Choosing Colors: An Expert Choice of the Best Colors to Use in Your Home [Paperback]

Kevin McCloud (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2, 2007

This beautiful and unique reference provides an unrivaled mine of inspiration and ideas for anyone wishing to create a colorful new look for their home or garden!

In this stunningly produced guide, internationally renowned interior designer Kevin McCloud puts together over 1,000 color chips arranged in over 80 palettes. Each palette—which includes anywhere from 6 to 16 color swatches—forms a blueprint for a unique decorative scheme. A palette based on old Chinese silk, for example, is seen reinterpreted in a contemporary New York apartment.

Plus, each palette features gorgeous photographs that bring the color scheme to life, along with invaluable advice and tips for using the colors to transform a room. Readers will also find manufacturers’ paint references and numbers, lists of suppliers, and much more. The ultimate color sourcebook!


From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kevin McCloud, one of the world’s foremost authorities on domestic design, has written several books, including the best-selling Kevin McCloud’s Complete Book of Paint and Decorative Techniques. He has written and produced two TV series as well as two signature paint lines. He lives in London.


From the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill (October 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823099644
• ISBN-13: 978-0823099641
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.6 x 10.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #67,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Studied Art & Architecture at Cambridge, trained as a theatre designer, then set up his own design, lighting and manufacturing business. Today he concentrates on television work, journalism and product design. He is best known for his series Grand Designs and Grand Designs Abroad which have spawned a monthly magazine of the same name.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, an ambassador for WWF and has a number of honorary degrees and is second on the leaderboard .04 seconds behind Jay Kay on Top Gear's Star in a Reasonably priced Car.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

102 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even better than having five gay guys remake your place!, March 19, 2004

By 

Timothy B. Riley (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Choosing Colors: An Expert Choice of the Best Colors to Use in your Home (Hardcover)

After my last child moved away to go off to college I moved into a smaller home and I was left with the task of designing my living space for me, my needs and my tastes, without having to plan things around the three children that I raised largely by myself. I had no idea where to start other than to start with colors. This book took me step by step through the process of choosing a color palette that worked for me. At times I felt as though it was over my head due to terms and phrasing that I was not familiar with. However, now I get rave reviews on my new home from everyone one who sees it, they always ask me, "Who did your place?", and I humbly tell them that I did on my own. Most women then ask, "How on earth did you ever come up with this color scheme?". This book will be my little secret. I recommend it to anyone, especially those who might be intimidated by choosing colors for themselves for the first time.

55 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-researched, useful, pleasure to read, September 17, 2004

By 

V. Reiss (NYC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Choosing Colors: An Expert Choice of the Best Colors to Use in your Home (Hardcover)

I know when colors work in other people's homes but I'm hopeless when it comes to picking my own. This book is a juicy combination of history, advice and amazing color pallettes that work -- and has been greatly helpful to me in spiffing up my home for the cost of a few gallons of paint. Each color corresponds to an existing, buyable paint color and McCloud explains the color's personality and tendencies -- e.g., he points out the blues that look green in certain light, whether a color will be balancing or overpowering, etc. I especially like his restrained yet, um, colorful opinions on certain colors -- he slips in "this is the color of my kitchen" and expresses passion for some colors in subtle yet reassuring ways. I've taken his suggestions and have used them to teach myself about color, pulling a room together and picking the right paint the first time. Can't really recommend this book enough.

85 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ok.....but not great., August 8, 2004

By 

S. Bruning - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Choosing Colors: An Expert Choice of the Best Colors to Use in your Home (Hardcover)

I recently bought several books on interior color design for the upcoming work I have to do on a newly purchased home.....this book is helpful, but not great for the average joe that is looking to spice up a house with new colors. Technically written, and sometimes over one's head, I had a hard time following the thought process. It seems more geared towards the professional. The photography used to demostrate these colors are in 19th century mansions, and other huge houses. How about the rest of us that live in regular two story homes with 3 bedrooms that don't contain 13 feet vaulted ceilings and 5000 square feet? Colors are grouped and catagorized by periods and eras,... and primary colors with all their variations. I just wanted colors that look good together and make a house flow. I had better luck with other books that grouped colors into styles....contemporary, santa fe, etc.....and demonstrated these colors in a fashion that allowed the average home dweller to dream......realistically.