Color Buzz

Friday Project Series - Say it with Roses

By Megan Leblond   
   
                           

Giving the gift of roses can have special meaning, depending on the color of the flower. Generally, a gift of roses communicates intimacy and love, often to a friend, family member or significant other. The color of the rose adds a more personal message:       

                       

RED—Love, Romance
PINK—‘Please believe me,’ Gentleness, Grace, Elegance, Sweetness, Poetic Romance
YELLOW—Joy, Friendship, 'Remember Me,’ 'I Care,’ Jealousy
WHITE—Innocence, Purity, Honor, Reverence
ORANGE—Desire, Enthusiasm
LAVENDER—Enchantment, Love at First Sight
DARK PINK—Gratitude
LIGHT PINK—Admiration, Sympathy
YELLOW W/ RED—Falling in Love
PEACH—Appreciation, Sincerity, Gratitude
CORAL—Desire
TEA ROSES—‘I Will Never Forget You'

                

I decided to paint a simple 'rose wall' with various rose colors in a lighthearted pattern. I painted the wall a light green base coat (Valspar’s Sprig of Mint) and chose various hues for the tops of the roses. I arranged the rose stencils to look as though the flowers were being tossed in the air. I was very pleased with the look I achieved.  

                                        
                                       Spring of Mint 6004-7B

                

                          

If you are planning to complete a colorful project and you would like to test a few different colors, remember that Valspar has very small 'paint-tester' cans available. These are great because there are so many colors available and they are very inexpensive. Should you choose to paint an adjoining wall or space, you can also find a color that is a perfect match to the existing space.

We Love Pink

By Michèle Coppin

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and pink, the universal color of love, is everywhere. Pinks vary from pastel to fluorescent to rose-colored to flesh-toned. Pink is a hymn to femininity, hence its popularity among girls' bedrooms. . . and women’s lingerie. Lately, however, pink is infiltrating more masculine space, particularly in fashion with more pale and grayish tones.

According to Greco-Roman mythology, pink comes from a romantic and tender exchange between Cupid, the god of love and beauty, and his mother Venus, goddess of love. According to tradition, the color pink was born from a sweet smile or kiss Cupid gave his mother....much more toned-down from the passion it is now often associated with!

The color pink is very comforting and if often used as the symbol of happiness. The French  expression "la vie en rose" means perfect happiness.

Until recently, hot pinks were fashionable. Think back to the bright colors of the 80s and 90s! However, today’s pinks are calmer neutrals, soft and pale.

Reflecting appeasement and tenderness, pink works especially well in bedrooms. In Feng Shui, it is believed that pink has the power to bring harmony to couples because it soothes and fills the heart with love. Combined with creamy beiges and pale grays, pink is gentle, romantic and relaxing.

                                  
                       Utterly Pink 1003-2C    Woodlawn Bedroom White 6004-1A

However, a more vibrant pink paired with a pistachio green or a chocolate brown is modern and fun. These combinations work well in living rooms and kitchens:

                         
       Rosy Cheeks 1005-2B     Delicate Frost 6003-2A        Forest Trail 1005-9C

Chocolate Passion

Chocolate is one of my all time passions.  I absolutely crave it at least once a day so coming up with one particular chocolate color was really hard.  There are so many of them; it's like opening up a sampler and looking at all those luscious browns.  Working with brown is very easy.  It's a gorgeous backdrop for most other colors.  My dining room is brown with a creamy white trim.  It's elegant, but still very soothing.   Cafe Miel 2008-7C is the chocolate I ended up wanting to take a bite out of.   It's a creamy, toasty medium brown.   You can take this color in so many directions.  Try it with a warm pink like Sweet Sixteen 1006-2A or with a gray like Modest Silver 4002-1A.  You can use Cafe Miel on all four walls, or pick just one as an accent.  It would also make a nice color on a ceiling because of its warm nature.  Whenever working with chocolate, remember: have fun!  It's a delicious color.... Let us know what your favorite flavor is...

                    
     Cafe Miel 2008-7C         Sweet Sixteen 1006-2A     Modest Silver 4002-1A