Southwestern Design Q&A

rainbow modern

If you’re ready for color walls but aren’t sure where to start, we’ve got your answers.

By Marsha McEuen
Photograph by Kirk Gittings

This article first appeared in Winter 09 Su Casa

contemporary colors
Q: I just built a contemporary house with clean lines. I would like to use multiple colors but am afraid because most contemporary homes are one tone, usually white, with no additional ornamentation. Any suggestions?
—Yvonne Gelbman, Scottsdale, Arizona

A: There are traditions when it comes to color, but no rules. “Choose colors you are passionate about,” is the guiding principle expressed by Christopher Calott, an Albuquerque architect who is known for the use of striking color in his contemporary design. Calott, who is also a professor of architecture at the University of New Mexico, points to the use of vivid color by pioneering modernist architects. “If you look at the work of Le Corbusier, the grandfather of 20th-century modernism, he was adamant about using brilliant accent colors. One wall would be red; a stair rail would be deep blue. He created a color system with an extensive palette that was very rich and vibrant. There is a tradition that has become common practice to contrast white walls that complement the clean lines of contemporary architecture with very strong colors as accents.”

Calott, who often chooses the interior colors and even the furniture for his projects, says inspiration about color comes from two places. “Look at the landscape around you,” he advises. “What colors are the plants and trees in your area? Do you see red hills or purple mountains? Then consider colors that are related to culture.” Culture, as Calott defines it, can be regional or personal. For example, he has developed a color he calls “red chile” that he uses extensively in his northern New Mexico projects. Its earthy red instantly conjures an image that is familiar and comforting to those who live in the region.

In his most recent work, a contemporary monastery in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Calott drew upon both culture and landscape. He used a chocolate brown inspired by the friars’ robes. Because the friars minister to Native American pueblos, he also incorporated colors such as yellow and teal, which traditionally represent cardinal points. A “rusty pumice” is the hue of sunset reflecting on the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Selecting colors can take time. Calott recommends that you find meaningful reasons for your choices. Look at the colors you like best in your landscape, your neighborhood, your art, and your cultural roots. Books about architecture and interior design can give you ideas. Calott particularly likes those that depict the work of Le Corbusier and Mexican architect Luis Barragán. Paint manufacturers have sample color palettes that can help you find other colors that will harmonize with your dominant colors. You can also consult an architect or interior designer. Many have reasonable hourly consultation fees and are happy to provide advice.

“Once you’ve made the decision, don’t be timid,” Calott recommends. He suggests starting with white walls to show off the lines and proportions of the design. Then select a wall in the entry, one in the kitchen, and so forth to add color. “It doesn’t take much,” he says. “One wall in a room does it. But be bold. Make your move in the direction of the modern aesthetic.”

You could also use metal, wood, or stone to accent a wall. Plaster and clay finishes come in a variety of colors and can also be custom-mixed. Even wallpaper has transcended fusty paisleys and is available in numerous contemporary interpretations. All of these, of course, are more expensive than paint. But there is paint, and then there is better paint. The Internet opens access to a number of boutique paint lines that may not be available at the local hardware store. These offer unusual types of pigments, higher concentrations of pigments, different formulations, and are sometimes mixed without using any black or brown. You may find that they have greater depth of color, more luminosity, and less tendency to dull in evening light.

Especially if you are using dramatic color, designer paints may be worth considering. They are more expensive, but the cost of the paint is a fraction of an overall painting job unless you are doing it yourself. A few names to start with are Farrow & Ball (farrow-ball.com), Devine Color (devinecolor.com), and Donald Kaufman Color Collection (donaldkaufmancolor.com). A caveat, however: while some people feel these high-end paints offer greatly superior color quality compared to more common brands, others do not. Paint, it seems, like color, is in the eye of the beholder.
Advice from Christopher Calott, Calott + Gifford Architecture/Urban Design

painting with adobe
Q: We are redecorating my son’s bedroom and have adobe walls. Some have been painted with a latex paint. Can I just paint over the painted walls? Do I need special paint for the nonpainted walls?
—Celia Valdez, Corrales, New Mexico

A: Bonifacio Gurule, owner of Corrales Builders, grew up making adobe, a skill passed down through his family. He has been building and restoring adobe homes for more than 30 years and knows the tricks of the material.

“You should be able to paint right over the already-painted walls using latex paint,” he says. “The unpainted walls, if they are not sealed, will need to be sealed with a water-based acrylic sealer.” These are readily available and easy to apply. This will keep the paint from sinking into the porous adobe. Chances are you’ll need more than one coat to match the walls that have already been painted.

