Meet The Muse: Brandi Herrera

Your name: Brandi Katherine Herrera

Where you live: Portland, Oregon

Your job: Color Consultant + Interior Designer at A Lively Manner

Isobel: Your job is a color consultant. Can you tell us a little bit more about what you do day to day as a color consultant?

Brandi: Color’s ability to impact how we perceive our surroundings is central to everything I do as an interior designer and color consultant. Every project I take on, from the simplest to the most comprehensive, begins and ends with color, because I believe it has the power to transform perspectives, evoke emotional responses, and express unique points of view. As a result, I spend a lot of my time demystifying color (it can feel really intimidating to a lot of people), and also encouraging people to embrace bringing more of it into their homes and businesses/workplaces. For example: One of my most popular services, the “Gut Check,” involves evaluating a client’s interior selections (finishes, furnishings, artwork, decor) in real time. And color always plays a key role in that process, because every single surface or object in our environments has color. Oftentimes, I help clarify the nuances of those colors—especially why certain hues play well with one another, while others might not—in order to assist people in selecting something that not only reinforces how they want to feel within a space, but also honors their personal story and the history and integrity of the architecture. 

Isobel: You say on your website that you’ve been “captivated by color since her first sun-filtered memories at the age of 3. A child of the late ‘70s with Mexican and Swiss-German heritage, she was born into a world of Harvest Gold, Avocado Green, and Burnt Orange—one of the defining palettes of her life—and has been embracing the magic of color ever since.” How do you think people’s personal experiences affect the color they love, or don’t like? 

Brandi: Color is such a powerful trigger of memory, and vice versa. It’s really fascinating, because both are processed in neural networks that overlap (where sight, emotion, and recollection are managed). Because of this, seeing particular colors has the ability to conjure even the most deeply buried memories and emotions. But also, our past experiences and memories acutely impact how we go on to perceive certain colors—and whether or not we will later feel drawn to or repulsed by them. Even though our visual cortex is what processes color, it gets sent almost immediately to our amygdala (emotional center), followed by the hippocampus (memory center). So, colors that initially evoke stronger emotional responses are often the ones we’ll remember most clearly, and associate with a certain memory. The warm earth tones I was surrounded by as a small child were popular in the US in the 1970s. In addition to Avocado, Burnt Orange, Harvest Gold, etc there was also a lot of Mustard, Chocolate, Caramel, Rust, Taupe, Mushroom. And on the cooler side, hues like Slate, Navy, Jade, Plum, and Maroon. Unlike the psychedelic brights of the ‘60s, these more organic hues are very comforting, reliable, and authentic which makes sense, because that time period in the US was marked by political and economic turbulence and uncertainty. Because I was brought up in an environment with these colors, my brain will forever associate them with a sense of protection and nurturing. If I’d experienced an upbringing that wasn’t positive, however, the same colors would be much more likely to evoke negative emotions. 

Isobel: I’ve always been really interested in color and color theory, and I consider picking our colors to be a really important part of my job. If you were to read the BRYR colors, what would you say they say about our brand? 

Brandi: This is such a fun question! It’s clear you take this aspect of your work seriously, and that you also love to do it. What I love about BRYR, amongst so many things, is your willingness to experiment with color and to continuously mix things up. Vibrant seasonal hues like Poppy, Fennel, Paprika, and White Gold illustrate BRYR’s playfully optimistic side, and have a decidedly bold energy. While the softer and/or cooler seasonal hues like Sage, Aloe, Lilac, and Midnight Navy highlight BRYR’s subtle sophistication, artistry, and originality. The colors that make up the fall Chonk line, like Moss and Oxblood, feel very rooted in a sense of nostalgia (I’m Gen X, so I’m definitely picking up a lot of 90s vibes!). And yet, there’s always this very reliable core at BRYR, both in color and silhouette, that keeps things grounded and stable. At its heart, BRYR feels extremely comforting and warm (Whiskey, Coffee, Burgundy, Cashmere), while also having a very clear sense of confidence and strength (Coal, Moto Black, Monochrome Black).  

Isobel: I’ve been really drawn to a dirty sky blue, dusty lavender and burnt dull orange for Spring. Are there any colors that you are seeing as being important for 2027?

Brandi: That particular blue would be so beautiful! Especially with burnt orange as a contrast (they’re complementary to one another on the color wheel). I think right now, a lot of people are feeling really uneasy about the future, and where politics and technology are leading us. I’m not a color forecaster, but I can see people yearning for more grounding hues as a result, as well as colors that evoke either the natural world or ones that recall the handcrafted as a response to our increasingly digital existence and AI. I can see warm, earthen hues like clay, terracotta, and amber being attractive, for this reason. Also herbaceous + fresh yellow-greens like fern or celery (or olive on the deeper, more toned side) that feel serene, yet lively and optimistic. Sky blues (whether light/bright or moody/toned) also make so much sense, especially in an environment where very little feels certain. They’re modern and refined, with a very strong sense of trustworthiness, clarity, and calm. 

Isobel: You picked the Dk Chocolate Loaf as your BRYR clog. How do you like to play with colors back to a dark brown? 

Brandi: I have (and love!) so many styles of BRYR clogs! But my favorites are the ones with lower heels (Worker) or platforms (Chonk) because I have an energy-limiting illness that makes being on my feet for too long pretty difficult. That’s why I was so excited about the Loaf! It’s perfect in every way, and so incredibly comfortable + stable. The colors that make up the Loaf palette feel very nostalgic to me—especially Dark Chocolate and Mushroom. The Dark Chocolate hue in particular has such richness and depth, made even more so because of the suede, and it feels right at home with my formative ‘70s palette. What I love about a rich earthen hue like this, is that in addition to feeling harmonious with other earth tones, it also plays so well with brights and primaries. Adding in a pop of orangey red, bold yellow, or striking cobalt livens it up in a really interesting way, and lends it an artistic, midcentury-modern quality. 

Isobel: What do you think is a common misconception about color?

Brandi: Some people truly feel color just isn’t for them, which honestly breaks my heart. I think it’s because color can seem overwhelming. Rather than risk making a mistake, they play it safe, rarely experimenting or stepping outside their comfort zone. Oftentimes this means resorting to what they think is the most common or universally pleasing (e.g. neutrals). But color perception is highly individual, not universal, so this usually just ends up having a lackluster, unexceptional effect. Which is so unfortunate, especially because we’re talking about the spaces we spend most of our time in. Somewhere out there is a color (or two or three or more!) that will make your heart sing every time you look at it. If you haven’t yet felt that kind of connection to color, it’s just because you haven’t been shown the impact colors can have that are tailored to your unique history and personal preferences. Also, there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ when it comes to color. Of course there are some basic rules when it comes to color-theory. But in the end, the only thing that really matters is this: do you personally love XYZ color(s)? Then those are the color(s) you should be living with. And whatever you do, don’t chase trends. They come and go, and aren’t designed for everyone. Instead, surround yourself with the colors you love, that have something thoughtful to express, and that will do the most work for the spaces you live in. 

Brandi's BRYR clogs pick is the Loaf in Dk. Chocolate.