Color Buzz

Le Petit Ecailler

By Michele Coppin

A few years ago, I decorated and painted a seafood restaurant called, "Le Petit Ecailler," which means "the little oyster shucker" in French. I began by painting the sign in ultra-marine blue which has been fading beautifully in the sun...and wind, and rain.

Inside the entrance, I created a beach scene with a lighthouse mural using fresh white and blue tones, reminiscent of the surrounding coastal environment. 

I painted the main dining room to resemble the wood planks of a sailboat's hull with rusty browns and oranges. The orange tones offer an elegant and classic look to the interior. Studies have shown that orange is actually an appetite stimulant, so it’s a great color to add to a dining room or kitchen.

In the stairwell leading down to the restrooms, I painted waves to suggest a descent underwater.

To complete the marine theme, I laced the restaurant's ceiling with white canvas sails. The look was ethereal and intimate.

Just recently, the bartender opened an explosive bottle of champagne spraying the ceiling. This, unfortunately, created enormous, yellow stains and I was called to the rescue. The work involved to take down and wash the canvases was too daunting, so it was my job to disguise the stains. In keeping with the nautical theme, I decided orange fish would fit in perfectly with the existing decor theme and the color palette.

I began by drawing templates of the fish design on paper.

Then, I traced the outline onto the ceiling and filled in the designated areas with an orange wash,  which actually blended nicely with the champagne. Next, I outlined the fish with off-white, loose brush marks to cover up the remaining splatters from the bubbly.

Finally, I added the final details, including a few white bubbles just for fun. I am told that happy hour customers enjoy the new addition above the bar!

 

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We recently posted a new Color Buzz Poll and we'd love to hear from you. What's most important to you when selecting paint? Check out the right sidebar to cast your vote!

Color of the Week - Leaf Bud 6005-5B

Last week’s color was Leaf Bud. Lively and fresh, this color would perk up any room. It would be especially nice in a kitchen with crisp white cabinets or in a bedroom with ivory linen and coral details. Take a deep breath and think spring!
                                     
                                        Leaf Bud 6005-5B

            

Light Your Color Palette

By Michele Coppin

Light drastically influences the appearance of colors. A sunlit landscape with a multitude of different colors under the luminous red and orange rays of dusk will be completely enveloped by the warm glow of the setting sun, the colors harmonizing under its golden palette.

This effect can make very different colors relate to one another. The same landscape at dawn will appear blue, the cold clouds tinting and cooling all the colors, shapes and shadows into a quiet uniformity.

 
This is called atmospheric or ambient color, referring to the color something appear to be, rather that its true color. Because of color’s tendency to change with light, it is very important to look at a color you are considering at different times of day as the appearance will change just like the landscapes.

It is also a good idea to look at the colors at night with artificial light, which makes the color appear differently at well. Ordinary artificial light is yellowish or orange and will make warm colors appear warmer, but may not work so well with colder colors such as some blues and greens. Fluorescent light is bluish or pinkish which may make cold colors appear very cold or unpleasant. 

Luckily, at Lowes' Valspar color chip display, you can check your colors under various light sources such as natural outdoor or midday, incandescent and fluorescent light. Be sure to also check the chip at home with your own light sources and surroundings.

Friday Project Series: Plant a Bee-Friendly Garden

No matter how scary, ugly or irritating most insects are, they all fulfill a key role in keeping our world in balance. Honey bees are no exception. Many people, including yours truly, find them beautiful, especially when they dance around flowers. But as many of you know, the population of honey bees is facing a sharp decline. This is a major concern for us because they help in the natural production of much of our food.

One way to help promote the livelihood of these helpful creatures is to plant a garden full of flowers. I got this list from Haagen Dazs, which has a great campaign to encourage all of us to help the honey bees by planting more flowers. Here are the tips they give:

Choose flowers that produce nectar and pollen such as: Sunflowers, Daisies, Cosmos, Zinnias, Dahlias, Asters, Marigolds, Hyacinths, Hollyhocks, Crocuses, Foxgloves and Geraniums.

                   

  

                        

Select an assortment of flowers that bloom successively over the spring, summer and fall, in order to provide food through all seasons.

Pick blue, purple, orange and yellow flowers - these are most attractive to honey bees.

Plant patches of like flowers in close proximity to one another.

Do not use pesticides!!!

If you don't have a yard to help the bees out, create a mini bee spot in a planter or flower pot. Hope you get to hear the buzzing beauties soon!

