ever have ...
VN: A sofa with its back to the doorway, if it can be avoided.

VICTORIA'S FAVORITES

THINGS TO EMBRACE:

• Warm colors and strong accent colors
• Recessed lights -- great for accenting areas
• Sconces for aesthetics, even if light isn't needed
• Curtain rods hung close to the ceiling
• Slim rods that let window treatments show

THINGS TO AVOID:

• Grays, blacks, and purples -- severe colors that are uninviting
• "Swiss cheese ceiling," created with too many recessed lights
• Lighting that is not on dimmers
• Rods hung just above the window casing
• Large, decorative rods that overwhelm the windows and draperies

RESOURCES: Interior design by Victoria Neale Interiors, 6120 Broad Branch Rd. NW, Washington, DC 20015, 202/244-8410, victoria@victorianealeinteriors.com; settee by Lewis Mittman (T), 9933, 202/646-0282; fabric on pillows, Grazia, by Bergamo Fabrics through Hines & Co. (T), 202/484-8200; end tables and tea table from Victoria Neale Interiors, 202/244-8410; lamps by Vaughan Ltd. through Hines & Co. (T), 202/484-8200; chairs from Julia Gray Ltd. (T), 202/554-6021; curtain fabric by Fortuny through J. Lambeth & Co. (T), 202/646-1774; (top) sofa, 635, by Edward Ferrell (T), 202/646-0282, www.edwardferrell.com; fabric on sofa, silk mohair velvet, by Coraggio through Croce Inc. (T), 202/863-2291; Lucien side table and Saturnia cocktail table by Niermann Weeks (T), 202/488-1220; fabric on pillows by Bergamo Fabrics through Hines & Co. (T), 202/484-8200; area rug, Twogs, by Carini Lang through Timothy Paul Carpets and Textiles (T), 202/319-1100; antique chaise from Victoria Neale Interiors, 202/244-8410; fabric on chaise, Grazia, by Bergamo Fabrics through Hines & Co. (T), 202/484-8200; Zoffany (T), 212/759-8814; John Matthew Moore, 202/265-5307, www.johnmatthewmoore.com; Benjamin Moore (M), 800/344-0400, www.benjamin moore.com; Pierre Frey (T), 212/213-3099; Osborne & Little (T), 212/751-3333; Hinson & Co. (T), 212/688-5538; British Khaki Furniture (T), 212/343-2299, www.britishkhaki.com; R. Jones through Niermann Weeks (T), 202/488-1220; Farrow & Ball (M), 845/369-4912; JJ Custom (T), 310/276-4126; O. Henry House, Ltd. (T), 336/431-5350, www.ohenryhouseltd.com.

IN THE MAGAZINE ...
You'll find more decorating insights from Victoria Neale in the May-June 2004 issue of Southern Accents. The feature, which includes room sketches and a designer concept board, begins on page 96.