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

Los Angeles Couple Wins Valspar’s Makeover!

Lately, we have posted a series of stories with tips and advice on how newlyweds and couples can merge styles as part of a program with Valspar. The “Love, Our Style” program also included a contest for couples to share their design dilemmas to win the ultimate prize of a room makeover.

I am happy to announce our grand prize winner, Leo and Robert from Los Angeles! The couple will receive a free paint and décor makeover from Beehive Studios, courtesy of Valspar.

Leo and Robert want to highlight their impressive collection of artwork in their home. But tall cathedral ceilings, a loft, and large open spaces create a challenge for the couple when deciding on colors for each room.

Leo likes bright, splashy colors, while Robert enjoys more subtle earth tones. For this couple, we had to choose a palette of colors to distinguish each room, enhance the art and bring a sense of unity to the entire apartment. 

This couple was on the right track because looking at favorite art is a great way to find color inspiration. Working with their artwork, we recommended a warm environment with bright elements to complement both of their individual styles and bring out the subtleties of each painting. As part of their online color consultation, we suggested:

        

Ancient Scroll 3008-8B or Dakota Trail 6008-3B: These warm neutrals for the living room will give a soft background to enhance the artwork and make it a focal point.  

         

Woodlawn Misty Morn 6008-3A or Filoli Gold Ecru 3008-8C: Warm neutrals that are a touch lighter for the living room.  

         

Jekyll Club Cherokee Tan 6008-2A or Au Lait Ole 3003-9C: These two are deeper colors that can bring an element of sophistication to the loft space without overpowering the living room.

          

Fairmont Suite Gold 3003-8A or Cloudy Sunset 3005-8A: For a brighter, more gold tone, these colors would also work well for the loft space.

   

Florentine Clay 2003-5B: To make a splash in the dining room, use this bold color.  

These colors can really pop by adding a few bright accents, such as pillows, window treatments and ceramics. 

Please stay tuned as we share before and after photos of Leo and Robert’s room transformation. We’ll be working with them over the next few weeks to create a decorative paint design that will bring together each of their distinct styles in a look they love. We look forward to the challenge and to sharing the results with you.

Newlywed Neutral

By Megan Leblond



The proposal in Todd's words:

I proposed to Katrina at center ice of a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey game. Katrina bought the tickets for me as a Christmas gift, so she had no clue this was coming.  I convinced Katrina that I won an online contest to play “Deal or No Deal” during the first intermission and had a chance to win signed jerseys. However, hidden in box number four, the box we agreed to pick on the way to the game, was a sign that said, “Will you marry me?” To make the story even more impressive, I invited our entire family to the game, so our parents, Katrina’s brother, my brother, sister-in-law and one-year-old nephew Luke were able to share the evening with us. To top the night off, the Penguins came back to win the game by scoring two goals in the third period, the last by Jonathan Filewich, with 20 seconds remaining in the game.
   
Todd and Katrina met in 7th grade, but didn't know they wanted to date each other until their eyes met across their junior prom floor. They were married on October 11th, 2008. Now, they have decided that as a reward for earning their master's degrees they will put an addition on their home of four years. The first color scheme for the home was chosen primarily by Katrina, and after living with pastels and beach tones for several years, they are ready for a change in the aesthetics of their home.

Todd's careful planning and self taught CAD skills seem to definitely be paying off.  Check out the awesome 780 foot square open format dining/family room the couple is creating.

The question now becomes, what kind of color will ring new and true for both Todd and Katrina? Todd is an Elementary School physical education teacher working towards becoming an educational administrator and Katrina is a Kindergarten teacher. Their Pennsylvania home should reflect their interests and provide a beautiful backdrop for their family. The couple definitely leads an active lifestyle. Todd runs an after school program and coaches a junior high baseball team. Katrina keeps up with the kindergarteners. The home should be a peaceful and serene place where the newlyweds can unwind after a high energy day.

