Saturday, August 09, 2003

By Kim Crow, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

So you love the burnt orange walls in the Terlings' home? Or does such bold color make you uncomfortable? Do you ever wonder why you have six sweaters all in the same pale blue? Dewey Sadka has an answer.

Sadka believes a person's favorite colors reveal his most innermost drives and desires. Once the founder of a successful temporary staffing business, he was frustrated by evaluation processes that didn't pinpoint what motivated people in their work. After years of study, he came up with the principles of the Dewey Color System.

Nature provided the way to articulate his system. "Albert Einstein said, 'If you have a question about life, look to nature.' That's what I did," Sadka said. "Green only exists where there's nurturing soil, so people who like green are very supportive."

So how do you put his advice to practical use? In the home, Sadka advises, surround yourself with the colors you like most -- and add some you don't care for.

"Your least favorite colors are as powerful as your most favorite colors," he says.

His theory: Our least favorite hues signal traits that we lack and are thus seeking on some level. Here are his takes on some popular interior colors:

Lime green: Using lime green, spring green or palm green will boost your ability to be self-investigative, logical and inquisitive, Sadka says. Lime green, a nurturing green infused with realistic yellow, can increase your stamina to question what's missing in your life.

Green: Painting with shades of mint, olive or emerald can help you feel more nurtured and will help you make others feel more comfortable. Like a fertile soil, green creates a more nurturing, supportive world.

Teal: Using teal, sea green, ocean blue or forest green will boost your ability to be empathic, diplomatic and supportive. Using teal, a futuristic blue infused with nurturing green, will also inspire you to believe that you can create your desired future.

Blue: Powder blue, sky blue or navy can help you become more of a visionary. Your planning and initiating skills will improve. Using this soothing color will help you pull your thoughts together. Its calming effect makes incidental agendas go away so that your dreams and objectives gain clarity.

Indigo: Using indigo, cornflower, periwinkle, dusty rose or royal blue will help you be more enterprising. You'll feel more self-confident in your ability to carry out your plans. Indigo, a futuristic blue infused with directive red, will help you create a well-planned future.

Purple: Lavender, grape, violet or dark purple can boost your drama and determination and help you feel empowered. Purple, the spectrum's darkest color, also encourages emotional depth. You'll become stronger-willed, more determined and better able to develop new strategies.

Magenta: Using magenta, orchid, rose or mulberry will increase your enthusiasm and optimism. Magenta, a focused red infused with stimulating purple, can inspire you to start something new.

Red: Pink, petal, coral red and cranberry can help you to be more practical, direct and resourceful. Fiery red directs physical change. It gives you the knowledge and power to speak up and tell the world what you need.

Orange: Using orange, apricot, peach and claypot will make you feel bolder. Orange will help you learn to break down concerns into simple elements. You'll gain clarity needed to let go of unrealistic expectations.

Gold: Light gold, corn silk or leaf will awaken your passionate and playful side. True gold, a realistic yellow infused with warm orange, gives you the power to rediscover what gives you pleasure. You'll be open to exciting, playful adventures.

Yellow: Pale yellow, mustard and moss can help you to be more open-minded while looking at your own life as well as those of others. You'll be able to better see other people's points of view, and be more diplomatic and less judgmental.

For more information, visit www.deweycolorsystem.com. For a free Dewey Color System Personal Profile, check out www.ivillage.com/dewey.

E-mail this story   Print this story