Archive for the ‘Color Choices’ Category

Why don’t my printer colors match my monitor? Why doesn’t my TV have a yellow adjustment? Welcome to the confusing world of what makes color what it is. I was taught that the primary colors were red, yellow and blue and that black is the absence of color and white is the presence of all colors, were you? When I became an adult and entered the enlightened age I found out it was all lies, well maybe not lies, but at least misconceptions.  As it turns out the red, yellow and blue thing was true for most of the applications that I use, such as paint, but in that theory, also known as subtractive color theory, white is the lack of color, not the presence of all color. Subtractive color is the theory that applies to paint, plastic and die and most opaque finishes.

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Caulk failure is the loss of the protective moisture seal due to the loss of initial adhesion and flexibility.

Good caulk will help you save energy, avoid moisture damage and prevent pest problems. The best caulk for the job depends on the situation. If you didn’t get it right the first time around, there are ways to improve and fix caulk failure.

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We all have a favorite color, that shade of green or blue or purple that just makes us feel good. But if you’re looking for Tiffany blue or Coca-Cola red for your next project, sometimes there just isn’t that perfect match in the countless options of paint chips available at the paint store.

That’s where color matching comes in handy. Experts can now take just about any item – a piece of jewelry, a blouse, even a pillow or door and copy it in paint. Consider it couture color at no extra cost.

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I am sure you have seen various stories about the color of the year from many sources and for the most part they do not agree. From a pale yellow to a bright green with a blue in between the favorite colors are all over the spectrum.  It does not stop with the just a favorite hue it varies in value from light to dark and in intensity from bright to muted, but that is all part of the mystique.  Color trends are based on their end use so a color palette for an interior color can be 180 degrees away from an exterior selection.

The automotive industry has their forecast of the standard neutrals from white to black, bright primaries and twists and tweaks on current best sellers. Colors trends are different for sports cars than they are for trucks, small from large and pricey versus economical.

Fashion gurus predict colors from diaphanous tints to earthy tones, with no single hue standing out. They take some of their cues from Hollywood and the entertainment industry and the high couture houses. Color is very dependent on price point, style and end use.

Home furnishing colors are all over the board with a small palette for wood tones and a huge palette for paint. Long term colors like those found in carpet and tile lines are small selections that have neutrals as their best sellers and area rugs and pillows have brighter ranges.

When you take into consideration there are dozens of industries with even more color trends and possibilities it can be overwhelming and perhaps the answer is in naming one color as color of the year but that can be a disservice the all of the other colors that will emerge as important in 2013. With that in mind the resolution is in picking one strong color from each color family to feature as a strong frontrunner.

As we look ahead we also look back at childhood memories for comfort as expressed in Keepsakes. Copper is an earthy tone that is seen as both an interior and exterior favorite.

Comp Hues are based on computer generated design and new technology. Of all the colors you see in print, on the web or on the tube, bright blue stands out as the most commonly used hue.

Subhued. These soft, easy on the eye colors are perfect for any space in the home as they take us out of the maddening crowd into a haven of peace and a cloud of softness. Soft grays have emerged as strong contenders against the beige overload in today’s styles.

Out of Bounds are colors that express excitement, imagination and a look of surprise. We constantly look for the “new” in everything and finding what is the next big thing, color and design can provide that. Bright greens have come to light as everyday occurrences, no longer just a spark in the palette but a strong leader in some products.

Elemental describes a group of colors used to express our connection with nature and mother earth. This mango hue may not look like an earthtone when first viewed but think of a sunset and how it is nature’s curtain call on the day.

No Rules. Just when we think we have seen it all we find that to be totally untrue. Fashion is famous for breaking the rules and in fact breaking the rules is the sometimes the only way we can call something “new”.  Pink is a shining star in the fashion palette that has moved over into home furnishings schemes.

There may not be a single color for 2013 but look at this pared down palette of six stunning hues, each a star in its own right.

Pantone

Anthropology

Remodelista

Pantone has announced their 2013 Color of the Year: Emerald!

“The most abundant hue in nature, the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate. Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world. This powerful and universally-appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors.”
Will the 2013 Color of the Year will be making an appearance in your home? Or is it too soon to tell?

Many people overlook the floor when designing a space. Wall paint is near the top of the design list, with furniture, fabric, window coverings and accessories being foremost in our minds. Of course we think of carpet or hardwood but what if the floor is painted? This is an open opportunity for many choices.

Stained floor colors come in many colors and floors can be re-stained if you don’t like the original color as long as it is wood that can be stripped or sanded to receive a new color.

Stone and concrete can be painted to replicate stone or in solid colors to suit the design. Here minimalistic design calls for plain and simple designs in light, neutral hues.

Floors that have no pattern can be embellished with patterns in many colors or to look like a natural material such as stone. It can also be made to look like tile with the use of painters tape to make the imitation grout lines.

Elaborate patterns can be made by using tape to make each layer in this pattern that can be applied to cement or wood floors.

This is an example of a floor medallion made of tile that has been altered to fit a new design scheme. The copper colored dark tiles in this pattern have been painted because their original green color did not match their new surroundings. First I taped around the dark color to isolate them from the grout and other tiles, and then they were coated with a primer used for non- porous surfaces. A layer of dark brown floor paint was then added and then it was finished by sponging on metallic copper to make it look like tile. This was done about 8 years ago and it is still in good condition today.

There are hundreds of opportunities to add spark and interest to boring floors whether they are in the living spaces for the utility areas such as laundry rooms and mud rooms.

Do you get the vibe that green is starting to crowd tangerine tango out of the limelight and getting a head start on becoming the darling of 2013?

Some consider green a neutral because it looks great with every color of the rainbow. A citron accent wall, a beach vibe with the colors of sea glass, or a stunning blue and green combo reminiscent of the sky and leaves. I love how refreshed and happy a space feels when kelly green is used as an accent or main player. Apartment Therapy suggests keeping the rest of your color palette simple, so the green can really shine. Everything looks good around green!

Apartment Therapy

Adore Home

House Beautiful

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Gender neutral colors are great when you are expecting but don’t know your baby’s gender but gender neutral does not mean gender boring. Pastel yellow has long been the perfect color for those not in the know but now the yellow is bright and mixed with neon bright lime, orange and blue.

Orange in hot in many areas of the home this year and does not shy away from kids rooms. This warm hue is a perfect accent for a neutral beige with a splash of green to brighten it up.

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1. Does this match?

Have you had someone show you a color choice and ask, does this match? I have been put in that situation dozens of times and can’t help but reply in all honesty;  “no it does not match, but it does coordinate”. In order for a color to match it has to be the same exact color whereas if it looks good next to its companion then it is a good coordinate.

2. Red will raise your heart rate.

Red will only raise your heart rate if it is entire room of red that is highly illuminated and you have to spend a great deal of time in it for the color to make your heart speed up.

3. The best room designs are those that have coordinated fabrics in the same patterns.]

These “matchy, matchy “ rooms are out of style, it is better to have a variety of colors and patterns that look good together rather than using  the same pattern over and over again.

4. Red cars attract traffic police.

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