Color Buzz

Friday Project Series - The Color Wash Technique

By Veronique Linnett
 
Since Ann, Michele and I were in Los Angeles this week doing a makeover for the “Love, Our Style” contest winner, I would like to share a technique we used called a color wash. It is a fantastic and easy painting technique which works especially well when using bold colors. In this case, we used two shades of earthy and sunny oranges to highlight a central column in the apartment. The use of two shades or sometime even three shades, create depth and texture to the wall, giving the impression that the wall is lit from within.

What you will need:

        
Cinnamon Cake 3010-6     Orange Glaze 3009-6

- Two shades that would work great together, one lighter one darker.
- 4'' Chip brush
- Three plastic buckets
- Water
- Aluminum pie or cake pan
- Blue painter’s tape

How to:
  

1) Carefully tape around the area you want to paint.
2) Dispense each shade of paint into a separate plastic bucket and use the 3rd bucket for water.
3) Dip your brush in the water, then in each shade of paint to add to your cake pan, leaving the colors separate in the pan.
4) Then proceed to paint the wall dipping your brush alternately between your two shades and the water.
5) You can blend the colors more or less depending of the amount of color contrast you want.
6) When paint is dry, you can go back in the same manner over painted area. The more coats, the smoother the effect.

For the full effect, check out our video demonstrating the color wash technique: 

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

Late Summer Blooms

By Megan Leblond

Late summer blooms are so vibrant and beautiful! It would be a crime not to recognize their intense, powerful palette. The deep and daring yellow, orange and red flowers just can't be ignored. The colors of late summer flowers can brighten and warm our chilly winters, so please do not let the intensity of the hues scare you off!   

As we close our eyes and bask in the last few days of warm summer sun, consider how an intensely warm palette might awaken your home.  We at the Beehive Studios ask you to remember that paint is temporary. You can transform a section of your home for a few years with bright or contrasting colors. Interior walls can easily be repainted, so if you are considering a bold move—and we encourage you to take the plunge—an astonishingly unique and beautiful space will be your reward! 

If you have made a successful bold color move in your home and would like to share the results, we'd love to hear from you! In the meanwhile please let your late summer eyes fall on these hot, sultry summer hues:















And here are a few Valspar colors that will help you bring the vibrancies of these flowers into your home all year:

    
  Sunglow 3003-2B     Filoli Honey 3005-6B    Ripe Melon 2002-1C

                      
           Autumn Blaze 2002-1A        Hacienda Tile 2010-4   

                                  
                         Oatlands Upholstery Red 1008-3A

Desert Colors

By Michèle Coppin

Summer is mostly associated with the beach, but at the other end of the spectrum lie deserts – fantastic, wild landscapes with sandstone spines, rocky mountain, sandy dunes and valleys.

Deserts are painted with palettes of soft pinks, tans, golden yellows, rich browns, deep oranges and fiery reds with deep purple shadows. The light has a different quality in the desert. Its long rays turn pale tans and ocher into shades of flamboyant crimson.

Many national parks are home to these dry treasures, which are well worth a detour, if not a destination. My favorites are: Monument Valley, Arizona, Anza Borrego, California and Zion, Utah. They are spectacular jewels of nature.

Deserts have been inspiring artists for millennia, but to date, no one has captured the desert's colors, atmosphere and flowing combination of flora and geology better than Georgia O'Keeffe, who painted the landscapes of her beloved New Mexico.

The colors of the desert provide great palettes for warm, earthy interiors that can be beautifully enhanced with Valspar's Sandstone technique. Sandstone's soft, sandy texture and distinctive granular appearance adds unique style and quiet sophistication to walls, while also hiding imperfections in three easy steps. Follow Valspar's Sandstone instructions to give it a try.

Color Me Happy

Color plays a huge part in affecting our mood and emotions. Drab, muted tones can have a calming effect, but if you're already feeling a little down, you might want to spice it up with a few pops of bright color.

Sunshine Daydream
Bring in colors that are rich and saturated, like bright yellow. Pair this with a milky white and a fiery orange to add bold sunshine to your room. To maintain balance in the room, add touches of gray, silver and light violet.

