The Ultimate Source for Paint-Color Inspiration Has Arrived
These palettes are the quickest way to escape at home.
Updated Oct 11, 2018 8:36 PM
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A bubblegum pink grand hotel, a marigold Paris hotel room, a now famous zebra-patterned bedroom—Wes Anderson’s movie sets are imprinted in our collective memory.
But while the director’s immediately distinguishable spaces are almost too fantastical to be true, there are a surprising amount of real-life places that are just as visually powerful, as Wally Koval discovered in 2017. Through his Instagram account, he has created a community of kindred superfans who share such locations from all corners of the world. And 180 of them have made it into Koval’s first book, Accidentally Wes Anderson, which hits shelves this week.
We may not be able to travel to a Chilean lighthouse, a Hungarian thermal bath, or (Anderson’s personal favorite, according to his foreword) a Croatian pancake stand just yet. But there’s an easy way to bring these iconic locales to life at home: the right paint palettes.
The Alaskan Post Office
This post office, located in Wrangell, Alaska, may have been decorated in the 1930s, but the terracotta-hued tile, golden blond wood, and teal American scene painted by the Alaskan Art Project form a delightfully vintage color scheme.
The Tanzanian Palace
Part of the beauty of these unintentional architectural monuments is in the subtle nuances that make a classic palette feel totally new. Case in point: the pool in Dhow Palace in Zanzibar, built in 1559. Here, the red, white, and blue hues feel extra-punchy and bright, thanks to the water’s cerulean shade.
The Marfa Fire Station
Most fire stations are red, but not in Marfa, Texas. The 1883 building was painted an eraser pink and dotted with crimson details. Set against an almost lilac sky at dusk, it makes the ideal moody sunset palette.
The Slovenian Pletna Boat
Similar to Italian gondolas, Slovenian pletnas have a more pointed bow and colorful striped awnings that make them instantly recognizable. With their maple-hued wood interiors and Alpine surroundings, they inspire a rustic autumnal color combo.
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