Color Buzz

L.A. Makeover

Veronique, Michele and I are in Los Angeles this week working at Leo and Robert’s house. They are the winners of Valspar’s “Love, Our Style” contest.

Just to recap, Leo and Robert are a couple that were having trouble merging their two different styles and deciding on colors for their living room, which is a large open space with tall cathedral ceilings adjacent to the kitchen and an office/loft above.

We met with the homeowner and together developed a palette for their space based on discussing the colors they love and listening to the types of styles they gravitate towards. After hours of climbing scaffolds, racing up and down ladders and washing colors onto the walls, we are now heading into the home stretch. Everyone seems very pleased so far. I especially like the rust/orange column we’ve painted. Leo liked the lighter areas of it so I’m going to go over it a bit with some “Fancy Suede.”

The home has highly-textured walls, which are perfect for using the color wash technique. To get this look, set out two to three colors which blend nicely together. For this project, we put together Valspar’s Caraway Shield, Epic and Dry Earth. Have a bucket of water nearby as well as a pan where you can mix the colors before placing them on the wall—we like to use an old cake pan. To start, wet a three to four inch brush in the water then dip your brush in the various colors and start to wash the wall with them. Keep blending. When the colors dry, go back over here and there with another layer to soften the look. The result is a soft suede finish that brightens the room and looks great in any light. The finish also enhances textured walls and adds depth to the paint color.

We’re off to put the final touches on the home. Check back soon for the complete before and after photos. In the meantime, take a look at the final color palette we chose for Leo and Robert.

                   
Caraway Shield 6008-4B    Cinnamon Cake 3010-6      Orange Glaze 3009-6   

                   
  Dakota Trail 6008-3B  Woodlawn Misty Morn 6008-3A     Epic 6008-3C

Finding Your Favorite Color Combinations

By Megan Leblond
                                

If you are thinking about making changes in your home’s décor, color combinations can seem challenging and overwhelming. Fret not! You are your best compass.

From bold color combinations to the palest of hues, your sensibilities will reveal themselves. One way that I guide myself through color combinations is to simply recognize and take note of combinations that I like. There are often colors or combinations of colors that we “respond” to, but it doesn’t necessarily  mean that we “like” or “enjoy” them.

As a starting point, snip images of color combinations or styles of home décor that you like when you see them in magazines or catalogs. Print color images off the computer, or make copies from books whenever you feel compelled. You can also take photographs of colors or architectural elements you notice in your everyday activities. Please don’t wait until you are working on a project to do this!  It may seem elementary, but it is so helpful. 

 By gathering a stockpile of color combinations that you like, you will already have a great reference when the time comes to begin a project! Not only will this activity help you to recognize your taste, but it may also help you recognize how existing elements in your home can be reinvigorated. This collection will also help you create a visual when working with others working on the project.  

My own collection is filled with tons of snippets from Martha Stewart Living, Vogue, Horticulture Better Homes and Gardens, Real Simple and Dwell. These clippings can also help to narrow down, not only color combinations you love, but styles and elements you refuse to live without!  

Whatever you do, do not miss out on Valspar’s amazing collection of color palettes online. You can  maneuver through all types of palettes and paint a virtual room to see how your choices will appear together. This is a fantastic resource that anyone working on a DIY project should utilize. If you have any questions you would like to ask us, or if you have any images you would like to share of color combinations or projects you have completed, please send them along!

Take Your Sights Upward…Paint the Ceiling!

Everyone is always asking us about trends in color. One thing is for certain, they are always changing. Right now, yellow and gray are very hot. Check out last Sunday’s New York Times Magazine's photo spread of objects made in luscious honey yellow.

The designer, Sara Story, we worked with at Kips Bay created this fabulous hallway using these very colors.  I love, love, love the ceiling! It’s such a surprise. Ceilings are always so overlooked. I’m thrilled Sara thought to take our sites upward.  

For more ideas on trends, check out this cool article about trend forecasting in the New York Times. If you are out trend-spotting, send us what you find. We can see how many photos it takes to start something.

 

Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Sorry this blog is late in posting, but I had a late night out with friends after some of us checked out this year’s Kips Bay Decorator Show House. As one of my friends put it, “It’s the best one yet!”  If you are in the area I encourage you to go see for yourself, it’ll be there until May 22^nd. Some of the rooms there are truly inspiring. I loved seeing some of my favorite color combinations realized.

Geoffery Bradfield’s room combined a deep orange with tans. Very soothing and invigorating at the same time…like meditating with a cup of coffee in your hand. And there were lots of smoky lavenders in the various rooms – some were paired with taupes, tans, and blacks. You should check out a great New York Times article about the Show House by Penelope Green for more details on the rooms.

We were fortunate enough to be asked by the super talented designer Sara Story to produce a ceiling cloth for her room! Below are photos of our work in progress and the final result.

Her room is stunning. She has a soft, medium silver-grey on her walls with deep charcoal blue window treatments. The room’s trim is ivory, as is much of the furniture. To finish it off, there are touches of muted caramel. Very chic.

I’m going back in a couple of weeks and will report in more depth on what is there. Let us know what you think if you stop by!

      
                     Our storyboard                           Megan and Veronique painting

                                 

                                       That's me painting with our stencil
                     
                        

                                                The final result