Lesson 7

The Reading Module

Read the text:

I. Reading exercises: The influence of colors

Color can influence the mood of a room. For example, studies have shown that red can quicken the pulse and breathing rate, as well as increase appetite. Yellow, especially soft yellows can make people feel happier. When used as an accent bright yellow can attract attention and brighten up a kitchen. You can also use color to influence how large or small a kitchen can feel.

With kitchen color taking on more importance, many manufacturers of cabinets, appliances, flooring and countertops are offering the consumer more choices in colors. The best kitchen colors should include shades of brown, peach, yellow, pink or blue.

White as a kitchen color remains a popular choice because it has a clean look. One disadvantage of an all-white kitchen is that it can have a sterile and cold look and feel. That is why white is usually accented with one other color such as blue. Also design elements such as a light colored oak floor, or soft accents provided by curtains can make a kitchen seem warmer. It is considered a good idea to select one color as the overall or base color and select one or two accent colors.

You can feel safe selecting just about any color for your kitchen by following some important guidelines for using different kitchen color schemes: it is considered a good idea in using color in a room to have a 60-30-10 split between three colors, 60% representing the main or dominant color, probably on the walls or cabinets. 30% of a secondary color used in the flooring or rugs, as well as window treatments. 10% for accents such as dishes, artwork, pillows and other soft items.

Monochromatic color schemes is noted for only the use of one color. To create more variety you would use various tints, tones and shades of that color.

Complementary color scheme uses two colors placed opposite to each other on the color wheel. This scheme is quite intense and brings a more dramatic touch and energy to home décor.

Analogous color scheme includes three hues placed adjacent to each other on the color wheel with either warm colors or cool colors in combination, such as yellow and green, blue and violet, or red and orange. Kitchens generally wouldn’t be the type of room where the type of color scheme would be used. This color scheme would be better for more informal areas of the home, such as family rooms, dens and bedrooms or where one would be looking for rest and recovery from the activities of the day.

Neutral colors include taupe, tan, black, white, cream and shades of gray. Neutral colors can be paired with almost any color as an accent. Because your cabinets make up most of the expense of kitchen decorating it would be best to choose a style in a more neutral finish. This also applies for countertops and flooring.

A good decorating scheme is to emulate the color schemes found in nature, such as sky blue or the various shades of green or earth brown or light or pale yellow. Light can also be an important element in emphasizing the colors and can bring about different shades and views of the color based on varying intensity.

Exercise1. Read and memorize using the dictionary:

countertop, consumer, shade, clean look, curtain, as the overall, base color, accent color, guideline, split, dominant color, secondary color, window treatment, monochromatic, tints, complementary color, home décor, hue recovery, neutral colors, emphasize the color

Exercise 2. Answer the questions:

1. How can color influence the mood of a room?

2. What can you say about white as a kitchen color?

3. What are the best kitchen colors?

4. What colors do the neutral colors include?

Exercise 3. Match the left part with the right:

1. A good decorating scheme	1. two colors placed opposite to each other.
2. Complimentary color scheme uses	2. is to emulate the color schemes found in nature.
3. Monochromatic color scheme is noted	3. as an accent.
4. Neutral color can be paired with almost any color	4. for only the use of one color.

Exercise 4. Open brackets using the right words:

Analogous color scheme (makes/includes) three hues (placed/used) adjacent to each other.

The Speaking Module

II. Speaking exercises:

Exercise 1. Describe consumer; curtain; as the overall; accent color; dominant color using the suggested words and expressions:

consumer offer; more choices; color; manufacturer

curtain soft accent; provide; seem; warmer

as the overall consider; good idea; select; base color

accent color select; overall; base color; consider; a good idea

dominant color consider; good idea; split; represent

Exercise 2. Ask questions to the given answers:

1. Question: ____________________________________ ?

Answer: One disadvantage of an all-white kitchen is that it can have a sterile and cold look.

2. Question: ____________________________________ ?

Answer: The best kitchen colors should include shades of brown, peach, yellow, pink or blue.

3. Question: ____________________________________ ?

Answer: White is usually accented with other color such as blue.

4. Question: ____________________________________ ?

Answer: Light can be an important element in emphasizing the colors.

The Writing Module

III. Writing exercises:

Exercise 1. Complete the sentences with the suggested words: should include; are offering; have shown; taking

Studies _____ that red can quicken the pulse. With kitchen color _____ on more importance many manufacturers _____ the consumer more choices in colors.

The best kitchen colors _____ include shades of brown, peach, yellow, pink or blue.

Exercise 2. Fill in the table with words and expressions from the text:

	What?	What for?
Analogous color scheme includes
Kitchens generally wouldn’t be the type of room
Color scheme would be better

Exercise 3. Compose a story on one of the topics (up to 100 words):

“How can color influence people?”

“What color would you use to remodel your kitchen? Why?”

“Neutral colors”