Todd describes his style as “rustic” and Katrina's as “beachy.” Surely the two styles can marry into a cohesive living space. I asked Todd if there was specific furniture or décor he envisioned in the finished room. He provided these photos of a period piece of furniture and treasured Sports memorabilia he would like to include.  Check out these beautiful prints and artifacts. We can truly see a sophisticated and traditional American color palette present in the items. Gathering objects or imagery you appreciate can steer you into your final decisions regarding color choices.

    

  

                              

After living with a pastel color palette for some time, Katrina is willing to be diplomatic and try some new ideas in the way of color. The historic professional sports memorabilia creates a reflective and fun feel. While it might be nice to carry some of the bold colors from the memorabilia into other aspects of the home, Katrina and Todd are ready to move away from some of the brights that they have been living with. The open format floor plan lends itself toward a neutral. Neutrals provide for an even-tempered medium tone in a home. They are also very good for two-story spaces because the light color will not compete with low lying furniture or the bouncing light from larger windows. The light from the many windows in this space will brighten the neutral in the day time. In the evening it will become a comfortable and cozy medium. The deep tones of the wood furniture will create some darks to add contrast, depth and intrigue to the space.

Todd and Katrina spent a great deal of time looking at the Historic Valspar color line online.  As you can see, their appreciation for history is quite apparent. Here are some neutral tones that reflect both Katrina's love for the beach, and Todd's for the dugout.

Neutral Color Chips:

                   

Churchill Hotel Ecru 3002-10C   Filoli Antique Lace 3002-10B

                   

     New Penny 3001-8B              Pale Powder 3001-8B

Navy Color Chips:

                   

   Fioli Dark Iris 4009-5                  Royal Navy 4011-4

Leather-Inspired Color Chips:

                      
 
   Pale Cordovan 3010-7                 Caramel Toffee 3009-7

We'll let you know how this project shapes up! The neutral of choice for these newlyweds is: Ivory Brown. Good luck in your new life together Todd and Katrina, and here's to a major home renovation nearly complete!

Ivory Brown 6006-1C

Design and Compromise

By Megan Leblond

As we’ve seen in the Valspar “Love, Our Style” program, couples designing a home together can sometimes lead to conflict of tastes. To remedy this, we’ve compiled a list of tips for compromising on a happy home renovation project:

- Look at your goals together

- Identify each others strengths

- Think about what may happen if you choose not to compromise

- Keep in mind that many and very different solutions exist

- Let go of your negative feelings and keep working towards a solution

- Acknowledge your own perspective and your partner’s when discussing contrasting opinions.

- Show appreciation for your partner's opinion

- Do not harbor negative feelings after you agree to a conclusion

- Remember to stay positive as you work toward your goal

To help find a style that may work for you both, consider taking the “Love, Our Style” quiz or take a look at our recent post on scrapbooking. 

           

Friday Project Series - Hand Made Note Cards

By Michèle Coppin

My friends Terry and Claire are a young newlywed couple on a very tight budget, especially after paying for the wedding themselves.

With the festivities over and freshly back from their honeymoon, they still needed to thank friends and families for all the wonderful gifts they received.

Stationary can be expensive, so I offered to help Claire make her own "thank you" notes – a less expensive and more meaningful solution than store-bought cards.

She loved the idea. We used the colors of her bouquet, red, white and yellow, which we loosely painted as background on white poster board (stiff paper).

To add a romantic touch, we spray painted hearts from doilies.

We cut them out postcard size.

Then, she wrote her message in her own hand writing.

Claire is really pleased with the cards, Terry loves everything Claire does and apparently the recipients are charmed and touched by the lovely hand made thank you notes.

Couples, don't forget to check out Valspar's "Love, Our Style" site for tips on merging styles AND a chance to win a room/paint makeover from the Beehive Studios!

Bathroom Compromise

By Michele Coppin

Francis and Daisy are engaged and Daisy is preparing to move in with Francis - into his bachelor pad... Francis has been living alone and has not bothered to paint or decorate his house, yet he does have strong feelings about any transformations in his home. They have decided to start with the small bathroom, which has dirty, white walls and pretty, pale gray blue tiles.

