Color Buzz

Design Dilemma: Melissa's Bathroom

Dear Ann,

I have a small bathroom with the old style, aqua-bluish tub/toilet and sink. What color paint should be used to calm those down? The floor has a very light shade of blue tile and the counter top is white with blue swirls and stained woodwork.

Thanks,

Melissa

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Hey Melissa,

When you have a color you want to downplay, the first rule is "don't fight it". Find a soft neutral that will subdue the tone, and then bring in accents with colors to distract the eye. In your case, with aqua, I would go with a neutral that has a touch of green/gray to harmonize with the green of the dominant color. Take a look at Cliveden Mist or White Scallion. Then bring in colors you do want to emphasize through your shower curtain, towels and bath mat/rug. Try bringing in rusts or deep coral/roses in small doses. You could also try bringing in navy which can look very crisp and modern against aqua. Let us know how it goes!

Best,

Ann

                                   
               Cliveden Mist 6007-1A                  White Scallion 6006-3A

Bathroom Compromise

By Michele Coppin

Francis and Daisy are engaged and Daisy is preparing to move in with Francis - into his bachelor pad... Francis has been living alone and has not bothered to paint or decorate his house, yet he does have strong feelings about any transformations in his home. They have decided to start with the small bathroom, which has dirty, white walls and pretty, pale gray blue tiles.

Francis likes earthy tones where as Daisy prefers light pastels. I was brought in to mediate...

We looked at a variety of colors that either blended with the tiles or enhanced them. 

We settled on an elegant brown, making Francis very happy. The color is also soft and smoky which pleases Daisy. Furthermore, Roadhouse Tavern beautifully enhances the pale blue tiles, satisfying Daisy's desire for pastels.

   
Roadhouse Tavern 2002-9B

But she still felt that the walls were a bit masculine and needed more of a feminine touch...

So we went to Michael's where she chose a pretty stencil, which we applied in the same shade of blue as the tiles, tying the blue and the brown perfectly.

The overall effect is a combination of warmth and elegance, resulting in a happy couple who knows how to compromise.

Design Dilemma – Designing Around Harvest Gold Fixtures

Dear Beehive Designers,

We have a somewhat small bathroom that has a harvest gold tub, shower and vanity top.

I have painted the vanity console "Country White" and the walls are a taupe/gray. I want to paint the walls a new color that will compliment the gold fixtures or make them blend in, rather than stand out.

There are no windows so I'm leery about using a dark color since the space is so small. Should I go with a pale yellow or maybe a shade of green? I need help!!!

Thanks,
Cheryl

………………………….

Dear Cheryl,

Don't give up hope! The harvest gold is actually not so bad. There's a reason so many of our homes were cove red in it in the mid-70s—it’s trying to "fix" what is already there that causes the problems. 

Your floor looks really cool. The red has a powerful punch. To compliment this, I would put a warm white on the walls like Whitewashed Oak. Try to find a white that will work with the grout, then have fun with accessories. 

 

I found this shower curtain at Target:

 

You could add something bold in a monochromatic tone will pack a punch. You want to keep the eye at play but not to over work it, especially in a bathroom. I recommend a navy and white print. The navy is a nice compliment to the harvest gold.  It stands up on its own and the complete palette offers a fun spin on all three primary colors.

If any of you readers out there have ever worked with Harvest Gold, jump in.  We'd love to hear your stories and ideas.

Good luck!

Ann McGuire

The Winter Blues

By Michele Coppin

Winter blues are beautiful. Just think about the water, sky, ice, shadows, and snow. Shades of blue can be mysterious or crisp. I find most blues to be a true source of inspiration.

        

Many people consider blue as their favorite color. Blue is often the color new mothers choose when they are expecting a boy and it is often the color preferred by men (although some may argue!). Reminiscent of the sky and water, representing freshness and purity, blue creates feelings of calmness, serenity, peace, tranquility, safety and order—qualities we need in these tumultuous times. It is a spiritual color that stimulates the imagination, inspires our dreams and helps us focus during meditation.

Russian painter W. Kandinsky was once quoted as saying, "The inclination of blue to depth is so strong that its inner appeal is stronger when its shade is deeper. The darker the shade of the blue color, the stronger is its call to the infinite, the stronger the yearning for purity and finally the transcendental."

Indeed, blue encourages self-knowledge and inner search. Blue is also an invitation to travel, a call to adventure. Because it is the color of the vast oceans, blue suggests voyages, discoveries and distant horizons.
 
Blue can be a cheerful color, but it is usually regarded as calm and relaxing, creating a sensation of clarity and spaciousness. In Feng Shui, blue is the symbol of tranquility of the mind. The color encourages positive thinking and is often used to decorate offices because blue promotes productivity and concentration.

Blue is a good choice for bedrooms because its serene, soothing nature facilitates sleep. Because blue is often associated with water, hygiene, freshness and cleanliness, blue is also a favorite in bathrooms. I enhanced my blue bathroom with a combination of blue and white Mexican tiles:

                    

The only room where I would not recommend using blue paint is the kitchen. There are very few, if any, foods that are blue and the color does not stimulate our hunger. Because blue is not the most appetizing color, it is recommended only as an accent in kitchens.

There are many colors that pair well with blue, but as a general rule, you can’t go wrong with white or gray.

Pale blue goes well with yellow and creamy beiges.

                                 

                           Celestial Blue 4003-5C   Champagne Tickle 3001-2C

Teal and turquoise go well with browns and earth tones and pinks.

                                  

                           La Fonda Teal 5007-8B     Berry Brandy 1005-9B 

Navy blue goes well with red, strong pinks and white. 

                                           

                        Atlantic Schooner 4004-6C   Fabulous Red 1011-2

Purple-blue go well with greens.