For a splash of orange, try this Dandelion Field Silk Pillow from Target:

                                               

             

 Sunny Jonquil 3010-1  Elizabethan Yellow 3009-1  Fresh Persimmons 2009-1

Burst of Red
Red is an ultra fun color, especially if used sparingly. Try it on one wall of a room, or hang red drapes. You could even anchor a room with a racy red couch like the Hampton sofa in Cardinal or a warm, cozy red rug like the Medina rug from West Elm. It will add a little fire to your life.

 

                            
                        La Fonda Fireberry 1010-1

Wedding Colors Part II

By Michèle Coppin

In Monday’s post I explored the role that color played in weddings throughout the ages. As I mentioned, in the last few years, colors for weddings tended to lean towards soft shades of pinks, greens and lilacs. Although soft pastel color schemes are always in fashion, experts agree that bright, bold colors and even exotic combinations are the new trend.

Here are the hottest wedding colors for 2009:

Red and Orange: vibrant, fun and exotic.

Red and Pink: exiting combination mixing romance and passion.

Red and Yellow: Modern and hip

Orange: Elegant and radiant with shades of peach and ivory.

[Courtesy of Kim Fuller Photography]

Yellow and Turquoise: Summery and tropical.

 
Green and Yellow: Fresh and young.

Green and Lavender: Soft and sensual



Brown and Pink: Elegant and sensual  - one of 2009's hottest combinations.



I also questioned wedding photographer Kim Fuller for some additional insight. She noted:
 
"Purple is in! The jewel tones seem to be back in fashion this year for bridesmaid dresses. It makes for great photos, especially when you add a bold-colored flower to really make the color pop. Brown and pewter are still popular for the Fall, with a touch of orange or pink as an accent.  Both color palettes go well with most skin types, which is nice."



For more photos and ideas, please check out Kim Fuller Photography’s website.

Design Dilemma: Emily's Response

Dear Emily,

Your space is great. You must be so excited. The couches are totally workable. I would suggest a soft warm white on the walls so that the couches don't hit them with a hard edge. Try a color like Apricot Haze.
   
    Apricot Haze 7002-11

I would paint the book case even lighter. Can you try using whatever wall color you use and half it with the white of the trim?  This will help the bookcase blend into the room better but still give it some presence.

You could even paint the coffee table. For the kitchen, I would totally go with a bright blue green that corresponds with the couch.  Try a color like Lake Breeze or Gentle Wave. The cabinets will pop nicely against this.
                
   Lake Breeze 5007-7B          Gentle Wave 5007-7C

If you want to try an accent color on the door, try something with some rust in it (like the box you have on the counter), something like La Fonda Sombrero or Toasted Apricot.
                
La Fonda Sombrero 2008-5B    Toasted Apricot 2006-3B

Let us know how it goes.  A first place is always a great adventure!

And a quick reminder to everyone to take our most recent Color Buzz Poll if you haven't done so already.

Cheerful Color Combinations - First Installment

                   

With all of the uncertainty out there, one thing's for sure—you can wash away the blues with a fresh coat of paint! We've all been feeling down about the economy, and many of us are hunkering into uber-nesting mode. Now that it’s spring (thank goodness!), it's only natural to want to revitalize ourselves and our homes.  Why not let color lift your spirits?

Reaction to color is very personal. One person's joy is another person's headache. Some of us liven up around bright crisp colors, while others are comforted by soothing muted tones.

Keeping both of these groups in mind, I've put together two directions of color combinations that will hopefully address these mindsets. In this first installment, I include bold, bright and vivacious colors that are considered happy and cheerful. Later, I will explore more subtle color combinations.

When searching for bold colors, look for clean and clear hues that aren't complicated with browns or greys. Once you have your selection on the walls, bring in more complex colors to give visual balance. Let's start with a few of my favorite combinations:

Orange and Pink
I have loved this combination since I was a little girl. It reminds me of sunshine, oranges, flowers, fruit juice and candy—all things I love. I used to have an orange shag carpet, white walls and pink trim and I totally loved it. These days, however, I would rethink the approach. 

To play these colors right, you can go in two directions. You could saturate the room with both colors and add structural elements of a cool neutral like grey to hold it all together. The other direction is to paint the entire room a warm ivory and have punches of orange and pink throughout.  Again, I would add either silver or gray to off-set the warmth of the saturated colors.

I recommend Orange Toffee with Flower Girl, balanced with a tan like Cincinnatian Hotel Hannaford.

