You might be interested in Julie’s post on Live In Full Color today. She shows how an editor of Domino magazine used chalkboard paint throughout her home. This is definitely not a primary school look but a high drama interior created by using the unexpected.
See Julie’s post with pictures of this unusual but very successful use of this specialty paint..
22nd Oct. '08 • Design & Decorating Resources • Tags: cath kidston, craig & rose, fine paints of europe, interior, paint, ralph-lauren, susan sargent
Authored by Kate Smith
In my continuing series of talking about the paint brands….here are the next few companies.
Ralph Lauren Paints
The name Ralph Lauren has become synonymous with American style. He redefined American fashion and home decor and has always stayed true to his vision.
Ralph was the first designer I ever had a love affair with and he has held a special place in my heart ever since. I was so taken with him in fact that [more...]
Visiting Cath Kidston’s website is like going through my grandmother’s attic and finding a treasure trove of beautiful floral fabrics and classic furniture items. What a treat.
Whimsical, classic and nostaligic are all adjectives that describe her unique, vintage inspired paints, fabrics and accessories for the home. [more...]
Susan Sargent’s color sense is simple and playful. She is a fan of rich, vibrant colors and is not afraid to pair a hot pink chair with zebra print or lime green walls with brown furniture.
A textile degree earned in Sweden and 15 years spent in a studio gaining hands-on experience as an artist, dyer and weaver … [more...]
29th Sep. '08 • • Tags: apartment therapy, interior, interior-design, paint
Authored by Kate Smith
This Thursday I’ll be speaking at Apartment Therapy Offline and the theme is Color @ Home: Problems and Solutions. I’ll be joined by two other designers and AT founder Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan.
So if you’ll be in NYC this 
Thursday, October 2, 2008 6:30 PM I’d enjoy having you come to the event. It will be fun and best of all it’s FREE!
The event is listed on NY Design Meetup.
DWR SoHo (new location)
110 Greene St. New York, NY 10014
I hope to see you there!
31st Mar. '08 • Living Spaces • Tags: blue, color-schemes, house-beautiful, interior, paint, sherwin-williams
Authored by Kate Smith
About two months ago I started following along as Newell Turner, Style Director of House Beautiful magazine blogs about the renovation of his farmhouse in Upstate New York.
Newell selected the colors some time ago but I hadn’t gone back and read many of his older posts until now which is why I am just now taking a closer look as his color palette.
Here’s what he selected (more…)
20th Mar. '08 • Living Spaces , Today's Decorating Dilemma • Tags: H2-Ahh!, interior, kate-smith, paint
Authored by Ellen Kennon
Today’s color dilemma…
Hi there Kate!– Your paint color H2 Ah! sounds like just what I am looking for to paint my home. Do you have a recommended color for the trim? Thanks! Emily
Emily, I’m glad you like this color and I have found it to go with so many colors. I asked color maven, Ellen Kennon to share what trim colors she has been selecting for her clients that are using ‘H2 Ahh!’. –Kate
Take it away Ellen.
Ellen suggests…
Kate’s ‘H2 Ahh!’ is a great color because it can be used in so many situations.
Kate Smith’s Signature Color is available through our Full Spectrum Paint
When used in a bathroom or bedroom, for instance, with crisp white tiles and linens, I like to use brighter whites for the trim, like our ‘White Opal’ or ‘Snow”.
However, it works equally well with cream colors, like the undertones of travertine for example. In those instances, I’d use softer, creamier trim colors like our ‘Classic Cream’, ‘Bone’ or ‘Mushroom’, depending on which works better with other elements in the room.
Just recently, I specified ‘H2 Ahh!’ for two separate projects here in Louisiana where we wanted earthier looks. In one home we used our ‘Sage’ for trim, cabinet and millwork color throughout the house because the green in it helps pull your eye out towards the woodland views and it worked quite well with ‘H2 Ahh!’, which we had selected for the upstairs bedrooms.
In the other home, we used ‘H2 Ahh!’ with ‘Mushroom’ trim which was used throughout the home. In this instance, we wanted a soft look (i.e. less contrast), yet something fairly traditional as this was for a spec house.
However, in most homes, I would stay with whatever trim color blends with the trim you already have throughout your home. You can adjust it slightly so that it works with the furnishings and ambiance you are trying to create, yet still flows with the rest of the home.
Resources:
**Please note: Due to individual computer monitor limitations, colors seen here may not accurately reflect the paint colors. Please refer to an actual sample of the paint for an accurate rendition of the color.
