Category Archives: Design

Two Toned Painted Walls

two tone wallsNikolas Koenig
Two toned painted walls add color to a room without adding chaos. When the walls are divided horizontally, a graphic element is added to the design of the space. Painting walls with two colors creates a dynamism where the final affect is much more than the sum of the parts. When a client is open to it I’m happy to suggest this approach when I’m interior paint color consulting. We’re accustomed to seeing two colors with wainscoting, of course. Wainscoting is a traditional room treatment which adds millwork to the lower portion of the walls. Wainscoting is often painted white while the sheetrock above is painted another color.… Continue reading...

The Warm Tones of Metallics at Home

metallic wall glazeRalph Lauren Metallic Paint
There’s been a growing trend towards the use of warm toned metallics in home decor. Brass and copper are everywhere from lighting to case goods, hardware to kitchen cabinets. This first post for 2016 is about color of course, but only tangentially about wall color. Of course chrome and nickel finishes have been the standard for so long. Both have serviced many decorating styles ably. But the warmth of brass and copper is really coming to the fore. These warm toned metallics counter the more clinical influence of cool grays and white, adding richness, depth and color. Forget about their elemental composition and just consider their color ~ gold and pink.… Continue reading...

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...

How to Paint Small Rooms

Domino MagazineDomino Magazine
Domino magazine asked your resident Paint Color Consultant, Amy Krane, how to handle color in small rooms. There is so much contradictory advice out there about how to paint small rooms. This article attempts to sort through the clutter and define some concrete rules. Spoiler alert, two of us were interviewed and even we disagreed sometimes! Nevertheless, find some helpful how-to’s when it comes to small room color. Domino magazine: What you should know about painting a small room. Things to consider? How much natural light is there, when do you use the room, how high are the ceilings, how much time do you spend in the room.… Continue reading...

6 Beautiful Whites that Cover all the Bases

Amy Krane Color
White is like any paint color. There is no one best. It’s all about context and your design goals.  Best depends on best for what. There are thousands of white paint colors available. White is considered the ultimate neutral. White paint colors have relatively little hue so some think that makes them easy to choose. They’re not. Neutral whites without pronounced undertones are few and not necessarily the best choice for every application. What do you want your white to do, brighten and lighten? Its success is based on how much natural light is in the room. White walls in an area with no natural light can look dingy if not chosen well.… Continue reading...

Autumn Colors for your Home

brown bedroomAmy Krane Color
If you have a hankering to do some permanent redecorating this time of year, consider some toastier autumn colors for your walls. As a color expert I suggest brown, plum, mustard, taupe and burnt orange to conjure up feelings of coziness, perfect for the colder months. We all know switching out a summer wardrobe for a winter one is as easy as taking our sweaters out of storage and packing the sandals away. The white pants get a final cleaning then move to the rear of the closet and our deep dark tones come to the forefront. It’s a little more complicated with home decor but that doesn’t mean you can’t accessorize differently for the colder months.… Continue reading...

10 Paint Color Mistakes We’re All Guilty of?

Amy Krane Color in Elle Decor
Well not all of us make color mistakes! Elle Decor reached out to interior paint color expert Amy Krane to find out what common color mistakes people make when choosing paint colors. Find out what they are and how to avoid them here at Elledecor.com. It’s easier and easier to educate yourself about using color in the build world these days. There are so many online advice columns, online magazines and blogs to help you along the way not to mention the millions of photos you can study on Pinterest and Houzz. Paint color mistakes don’t have to happen to you.  Listening to my podcast Let’s Talk (paint) Color you’ll hear tons of color advice to help you on your way.… 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...