Category Archives: Architecture

9 Design Trends for 2016

color consultant
“Best of” lists are common this time of year. We see roundups of the best television shows, movies, Facebook posts and photos of 2015.  With the recent announcement of the new Color of the Year by Pantone and the major paint companies, sights are set on the new year in design. But next year’s trends are formulated by this year’s choices. Who better than a paint color consultant to focus a keen eye on what was, to point us towards what will be. Here’s a list of the top color and home design trends of 2015 which promise to evolve in 2016.… Continue reading...

Dark Paint Colors for House Exteriors

Peter Pennoyer's Adirondack House
Dark houses are dramatic! The juxtaposition of a dark house color with the lighter sky makes for serious contrast. Of course dark houses blend in less with the environment than lighter or mid tone houses. But that’s a design choice. Dark blue, dark green, dark grey, brown and black are all great choices. A very modern approach is not to use any contrasting trim colors at all, but the success of that is very much based on the architectural style of the house. As an exterior paint color specialist I help my clients choose dark paint colors for exteriors when they want to go that direction.… Continue reading...

Black & White Paint in and on Houses

Black Modern Farmhouse
There is no combination more graphic than black and white. Using polar opposites creates maximum contrast which translates into drama. Whether dealing with an interior or exterior, the absence of another hue puts emphasis on pattern and that creates focus on form. The addition of another color changes the whole equation. Three colors bring a different kind of balance to a space and more possibilities for complex color relationships. Black house exteriors have come into vogue and for good reason. They make a very big, grand statement. Black and white interiors are tricky to pull off well. Bathrooms and kitchens seem to lend themselves to this choice.… Continue reading...

Design Ascension: Color on the Staircase

painted staircase
It’s not JUST a way to transport you from story to story. You can create a perfectly lovely traditional staircase with a runner over bare wood. But, it’s an architectural feature that can be transformed into a major design element with the inventive application of paint, stain or wallpaper creating a new striking design feature which elevates it beyond its mere functionality. Think color, out of the box! Especially for the property owner who is timid about adding color to the home, the staircase is an excellent place to dip your color-phobic toe into the paint bucket and create a bold statement in a very contained place.… Continue reading...

The allure of pink and orange.

Dar FarachaAlbert & Liz Watson's Dar Faracha
This color combination of pink and orange conjures up associations with the exoticism of the East. For some this may mean Morocco, for others India. Either way, it’s an unusual palette in the American home, but sensational, nevertheless. Admittedly, it’s not for everyone. Pink has gotten a bum rap, being tied to all things “little girl” since WW2 in the States. Previously and in some cultures still, it is considered gender neutral or even masculine due to its derivation from red, an aggressive, active, powerful color. Orange has virtually no negative cultural connotations. It’s considered joyful and happy. Together they create a vibrant, warm space. This… Continue reading...

Exterior House Color Trends

southern home
Interested in current exterior house color trends?  Read about them in InPaint Magazine. They tapped exterior house paint consultant, Amy Krane Color, to hear what’s happening in the NorthEast and around the U.S. Click here. In general, Northern locales choose cooler, more muted colors while the South chooses warmer, bolder tones. The home’s architectural style, local materials, the landscape and the cultural background of the inhabitants all influence exterior home color choices around the U.S. In the Northeast, many colors are influenced by the proximity to the coast. Classic combinations for historical homes inform the choice for many homes from the Federal, Georgian, Colonial and Victorian styles, to name a few.… Continue reading...

Lime wash Paint

Alexander Vervoodt interior
I LOVE the look of Lime wash. Not a fan of glossy surfaces, the super matte,chalky, mottled surface lime wash creates is right up my alley. It makes me think of white wash homes on Greek Islands,  Ancient Italian walls and French Villas. Beautifully described on one of my fav go-to design websites, remodelista, “whitewash is environmentally friendly and used for centuries. It is one of the original house paints. An ancient house staple dating back to Roman times, limewash is made from limestone that’s been crushed, burned, and mixed with water to make a lime putty. The putty is aged and then thinned with water and colored with natural pigments.… Continue reading...

Sliding Barn Doors Inside

barn doors with crossesBarn door in the home of Oughten bag co. founder
Why use barn doors at home? Aren’t interior barn doors fantastic? They are so popular. Like pocket doors, they are space savers as there is no need for floor space for them to swing out into the room. But they are so much more attractive with their rugged proportions. Pocket doors are all about saving space and disappearing but rarely do they move smoothly and tend to wobble along as they slide. Where did barn doors come from? It’s difficult to imagine any other architectural structure which came in from the cold and gained popularity as an interior accoutrement. Historically, most barns had at least one pair of large hinged doors that opened onto the main drive.… Continue reading...