Color Buzz

Color Schemes Inspired by April's Birthstone - Diamond

Michèle Coppin

photo by House of Turquoise
Lynhurst Shady Grove 5004-E2	Sweet Leaf 7005-19	Acropolis 7005-4	Grand Mackinac Blue 5007-9A

April’s birthstone is one of the most popular gems of all time--the diamond. In many cultures, diamonds are linked to strength, for they are known as the hardest substance on earth. Diamonds have also come to symbolize everlasting love and eternity.

Spring is Here! Flower Inspired Color Palettes

by Veronique Habermann

Gold Abundance 3003-1A	Italian Ice 7005-10
Sweet Pink 1004-2B	Rollick 4003-10C

With the beautiful weather that has been spoiling us for the past week, I have really been enjoying taking my sweet dog, Luna, on her early morning walk. For me, April and October are the most beautiful months of the year as far as color is concerned. Inspiration is everywhere! I have taken a few pictures with my cell phone and paired them with palettes ideas. Enjoy!

Friday Project Series: How to Paint a Stencil Door Mat

by Veronique Habermann

Boston Legacy 2005-9A	Dove White 7002-7

Here is an inexpensive way to spruce up a “boring” but useful grass door mat. I included a template of the flowers, but the world is the limit as far as motif choices for this project. Have fun with this version or your own and send pictures of your finished mat. We’d love to see it!

Color of the Week: Limonata

Betsy's Linen 7005-16	Classic Red 1009-2	Limonata 6002-5B

In the spirit St. Patrick’s Day, this week’s color is Limonata.  A soft, light green perfect for any room in the house, Limonata can be paired with a variety of colors.  Try it with red decorative accents, or white linens for a fresh look that is sure to pop.  This shade is sure to have heads turning when they enter your home! 

Color of the Week - Beach Sparkle

Are you feeling the winter blues?  I know I am, so to welcome the month of March, and the anticipation of spring, we chose Beach Sparkle as the Color of the Week.  Introducing the perfect marriage of green and blue, this warm-weather inspired hue can brighten up any room.  Try it on a living room accent wall to transform bland to bold!  Add splashes of a misted green, like Garden Fresh, or mix it with a crisp, clean neutral, like Anthem White for a fresh new look.

So while I’m looking out my window watching the snow melt, I can only dream of colors this bright.

         

Beach Sparkle 5004-9C   Garden Fresh 6008-7C  Anthem White 7006-24

 

The Colors of Hanukah

By Michele Coppin
 
Golds, silvers and blues are appearing in windows and on mantels in celebration of the Festival of Lights known as Hanukah.

Hanukah is the eight day Jewish holiday that commemorates the miracle of the burning oil. It is observed by lighting lights on the Menorah each of the eight nights.
 
It begins on the 25th day of Kislev which is typically in late November, December or early January. This year, Hanukah started on December 11th.
 
Traditional Hanukah colors are blue and white. These colors refer to the Jewish Flag and the Tallit, the blue and white prayer garment. Some say they also represent Air and Water.

Styles of Romance

By Michèle Coppin

Decorating can be daunting and confusing with so many styles to choose from. Knowing which style you are or like can be very helpful. Here are some visual aids to help you identify where you fit in:
 
If this is your ideal home:


If you like floral wall paper and lots of flowers:


If you like soft muted colors and pretty furniture:


If you like delicate window treatments and diffused light:


If you like pretty embroidered pillows:


If you like pale linens with delicate patterns:


If you Love paintings by the "Pre-Raphaelites" of lovely maidens playing the harp with flowers in their hair:


And beautiful Japanese prints of birds and flowers:


If this is your ideal get away:


And finally, if you named your cat Ophelia, you have read Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" more than once and your favorite movie is "Doctor Zhivago":
 


Then, congratulations… you are a hopeless ROMANTIC!
 
