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!
Thanks for stopping by our blog........Amy
General Assembly
It’s that time again to take stock of what’s happening in the world of interior design and see what’s on the horizon in terms of design trends.
Some trends are just starting to poke their heads above the fray while others have been gaining popularity since the beginning of 2017 and even before.
Terracotta Tiles
I know what you’re thinking. “Not those dated floor tiles from the 70’s!”
Nope, not those. Check out this gorgeous, original use of hex shaped terra-cotta tiles
by design firm General Assembly. The photo above highlights no less than 3 trends for 2018. One is the choice of terracotta, two is mixing different tile styles together in a very unique and creative way.…
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Boheme By Harlequin
Choosing wallpaper can be daunting. It’s a bigger commitment than choosing paint color because of its expense and removal process. Chances are you’re going to keep it longer than you would a paint color so you really need to be sure about your choice. Apply the following systematic approach to picking the right wallpaper for your home and it should be smooth sailing.
What to consider when picking a wallpaper.
1.Every item in your home pays homage to its identity. Each piece tells another bit of your story. Nothing telegraphs a story faster than wallpaper. It covers a large expanse and sets a tone right away. Ask…
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We all know that choosing paint sheen (or finish) is one of the most difficult decisions for the average home owner. There are many different sheens and to complicate the matter paint manufacturers use a different array of names to describe more or less the same finish from brand to brand.
What to consider when choosing paint sheen.
The proper choice of appropriate paint sheen is a matter of considering the type and function of the room, the amount and direction of natural light and to a lesser degree, personal taste and design goals.
Semi-Gloss and High Gloss Paint.
The higher the sheen, the more reflection on the surface.…
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Better Homes and Gardens
Well, summer is here and it’s a great time to take stock of your home’s curb appeal. By now your landscaping should be well out of the winter doldrums and producing its finest. Whether you are there for the long haul or thinking about selling, curb appeal is extremely important. People really do read a book by its cover and first impressions are hard to dispel.
What are the elements which create maximum curb appeal?
The home in this photo covers all of the bases.
Exterior siding or cladding.
Is it chipping, peeling or fading? If so, it’s time for a paint job but this time of year you’re going to find your painting contractors already booked through the end of summer, possibly even Fall.…
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Are you about to redecorate, renovate or build? Learn how to choose paint colors. Many people want to make their own color decisions but end up stuck, staring at color chips pasted to their wall for months.
Choosing colors is difficult but the right color makes the difference between a home that makes you feel great, reflecting who you are and one which leaves you cold and uninspired.
Exterior house color is the number one factor affecting your home’s curb appeal and therefore its value.
Learn how to choose paint colors which reflect your individual stye, the ambience you want to create and the decor you have.…
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Photo: Mike Baker
While it’s been a tumultuous year politically, design trends spotted in 2016 and even before, continue to manifest. Warm metals like copper and brass abound, pinks of all types continue to appear as sophisticated wall color choices and dark tones are showing up everywhere. Live edge wood used in everything from tabletops and shelving to bed frames continues to be featured in shelter magazines and homes alike. Here’s my take as an interior color specialist on what’s coming in interior design.
Purple
A deep jewel purple, Shadow is Benjamin Moore’s 2017 Color of the Year. Mid-toned violets like PPG’s Violet Verbena and Olympic’s Cloudberry made the top list as well.…
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In 2001, a Bucks County, PA couple fell in love with Woodstock and began what was to become an annual ritual visiting the area. In 2008 they bought 3.5 acres. Drawn to area by the excellent hiking and the Woodstock Film Festival they decided to build their retirement home there. They started researching house styles and realized the perfect layout was one that they designed themselves.
The couple chose to work with Atlantic Custom Homes, independent dealers for Lindal Cedar Homes. The Lindal Homes are semi-custom and the house they designed is loosely based on the Elements line. Using a software program called Chief Architect, they made drawings of what they wanted, then bounced ideas back and forth with the Atlantic rep, eventually submitting drawings to the Lindal architects for the final plans. …
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Amy Krane Color
When you’re looking to add a design detail that’s a bit out of the ordinary, consider using color on a painted ceiling. It adds an element of fun and whimsy to a room. But designers really differ on the when and how-to.
Parameters when deciding to paint a ceiling with color.
If the ceilings are low, don’t do it. When the ceiling is painted differently than the rest of the room the eye will gravitate towards it. If the ceilings are low it will accentuate this problem. If the room is very colorful already either from wall color, decor or both, don’t do it.…
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