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Meet the Color Mavens

Kate Smith

Kate Smith

"As a professional color expert, trend forecaster, engaging speaker and founder of the Sensational Color network, I work with both corporations and individual clients on using color to create interest " more...
Bonnie Krims

Bonnie Krims

"Bonnie Krims, a nationally recognized architectural paint color consultant, is adept at developing paint color schemes that not only reflect the needs of the client, but also highlight the important design features of their home. " more...
Ellen Kennon

Ellen Kennon

"With colors from her signature collection of Full Spectrum Paints and over 25 years of experience as an interior design Ellen creates environments that are often described as magical or healing while " more...
Jaima Brown

Jaima Brown

"“Surround yourself with beauty” is Jaima Browns mantra and her eye for color and design is beautifully reflected in her signature line Jaima Brown Home Her design expertise combined wit" more...
Denise Turner

Denise Turner

"As an American Society of Interior Design national spokesperson, Denise regularly appears in the media and you may even recognize her as a winning designer on HGTV Designer’s Challenge. However " more...
Barbara Jacobs

Barbara Jacobs

"Barbara is a gifted designer with a keen understanding of using color in a functional as well as aesthetic way, which is essential for creating supportive spaces. A designer, consultant and specialist" more...

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Trapped By Yellow Bricks

15th Sep. '08 · Exterior Color Schemes · Tags: , , , ,

Authored by Barbara Jacobs

Today’s color dilemma:

I am really struggling with this - trapped by brick around the lower half of my house (yellow-beige with almost no variation in the brick) and dark brown vinyl window frames. Currently the siding, doors and trim around the windows is painted dark brown as well. We would like to go lighter on the siding but are really stuck about what might fit with the two “set” colors. Most of the neighborhood is 1960’s muted - whites, taupes, grays. Both of our neighbors have mostly white houses. Any ideas?

Barbara suggests:

Try something earthy but not of the same color family as what you currently have that can’t be changed.  Perhaps a gray-green-something mossy or sage type. Maybe it could be just a little deeper in color than the brick.  It’s hard to say exactly, but this could be a color direction you might try.

Another idea in a different direction: Rust type. But as I often say, it’s hard to make a recommendation without seeing even a picture, so you will have to test,test,test, on large areas, and view the colors at different times of day on different areas of the house - to see what looks good.

Suggestion: Use Tru-Hue test boards or poster boards, at least two of each color and at least 24 inches square for your testing.

If you use poster board prepare them just as if they were the actual siding by starting with a coat of prime.  If you use the Tru-Hue test boards they are already prepped so you can skip the Prime.  Then roll two or three coats of your color.

You will be able to move them around, tape them to the siding, etc.  Do NOT do little brush strokes of colors on the side of your house, it won’t give you a true idea of the color and just leads to being more confused.   

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Stripes in the City

10th Sep. '08 · Design & Decorating Resources · Tags: , ,

Authored by Kate Smith

I love Jaima’s latest collection of striped wallpaper.  Some are bold and colorful others are soft and subtle but they all radiate style and elegance.

Stripes from Jaima Brown Home

Whether your lifestyle is casual or formal you can stripe it rich with the latest collection from Jaima Brown Home.   

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“Green” ELEMENTS

9th Sep. '08 · Design & Decorating Resources · Tags: , , , ,

Authored by Kate Smith

Quality and good for the enviroment aside isn’t there something appealing about a paint can with a label that communicates fresh and clean?

California Paints Elements Zero VOC Paint Colors

This is the label of ELEMENTS Zero VOC paints being released today by California Paints and touted as a “superior product (that)…solves nagging quality problems facing most “Green” paints.

The ELEMENTS interior paint line includes a primer, a ceiling white and three interior finishes.  All ELEMENTS finishes are GREEN WISE certified to meet stringent environmentally responsible standards.

Children’s Hospital Boston will be one of ELEMENTS’ first users in the market. California Paints is donating paint for the hospital’s House at 241 Kent Street project, a Victorian mansion renovation in Brookline, Mass. that will provide a peaceful home-away-from-home for families whose children need long-term medical care.

Learn more at the California Paints website…   

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Tropical Theme Bedroom

7th Sep. '08 · Bedrooms · Tags: , , , ,

Authored by Kate Smith

Reader’s color dilemma:

I want to do my daughters room with a beach tropical theme. i would like ideas for the paint color for the walls. Thanks Kathy

Kate suggests:

Tropical Theme Room Colors

When thinking of tropical colors luscious and relaxing colors come to mind.  I am always drawn to the blues and greens of the sea surrounding islands or the shores of exotic destinations. But colors of tropical blossoms or the lush green of foilage can also be used to create the look.

Palm tree, beach or nautical prints could be incorporated but I recommend keeping these obvious elements to a minimum and using furniture, fabric, textures and accessories that are instead simply suggestive of the theme will keep the room from looking cliché. (more…)   

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Colorful Roof

6th Sep. '08 · Exterior Color Schemes · Tags: ,

Authored by Kate Smith

Sometimes color calls out to me and that was certainly the case yesterday.

I had a short time to spare in an area of Maryland that I don’t get to very often and certainly don’t know well so was driving along on the main road that runs parallel to the bay when without even giving it but a split second thought I decided to turn in to a small, older waterfront community.

Before I had even driven the couple of blocks to the waterfront I could see this amazing roof on the home at the end of the street.

This multi color tile work may be common in some places but I don’t recalll seeing anytihng like it before.

Here’s a view from the other side where you can see the roof peak and the round attic vents.

(more…)   

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