Archive for the ‘Color Guild’ Category

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.

“You know that thing? No, not that thing next to the chimney, on top…” Are these snippets of conversations familiar to anyone? Whether it’s the name of a structural detail or design element you don’t know, here are a few terms to throw down while chatting with your contractor or if  you find the need to impress your neighbor.

Leewood Homeowners Association

Cricket - A second, small, pointed roof that diverts rainwater around something, such as a chimney, that projects out of a primary roof.

This Old House

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Painting a large room may be overwhelming and intimidating, but painting a small room also presents challenges. Corners, crevices, angles, and of course the constant threat of brushing up against wet paint on your backside when you bend over to dip your paint brush! Well, if you’re looking for advice on painting small spaces, you’ve come to the right place!

Best paintbrush for painting small spaces
When painting a small room you’ll want to make sure to invest in a good paint brush. Look for a 2 inch angled paint brush. And be sure to clean it up with water – avoid using soap as it can leave a film on the brush.

If you’re painting a bathroom and need to get behind fixed objects like a toilet, try using a “long john” roller. It has a long-handle with a slim roller to help you paint those hard-to-reach places.

Prepping your room for painting
Tape, tape, tape! Prep is key for painting in smaller areas. Do not cut corners with prep, clean all the walls, clear the space, lay down drop cloth and take all your edges. It takes more time up front, but will actually save you time in the long-run.

Best paint colors for small spaces
There are many schools of thought when it comes to the best paint colors for small spaces. Some say cooler, neutral colors will make a small room appear larger because the light value of these colors are better at absorbing light. But warm colors can also work in small rooms. Painting vertical stripes on the walls is one trick to making a small room appear taller. But how big or small a room feels depends largely upon how much “stuff” you have in it, including your furniture, art, rugs, accessories, etc…

So you’re ready to paint the largest room in your house? Great! Painting a large room is an exciting task and will make a huge impact on the overall look of your home. Here are some of our best large-scale painting tips to get started:

How much paint should I buy for my large room?
The average gallon of paint should cover about 350 square feet. This will vary based on a few factors:

• How much texture is on the walls: The more texture the less square footage you will get out of the gallon.
• When was the last time said area was painted: A “dry” wall will soak in more paint vs. a wall that was more recently painted. New drywall should be primed with a drywall primer first. Using primer will help increase the amount of area the paint will cover.

Should I use a paint sprayer or paint roller?

For applying the paint, most experts would recommend not using a sprayer unless there is nothing in the room. Meaning no trim or floor to deal with.  A sprayer will require much more prep then brushing and rolling. You will have to mask off every area in order to make sure that the paint will not overspray on it.  The time that you may save will be lost in the prep and clean up.

What kind of paint finish should I use for my painting project?
Flat, matte, or eggshell are the most common paint finishes.  Use flat for a ceiling or an area in which you probably won’t wash. Flat also works well on walls that have a lot of natural light due to its ability to absorb light (meaning  less “sun spots” on the wall, and you will see less roller marks and brush marks).  Matte works great for hallways and common areas.  The idea of a matte is that it is a washable finish with a very low shine. Use eggshell for kitchens, bathrooms, and kids rooms. Eggshell washes well and can stand up to moisture. Every room has different needs for a finish, so feel free to talk to your local paint expert.

As I was stumbling through StumbleUpon.com the other day, I came across a blog post that caught my eye – Paint it BLACK by LiveLikeYou.com. Not only were the pictures stunning, but the question posed by the author got me thinking – “I wondered why we wear this beautiful non color for mourning.  Black is beautiful, black is elegant, black is classy, black is subdued, black is striking, black is fashionable, black is sophisticated, black is severe…but is black sad?”

After looking at these photos I could describe black as dramatic, daring and haunting, but I don’t think I would classify it as sad. What do you think?

Atlanta Home Magazine via LiveLikeYou.com

Luxe and Lilies via LikeLikeYou.com

House Beautiful

ApartmentTherapy.com

Before we talk about window colors we have to define what constitutes a window? A window consists of glass set in frames, often manufactured and then framed. There are literally dozens of parts found in a window including stiles, sashes, casings, rails, muntins, mullions and lintels. For this exercise we will be discussing the parts of windows that require paint. If the window is manufactured using vinyl, a very common application; then that part does not need paint, but window trim is usually made of wood and there is an opportunity to add color to an exterior scheme.

The most popular color for windows is white, probably because so many windows are made with white vinyl. White is the top seller mostly because of convenience, keep them white and repainting is easy with no need to get a color matched. But keep in mind there are many whites out there, make sure the white you used 10 years ago is the same white today.

