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dhtimmons posted this in paint colors on October 23rd, 2009
When the day is going wrong, when work goes on too long, there’s nothing we want more than to be in our home. This is the mantra of millions of us who want to leave the stress outside when we step in through our front door.
In my work as a designer and color consultant, my client’s goals have changed from simply wanting a more beautiful space, to wanting a sanctuary. We don’t want showplaces, we want escape and comfort. Home sellers also seek that zen atmosphere because they know that buyers respond to it. It’s not about decorating a home, it’s about balancing it. It’s that feeling that you, or even a home buyer, will walk in and say “this feels right.. this feels like home.” That’s zen.
I can design a space with perfect balance — I can suggest furniture and accessories that speak to that calming retreat you want. But, it’s color that truly creates the sanctuary we crave. Color sets the mood in your home. If you’re seeking a relaxing place to unwind, your paint color choices are crucial. Starting with a balanced color palette, you can add accessories, linens, and artwork, to help you achieve that relaxed atmosphere.
There is a common misconception about zen in color and design. It doesn’t mean that you decorate in a Japanese style. Zen is a frame of mind, a feeling, and a sense that everything is balanced and “right” in your home. Many offices, restaurants, and retail spaces have embraced that philosophy. The most beautiful hotels and resorts have known this secret for years. A zen color palette is harmonious; It’s that long exhale, that everything-is-right-with-the world feeling when you walk in the door and kick off your shoes.
Try on these zen color palettes for your own personal moment of “ahhh”, at home:
Lotus
Gentle Flame
Seascape
Perfect Morning
Fall is by far my favorite season. I adore the changing of the leaves, the spicy aroma from harvest scented candles (my favorite!), and the sumptuous flavors of pumpkin pie, mulled wine, and roasted veggies on the Thanksgiving table. The weather suggests pulling on a favorite cable knit sweater and the idea of cozy evenings spent indoors seems more alluring than ever.
I love this season for those reasons and because it seems all the new products in every store and showroom would look great in my house! I gravitate towards darker, earthy colors (partly because Mr. Wonderful, my most discerning client, likes them the best), and this sure is the season to shop for them. If you have the same tastes in color for your home as we do, this time of year is no doubt your favorite time to stock up on fresh home accessories, new linens, tableware, and just about anything else for the home since everything is in “our” colors!
The colors of fall are rich and deep, accented by lighter and vibrant hues such as orange, gold and camel beige. This is a season where we leave all the airy colors of spring and summer behind and step into the cozy earth toned color family. A great way to freshen your home and change things up is to accent with rich colors. Think about the inside of bookcases, architectural wall niches, and small spaces such as an entry foyer or a powder bath. Accent walls are also great ways to incorporate new colors, but be sure to balance the room well when choosing to do an accent wall (to see my article on accent walls, click here).
These cozy color picks will work with homes that already take part in a warm and deep palette. Another way to discover a great new color to use on the wall is to look at your existing rugs, art and upholstery. All of the following cozy fall colors are from the Benjamin Moore Classic Colors Deck
mycolordesigner posted this in paint colors on August 29th, 2009
dhtimmons posted this in paint colors on July 30th, 2009
I toyed with an alternate title for this post — something like: “Am I really supposed to buy a new sofa every four months?” You know, it would appear that every few months design magazines, and retailers, present a new seasonal palette complete with a brand new batch of colors, furniture, and accessories. So, in the late summer you find yourself lusting after the pumpkin-hued pillows, and rich gold wall colors. Suddenly, it’s December, and you’re toying with the idea of painting your guest bath in a jewel tone and replacing your ceiling fans with chandeliers. It’s so enticing!
Do retailers and editors really expect you to become a serial decorator and change your wall color every four months? No, of course not! (but the nice folks at My Perfect Color probably wouldn’t mind a bit if you did!) What you can do is use the ever-changing seasonal palette to inspire and enhance what you already have, without making over your house with every season. To weather the meanderings of our fickle decorating hearts, you’ll want to start with a palette that captures the best of each season, so that you can add pieces you really love, at any time, without worrying about changing everything. Don’t forget my painting mantra, “test, test, test.” Testing your wall color is the only way to know if a paint color is a perfect color for you.
Many homeowners assume that a palette for their home or for a room must be all warm or all cool colors, so they choose one or the other. Summer and autumn are vibrant warm color seasons. Winter and spring are calming cool colors. Just as a garden isn’t all warm or all cool colors, the most successful palettes contain both, even if it’s only a warm color accent or two in room full of cool colors. Here are my favorite seasonal palettes, even though they’re designed for year-round color. Each palette allows you the thrill of adding new seasonal accessories to your heart’s content, without making major changes every time season changes. How easy is that?
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring
charlenemarx posted this in paint colors on July 21st, 2009
Color dictates everything - even our moods to play, work, create, exercise, etc…. Summer is finally here so lets get that urge to workout flowing!!Its never to late in the season to get in shape, mold the bod, get bikini-ready, build biceps. That’s great except most people I know barely have time to think nevermind pack up the bag, get in the car, drive to the gym, socialize and be home in time for late night TV!!