                                      

                  Oatlands Velvet Night 4001-8B   Meadow Wind 6005-7B

For more on the history of blue, I recommend checking out Michel Pastoureau's gorgeous book "Blue, the History of a Color.” 

 

Color of the Week - Mystic Sea

Last week, our Color of the Week was a light aqua called Mystic Sea. This is a soft, somewhat muted aqua that leans towards green. It's bright and clean and would look great in a bedroom or bath. Try it with a warm tan like Sandy Cove and an off white like Whitewashed Oak and add a punch of color like Rushing Rapids.

                                     
                      Mystic Sea 5007-7A                Sandy Cove 3005-10A    

                                     
                 Whitewashed Oak 7006-23         Rushing Rapids 5001-8A

             

We Love This Old House

Just got my copy of November's This Old House ...I love it for many reasons.  One, because they talk about how an old house doesn't need insulation to be warm...can't wait to read that over a steaming bowl of soup.  And second, the Beehives and I were featured in the article entitled, “3 Small Spaces, 9 Bold Color Ideas.” 

This issue has a great spread on how to create color washes, and do a nice job demonstrating technique with many nice color examples.  In the article we contributed to, we talk about many different ideas from using bold colors in an entry (your favorite color is a great way to welcome guest) to using lively kitchen colors to wake you up each morning to adding energy to the small space of a bathroom.

Here are a few Valspar colors to consider:

Entry ideas
 
Trim: 
       
    Woodrow Wilson Putty 6006-1A

Walls:                                             Door:
                  
          Smoked Oyster 6005-1C              Orange Maple 2010-5      

Kitchen ideas

Ceiling:                                          Walls: 
                 
             Polar Star 4005-1A                 Field of Daisies 3003-1B

Bathroom ideas

Ceiling:                                          Walls:  
                   
  Fairmont Penthouse Stone 6008-1C         Jazzy 4005-8B

Trim:                                               Floor: 
                   
          Whitewash Oak 7006-23               Sandalwood 6008-2B
 

Design Dilemma - Courtney's Bathroom

Hi Beehives,

My fiancé and I just recently took down the terrible wall paper in a bathroom in our new home.  We can't decide on a color to paint it because of the complication that it has harvest gold bathroom fixtures - toilet, tub, and sink. 
      
The bathroom is tiled in a neutral-speckled beige tile, but we want to add some spark of color as the hallway leading to it and the two guest rooms on either side of it will be painted in Valspar's Woodrow Wilson Putty.           

                                    
                              Woodrow Wilson Putty 6006-1A

I received some advice from you about La Fonda Ecru instead of Woodrow Wilson Putty in a comment on my blog, but I had already purchased the paint. So, this time I'm doing it the right way, I'm getting your advice first! 

Thank you!

Courtney

Design Dilemma - Lin's Attic

Hello,

I used the Belle Grove Light Amber in our new bath and it looks fantastic! Any suggestions on the rest of the space? It is a recently finished attic in an old Victorian home. The space has a high ceiling with slanted and knee walls. The floors are a light birch so I want to make sure to compliment that as well. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

Thanks so much.

Lin

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Lin-

I'm so glad Belle Grove Light Amber has worked out for you.  It's a great warm color that is golden but not overly yellow.  A nice compliment for that would be Quiet Mint 5003-1A.  It's a cool color so it will have expansive qualities which are important for an angled attic ceiling.

Let us know how it goes...

 

 

                            

         Belle Grove Light Amber 3006-8B               Quiet Mint 5003-1A

                                                      

Gold, Silver and Bronze

Gold, Silver, and Bronze... medals are on everyone’s minds with the Olympics. Gold and copper are the oldest metals used by people dating back to 6000 B.C.  Next came silver (4000 B.C.) and iron (1500 B.C.). Metals of the past were used typically for jewelry, coins, adornment and gifts.  We now adorn our homes in fixtures made of metal.  Whether it is in light fixtures, stair cases, door knobs or bathroom fixtures, metals are present in our personal spaces.

If you are thinking of changing some of the fixtures in your home or are looking for a way to integrate wall color with your existing fixtures, here are some helpful tips!

Brass or Gold Fixtures: These are warm-toned and go nicely with many paint colors. But avoid complex colors like warm grays. Instead, stick to brighter colors and tints so the brightness of your fixtures and walls will match. (A tint is any color with white added to it.)

Brushed or Matte Gold fixtures: These are even more versatile than a polished look, with warm tones and a finish that is both contemporary and traditional at the same time. Remember to use an eggshell or satin finish when choosing paint color combinations with these fixtures. If you love pastels, I suggest the brushed or matte gold finish, but darker colors also work nicely with this gold.

Design Dilemma - Diane

Hi there,

We took down the wallpaper in our master bathroom and are having difficulty picking a color. We are not planning on re-doing the whole bathroom and would like to work with the tile and counter tops we have already. The counter tops are white and light to medium grey marble and the tile is the same around the tub and shower. It’s off our bedroom, which has been painted a medium warm shade of beige with one dark red wall. Does the bathroom have to match with the bedroom too?

Although the bathroom has a large window and skylight, we prefer warm, nature inspired medium tones as opposed to pastel shades or very dark colors, but we are open to any suggestions. The doors and trim are white and we are going to tile the floor, which has not been picked out yet. Help!!

Diane

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Dear Diane,

The bathroom doesn't have to match the bedroom, but you want to have a nice transition. I love that you painted one of your walls bright red.

For the bathroom, try Hopsack which is a warm beige-grey. If you want to go even warmer, try Cliveden Sandstone. This has a bit more green/gold to it. For a cooler approach, try Polished Silver.

Let us know if any of these directions work.

Best,
Ann

   
     Hopsack 3003-10B     Cliveden Sandstone 3007-10B    Polished Silver 4008-1B