My mother and I insisted that leopard is a neutral.
Everyone else disagreed.
Here's what dictionary.com says (after a whole bunch of definitions having to do with war and not taking sides, which, actually kind of relates to where I am going with this): "matching well with many or most other colors or shades, as white or beige."
This is, of course, the beauty of animal prints: they go with anything. From Victorian to Midcentury, Regency to Global, leopard print really never looks out of place.
I thought I'd do a little research on the matter, because the pictures don't lie.
[Miles Redd]
[Domino]
[House Beautiful]
[Domino]
[Domino]
[Traditional Home]
[Traditional Home]
[New York Living]
[Muriel Brandolini, New York Living]
For some reason, I especially love leopard print carpet as a "neutral". Check it.
[Domino]
[Domino]
When I first embarked on this leopard print journey, one of the first spaces I thought of was this apartment of Hamish Bowles in his days at Vogue (maybe he's still there? I didn't see him in The September Issue, a documentary about Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington which is a MUST see.)
Leopard carpet PLUS accessories.
[Hamish Bowles, New York Living]
My conclusion? Like anything else in design, so much depends on the context. Let's compare two entires that use leopard.
Leopard is an indisputable neutral when you live in a crazytown of color, pattern, and styles because the color palette and earthiness can ground a room and the small scale organic pattern of it can keep things moving.
[Hamish Bowles, New York Living]
But put animal print into a pared down, neutral palette space? Suddenly it is the star of the show.
[Jeffrey Bilhuber's Design Basics]
Not so neutral now.
How about you: would you use leopard as a neutral?
And watch for a roundup of zebra. Coming soon.
I have a whole list of 'rules' - literally it's a typed out list and in the top 10 is: Leopard is a neutral. So mom is correct. BTW, black is also a neutral.
ReplyDeletewww.ajbarnesonline.blogspot.com
I agree. Leopard is a neutral, which is why I wear my leopard flats with everything.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Leopard is a neutral! My mom recently installed leopard carpeting as a runner on her stairs and in the den (gorgeous with peacock blue walls) - it is stunning.
ReplyDeleteKate, sounds GORGEOUS!
ReplyDeleteCarolin, me too!
And Randy, I would LOVE to see the rest of your rules. I think that should be a post, for sure!