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Baby Bella
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Featured Items
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Colors |
Color is difficult to communicate. Is "eggplant" more purple, or more maroon? What exactly is taupe?
At Bella Bella all of our colors are created by layering hand-cut paper. Paper dye lots change over time and even within a single ream there are always lighter and darker sheets. Papers also look different depending on how they are layered. An ivory background with black retro foliage looks very different from a sheer ivory spiral on a black background, for example. There are changes in value, in light and dark, but also changes in the hue or tint, depending on how colors are layered.
Then there's mottling, the signature look of Bella Bella. Mottling is the irregular shading of light and dark color that every piece has. Our resin finish reacts with our home-made paste to change the paper colors dramatically. It's unpredictable: we can't see what a piece will really look like until the resin hits the paper. The individual hand and technique of the person making the table, the quality of the paste that day, even the weather affects the outcome-it's part of what makes each piece unique. Some colors, such as sage stain, show more extreme variations in mottling, for technical reasons. The surprise of seeing how colors change in a different context, how new papers work together and how people respond to certain colors, is an exciting, dynamic part of Lara's work.
What does this mean for someone ordering a Bella Bella piece from a gallery or design professional? First, be prepared for some variation in color, especially if you are ordering a custom color combination. You can always tell us the patterns and colors you like and ask which combinations would work best. Second, if you need a close match, don't rely on colors as you see them on the screen or in our catalog-remember, you are seeing a scan or photograph, distorted either by the print process or by your monitor. You can order a sample which is not infallible but is the best way to check color. Many of our galleries have a sample set of solid colors on hand, patterned tiles are always made to order. If you want to match a color, sending Lara your paint or fabric swatch helps us get the color right on the first try. Last, when communicating with us about your order, please use our names for colors (even if they seem funny or wrong) to eliminate confusion. |
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