Color Buzz

Friday Project Series - The Color Wash Technique

By Veronique Linnett
 
Since Ann, Michele and I were in Los Angeles this week doing a makeover for the “Love, Our Style” contest winner, I would like to share a technique we used called a color wash. It is a fantastic and easy painting technique which works especially well when using bold colors. In this case, we used two shades of earthy and sunny oranges to highlight a central column in the apartment. The use of two shades or sometime even three shades, create depth and texture to the wall, giving the impression that the wall is lit from within.

What you will need:

        
Cinnamon Cake 3010-6     Orange Glaze 3009-6

- Two shades that would work great together, one lighter one darker.
- 4'' Chip brush
- Three plastic buckets
- Water
- Aluminum pie or cake pan
- Blue painter’s tape

How to:
  

1) Carefully tape around the area you want to paint.
2) Dispense each shade of paint into a separate plastic bucket and use the 3rd bucket for water.
3) Dip your brush in the water, then in each shade of paint to add to your cake pan, leaving the colors separate in the pan.
4) Then proceed to paint the wall dipping your brush alternately between your two shades and the water.
5) You can blend the colors more or less depending of the amount of color contrast you want.
6) When paint is dry, you can go back in the same manner over painted area. The more coats, the smoother the effect.

For the full effect, check out our video demonstrating the color wash technique: 

Color of the week: La Fonda Fireberry

Last week’s Color of the Week was La Fonda Fireberry. This festive color is a fiery red. Try this as an accent wall or go for the whole room, but give it some balance by bringing in some cool colors like Oatbran, Ivory Brown or Bleached Shadow.

          
La Fonda Fireberry 1010-1     Oatbran 6006-1B

          
Ivory Brown 6006-1C         Bleached Shadow 4002-1C

 

Recent Fashion Trends

By Veronique Habermann

As we experience the first cool mornings, it is our seasonal desire to update the clothes in our closet. With the country slowly recuperating from a recession, a new wardrobe is out of the question for most. Here are a few trends for this fall that might already be in your closet.

Neon Pink:

Marc Jacob and Michael Kors, both have a rainbow of neon shades in their fall 2009 collections, but it is the pink highlighter hue that works on all skin tones. Pair it with black for a most 80s inspired adaptation or use it as an accessory for a more subdued approach.

Monotone Look:

This is another trend that doesn't require a lot of spending. As Narciso Rodriguez showed in his fall 09 collection, a "one color head to toe look" that is lengthening and flattering if you stay with neutral colors (no neon here) like beige, grey and black of course.

Red and Pink:

Jason Wu and Oscar De La Renta paired these two colors together. The added black elements, either in print or with accessories worked and kept the look more sophisticated than Valentine's Day.

Seasonal Confusion:

Between one shoulder dresses and tops, hot colors, flowing lightweight fabrics and sleeveless shift dresses that are "tres chic" this fall, it seems that seasons are getting blended and that is great! Why not wear your past summer, favorite yellow silk dress with a black cashmere cardigan and black knee high boots?

ABC Carpet

By Veronique Habermann

Recycled beauties! Any décor-savvy New Yorker shopper knows about ABC Carpet & Home. It has been around since 1897, and is the place to go for the largest choice of quality carpets in the world, from custom carpets to one-of-a-kind antiques. They also have a home department, with everything from tabletops to lighting. ABC Carpet is a place where beauty and eco-friendliness merge, and where craftsmanship matters. I love this store!


They recently came up with a new line of carpet called Color Reform. They are transforming unusable vintage rugs by neutralizing the old original color and then over-dying with bold colors to create these remarkable hues that are unique and so beautiful. I love the concept of recycling to create these lovely carpets and I love the results – very inspiring!

Surprising Fall Color: Pink

By Michele Coppin

This fall season, we are celebrating an unexpected color: PINK! Pink is not often thought of as particularly autumnal and yet, nature sparkles with pink highlights this time of year:

Russian painter  and brilliant colorist Wassily Kandinsky balanced his 1908 painting "Fall in Bavaria" with pink accents.

And Pantone designers have identified it as one of the major colors for the months to come:

"Rapture Rose adds sparkle to the fall palette. It artfully captures the vibrancy of fuchsia and the softness of pink. Underscored by nurturing and feminine tones, Rapture Rose enlivens the more traditional subdued fall hues. Look for it in cosmetics, clothing and accessories."


For a fall palette, Rapture Rose Pink goes very well with earth tones. Consider using the color as an accent to perk up muted forest green shades or as a base color balanced by autumn hues.

For a fresh, dynamic effect, try it with:

      
Berry Twist 1002 - 1C        Brisk Olive 6002 - 4A

For a warm, intimate effect, try it with:

 
  Frontier Road 3011 - 10

For an elegant, glam effect, try it with:

 
Montpellier Ashlar Gray 6004 - 1C

Friday Project Series – Halloween Pumpkins with a Twist of Color

I have to confess, Halloween is one of my absolute favorite holidays. Two main reasons come to mind. One, I love this time of year! The air is getting crisp, cool and clean. The colors...the COLORS are indescribably beautiful. And two, this is the one holiday that puts so much emphasis on an individual’s creativity, from costumes to Jack-O-Lanterns.

This year, I’ve decided to add a twist to pumpkin carving. They have always had a charming effect, whether they showcase a friendly grin or a frightening face. Rather than simply carving pumpkins this year, I thought I would try to incorporate spray paint. 

