THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 21, 1996 TAG: 9607190069
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: AROUND THE HOUSE
SOURCE: BY MARY FLACHSENHAAR, SPECIAL TO HOME & GARDEN
LENGTH: 73 lines
WHAT HAPPENS when you see red?
If you're like most people, your pulse and body temperature rise. You feel more energetic, assertive, empowered.
Red, therefore, is the ideal color to use in a play area or workout room, areas where physical activity takes place. If you have trouble getting up in the morning, try painting the bedroom red.
The advice comes from a press release on decorating from La-Z-Boy, which psychoanalyzes the rest of the rainbow, and then some:
Orange, like red, is stimulating. Both colors stimulate the appetite, which is why they're so often used in restaurants. People laugh more and are more gregarious when they're around orange.
Yellow, like sunshine, makes a dark room seem bright and cheerful. It can also make a small room seem bigger. But too much yellow can cause irritability, so it's recommended in small doses, for accent.
Green suggests gardens, fields and forests and has the power to calm and refresh. It is ideal for bedrooms, baths and other areas where the mood should be tranquil.
Blue, the favorite color of Americans, means clear skies and placid lakes. Like green, it soothes and is appropriate in areas of the house meant for rest and relaxation. The color is supposed to suppress the appetite so it might be the right choice for the kitchen of a dieter.
Pink and its cousins rose, mauve and blush are popular choices in social areas like the living room, dining room and den. Pink imparts a sense of well-being and makes us feel affectionate and congenial.
White is open, airy, expansive. Suggesting purity and energy, it invites generous use of other colors, which it shows off to advantage.
Brown, which includes beiges and taupes, is a stabilizing, down-to-earth color. It doesn't activate or pacify; rather it blends, combines and cooperates. It bridges together rooms and other colors and is ideal for kitchens and baths.
Purple is a regal color that inspires awe and respect. The color of clergy, purple is usually used by folks who hold themselves in high esteem. Lighter versions are more comfortable in the home. It is a good color for an insomniac's bedroom, because it lowers blood pressure and calms an active mind.
To receive a free home-decorating guide from La-Z-Boy, call (800) MAKE A HOME. LET THERE BE LIGHT
Let there be Tri-Lite. The new flashlight from Solar Wide Inc. is omnipotent indeed. Not only is it a sturdy flashlight with long-life rechargeable batteries, it functions as a night light and an emergency light in power failures.
Plugged into a standard wall outlet, it emits a soft green glow at night. In a power outage, the light starts blinking, making it easy to find. Fully charged in 48 hours, the 8-inch, 8-ounce tool provides one hour of continuous light and three hours of blinking.
Tri-Lite sells for about $25 in catalogs. In the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog (800-543-3366), it is item number 61442. In Brookstone (1-800-846-3000), it is item number 195974. By the end of the year, Tri-Lite should be available in stores, according to the manufacturer. RETURN OF AN OLD FRIEND
Many homeowners mourned the passage of House & Garden magazine when it folded several years ago. Now, it's being resurrected by Conde Naste and will be on the stands in September.
The magazine will be aimed at ``men and women who have the resources to buy homes, nest in them and invest deeply in a style of living,'' according to the editors.
For most of us, that means we'll have to be happy looking at the pictures. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Tri-Lite is a flashlight, night light and emergency light. by CNB