Solution. The At-Home-Gym. Build it, and they will come. Mothers, fathers, the teens. Our goal has to be to make it a space they WANT to be in. Cool, edgy, motivational, put you in the “mood” for working out. Here are some ideas to help you create the perfect exercise room decor:
*Bright color. Using bright paint colors to paint your room will go the distance in building up your mood. Pastel shades like beige, cream, etc will make the room look boring and in turn dampen your spirits.
* “A picture speaks a thousand words”. Throw up some motivational photos. Find pictures of what YOU hope to create. If you are a guy looking to bulk up, then find some pictures of that body you want. Same for women. It will help to push you when you are not at all in the mood to work out.
*MUSIC!! Get a sound system in your home gym with CD’s that kick it. TV is o.k., but will do more distracting than motivating.
*Go Green with live plants. They look good and help to clean and purify the air.
*Good lighting is important. Adjust it in way that flatters your physique. Ceiling lights actually tend to make downward shadows which can make you look tired and saggy. Try track lighting on angles or a ceiling fan with outward pointing bulbs (also the benefit of moving, unstill air).
*Treat yourself to mini-fridge full of you rfavorite drinks. You are bound to get thirsty and not having to run to the kitchen will be a treat and not stop your rhythm. Besides that, it feels more “gym-like”.
Don’t forget the basics. Good machines, sturdy benches and wieght systems, comfortable mats and anything you will actually use. You don’t want to overfill the room. Moving around is the point of a workout- don’t make it too tight to do so! And most importantly- have fun and stay motivated. It takes weeks, not days, to see results. And hey- if the room looks good as well it will be another thing you have to show off!!
janelle posted this in house painting, paint colors on June 11th, 2009
With gray being all the rage right now, one of the easiest ways to integrate gray into your space is through paint (of course!). Not only is gray in style for both fashion and interiors, it’s a neutral that is soothing and calming. Just like other neutrals such as beige, brown and black, gray can be paired together with a myriad of colors to create a hip, classic or modern palette. To read more on other colors of the moment, visit this post.
Here are a few grays that are right on the money. The last one, Balboa Mist looks like its a tan, but its really a soft gray that goes especially well with White Thassos and Cararra Marble:
 Stone Harbor 2111-50
 Smoke Embers 1466
 Stonington Gray HC-170
 Balboa Mist OC-27
Also, check out Gray Owl OC-52 (photo unavailable)
faithsheridan posted this in paint colors on May 24th, 2009
It’s fun designing with young families and little girls. No grandchildren yet for me so I can live vicariously and design with them. I am fascinated by the attraction to pink and how to integrate it into a scheme.
These are some of my favorite pinks at the moment…
 Ribbon Pink 2087-60
 Please Leave Pink
 Little Piggy 2008-60
 Red Tulip 2003-30
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What I am loving now is Phillippe Starck’s Louis Ghost Chair for Kartell launched in limited edition version to celebrate the birthday of another icon. This is the 50th anniversary Barbie Ghost Chair.
As you would expect from anything Barbie related, the chair’s transparent finish is in pink, and it has a hand-illustrated Barbie image and logo. The chair comes in the smaller child’s version, the Lou Lou Ghost Chair, which is a great option for design-conscious parents.
It’s amazing how something as simple as a pillow can completely change the look of a room. For a splash of color, use a variety of throw pillows and floor cushions in your child’s favorite pink solid colors and interesting patterns.
 Suzette Pink Pillow
Few tasks can be as delightful — and as daunting — as creating a room for your child. Since you’re reading this article, it’s clear your child’s happiness and healthy development are high on your list of priorities. Whether you are decorating and furnishing your firstborn’s room or are making a special place for later arrivals of any age, you know every child is a magical, unique individual who’s constantly evolving. And their special spaces are constantly evolving, as well — from cozy baby nurseries to colorful playrooms to walls of teenage self-expression.
 I had a client ask me, “Why do pink and brown look great together? How does it work so well?” Why would it work so well; pink is so girly and brown is just boring?
Let me explain. . .brown is a sign of strength and dependability - Benjamin Moore’s 2110-30 Saddle Soap or BM1035 Cambridge Riverbed. The beauty of the earth’s rich soil, the bark of your favorite large tree to hug, these are examples from earth that bring us comfort. Now share that space with a solid peony pink or a magenta, and you’ve got glamour and dazzle! Example BM2080-40 Wild Pink. Then pull it all together with a soft trim color such as Benjamin Moore’s HC-93 Carrington Beige.
This color combination is thought to be a fit for a sunroom or girl’s room, but why not a master bedroom? With luxurious fabrics of raw silk and velvet, you have brought touchable textures of romance together. Its a balance of masculinity (brown) and pink (feminine). A pink magenta is not girly, it’s a subtle power to harmonize with the earth’s brown! And that’s the why and how - give romance a try!