                                                
                Orange Toffee 2007-1C                      Flower Girl 1005-1C

                                          
                              Cincinnatian Hotel Hannaford 3007-10C

Yellow and Grey
Anther blues-busting combination that is totally hot right now is yellow and grey.  Yellow is a funny color. I used to dislike it immensely, but there's something contagious about it—now it makes me giggle! It's light-hearted, warm and inviting and when played right, very sophisticated.  When pairing it with grey, yellow plays the role of the star and grey as the supporting actor. I recommend yellow walls, light grey trim, and white accents like Tangy Lemon with Orchid Ash.

                                    
               Tangy Lemon 3006-2A                   Orchid Ash 4003-3B

Blue and Green
Light blue and citrus green is another mood-enhancing color combination. It reminds me of the beach. Try a clear blue with a hint of purple and a green with a healthy amount of yellow. These colors look great in many different rooms. In a kitchen, for example, I would paint the walls blue and the cabinets white. Then I would add accent fabrics that add the green. 

Another great way to combine these colors is to paint stripes with them. They lend themselves well to this treatment because they are both harmonious and cool.

Try Garden Fresh and Dewdrop.

                                   
              Garden Fresh 6008-7B                     Dewdrop 4006-7A

Here's an expanded collection of these bold bright beauties:

Greens
Gleeful 6008-7B
Garden Fresh
Lime Mousse 6008-9B

  
  Garden Fresh 6008-7B


Blues
Dewdrop 4006-7A
Encounter

  
    Encounter 4008-7B


Yellows
Lemon Twist
Like Butter 3005-2A

  
  Lemon Twist 3006-2B


Oranges
Cantaloupe Smile
Autumn Gala 2004-1A

  
Cantaloupe Smile 2007-2A


Pinks
Flower Girl 1005-1C
Pink Ribbon

  
   Pink Ribbon 1005-1C


Purples
Whipped Plum 4002-9B
Lavender Quartz

  
Lavender Quartz 4001-9C

This has been one of the most enjoyable blogs to write. Just thinking about these makes me happy. I can't wait to get some of them onto the walls!

Check back for part II of this blog entry and in the meantime, let us know what colors cheer you up!

Also, please don't forget to take our Color Buzz Poll mini survey and let us know what room in the house you would paint today!

Color of the Week - Peach Taffy

Peach Taffy, last week's Color of the Week,  is the perfect color to break the winter blues. It's opposite on the color wheel from the cool grey/blue tones. It's a soft orange which would be great in a bedroom or hallway. Try it with Glowing Dune 3006-9C, Woodlawn Silver Brook and Filoli Yew 5008-2B. One of the many pluses to peach tone colors is that they are extremely flattering to most skin tones. So paint your walls peach and enjoy looking beautiful.

                                
            Peach Taffy 2006-4A             Woodlawn Silver Brook 5001-1B                 

Rich Color in the Dead of Winter

By Megan Leblond

                       

We have been covered in white snow on the East Coast for the past few months and the wind continues to blow. Despite the desolate surroundings, color is available! One simply has to toss on a coat, hat, gloves and scarf, and venture into town for an array of pleasing colors available in the produce section of the grocery.  

Many glorious colors are available by way of winter fruit. Ruby red grapefruits, key limes, and blood oranges can help to bring passion to our winter doldrums, and add a pop to color projects. 

My favorite is the blood orange. I have a fabulous recipe for wild rice, leeks and blood oranges that I can only prepare in winter due to the fruit’s availability. The black wild rice, green leeks and deep red tones of the oranges make for both a bold color combination and unique dish. 

   

A blood orange’s crimson fruit is the result of a pigment common in flowers, but it is rare in fruit- an antioxidant called anthocyanin. The blood orange originated in Italy and Spain, but is now grown in the United States in Texas and California. The fruit is virtually seedless, which makes it easy to cook with. The beautiful fruit is available December through March to seduce our eyes and taste buds.  

If you have a bit of the winter blues, try working with the deep color of the blood orange to warm your spirit. Try the blood orange tart recipe from Smitten Kitchen or use one of the Valspar colors reminiscent of the flower fruit!  If you are totally snowed in, The Orange Store will ship!   

                  

                  If you would like to bring these colors into your home, try:

                                    

                         Orange Glow 3001-1A         Berry Blush 1004-1A

                                   

                    Whipped Strawberry 1006-1A   Montpelier Red Velvet 1009-6