7th Mar. '08 • Living Spaces , Today's Decorating Dilemma • Tags: accent-wall, behr, blue, interior, mexico, paint
Authored by Kate Smith
Today’s color dilemma…
I would like to paint the fireplace wall an accent color and am considering blue and not sure if I should go dramatic and dark blue or shade. Also wonder if I should paint the large window wall as accent wall instead but hesitate as the room is long and narrow across and I would like to cozy it up. The living room dining room are L shaped and am considering a bright green for the dining room and kitchen has melon paint trim and mexican colors. Furniture is blues/biege. Like a fun warm place-help–pshelly
Kate Suggests…
Since your room is long and narrow, it would be wise to make the fireplace wall as your accent wall, especially since this wall also serves as the room’s focal point.
Usually I would suggest (more…)
6th Mar. '08 • Living Spaces • Tags: color-dilemma, ellen-kennon, full-spectrum-paint, H2-Ahh!, interior
Authored by Ellen Kennon
Today’s color dilemma…
I have gold/yellow furniture with bronze/tangerine accents and a deep Victorian rose carpet with yellows and yellow/green flowers. There is dark wood around also in assorted antique furniture.
I have a panoramic view of the San Francisco Bay, fortunately, and am thinking of doing the walls in a water color….I love the water also. How would you describe this color? Can I find H2 Ahh! at CSI paints in San Francisco?
Then what to do with the ceiling which is now white? It is 8 foot tall only.
Thanks, Kate in Frisco
Ellen suggests…
We’d be delighted to send you samples of H2 Ahh! and a complimentary set of cuttings of our other colors if you’ll send us your mailing address. The ICI stores do not stock our samples, they just mix the paint up in their product once we fax them our special formulas.
H2 Ahh! Kate Smith’s Signature Paint Color
available through Ellen Kennon Full Spectrum Paint
There are several (more…)
23rd Feb. '08 • Design & Decorating Resources • Tags: color-combinations, decorating, house-beautiful, interior
Authored by Kate Smith
Please join me at the House Beautiful Color Institute on March 13th where I will be talking about creating sensational color combinations for your home.
Each event takes place in one of the many incredible designer showrooms. I will be (more…)
11th Feb. '08 • Design & Decorating Resources , Living Spaces • Tags: blue, color-schemes, cream, full-spectrum-paint, green, interior, neutrals, orange, paint, purple, red, yellow
Authored by Ellen Kennon
The designers, architects and color consultants who have given me such support and inspiration over the years have inspired me to put together my new Full Spectrum “Designer’s Palette”.
I created these new colors with some of the countries most talented designers, architects and color consultants. The Designer’s Palette includes (more…)
25th Jan. '08 • Living Spaces • Tags: green, interior, neutrals, Pittsburgh-Paints
Authored by Kate Smith
Today’s color dilemma…
I would like to know what color might expand this space visually as I would like to make this room seem larger.
Thanks, Sylvie
Kate suggests…
Small spaces often appear smaller as a result of the simple mistake of having too many contrasting colors present. To help broaden your sense of space in a cozy room, there are a couple of solutions you can incorporate when decorating.
First choose a monochromatic color scheme. That means to choose a main color for the room and then keep the majority of elements in the room in varying shades or tints of that color.
Colors that are neutral or just a shade or two apart from each other will help create an open, airy feeling. For example you may chose a light, refreshing, green color, such as those shown below.
Greens from Pittsburgh Paints
On left top to bottom 209-3 Aloe Vera, 309-4 Quaking Grass, 410-4 Olive Sprig
On the right top to bottom 308-3 St. Augustine, 310-3 Pickling Spice
Another way to make a room seem larger is to paint the ceiling the same color as the walls. This allows your eye to expand and flow freely within the space, whereas contrasting ceiling color forces your eye to stop at the edges where the walls and ceiling meet placing more focus on the size of the walls.
Keep in mind, while furnishing your room, that too much texture can also make a space seem smaller. Smoother surfaces help to open up a space especially when they are in the same color family.
Transparent elements and objects add sparkle but “dissappear” into the scheme because their presence does’t totally obstruct the view of what is beyond or under them. This is why a designer often chooses a glass top table for a small dining space.
Resources:
**Please note: Due to individual computer monitor limitations, colors seen here may not accurately reflect the paint colors. Please refer to an actual sample of the paint for an accurate rendition of the color.
Do you have an idea for the accent wall? Please share it with us in the comments.