 - 2110-30 Saddle Soap
 - 1035 Cambridge Riverbed
 - 2080-40 Wild Pink
 - HC-93 Carrington Beige
 One of the most interesting periods in design history is that of the Biedermeier era which had its roots in 19th century Germany and Austria. It’s also one of the most unknown and overlooked period styles amongst many people, both with experts and the general public alike. So how did this style come about and what colors could one use if designing an interior space related to this period?
The Biedermeier era is considered to have started in 1815 and come to a close in 1848. It was very much an Austrian and German phenomenon which corresponded with the Regency style in England, Federal style in the United States and to the French Empire style. It wasn’t just design that was the focus but also literature, music and fine arts.
Two channels of societal change were taking place during this period which led to the popularity of Biedermeier styles and designs. One was the growth of urbanization and industrialization which led to a larger and more wealthy middle class. The other was the growth of political oppression following the completion of the Napoleonic Wars. This latter movement led to the domestic environment taking more of a center stage and an increased focus on the non-political subjects of the day.
When it comes to interior design and furniture in particular, it can be justifiably said that the Viennese craftsmen of the early 19th Century were the innovators of Biedermeier-style furniture. In some ways inspired by the French Empire interiors which were characterised by solidity and Classical shapes, the Biedermeier look evolved to a more simpler format. Furniture became simpler and did away with the intricate designs. The rest of the interior design also followed suit. Floors were usually bare and walls were painted in pale or bright colors with the avoidance of complex paint finishes.
If you come to design a Biedermeier interior in your own place of residence, then the colors to consider would definitely be clair bois (pale wood) with a black ebony inlay. This can be achieved on doors, window frames and with furniture pieces. Any of the major wood types are suitable including birch, maple, ash, cherry and even pear.
For the walls it’s best to try and maintain a light ambiance to the room. This can be achieved using soft and creamy colors. You might look at Bavarian Cream, Cream Caramel or Lemon Cream. Alternatively, if you want some flamboyance, you can try more vibrant colors that will contrast with the pale woods. Try a Sun Kissed Yellow or even, if you’re very daring, a Glowing Turquoise. The yellow in particular can be matched with black and gold fittings and decorations to avoid the complete domination of the yellow walls.
janelle posted this in house painting, paint colors on April 23rd, 2009
I would like to tell you the story of the perfect peach paint color. After Mr. Wonderful and I were married here in Southern California, we took off to Las Vegas for a stand-in honeymoon. You see, I requested Carpi, Italy- but since my husband was finishing his last year of his undergraduate accountancy degree, we couldn’t take the time to go international in October (the month of our wedding, of course). So, he booked us the next best thing to Italy in the United States- a suite at the Venetian in Las Vegas.
After the huge production that started at sunrise, a whirlwind of friends and family, a fantastic wedding and reception and a four hour car drive spent talking about our memorable day- you think I would have been too exhausted to think about interior design, right? Wrong. After checking in, the first thing I noticed when we got to our house-sized digs was the paint color in the bedroom. There I was, a young bride in a gorgeous hand-beaded gown, on my wedding night, basking in the glow of the peach paint- inspecting it, turning the lights off and on to see how the color changed, and marveling that I was falling in love with peach- of all colors!
I fell hard for what I like to call Venetian Peach. And that’s coming from a girl that grew up in the eighties, where the wrong shade of peach mixed with sea foam green left a sour impression on me. Not a day went by that I didn’t comment on the peach in the bedroom.
I started having all these sentimental fantasies that I would paint our bedroom in our first house this lovely shade of Venetian Peach- undoubted, I would have the best back-story to my (future) bedroom paint color. It got to the point where Mr. Wonderful told me I should just ask the concierge if they could tell me the color so I could forget about it.
During that stay, I decided that peach was the most flattering color for a bedroom. Its not pink and its not boring beige. Its sort of gender neutral, at least its more gender neutral than pink would be. Most importantly, it just makes everything glow. Peach really works magic on skin tones. And the light in a peach room is warm, lovely and soft.
I made up my mind that I would schmooze with the concierge before we left. The Venetian is a world-class hotel- I was sure they would find me the paint color if I asked. Mr.Wonderful said only I would do this, and on our makeshift honeymoon to boot! Imagine our serendipitous timing when we checked out a few hours earlier than normal on our last day…the painters were in the suite next door! I couldn’t help but think it was meant to be! I poked my head in and coyly asked if they could tell me the paint color.
One of the painters literally stopped what he was doing and trotted over to the paint bucket. It was unmarked (well- the brand was marked, but that’s it!). He told me he was sorry, the color was not listed. Then, as if a light bulb went off in his head, he ran over to his spraying shield (a card board box) and cut off a piece of the board. He then made me a paint swatch out of the paint! I just about died. Here, in my hand, I had the most beautiful paint color in the world. I couldn’t believe he did this for me- I was just giddy. All the while, Mr. Wonderful just stood there- holding our bags, shaking his head with a half-smile in disbelief, “Is my wife really doing this right now?”.
That is the story of the perfect peach paint color. And now, here are the best matching Benjamin Moore equivalents to my keepsake paint swatch. I always recommend testing paint colors in your space. Click here to order small samples for testing.
Winter Melon 093
 Delicate Peach 120
 Florida Seashells 128
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