The second most popular color for windows is brown, both dark and light varieties. This stands to reason since the most popular siding and body paint colors are earthtones in shades of browns and beiges. Brown is also popular due to the use of brown stained wood and brown bricks used for the majority of the home exterior.

Window trim color does not have to match the window itself, a contrasting color can add variety and interest to a simple color scheme. A bright color like this turquoise can be treated as an accent and not just a trim color.

Commercial buildings can feature bright colors for windows to draw your eye to the business and make a stylish statement.

Don’t think of windows as boring, but think of them as areas that can add interest and be the finishing touch on a beautiful color scheme.

- Guest post from Pat Verlodt, president of Color Services & Associates, Inc

We all know our vision changes as we age, we may need to hold reading material farther away in order to see the print. This is often called ‘over 40 eyes” as this is when it usually happens. But did you know that we see color differently as well? This change occurs frequently because the lens of the eye tends to yellow slightly with the aging process. Yellowing affects how colors at the blue-violet end of the light spectrum are viewed. Blues tend to be less vivid and look more like gray. This change is not a huge problem unless you are responsible for color matching or accurate color selection. Older people may have trouble reading black letters on a blue background or reading blue letters in general, therefore it is wise to remember this when printing flyers or copy for the general population. Red, however tends to be much more vivid than normal, this is often called “red eye” because it brings out even small amounts of red in a pattern.

The ability to see differences in shades and tones and also fine details decreases. Vision experts usually attribute this change to the fact that the number of nerve cells of the brain used to transmit visual signals from the eyes to the brain decreases. This change affects the way depth is perceived and judging distances becomes more difficult.

There is one “bright light” in the scheme of things, as we age one of the most common medical issues older people encounter is cataracts. This hazing of the lens is easily corrected and eliminates the yellow of the aged eye putting it at the age of an infant, clear and clean. It makes color vision nearly perfect and in most cases better than it has ever been. This surgery can not only correct color vision but in many cases can correct vision overall. It can often correct “over 40” eyes when the surgeon can replace the lenses with ones that are corrected to see both near and far. Don’t hesitate if you need this surgery, it can certainly change the way you see things.

Some people find mixing patterns to be a difficult task, but by using color to tie the patterns together make it easier to achieve.

Today’s styles and trends include mixes of patterns for effect and interest, this has its roots in the fashion industry. This trend was started by the youth market and spread to high end fashion and then onto the home fashion industry.

To make this work for home interiors the key is using the same color combinations or at least a common color.

This is a simple combination of patterns, each using the same colors or coral, gray and cream to create interest.

This room used a mix of patterned flowers and stripes in the same colors of olive, cream and deep plum with the walls in cream, an upholstered stool in olive and a throw in deep plum, each coordinating with the patterns and making a warm and cozy setting.

Here is a perfect example of mixing patterns, large pink stripes that are repeated with an added green stripe pulled together with a sweet pink and its complement of green.

This textile used a variety of patterns in the same colorways, black, gold, terra cotta, red and brown for an attractive tribal motif.

You can see by these photos that color is the glue that makes the mixing of patterns possible without jarring differences and uncoordinated patterns and colors.

Give your customers more to paint than just a solid color on the wall or even off of the wall. Show them the possibilities of paint and stain in new and unusual ways by putting a painted chair or wall vignette in something other than a solid color on your showroom floor.

Painted floors are eye catching, but painting the floor and carrying it up onto the walls is dynamic and attention-grabbing.

Carry the notion of stripes on the floor to stain stripes on the floor and up the wall and kick it up a notch.

Stripes don’t have to be boring, these are several harmonizing hues in modern up to date colors.

Simple painted graphics make a plain wall sing and give it a distinct style.

Painted furniture is nothing new, but painted with simple patterns make them unique and one of a kind, just what today’s consumer is looking for.

Carry the idea of painted furniture outside to add an accent to a boring exterior.

Apartment Therapy

Su Casa

Weaver Custom Homes

Design*Sponge

In addition to its good looks, Apartment Therapy shares the many purposes the sliding barn door serves:

• No door swing – sliding doors save space because they don’t need the 5-10 square feet of floor area where the doors swings from open to close.
• Space dividers – large sliding doors can actually act as room dividers, transforming the function or feel of a room in one easy step.
• Art piece – as seen in this collection, sliding doors often act as functional art.
• Opportunities for affordable and creative reuse – old doors or lumber can be reused in a new way, saving resources and money!
• Not just for doorways – sliding doors are also great solutions for pantries, shelving units and media centers!