As much as I love simply carving the great orange orb, I thought it might be fun to take the color in a new direction. I went down to Stonewall Gardens, the local pumpkin retailer to pick up one or two little round ones.  I’ll be back with my son and daughter this weekend, but I wanted to get a jump start for this blog.


Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought I’d paint the first pumpkin pink pumpkin and carve a ribbon into the front. For the second pumpkin, I decided to take a more classic route—with a color twist of course. 


First, I spray painted the first one pink. I put it in a cardboard box to keep the mess to a minimum. I always wear a mask too. 

Once this is done, I drew out the ribbon then proceeded to cut it out using one of those great little mini saws you get in pumpkin carving kits.

I then sprayed the second pumpkin with Valspar’s Silver Metallic paint and carved  with a classic hallow grin.

Now all we need are trick-or-treaters. Better go get some candy!

 

A Baroque Bedroom

By Michele Coppin

For those of you who love lush Baroque styles, dramatic interiors, hot colors and theatrical settings, know that you are not alone. One of history's most fascinating couples, Marie Antoinette and her husband King Louis XVI, did too.

Their respective bedrooms at Versailles Palace are a testimony to the late 18th century grandeur of the French Dynasty.

Of course, they were a bit over the top and as we know, it all ended tragically (taking from the poor is very wrong). However, taking, borrowing and stealing ideas and inspiration from the king and queen's extravagant style is just fine.

Baroque calls for multitudes of reds and golds, dark wood, pillows, intricate ornamentation and heavy furniture. This passionate style is popular with newlyweds, like this slightly toned down, but gorgeous bedroom from the honeymoon suite at the very elegant Lafarge Perry Bed and Breakfast in Newport Rhode - Island.

Color Me Happy

Color plays a huge part in affecting our mood and emotions. Drab, muted tones can have a calming effect, but if you're already feeling a little down, you might want to spice it up with a few pops of bright color.

Sunshine Daydream
Bring in colors that are rich and saturated, like bright yellow. Pair this with a milky white and a fiery orange to add bold sunshine to your room. To maintain balance in the room, add touches of gray, silver and light violet.

For a splash of orange, try this Dandelion Field Silk Pillow from Target:

                                               

             

 Sunny Jonquil 3010-1  Elizabethan Yellow 3009-1  Fresh Persimmons 2009-1

Burst of Red
Red is an ultra fun color, especially if used sparingly. Try it on one wall of a room, or hang red drapes. You could even anchor a room with a racy red couch like the Hampton sofa in Cardinal or a warm, cozy red rug like the Medina rug from West Elm. It will add a little fire to your life.

 

                            
                        La Fonda Fireberry 1010-1

I Love Pink!

By Veronique Haberman

I’m not ashamed to say it – pink is my favorite color. But that doesn't mean that I wear a lot of pink or that my bedroom walls are pink. Pink is such a strong color with so many associations (think Barbie, Paris Hilton, etc.), and pink has a huge place in my life. In my wardrobe, I think the less the better, as it actually has a stronger impact this way. So, gray dress with pink shoes? Yes (this is what I am actually wearing today).  Pink dress with gray shoes, no.

I just moved into this fantastic old, factory loft with brick walls, strong beams, high ceilings and lots of stainless steel. I decorated it with my usual shades of gray, neutrals and a bit of yellow, with an old metal road sign on the wall. I also painted my table top with artichoke. I was still a bit bored, but then the magic happened!

I bought these great, rubber gloves from Whole Foods for only $5. The brand is Casabella and they are not yellow, but this wonderful, perfect shade of pink. Check out my always-so-chic friend Christ modeling them. So here are these rubber gloves sitting beside my sink, and they made me happy.  As a matter of fact, I couldn’t imagine what my kitchen area would look like without them; I wanted more!

So I started buying flowers in various shades of pink, but I still wanted more. Then I bought fuchsia kitchen towels. Okay, it was getting there, but it still needed something else. I then remembered that I have a favorite chair, but its paint was old and unappealing. So I grabbed a can of Valspar Pink Burst and within minutes the room was transformed! I love the fact that my son and boyfriend, who are not pink lovers, surprisingly thought it was cool. By using pink as an accent and using the boldest, unashamed shades of pink, it looks more like modern art than Barbie. What do you think?

                                                                                             

                                                Pink Burst 1003-1A

Metallic Copper

By Michele Coppin

Metallic colors have surfaced as one of today’s most significant color trends with copper, bronze and brass hues high on the list this fall.

From Hollywood. . .



. . . to Main Street. . .


. . . these rich, warm metal tones take orange a step further, and add a bit of flare. Sophisticated, yet earthy, they add glint and shine, as well as a beautiful sense of depth to any surface.

In order to create this effect in your home, use Valspar’s Brushed Pearl technique. Valspar's instruction guide notes that this decorative painting method “imparts a dimensional iridescent finish to walls. This faux finish is subtle, incorporating gentle tones for a muted effect. It's simple to apply and will add elegance and sophistication to any room.”

Whether used on a wall or as an accent color, these metallic finishes are a fabulous complement to living rooms and dining rooms, infusing them with a touch of glamor.

Copper’s functional beauty also lends itself well to kitchens, as the bold, bright color of polished copper cookware has never gone out of style.