Our blog offers a fresh voice on the design scene, with ideas, inspiration and paint color advice focused on color for the built world. Updated regularly, discover current paint color trends and tried and true proven approaches to color design for your home, your business or your brand. It's all about the human response to color. Learn how to choose and apply color in a way that supports well-being and adds beauty and function to any environment. Whether interior or exterior, residential or commercial, smart color design makes the difference between a space that's hardly noticeable and one that makes you feel alive!
How to use the world’s favorite color.
There are many shades and tones of this exquisite color. Ultramarine, Egyptian, Prussian, cerulean, periwinkle, indigo, turquoise; the list goes on. When mixing paint there are 3 primary colors: blue, red and yellow. Indivisible by no other color, blue is a foundational hue. It is considered by most people to be calming though some unlucky souls find the color melancholy. Here’s how to use blue.
Across nations and cultures blue remains the world’s favorite color. It wasn’t always so though. It was not until the twelfth century that it began to be associated with the divine and would start to be used in stained glass windows, depictions of the Virgin Mary and coats of arms.… Continue reading...
Of all of the paint colors available, white paint seems to be the trickiest color for people to choose. Neutrals are the backbone of paint companies’ color lines so filling out the choices with whites, grays and beiges is smart business for them. There are buckets of them, making the choice difficult. It’s a great time to call in a paint color consultant if you’re stuck. You can also tune into my podcast on this topic using this link here.
Why choose white in the first place?
People choose white paint for many reasons. The poorest reasons are lack of a better idea or afraid to make a mistake.… Continue reading...
You’ve spent weeks on Pinterest creating boards and months on Houzz researching trends. You’ve sought out every blogpost on color you can find and you’re still stuck choosing paint colors for your home. What now? A color consultant can help.
Why should you hire a color consultant
Millions of people proudly wear the badge of DIY’er. There’s a deep feeling of satisfaction in getting things done yourself and the added (perceived anyway) bonus of saving yourself some money. But sometimes one doesn’t have the skills, time, vision or confidence to make certain design decisions and what seems like an additional expenditure can turn into a money saving act.… Continue reading...
You think the hard work is done because you finally chose magnificent tiles for your project. But now you have to choose the perfect grout color for your tiles to make them really sing.
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing grout color.
Where are the tiles going, on a floor or a wall? Will there be heavy traffic?
In heavily trafficked areas the tiles will get dirty quickly so they’re best with a grout color that is mid-toned to dark.
Will the tiles get splattered with food or grease and need constant cleaning and upkeep?
Again, mid toned to dark grout will be best.… Continue reading...
So, you bought a new home or you’re tossing out everything you own and starting from scratch, all new. Yay! or Yikes?
Choosing paint colors for an entire home can be daunting. Chances are you’re on some kind of schedule and can’t dilly dally or procrastinate choosing your paint colors. You need a method to choose the paint colors for your home which is sensible and fool proof. Here it is!
How to choose paint colors for your home. Let’s start with some don’ts.
Do not rely on a color combination created by a paint company in one of their “helpful” inspirational brochures or on-line.… Continue reading...
Many homes, especially in the country, have wood trim that is stained not painted. The trim can include moldings; baseboard or crown, window jambs and casings, overhead beams or millwork like the fireplace wall in the photo above. Wood trim in a wood stain color adds complexity to the overall palette as the room usually has hardwood floors as well. Here are tips to choose the best paint colors for rooms with wood trim.
What to consider when choosing paint colors
Rarely are the floors and trim the same color stain. This may make the task of choosing wall colors confusing.… Continue reading...
Updated Feb 2022
While painting all four walls of a room creates cohesion and unity sometimes we want to kick it up a notch with a painted accent wall. Hopefully you adore the color chosen for the room but if your heart is set on something more – an accent wall can help. It adds the wow factor. In the photo above, not only does the navy blue accent wall add a note of fun and whimsy, it helps integrate one of the key colors used throughout the room and has the added bonus of “hiding” the TV in plain site.… Continue reading...
As an Architectural Color Consultant I’m often asked how I know which colors “go” together. One particular design direction, decorating with variations of the same color stumps many people.
There is the science and art of working with color. The science is established. Colors can be quantified and measured in many ways. The art has more to do with one’s taste and sensibility. It’s personal. ( I don’t mean private). In the end it’s about who you are and what you like. How adventurous are you in your color tastes? When it comes to being liberal or conservative in one’s color proclivities, either goes, and unlike in politics, people who are one or the other have no trouble sharing the Thanksgiving table!… Continue reading...
