Pink: It's The Color of Passion

Philip Treacy

To quote Aerosmith:

Pink it's my new obsession

Pink it's not even a question

Pink on the lips of your lover,

cause Pink is the love you discover

Okay, so perhaps pink isn't exactly a new obsession of mine -- in fact, I've showcased a number of stunning rooms that I have incorporated pink in the past (see HERE and HERE), but I haven't really waxed poetic about pink (until now). I thought in honor of Valentine's Day, I'd give a true homage to pink interiors. After all, it's pink (not red) that's the color of passion.

Pink is a universally flattering color, both in fashion and in interior design. Pink warms a room like no other color and it has a way of making everybody's skin look better. Unfairly labeled as fussy or feminine, pink is making a comeback and leaving the confines of sorority houses and little girls' rooms to become the color du jour for dining rooms, living rooms and even foyers.

The picture above is the pink lounge at The G., a boutique hotel in Galway, Ireland, that Dave and I had the pleasure of staying in during our vacation to the Emerald Isle last summer. Would you believe me if I told you that the room is actually less overwhelming in person? And, of the three lounges at the hotel, this pink room was definitely the crowd favorite -- in the three nights we stayed there, I could never snag a table!

Ruthie Sommers

A small confession: this month's Traditional Home is the first copy of the publication that I have ever read, let alone purchased. And I loved it. I've never really thought of myself as "traditional" but if the likes of Ruthie Sommers (and Kara Mann) qualify, than so must I. In any case, this gorgeous dining room by Ruthie Sommers is such a glorious example of how gorgeous (and unstuffy!) hand painted wallpaper can be. The seagrass rug and painted chairs keep the room feeling more casual and more approachable, but my favorite detail is the coral trim around the window frame.

Amanda Nisbet

Amanda Nisbet is one of those designers whose work just makes me smile -- and this teen bedroom is no exception. The hot pink is girly and youthful, but not babyish (very important when you're 14 and trying so very hard to be grown-up!). I particularly love the floor to ceiling drapes in hot pink and coordinating lantern.

Jeffers Design Group

I normally prefer my stairs left bare, but this cherry blossom runner is the icing on the cake in this gorgeous entryway from Jeffers Design Group.

Mary McDonald

The lounge at the Luxe Hotel in Bel Air is entirely neutral, except for the small shots of pink the the pillows and the artwork -- and yet these touches make an enormous impact. The pale pink shines brightly, almost like small points of light against the dark sofas and gray walls.

Canadian House & Home

Hot pink is a great accent color in this otherwise white bedroom by Rosie Daykin. Note the raspberry leopard print on the Bergere chair -- tres chic!

Jeffers Design Group

The pink walls in this California living room are almost coral and I love how well the tone works with the yellows, golds and taupes used throughout the space. The feeling in this room is unmistakably Moroccan, but with a sunny, updated color palette that works perfectly for West Coast living. Did you notice the raspberry welting on the golden leather chairs in the foreground? It's little details like this that can really pull a room's color palette together.

Palmer Weiss

A lot of little girls' rooms are too sweet/too precious for me. They're often over the top: too much fabric, too many frills and even too much pink. And yet, while this room theoretically falls within that "over the top" category, I'm really attracted to it. Perhaps it's the more modern floral pattern (that also happens to incorporate a lot of green) -- or the fact that the pink is bolder and more intense than the pale, girly pinks most little girls' rooms are doused in. I also think Palmer knew exactly where to draw the line with color when she selected a simple white coverlet: anything else would have pushed it over the edge.

Miles Redd

A red and pink room sounds like a definite "don't", but the indomitable Miles Redd somehow makes it work -- and makes it feel sophisticated and even a bit masculine at the same time. I think the key here is the rather serious looking artwork.

Windsor Smith

The spread of Windsor Smith's house in House Beautiful ranks as one of my all-time favorite shelter magazine features. The house was just as beautiful, well designed and well lived as you would expect from one of the pioneers of new traditional style. Of all the rooms featured though, this salmon pink sitting room was my favorite. From the bright paint to the gorgeous white molding, from the chevron-patterned chair to the bright blue sofa, this room is absolutely perfect.

Jonathan Adler

When I started getting interested in interior design a few years ago, Jonathan Adler was one of the first designers that I really gravitated towards. His designs are always fresh, modern and colorful and his mix of pattens is always inspired. In short, Adler is a trendsetter and this room is a great illustration of that as there are so many elements here that are (and have been for a while) major design trends: wallpaper, white ceramic animals, capiz shell lighting, mirrored furniture, natural hides as rugs, owls, faux-bamboo, and gilt.

Jonathan Berger

Berger's pink-infused townhouse was featured in House Beautiful in the July 2009 issue and this was another very memorable feature for me. I absolutely adore the bold fuchsia walls in the entryway (which continue up the stairs to the landing). The pink is such a bold, modern contrast to the very traditional furniture pieces and chinoiserie accessories. It's also a crisp counterpart to the white molding and the black stair treads.