Celebrate the Earth

In the early 1970’s, Americans were concerned with leaded gas, sludge and smoke spewing from factories. On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans rallied to make a difference. Their mission was to bring awareness to the rest of America and begin a dialog about a healthy and sustainable environment. 

Earth Day was started in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson who wanted "to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda." 

The first Earth Day brought everyone together; Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, urban and rural dwellers, business leaders and labor leaders. It had powerful traction. For his successful efforts, Sen. Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor given to civilians in the United States.

In 1990, Earth Day went global. That year, 200 million people from 141 countries got together to raise awareness of environmental issues and concerns. This led to great worldwide recycling efforts and helped lead the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which focused on clean energy. 

Today, the popularity of Earth Day continues to grow, as does our appreciation of all that the earth provides us. There are many great ways to get involved. One activity I recommend considering is a photography project called Earth Mosaic. Rik Fairlie of the New York Times wrote a recent article encouraging everyone all around the planet to go out and take a picture of where they are during a 24 hour period. These images will then be uploaded to a site that will map the locations with the various pictures.

I encourage you all to find what’s beautiful in your surrounding area, take a picture and participate in this project. It could be very interesting to see the beauty in the world from others all over the planet!

To find out more, check in with www.earthday.net.

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We want to hear from you! Don't forget to cast your vote for the current Color Buzz Poll here. Thanks!

Results of 1st Color Buzz Poll - Living Rooms

From our first readers' poll, we learned that many of you would place your living room first on your "to paint" list.  Living rooms are a great way to make the most of your painting time and money because they are the public space of the house, where you entertain friends and family. From cocktails to children's play dates, this room is the stage for so many of life's enjoyable moments. Putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls can make a big difference.

For most of us, we want a cozy or maybe rustic living room where we can unwind. To create a cozy space, try a deep, rich color that you can incorporate with fabrics and rugs. A red could go nicely with colors of sand or stone. For a bold statement, try a red like Oatlands Upholstery Red 1008-3A. Staining the ceiling a bone color keeps a sense of lightness in the space.

If you prefer light and airy, try lighter shades to make a room feel more spacious. In this living room, the creamy whites play off each other and the soft neutrals give some dimension. The charcoal coffee table anchors the space. When working with whites, try to find ones that have a bit of brown and gray to them so that the color isn't mistaken for a pastel. To achieve this look, try Snow Cap 7003-8 or Romano 7003-15. 

The third living room we wanted to share pairs a rich, warm gold with fabrics of subtly lighter shades. This gives the walls more drama, but maintains the sophisticated atmosphere, while the blue accents add some kick. The room appears bigger as the eye moves out into the hall to rest on the gray-blue matting of the bird prints.

There are many ways to approach this very social room. Let us know how you treat your living room and what colors and textures are of interest to you

Color of the Week - Sea Kiss

Robin's egg blue is a beautiful, warm green/blue. Sea Kiss nicely represents this color. Try it in bedrooms, kitchens, hallways, powder rooms - any where you want a lively warm color. You can finish the Robin's egg vignette by pairing Sea Kiss with Ripe Pomegranate and Coral Gables Biltmore Mediterranean Mocha.

                             

  Sea Kiss 5005-9C          Ripe Pomegranate 2009-3       Coral Gables Biltmore
                                                                                   Mediterranean Mocha
                                                                                            2005-10A

Friday Project Series: $5 Earth Day Chair Project

By Megan Leblond

                                    

Have you heard about reclamation companies? Site managers that deconstruct existing buildings salvage all types of building materials. If you are starting a home project, consider contacting a reclamation company for items such as 2 x 4s, windows, wiring or heating elements. The costs are low, you will reuse existing materials that would otherwise go in a landfill and you will receive a tax deduction!

                  

 Next Wednesday, April 22, is Earth Day. To celebrate, get together with friends and family to refurbish or enhance existing furniture with materials you already have. This is a great way to save the earth and spend time with one another.                 

To begin, find a used piece of furniture you'd like to enliven and reuse. I went to a thrift store and picked up a used chair. The price was listed at $25, but when I mentioned that I was doing an Earth Day project they dropped it to $5!

                    

Once you have your object, use leftover primer or paint that you have saved from a past home decorating project. You can mix small amounts of leftover primer, paint and water to create a lighter version of a color already used in your home. You could also use the color to add a detail to the furniture, if the piece is in good shape.

