Color Buzz

Design Dilemma - Neutralizing Carpet with Color

Sahara Sands 2007-8B	Churchill Maple 2008-8B	Rodeo Dust 1008-10B

Dear Beehive,
I just bought a house where there will be lots of rooms to paint (they removed the wallpaper thank goodness!)  The master room has salmon carpeting.  What color will downplay the carpeting?

Thank you!
Lisa A., Green Bay, WI

Friday Project Series: How to Paint a Faux Stone Pot

by Veronique Habermann

I love flowers but I am not crazy about the pots that contain them! Here is a project that “blends” my boring terra cotta pot with the stone patio. I like the way it makes the pot disappear and my new hibiscus, the star of the show. (Hopefully I won’t kill it within two weeks, I unfortunately don’t have a green thumb!) You can use this painting method on many other projects, it works great too for unsightly home foundations that just call for disappearing, just make sure you use a combination of colors that match the surrounding ground.

Design Dilemma - Balancing Warm and Cool Shades

Sandy Cove 3005-10A	Caraway Seed 3005-9C	Pelican 4007-1A	Lighthouse Shadows 4008-3B

Hi Beehive!
We just bought our first home and it is painted brown. We want it to remain light brown or sand in the main rooms (Florida open floor plan) and paint the dining room a cool, lighter blue. My dilemma is that I have no idea what a good choice is without going too dark or too light. Do you have any ideas on a sand/brown warm for the entry way and family room/kitchen and a blue that will complement the dining room? I'd be grateful for any suggestions.
Best wishes,
Liz P., Valrico, FL

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

Exterior Colors Harmonize with Nature in Hilton Head

by Michèle Coppin
Lyndhurst Jade 5004-E2	Jekyll Grand Dining Sea Mist 5006-3C	Lyndhurst Castle Sand 5008-1C

Some houses will do anything to stand out – but on the beautiful island of Hilton Head, it is just the opposite. Homes seem to disappear in their surroundings, discreetly tucked in among grand old trees, sprawling bushes and vines. Like giant chameleons, houses blend with Spanish moss and appear only as reflections in ponds.  

Classic Camel Never Loses Appeal

by Veronique Habermann

Glowing Dune 3006-9C	Warm Buff 3002-10A	City Chartreuse 6008-6C	Caraway Seed 3005-9C	Antelope Hide 3005-7B

I know spring is barely here, but I can’t wait to talk about next fall! After New York Fashion Week and the European shows, which recently ended, I cannot contain my joy over the return of one of my favorite colors: Camel. The color was everywhere in the fashion shows, with designers such as Chloe showcasing a variety of camel-themed hues in their designs. If you would like to see more fashion inspiration, Fashionista’s Lauren Sherman wrote a detailed piece on the style trend.

Whether you choose a greener or warmer version, camel is a great color to use as an inspiration for deciding on a color palette for your room.  I particularly love a combo with cream and grays for a soft classic look, or with darker browns and khakis for a comfortable modern look.

Design Dilemma – Newlywed Bedroom Color

Hi!

I am getting married in 7 weeks and my fiancé and I are looking for the right color to paint our bedroom.  I’d like it to be warm, in the yellow family without it being too bright of a yellow.  If a color had a smell, it would smell like almond and vanilla. I’m attaching a picture of the bedding we’re using, but the walls in the picture are lighter than I’d like ours to be. Any suggestions? Thank you!

Erin K., Waco, TX

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Hi Erin,

Love that bedding.  Those colors are so cozy and sophisticated at the same time. 

For a deep warm vanilla try looking at:

Prairie Dance 3006-10A (most neutral)	Belle Grove Light Amber 3006-8B
Redstone Dining Room	Honeysuckle Beige 3007-6A (most yellow).

Let us know if these colors are in the right direction. Try some of the sample pots.  It's always good to take a little test run.

All the best,

Ann

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

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

Design Dilemma: Pat's Family Room

Dear Ann,

I'm looking for help on colors for our family room. The picture is of the fireplace wall and shelving. Our trim is a medium oak and I am planning to put in new light and floor tile. I would like to use neutral colors which also have style and aren’t bland. What do you suggest? More than one color suggestion would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Pat