Color is on the move. The bold, saturated hues that have dominated palettes for the past few seasons are yielding to more complicated, toned-down shades. Our eyes are ready to relax and fall into dustier, more interest provoking undertones. Gray is the new MVP in the palette- it has an increasing role in cooling down our interiors by becoming the new neutral in residential spaces. When choosing paint color, designers and individuals are piloting toward these calming new shades of gray. For example, some fabulous muted blue-grays and green-grays like Benjamin Moore Smoke 2122-40 and Gossamer Blue 2123-40 can make any room feel like you are a step closer to entering that spa room you always wanted or perhaps feel like you are sitting in a beach chair by the ocean.

Grays can be gorgeous. Gray them selves range from barely there in warm, quiet tones like those found in the neutral landscape of the environment such as wood, stone and natural fibers (colors like Sherwin-Williams Wool Skein SW-6148) to cool, water inspired tones like Benjamin Moore’s Iced Slate 2130-60.

So don’t be afraid to use these wonderful tones and undercurrents to really soothe, relax and update your palette. They are not necessarily cold and icy- they can be warm and earthy and a nice, new update to your home.

Bring Hotel Luxury Home

Its the new bedroom trend- “Hotel Bedding”. The first thing I thought about when I heard of this new trend was of course that ugly, scratchy polyester Red Roof Inn bedding. Itchy comforters, rough white sheets, unattractive floral prints, etc… No, what I have learned is that Hotel Bedding is really recreating what hotel chains like The Westin and Resorts have done. Which is introducing its “heavenly bed” to guests who go home thinking it was such a luxurious look and sleep with fabulous materials that they want it at home now as well. It has literally sparked “bed wars” between hotel chains (good for US!).

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Did you ever try to obtain design ideas from decorating magazines or paint company websites? Ever notice how the showcase rooms are always unrealistally large, unique, architecturally detailed and nothing like what most people live in? Yeah- me, too.

As a designer, I can tell you that most people have the same simple, rectangular, odd-placed-window, standard type rooms. We dont have niches, built-ins, ready-made window seats and trey ceilings. So, what I want to talk about is how my in-the-field-design tricks can help to make smaller, standard rooms appear larger and more designer-esque.

First, think BIG. Instead of filling a small room with lots of little pieces, opt for overscale furnishings and accessories to cut down on clutter and make the room feel more spacious.

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Its time we talked about the house that has rooms with no beginning and end point for a color change. For example- the combo living room and dining room that are separate rooms but share a wall. Or that hallway that seems to run everywhere- through the foyer, through the halls, to the bedrooms, etc… Its a burning question. So lets talk design and plan and make those rooms look flawless and designer! The first thing is this- we can have two rooms like a living room and dining room with the same color and separate them with accent walls that will give them their own personality yet unite them. For example- who here loves that RED dining room? Its ok- raise your hand….I am! And add to that that we want a more relaxed, sophisticated living room space that blends well with the dining area. Imagine this- a fabulous palette throughout both rooms that are in a rich, soft sophisticated earthen neutral like Benjamin Moore’s Woodacres 1020 and in that rear dining wall we add an accent wall of Benjamin Moore’s Ruby Dusk 1267. That adds personality and separation, right? Problem solved…

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When determining a color palette, take a minute to sit down and think about yourself. Think about what makes you tick and consider the following:

* Are you drawn to warm colors such as reds (Benjamin Moore Maple Leaf Red -2084-20) and yellows (Benjamin Moore Lightning Bug 340)or do you prefer cooler blue and green palettes? (more…)

Why is it that it is so hard to create a room in your own home that is reminiscent of a dream-room you have seen in either a showroom, friends house, magazine, movie, etc…? We often know what we like, what makes us feel at ease and in love with a certain room that we encounter, however, it always seems difficult to re-create that in our own environment.

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Using an accent wall can be unique and functional.

So many times I have clients who have a hard time deciding between two colors, both that will work and both that they love! So how about an accent wall? Use the bold color on a centered focal point wall and the lighter to hug the room around it.

Color can change the shape of a room as well. Painting an end wall a deep, strong shade can widen a narrow room or shorten a long one. It can make a big difference in the feel of the room. Try using chocolate brown or a dark navy or deep green to make a small space feel more important and even more initimate.

One of my favorite things to design is a child’s bedroom. Its a magical place, safe haven and a place for older kid’s to show expression. As the popularity of certain design companies such as Pottery Barn Kids and The Company Kids continue to emerge and set trends, my exposure to people wanting similar feels and looks also comes to the forefront. As the resident designer for myperfectcolor.com, I see a lot of what gets kids (and parents) excited in regard to color. Kids, pre-teen and teen want brighter and deeper, young pre-schoolers and early elementary tend to like softer, less offensive tones and babies (well, Moms and Dads, really) seem to gravitate toward lighter, more neutral, more serene color palattes. Whichever direction your child gravitates to in room decor, here are some of our favorite kids picks:

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As a myperfectcolor.com designer, I encounter various repeat questions regarding paint. One of the more common is “What are good colors for my living room, dining room and kitchen…”. Obviously, if i were there physically or had fabric or material samples, I could do a perfect custom color combination dependant on the light and hues in the room. Since I do a lot of on-line consults however, I needed to come up with some standard, neutral, flowing trios of color. I wanted to take a few lines to give samples of combinations that work well (using Benjamin Moore paints) in neutral, averagely lit spaces. For example:

Living room/Dining room/Kitchen:

1) bar harbor beige 1032/chadwick brown 1160/barely beige 1066
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I love yellow colors. They are so bright and warm and inviting. But choosing the right yellow is really difficult. The colors always come out brighter than you expect.

Tags: benjamin moore, great room, interior design, kitchen, kitchen colors, yellow paint color
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