Gurule points out that this assumes your exterior adobe walls have stucco or some other sealant over them. Unsealed, adobe absorbs then evaporates moisture. If your exterior walls are unsealed and the interior walls are sealed, the moisture will build up and the paint will fall off.
“Lime wash is the authentic finish we use,” Gurule says. “I have a guy who works with us who is a real artisan. He mixes it himself, the old-fashioned way.” Lime washes are available commercially—for example, Adobe Limewash (adobelimewash.com), an Albuquerque company—and you can mix it yourself. This finish is just slaked lime thinned with water. The result is white, but color can be mixed in. Lime wash gives a soft, natural look to adobe walls. But lime is a caustic material and must be handled very carefully. Sometimes nonprofit organizations that restore historic buildings offer classes in lime-washing techniques, or you might find one at your local community college.
Advice from Bonifacio Gurule, Corrales Builders

hard water solutions
Q: Do you have hard water in New Mexico? If yes, what system works best for eliminating hard water? Or are there several water filtration systems that work well?
—Pam Stuckey, Las Vegas, Nevada

A: The water in New Mexico is definitely hard, harder, and hardest, depending on the area. The rural or semirural lifestyle is greatly prized here, and many homes have their own wells. This is often the hardest water, while city water is typically only somewhat hard. Hard water is high in dissolved minerals, especially calcium and magnesium. It’s not a health risk—in fact the calcium can be beneficial—but it can be an annoying problem.

Soaps and detergents don’t work as well in hard water and don’t always rinse away completely. This can cause scratchy, dingy laundry and soap film on the skin after bathing. Dishes may not get as clean in the dishwasher, and glasses may spot. The minerals in the water also cause lime scale that can build up in faucets, toilets, showerheads, water heaters, and solar heating systems, shortening their life spans.

Treating the problem depends on how much of a nuisance it is. Many city residents need no more than store-bought water softener in the laundry and rinsing agents in the dishwasher. But if the water is hard enough to be a significant problem, or if you want softer water, local experts agree that a water softener system is the way to go.

These systems work by flushing the water that comes into your home through a tank containing salt or potassium. Those ions exchange with the calcium and magnesium in the water and are left behind in the tank. “Whether salt or potassium is best depends on the customer,” says Mike Bennett, sales representative with Culligan, a franchise business that uses its own brand-name equipment. “Potassium costs more, but the water can be used on landscaping and indoor plants.” Using salt increases the sodium content of the water. It will wither plants and damage soil, but the water softener can be installed with a bypass valve so nonsoftened water is available for plants. The increased sodium can also be a problem for those on reduced sodium diets.

Many systems also filter the water before it is softened. “We use a carbon filter,” says Gary Weiner of Sodeco Modern Water Systems. “It filters out the chlorine in city water and gives it a very clean taste.” Specific filters can be added on all systems to filter out harmful substances. Manganese, for example, is prevalent in the Corrales, New Mexico, area and causes odor and black stains. Other problems occur with well water on land that has been extensively farmed. The water can contain unsafe nitrates from fertilizer. Iron is also common in New Mexico well water—excessive amounts of iron can be a health risk. Sodeco is an independent business, so Weiner picks his equipment from a variety of manufacturers. “My advice to consumers is to shop around before choosing a water purification company,” he says.

Maintenance is generally simple on all soft water systems, although the potassium or salt and filters must be periodically replaced. Most homeowners can do this themselves, although some companies offer regular service. All soft water systems must periodically recharge themselves when their tanks become full of calcium and magnesium ions. Water systems made by Kinetico have two ionization tanks so one can produce soft water while the other is recharging. “The last glass of water is just as good as the first,” says Pete Ostwald of Kinetico Water Systems, a division of TLC Plumbing & Utility. “There is no down time; you always have soft, filtered water.” The Kinetico system also operates using the motion of the water instead of an electric motor.

All three companies offer reverse osmosis systems for drinking water. These systems fit under a sink. Water is pushed through a semipermeable membrane that filters out almost all impurities. The water has a clean, clear taste, but there is some controversy about reverse osmosis because water is wasted. The amount varies from one system to the next, but at the very least, one gallon of water is flushed back into the pipes for every gallon produced. Most bottled water is treated by reverse osmosis, and many people like the taste. Because reverse osmosis water is only used for drinking and perhaps for some cooking, most households only use a gallon or so per day. Whether it is more wasteful to lose the water with a home reverse osmosis system or to purchase water that has been packaged and transported for some distance is an open question, one that consumers must decide for themselves.
Advice from Mike Bennett, Culligan; Gary Weiner, Sodeco Modern Water Systems; and Pete Ostwald, Kinetico Water Systems

expert contact info:
contemporary colors: Christopher Calott, AIA, Calott + Gifford Architecture/Urban Design, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 505/401-7844, infillsolutions.com.
painting with adobe: Bonifacio Gurule, Corrales Builders, Corrales, New Mexico, 505/440-6203.
hard water solutions: Mike Bennett, sales representative, Culligan, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 505/299-9581, southwesth2o.com.
Gary Weiner, owner, Sodeco Modern Water Systems, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 505/883-5061, sodecowater.com.
Pete Ostwald, division manager, Kinetico Water Systems, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 505/342-1656, kineticonm.com.