Category Archives: Color palettes

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...

How to Mix Patterns in Home Decor

How to mix patternsmixed patterns in interiors
As an interior paint color consultant I think mixing patterns creates dynamic and fascinating spaces. It does not appeal to all. For some, it makes a space less harmonious and therefore less peaceful. If monochromatic minimalism is your aesthetic it just won’t work for you and that’s OK. For we who love interesting juxtapositions, if done right, 1 + 1 will equal 3 by combining diverse patterns in one space. Though there are some good general guidelines, many people who possess the skill of combining patterns effectively do so intuitively. A master of it is the Interior Designer Muriel Brandolini. She is fearless when combining color and pattern though her designs might be considered on the bolder end of the spectrum.… Continue reading...

Colors for the Baby Nursery

pink and green children roomPink and Mint for toddler girls
How to Choose Paint Colors for a Baby Nursery Wondering what colors to paint the baby nursery? From 0 – 3 months, babys’ vision is not fully formed and they can only focus on objects 8″ – 12″ from their faces. Highly contrasting patterns are most recognizable to them. By 5/6 months old their color vision is well developed and this affect baby nursery colors you might choose. What colors will help with their development and keep them stimulated? What colors and lighting encourage them to sleep?  What types of paints are most healthy to use? Until World War 2, the color pink was not gender specific.… Continue reading...

The Best Paint Colors for Bedrooms and Bathrooms

blue green stairwell hallway
Not surprising that Benjamin Moore chose Breath of Fresh Air (806) as its color of the year in 2014. Close to a sky blue on a sunny day, the color is an up lifting light blue, pale but not quite pastel, calm and reassuring. It’s one of the best paint colors for bedrooms and bathrooms. One can’t help but feel a sense of relaxation settle in around it. Painting with blue and green works well because both are soothing and refreshing colors. Blue is associated with trust while green, with its tie to nature, relates to the essence of life. Together they remind us of cool water and the elements.… Continue reading...

Choosing Exterior House Colors

house colors in a dry localeArid mountain home
Shakkei ~ Borrowed Scenery As an exterior house paint color specialist a knowledge of landscape design and an understanding of the affect of landscaping on a home’s curb appeal is a bonus. When studying Landscape Design at the New York Botanical Garden, one very important concept taught was the Japanese idea of Shakkei or borrowed scenery. This meant that as you were designing the garden and considering its elements, you needed to take into account the existing landscape which was part of your immediate view shed. If, as you stood and looked at your plot, a distant mountain, a nearby pond or a stand of tall grasses in the your neighbors yard were visible then they, in effect, became part of the garden you were designing.… Continue reading...

A Shutter Story. House Shutter Colors.

Homes with green shutters
One of the most appealing details on a home, shutters work with so many architectural styles . They were first used in ancient Greece to provide light control, ventilation and protection in that scorching environment. Eventually, the concept of shutters spread throughout the Mediterranean, and the form began to change. Soon movable louver types were born to allow varying amounts of light and air into a room and provide privacy when needed. With the louvers pointed in the downward direction, the shutters also shed rainwater. Solid varieties provided more insulation and were able to prevent insects from entering the home. As the Spanish started colonizing in the Americas, they brought shutters to the New World.… Continue reading...