On a Scouting Mission

Our dog "Scout" is an English Springer Spaniel.  When he was little, and it came time to pick our Springer from the litter, our first choice was a puppy with brown and white coloring versus a black and white combination.

Scout as a newborn, can you pick which one he is? :)

(Photo Courtesy of Carol McDonough)

  

In the world of dog breeders the correct description for a Springer Spaniel with brown and white markings is actually liver and white.  However in the world of color I would describe Scout as a  divinely rich, warm brown.  He is scrumptious!  (And I'm not just saying that because he is my dog! ha!)

 

The color brown is made up of a combination of orange, red, rose, or yellow with grey or black. Since it is a color that is associated with the earth itself it can represent stability, security and comfort.  It is a color that can be warm and rich yet surprisingly neutral.

 

I have always wanted to match Scout's coloring to a paint color (however I thought I would have to actually custom mix my own) which is why I enjoyed reading a recent story about a paint store in upstate New York that matched a dog's coat to an actual paint color!  This inspired me to revisit the thought of painting a room "Scout!" 

 

If I had to pick the best match to Scout's fur, I would have to go with Ralph Lauren's "Library Mahogany" (#NA31).  Though there are so many fabulous browns out there, this one is particularly sumptuous because of the depth of the chocolaty brown hue.

 

(Photo by me)

(And believe me, this photo in no way does the color justice!)

 

Pairing a deep brown, such as this one, with a clean, crisp white can be dramatic, yet cozy, in any room.  I think Ralph Lauren's "Brilliant White" (#ML01) would work nicely with the "Library Mahogany".   Check out the drama and coziness in this photo:

 

 

 

This brown can also act as a wonderful neutral where you could inject brighter colors as accents.  Bold pinks, fun greens or touches of soft blues can make the combination even more interesting.

 

(Image via Pinterest)

 

(Image via Pinterest)

 

(Image via Pinterest)

 

It's fun to imagine but for now I'll have to dream about a room where those "Library Mahogany" walls will simply envelop me as I don't have a room in my own home ready for repainting.  I'll have to "scout" out another opportunity to use this color in a client's home and in the meantime enjoy the coziness of hugging my dog instead!

 



 SCOUT!

 (Photo by me)

 

 

Do you have a dog whose coat would make a beautiful backdrop to a favorite room?