Francis likes earthy tones where as Daisy prefers light pastels. I was brought in to mediate...

We looked at a variety of colors that either blended with the tiles or enhanced them. 

We settled on an elegant brown, making Francis very happy. The color is also soft and smoky which pleases Daisy. Furthermore, Roadhouse Tavern beautifully enhances the pale blue tiles, satisfying Daisy's desire for pastels.

   
Roadhouse Tavern 2002-9B

But she still felt that the walls were a bit masculine and needed more of a feminine touch...

So we went to Michael's where she chose a pretty stencil, which we applied in the same shade of blue as the tiles, tying the blue and the brown perfectly.

The overall effect is a combination of warmth and elegance, resulting in a happy couple who knows how to compromise.

Friday Project Series: Scrapbooking for Couples

By Michele Coppin

When two people move in together and merge their tastes and styles, identifying colors that are pleasing to both is very important. However, many people do not really know what they like and the selection process can seem overwhelming.

A good way to identify colors that work is to create a scrapbook or a collection of appealing color examples. It is a fun and easy way to develop one's color awareness and preferences.

To begin, collect bits and pieces of color such as wrapping paper, photos, magazine clippings, leaves, fabrics, etc.—anything that catches your eye. As the collection grows, color trends become visible and a palette develops. These precious references make decorating much easier and will help you discover and develop your own personal palette.

When merging two styles like Francis and Daisy, couples can each make their own scrapbook. By comparing the two, the couple can identify the colors they have in common and focus on that particular palette. Here is their result:

His

Hers

His palette =

             

Sea Seeker 5004 - 7C    Red Ochre 2011 - 4       Cowboy Boots 2010 - 10

Her palette =

              

Soft Skies 4006 - 6A   Tomato Bisque 2008 - 5C    Maple Cream 3003 - 4B

****Couples, don't forget to check out Valspar's "Love, Our Style" site for tips on merging styles AND a chance to win a room/paint makeover from the Beehive Studios!

Merging His and Her Styles – Creating a Cozy Space

By Veronique Habermann

As you new shared life begins, it is important to create some cozy, special places in your house. If you are lucky to have a bedroom that allows it, placing a couch in you bedroom can do the trick.

In this case, I placed a small TV in a strategic position next to the couch, so not as to reproduce the big screen TV and coach area of the family/entertainment room. The only way to watch it is by laying on the coach with feet up, which is great for watching one of my favorite girly shows when he is watching something I am not in the mood for. It’s also a great space for us to get together to read books, or snuggle to watch TV together. It’s like a little nest for the two of you!

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.

Newlywed Styles Merged

I've been working with a client who recently got married. She loves her new husband but also really loves her style, which she would describe as Romantic. She and her husband have been having a great time setting up their new home together. The one piece they had a problem with was an old armoire that she has dragged around with her since college. She really wanted to keep it for sentimental reasons (did I mention she's a romantic?) but also because it's great for storage. 

The armoire has been a deep burgundy for most of its life. In the couple's new home it needed to change. He has more of a Classic style and really appreciates things that have a traditional feel to them.

When looking at the armoire, it seemed obvious what to do. First, it needed to be lightened up to work better in the new environment. To do this, we sanded the entire piece and then primed it. 

Then we had a blank canvass. I thought a light color would be best because it sits in a dark corner. We picked the color Stony Path. It reads white but it has a bit of sage/green to it that will set the armoire apart from the white trim.

   

   
    Stony Path 5007-1B

To take the armoire in a classic direction, I painted out the curved frames of the door panels. For the sides of the armoire, I measured the outline of a panel.

The outline measures ½” wide and runs along the entire length and width of the side. This helps bring some dimension to it.

Since my client loves romance, we went with a soft gray blue: Cincinnatian Hotel Ashley Atrium.

           
Cincinnati Hotel Ashley Atrium 4007-5C

I went back and gently brushed on a little of the Stony Path to soften the edges.  Here's the final result: