Welcome to Colour Culture

Step into Colour Culture, a vibrant exploration of beauty through the lenses of design, architecture, fashion, and travel. I’m Marla Emory, a designer, architectural designer, and educator with 27 years of experience creating spaces, teaching the next generation, and chasing inspiration across the globe. This website is my canvas—a place to share the beautiful things I discover, from the red rock curves of Sedona to the lavender-hued villages of Southern France. It’s not just about what I see; it’s about what we can learn together from the people, objects, and spaces that shape our world.

With a Master’s of Architecture, dual Bachelor’s degrees in Architecture and Interior Design, and a professional Interior Design license, I’ve spent decades building a career that bridges practice and education. As the program chair of Louisiana Tech School of Design’s Interior Design Program and the head of my own design and architecture practice, I’ve seen how design transforms lives. But my passion runs deeper than blueprints—it’s fueled by curiosity, by the joy of uncovering how color and form tell stories in every culture I visit. Colour Culture is where that passion lives.

Here, you’ll find a growing collection of stories and insights. My blog kicks off with reflections from Sedona’s desert palette and will soon weave in the charm of Southern France—think stone facades, vibrant markets, and unexpected design lessons. Expect photo essays, sketches, and thoughts on how architecture echoes fashion, or how travel reveals the soul of a place. This isn’t a static portfolio; it’s a living journey, blending my expertise with the wonder of discovery.

Colour Culture is for the curious—designers, travelers, dreamers—who see beauty as more than surface-deep. It’s educational but never dry, offering a front-row seat to my process as I explore questions like: Why do certain colors feel alive together? How do ancient spaces still inspire modern design? Whether I’m unpacking the textures of a Moroccan rug or the lines of a Parisian atelier, I’ll invite you to look closer, too.

This is just the beginning. As I travel, design, and teach, this site will evolve—maybe into workshops, a book, or a community of kindred spirits. For now, it’s a home for beauty, curiosity, and connection. Join me—let’s see where this colorful road leads.