Bold Yellow
Written by Frances MacDougall
Memphis designer Bill Eubanks has another take on yellow, in his bedroom of all places. Such a bold color might seem more appropriate to a dynamic space such as an entry hall or a dining room. Eubanks has done something special in recognizing the color he gravitates toward, the shade he wants to surround himself with morning and night. The room radiates sunshine with its bright yellow walls. The inspiration? A bright Oushak carpet. Eubanks incorporates heavy damask and silk fabrics, making this a room not just for the morning sun. Candlelight in the evening provides a romantic flicker of light. And the candles reflect in the extravagantly carved George II-style display mirror that holds part of Eubanks’s collection of antique blue-and-white porcelain. “Vibrant yellow light in a room will give the appearance of light even if there isn’t actually a lot of natural light in the room,” says Eubanks. As it is, the room evokes old England. Its size and architecture recall the grand, drafty castles that dot the English countryside. Warm, heavy fabrics provide sumptuous comfort across the Atlantic. Here in Memphis, the only drafts come from the air conditioning vents in his state-of-the-art home. But Eubanks has re-created the spirit of a place, the romance of architecture, the beauty of tradition. And because it is an English-style estate, where dark wood can make everything seem somber, the contrast of the bold yellow brightens up the space where the designer spends at least eight hours of his day.