As a romantic you might like these palettes:
 
Warm:
                   
  Pretty Orchid 1002-8B         Lilac Intuition 7001-1        Dust Bunny 2005-10B

Cool:
                   
    Ocean Buff 7005-7           Betsy's Linen 7005-16       Seashore Fog 7004-22

Earthy:
                   
 Bungalow White 2005-1C    Dust Bunny 2005-10B        Modest Silver 4002-1A
 

Romantic palettes work best with shades of one color and very subtle accents.

Couples, remember to check out Valspar's "Love, Our Style" site for tips on merging styles AND a chance to win a room/paint makeover from Beehive Studios! This is the last week to enter the makeover contest, so don't forget to send in your stories!

Color of the Week - Pink Kiss

Last week's Color of the Week, Pink Kiss is a sweet, soft, breathy pink that would look pretty in a bedroom. You could also pair it with grays and whites to create a beautiful, elegant living room. Try Dust Bunny as an accent color, Anthem White as a trim color and Delicate Bliss on the ceiling.

                        

            Pink Kiss  1007-2C              Dust Bunny 2005-10B

                       

        Anthem White 7006-24             Delicate Bliss 7001-8

       

President Reagan’s White House Bedroom

By Michele Coppin

I am not terribly impressed by the decorating styles of the eighties. However, I do recall one outstanding exception: Ronald and Nancy Reagan's White House bedroom.

When the Reagan's moved into the White House in 1981, Nancy called upon Ted Graber, an influential Hollywood society designer, to help redecorate.

"The Reagans liked the feeling of an English country house by way of California" said Paige Rense, editor in chief of Architectural Digest. "Nancy was especially concerned that everything was comfortable and cheerful for the President. She didn’t want any precious little French chairs. She wanted upholstered pieces that men would feel comfortable with."

For the master bedroom, Nancy and Ted chose a gorgeous 18th Century soft, yellow hand-painted Chinese wall paper, patterned with masses of birds flitting gracefully around the room. The print is light, uplifting, cheerful and elegant. Like Nancy, I love the "Chinoiserie" style. 

Chinoiserie refers to a recurring theme in European artistic styles since the 17th Century that reflects Chinese artistic influences. It is characterized by the use of fanciful Chinese imagery, asymmetrical in format with whimsical contrasts of scale.

Photos courtesy of Architectural Digest

Chinese wall paper may appear quite feminine, but it works very well when offset with darker furniture like in this bedroom.

It is interesting to note that the Chinese invented paper, and they glued rice paper on their walls as early as 200 B.C. Around the 1700s, the first wallpapers were brought back to Europe from China and became immensely popular. Until the 19th Century, most of the monarchs in Europe had created their own Chinese interior complete with wallpaper, furnishings, paintings and porcelain.

Most wallpaper stores carry very pretty copies of 18th century hand painted originals. I find that one wall of these beautiful prints works well when balanced by one of its colors on other walls. For example:

  Pelican 4007 - 1A      

Design Dilemma – Designing Around Harvest Gold Fixtures

Dear Beehive Designers,

We have a somewhat small bathroom that has a harvest gold tub, shower and vanity top.

I have painted the vanity console "Country White" and the walls are a taupe/gray. I want to paint the walls a new color that will compliment the gold fixtures or make them blend in, rather than stand out.

There are no windows so I'm leery about using a dark color since the space is so small. Should I go with a pale yellow or maybe a shade of green? I need help!!!

Thanks,
Cheryl

………………………….

Dear Cheryl,

Don't give up hope! The harvest gold is actually not so bad. There's a reason so many of our homes were cove red in it in the mid-70s—it’s trying to "fix" what is already there that causes the problems. 

Your floor looks really cool. The red has a powerful punch. To compliment this, I would put a warm white on the walls like Whitewashed Oak. Try to find a white that will work with the grout, then have fun with accessories. 

 

I found this shower curtain at Target:

 

You could add something bold in a monochromatic tone will pack a punch. You want to keep the eye at play but not to over work it, especially in a bathroom. I recommend a navy and white print. The navy is a nice compliment to the harvest gold.  It stands up on its own and the complete palette offers a fun spin on all three primary colors.

If any of you readers out there have ever worked with Harvest Gold, jump in.  We'd love to hear your stories and ideas.

Good luck!

Ann McGuire