The next time you go downtown, check out the colonnades, and you’ll find a lively atmosphere in shades of purple, green, blue and orange—colors inspired by a painting located in the White Mountains.
Here is how it happened
The Downtown Mesa Association hired Jeanette Knudsen to do a color consultation. Their vision was to draw people in with fun, bright Caribbean colors. She googled islands like Cuba and Puerto Rico, and came up with three photos.
They chose one with a woman walking down a cobblestone street lined with blue, orange, green and purple houses. These colors inspired the first palette.
There was a problem
Seaside colors are terrific by the ocean, but they don’t reflect the beauty of our desert. Using a touch of gray to mute the tones, Jeanette created a second palette, and showed both at the next meeting.
They took the palettes on a field trip to see how the colors looked onsite. Without a doubt, the second palette was the better fit. Now, all they had to do was meet with the Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation and the City of Mesa Council for the final presentation.
The problem is solved
In the meantime, Jeanette felt it could be better, and found the answer in a most unexpected place—Foxfire at Alpine, a restaurant in Alpine, Arizona. It was a painting, by a Gilbert artist, of a prickly pear cactus—hanging in the restroom. The colors were perfect.
On the day of the meeting, she showed the Caribbean picture and the two palettes it inspired. Next, she presented one more picture and palette, a bonus, to offer as an additional option. The decision on the bonus was unanimous. Who knew a bathroom painting could inspire the color palette for Main Street?
Color expresses so much feeling, and Jeanette frequently gets client requests for consultations. Some want bright, vibrant colors to lift their moods, while others look for calm, soothing shades to help them relax. Inspirations come from anywhere and often from places we least expect. It’s why finding the right color combination is so much fun.
As for Downtown Mesa, Main Street is changing, from a store-lined road, to a welcoming place to linger. The new colors not only add personality, they also remind us of how beautiful our desert truly is.
Jeanette Knudsen, an award-winning interior designer located in Mesa, is the owner of Design For A Life Span, specializing in Design for Aging and Universal Design. Her designs fit families as they grow and change. She is the only designer in the area to serve on the National Design for Aging Council for the American Society of Interior Designers. You can reach Jeanette at Jeanette@Designforalifespan.com.