Color Buzz

The Shades and Colors of Parisian Doors

by Michèle Coppin

 

Tidal Teal 5006 – 8B	Woodlawn Wilson Putty 6006 – 1A	Belle Grove Valley Fog 5003 – 1B	Liquid Jade 5003 – 6B

I recently spent a few rainy days in Paris being inspired by the subtle shades of the doors of small glittering cafés and the grand entrances of little palaces.

Design Dilemma - Brightening Up a Brick House

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Shoreline Haze 6008-1B	Fairmont Penthouse Stone 6008-1C	Lucy Blue 5001-5C

Hello Beehive,
What would you suggest for the exterior of his house so that it looks more updated? I would like to leave the brick as is. Thanks,
Sou P., Seabrook, TX

Color of the Week - Potter's Rock

Potter's Rock 1007-9A	Oatlands Subtle Taupe 6005-1B	Spa Pool 5002-6A

For those of you who are looking for a darker exterior color, this week’s color choice is for you.  Potter’s Rock is a warm brown with caramel undertones that is an inviting color for the outside of your home.  Lighten it up with trimmings of Oatlands Subtle Taupe and add accents of a brighter color like Spa Pool for a bold effect.

Color of the Week - Hubbell House Tamarisk

Hubbell House Tamarisk 6004-5C	Whitewash Oak 7006-23	Tempered Sage 6006-5A

Building upon the theme of exteriors, let’s take a closer look at the main focal point of your home – the front door! For a warm, inviting entrance, try this week’s color choice, Hubbell House Tamarisk. This soft, silver sage will give your home an instant kick and make neighbors green with envy. Use this hue to liven up a simple Whitewash Oak paint job, or pair it with Tempered Sage and Voyage accents for added flare.

Design Dilemma - Exterior Paint Trim With Red Brick Home

Jekyll Club Cherokee Tan 6008-2A	Shoreline Haze 6008-1B	Sandalwood 6008-2B

Dear Beehive,
Can you suggest paint trim and paint for a red brick home with black/gray roof?  I was thinking of black trim with a beige for the outer walls.  What are your thoughts or suggestions to make our home look great?

Thank you,
Paula A., Burleson, TX

Red Front Doors

By Megan Leblond

People create red doors all over the world. Where did this colorful practice originate? Like many design traditions, it was formed by religious practices—the most notable: feng shui and Catholicism.

Thought to be a feng shui tradition, a red door is believed to be a bringer of stability and fortune. My sources tell me that this is an Americanized interpretation of the importance of a door in feng shui practice. Red is considered to be the most auspicious (of good omen, indicating future success) of all colors. But to say that a red door is good for any home would be a remedial interpretation of the practice of feng shui.

In Catholicism, a red door signifies that a sacrifice has been made and that ill fortune should pass by. The North, South, East and West doors of the church were painted red to signify the sacrifice of Jesus, and that those who enter would be safe from harm.  It was upon a red church door that Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses, thus marking reformed churches and giving specific meaning to the red door for Protestants and Lutherans.

Red doors are simply popular in the U.S. and all over the world. They are believed by many cultures to be welcoming and inviting. My own home was purchased with red doors and I have not had the urge to change them.

My Front Door

Below are some thoughtful reds for doors from the Valspar collection. You can use any finish for a door, but most people use gloss or semi gloss for doors for easy cleaning and a nice, crisp look.

For a Dark Brown or Black home try:

Fabulous Red 1011-2

For a white home try:

Classic Red 1009-2

For a light neutral or cream colored home try:

Baked Bahama 1006-3A

For a yellow or green home try:

La Fonda Antique Red 2002-5A

For a blue or grey home try:

Jekyll Clubhouse Terra Cotta 2002-5C

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!