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Designer John Gidding on Finding Color Inspiration
July 18, 2016
STIR® sits down with Curb Appeal’s John Gidding for a look into what drives his designs and color choices.
You may know him as the brain behind stunning front-home makeovers on or as one of the expert judges on . However you recognize John Gidding, it’s clear he’s a design talent with a keen eye for color — and a very busy man. Between his many projects, STIR was able to sit down with John and get a look into his color theory and design inspirations, plus what’s coming up next.
STIR: Hi, John! You’ve been a designer in the public eye for a long time now. Before HGTV and your other prominent design ventures, when did you first realize you were destined to be an architect and a designer?
John Gidding (JG): It happened when I was very young. I was good at art and math and someone told me I should be an architect. It became a self-fulfilling prophecy — whenever anyone asked me what I wanted to be afterward I always said “architect.” I got into college and I took an architecture course and sure enough, I enjoyed it.
STIR: Many may view design and architecture as strictly creative fields. Where do you see your strengths in math come into play?
JG: The world of architecture is built on constraints. Understanding those constraints means being able to have a conversation with the professional in the field — that’s where math comes in. The capacity to be able to speak to structural engineers about a thoughtful project is important, so over the years [math] has really helped.
STIR: Where do you go to find color inspiration for your designs?
JG: Fashion is always a first resource — [fashion designers] are always at the cutting, bleeding edge of trends and where color trends are going to go.
STIR: You’ve lived in many different cities — from Istanbul, Turkey, where you were born, to New York City and San Francisco. How have each of these places influenced your personal design aesthetic?
JG: One of the more influential cities for me was Atlanta — I moved there to shoot Curb Appeal. The residents certainly know and love that city and their architecture. Especially when it comes to residential architecture, which is what I was working on at the time. Atlanta is highly livable, there’s a lot of money being spent into the infrastructure — suddenly it’s becoming more of a pedestrian city.
STIR: Where are you seeing color palettes headed in both the residential and commercial design marketplaces today?
JG: [Design] is an on-off-on-off cycle. So because we’ve been seeing very saturated colors lately, I’m predicting we’ll move to warmer, softer tones in the blues, purples and pinks.
STIR: Which color trend are you loving at the moment?
JG: I often love the milkier grayish and grayed-out shades. I always use them. We have a joke in my firm, we call it “Gidding gray.” Any grayed-out version of a color I’ll probably be excited about.
STIR: How do you use color differently in your landscape design compared to interior design? Does your use of color in one inform your use of color in the other?
JG: For exterior projects, there are no trends that are of importance. I instead look at the fabric of the community, flora and fauna of the microclimate, and that’s what decides colors for me. Certain architecture doesn’t go well with certain colors, so I like basing my colors on architectural precedent as well.
Interior design is much more about the homeowners and the lifestyle they want to create. Also, room by room, I tend to choose colors based on the interior room function.
STIR: What’s your favorite color rule to break?
JG: Values, when they are close together (same tints and hues), tend to give a calmer appearance. Values that are pure hues and bright saturations with lots of contrast tend to create energy — and this is what I like to break — I try to create a calm environment while still using pops of contrasting color.
STIR: Any tips for designers and architects looking to push their color boundaries in their projects?
JG: The biggest challenge is to saturate without making [the room] look too graphic or too trendy — and bringing in color when possible and appropriate without making the project dated or rubbing people the wrong way. The solution to this problem is contrasting colors with natural materials — that pairing neutralizes the space so people feel at home.
STIR: What is your favorite Sherwin-Williams color?
JG: Porpoise! Can you tell how quickly I answered the question? It’s always been my favorite Sherwin-Williams color. I use it in facades, kitchens, interiors and exteriors. It’s the perfect taupey gray. You can follow John’s latest design adventures on , and and at . Plus, catch him this summer on his show, on LogoTV.
Company: The Sherwin-Williams Company
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