If you are working with wood, use sandpaper to smooth the surface for better paint application. Then, add a thin coat of primer. If you don't have primer, don’t spend the money—just ask a friend or neighbor if they would like to join you in creating a reused and recycled Earth Day project without purchase. Pool your scrap resources together!    

                                          

If your furniture piece has a cloth element, consider what unique items you might use to re-cover it: Do you have fabric in your sewing box that you purchased but never used? Is there an article of clothing you don't wear anymore but just can't throw out because you adore the print? Do you have a curtain or comforter you don’t use but still love?

                                     

For my project, I covered the seat with a fabric sample, used primer and added a light color wash. Now I have a beautiful Earth Day chair that not only looks great, but makes me feel great because I know I made a difference! Remember, next time you try a DIY project, check out reclamation stores to see what useful items you can find.

Happy Earth Day!!

Prairie Home Colors

By Michele Coppin

For years, I have been fascinated by a little place in the great Northern Tundra called Lake Wobegon. Every week, I tune into "A Prairie Home Companion" on NPR to hear Garrison Keillor tell stories about this magical hometown where "all the women are strong, all the men are good looking and all the children are above average.”

I would like to know which colors inspire these characters.

To find the answer to this question, I traveled to the great state of Minnesota to find out. Minneapolis is a bustling modern city complete with lovely museums, the University of Minnesota, the famous Guthrie Theater and many parks and lakes.

When I arrived, the city was sheathed in frozen snow. I wondered around the downtown area and through the beautiful neighborhoods surrounding Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun to get a feel for the predominant colors local homeowners prefer.
 
It seems Minnesotans are inspired by the "Great Outdoors," when it comes to paint choices indoors and out. I found an elegant array of earth-tone palettes, all reflective of the nature within the city.

Pine green hue, reminiscent of the Great North Woods.

Straw yellow hue, reminiscent of the tall lake shore grass.

Water and sky white hues, reminiscent of the icy waters of the Great Lakes.

I then visited the famous Minneapolis International Market Square where more than 60 showrooms showcase furnishings, fabrics, paints, accessories and more. This excursion gave me a sense of what colors are popular in Minnesota interior design. Similar to what I saw on the outside, I discovered many earth-tones in the displays. Neutrals are very practical because they pair well with bolder colors. Many neutral tones are associated with natural materials, such as stone, wood, straw, sand or more artificial materials such as metal, glass and concrete. Neutrals can be cozy or elegant, and serve as a good background for combining different decorative styles. For example:

 

Java EB  36-2, Limestone EB 36-3 and Shore EB 12-3

Winter Wheat EB 46-3 and Almond Oil EB 46-4

Even though I discovered that Lake Wobegon is a fictional location in Minnesota, I was able to get a sense of what colors the Prairie Home Companion characters would have liked. I was also able to meet the nicest Midwesterners, who are all so friendly and easy going. I experienced their gentleness and love of nature, which is beautifully reflected in their choice of colors; subdued, elegant, laid-back and comfortable.

Robin's Egg Blue

By Megan Leblond

    

The robin has long been seen as a harbinger of spring in the United States. In the past week on the Northeast coast, I have seen our first spring robins! Hopping about the lawn, they are a delightful sight to see after such a long winter.

The robin is famous for its reddish-orange bosom and beautiful blue eggs. Many candy companies make robin’s egg treats to tuck into Easter baskets and celebrate the season. Did you know that the reason a robin's egg is blue is to hide it from color blind mammals? Lucky for us, we can see the cheerful color!

My favorite of these birds is the Rose Robin, seen above. This tubby robin is found in Southeastern Australia and its fantastic pink color is a happy treat for those who are lucky enough to catch a rare glimpse!

   

The popularity of robin’s egg blue has only amplified since Tiffany and Co. adopted a similar hue as its signature color. They certainly recognized the appeal of this fresh and simple springtime color. 'Tiffany Blue' has been trademarked in the U.S. and other countries, which is a very difficult process for a single color. The color must make its way through the World Trade Organization to achieve this status.

The beautiful aqua color can add both an energetic and soothing look to a home. Often paired with dark brown, the color does not stray too far from its natural origin—the bird! If you have a room that is dull and dreary, a fresh coat of light aqua will certainly brighten the space.

Here are some lovely Valspar colors for spring:

                       
Woodlawn Blue Angel 5003-9B         Gentle Wave 5007-7C

                        
        Pale Cordovan 3010-7                   Labrador 3009-9

                               
                               Cosmic Pink 1001-1A

Don't forget to take our Color Buzz Poll about where you find your color inspiration.