Color Buzz

Mexican Colors

By Michèle Coppin

When temperatures drop and frost moves in, when nature pales and the days shorten, I turn to Mexico.



I long for sun and color, for chilies, for songs with "Corazon" in every sentence, straw hats, Sangria and little towns where the cobblestone streets are lined with abstract paintings—palettes of vivid colors—that echo like poems.

 

Colors in Mexico are so site-specific; they reflect orange sunlight, acid blue skies, red hot peppers, the sound of bullfights, turquoise stones, green taxis, silver mines, purple shawls, black hair, golden mangoes, pink watermelons and brown earth. These vibrant colors have inspired many artists who have paintings tucked away in museums and private collections. My favorites, however, are the true Mexican muralists—the home owners simply embellishing their walls and doors for all to admire!



If you are like me and crave spice in your life, these wild, and sometimes unusual, color schemes are right at your finger tips - just go to Valspar's Globe Trotting Color Trends where you can create your own ethnically saturated and spicy color combinations.



By using the simple technique of color washing, you can create that beautiful, worn, old look on your walls. The visible, overlapping brush strokes resemble weathered stucco. This is ideal for imperfect walls, as the subtle textured finish helps hide imperfections. It works particularly well with brighter colors like yellows, oranges and reds.

After painting your base coat, simply apply a bright golden glaze in random crossing patterns like overlapping X's. For a wall that glows, work lightly allowing the base coat to show through.

Holiday Home

As the holidays approach, we thought it would be fun to dedicate Fridays to Holiday Home ideas. Getting your house ready for the season's celebrations can be exhausting, but it can also be a great deal of fun and a chance to unleash some caged-up creativity. These are projects you can easily accomplish in a weekend.  They will involve painting and color. If any of you have ideas you would like to submit, please join in.

We thought the best place to start is right at the front door. How welcoming will your guest feel as they approach a beautiful richly painted red door?

          For a traditional look try:
         
              Classic Red 1009- 2

        For an updated fresh look try:
          
             Berry Blush 1004-1A

            
           For a spiced-up look try:
          
           Woodlawn Salsa 2003-3A

           For an ultra deep look try:

          
       La Fonda Antique Red 2002-5A

 

Front Doors

Michele Coppin

Rather than painting the entire exterior, why not try a fresh coat of paint on the front door to update your home’s appeal? When choosing a color, consider the door’s surroundings. There is often a color you can find to coordinate with the existing materials. By choosing a shade lighter or darker than what is already there, you will give a sense of unity to your house.

The red in this door picks up the color of the brick while the contrasting green outlines it nicely.

For a door that makes a big impact on its own, pick an inviting color that you like.


 

This blue door has so much personality!

                           

 

For a luxurious, creamy look, a gloss or semi gloss exterior paint works best, like Valspar Duramax Satin Finish.

When using several colors, follow the structure of the door and let the panels guide you.  This will highlight any interesting characteristics in the woodwork. 

Which ever way you go, say no to blandness, say yes to color and embrace your door!