Today’s color dilemma…
Hi Kate. We are in the process of finishing our basement. It is about 2100 feet and will have a main living area (pool table, air hockey, TV area, and a large bar/kitchen), exercise room (the wall that connects to the main living area will be half glass with glass doors), a bedroom and a bath.
The bar and pool table will be a medium oak. Our house is decorated in warm earth tones throughout, and we would like to carry this down to the basement. However, we don’t want to simply replicate the upstairs. I would like it to be a little bit more lively and fun.
We have no direct light from windows, so we are concerned about the space feeling too dark. If you have any color suggestions, we would love to hear them! FYI, our contractor includes Behr or Benjamin Moore paint. Many thanks, Francie
Note from Kate–
Hi Francie, I am out of town presenting at the House Beautiful Color Institute in Chicago but your in luck because the very talented Barbara Jacobs will be responding to your question. Take it away Barbara.
Barbara suggests…
You are thinking in the right direction to want to make your more active space have a more energetic and lively ambiance. Not only will it create variety of design in your home, but it is really more effective from the ‘color psychology’ perspective to create a more high-energy feeling in the kind of social area you’ve described. (more…)
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Today’s color dilemma…
My dining room is approx 17\’x15\’. It has a large archway into den (approx 17\’x15\’)which is all knotty pine (not paneling). The dining room is currently white & has been for years. I\’d like some color but am afraid of making the den/dining area seem like a cave because of the knotty pine. The ceiling is white plaster swirls. It has pine base boards and pine around archway.
Kate suggests…
If you fear a cave-like appearance in your home, it would be best to choose a color that is (more…)
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Today’s color dilemma…
Hi, I don’t have a lot of money so here is my problem. My bathroom has a granite counter top in sandstone. The floor is carpeted in dark blue. The bathroom is medium size but without much lighting. Thank you, Mary
Kate suggests…
When money is tight, paint is an excellent choice for changing the look of your home without spending a fortune.
Your room description indicates that there (more…)
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11th Feb. '08
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Design & Decorating Resources
, Living Spaces
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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…)
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Sometimes it takes forever to complete a DIY project but in this case I completed faux finishing my guest bathroom in just two days. That’s the good news.
For me the even better news is the reason that it has taken me longer than expected to take some photos and share my result with you– I’ve been working with two new corporate clients but more on that later.
A close-up of the brushed pearl effect
I used Valspar’s Brushed Pearl paint and am very pleased with the results. Even my 17 year old was ‘wowed’ which is really saying something about how outstanding it looks because he doesn’t usually pay much attention to my decorating projects
These photos don’t do justice to the gorgeous brushed pearl effect
Here’s how the project went from start to finish–
My very first step was stopping at Lowe’s to buy the paint and sealer. I chose color BP1 ‘Simply Elegant’. While I was there I also picked up the 4″ brush and trowel they sell specifically for this purpose.
A scan of the color card just to give you an idea of the variety of colors; please look at an actual card for accurate color rendition
Next I had my painter put the base coat on the walls and ceiling so all I had to do was to apply the pearl layer. I did this as a time-saver not because it was difficult since the first coat is essentially the same as if you were simply painting any room.
After allowing ample time for the first coat to dry I applied painter’s tape around all four edges of two opposite walls. I don’t think that instructions say to do this but I know from experience that this makes all the difference in acheiving a flawless finish and is worth the little bit of extra time it takes.
I used painter’s tape at each point where two walls met
Having done faux finishes in the past I have learned that you get the best results if you do opposite walls and let them dry. Then reposition your tape onto the dried walls and paint the remaining two walls. If you don’t do it this way I find it very difficult to get a professional finish where the two walls meet.
After the first wall was dry I repositioned the tape and started on the adjacent wall.
Using the 4″ brush I began painting at the upper left corner of one wall and worked my across and down. Since I had taped I didn’t bother to cut in the edges ahead but rather did this as I went along.
I took extra care to pull the paint out so that it didn’t build up around the edges and I kept an eye on how dry it was getting so that it didn’t get too dry before I could use the trowel.
Troweling over the surface is the second step of applying this layer. I went at it at first with a very gentle and deliberate strokes but found that being looser and less measured produced a more pleasing surface appearance. Now that was my first clue that this product was different than most of the prepared faux finishes I have tried in the past.
With the first coat I got a feel for the product and how it handled. I found that I could work rather loosely and quickly which was especially good since I jumped right into painting after dinner on Friday night rather than wait until Saturday morning.
By the second wall I knew exactly how to get the look I was after and the process went even more quickly and I was cleaning my brush before the late night news was over.
I was successful in getting the effect with one coat but it did not look nearly as good as it did when I added a second layer
Of all the faux finishes I have used I found this one to be the most “forgiving”. As I painted I was able to go back over areas and they blended beautifully. After I used the trowel if there were areas I thought looked a bit too strong I was able to soften the effect by dry brushing very gently over the area using an X motion.
I painted not only the wall but also the ceiling because I wanted to make this small guest bathroom seem more spacious. I had originally painted the ceiling with the base coat and I had planned to leave it at that rather than struggle to faux finish it however this technique was so simple that I decided to complete the ceilings with the Brushed Pearl finish to match the walls.
After the paint was dry I had my painter put on the protective sealer and put up the fixtures and switchplates. Adding the sealer did not change the look and in fact may have actually added to the luster.
Antique nickel fixtures against the brushed pearl paint finish
Did I mention that I hadn’t even been considering doing a faux finish in this room? I am so over faux finishes at this point having helped just one too many of my friends fix their Ralph Lauren and other faux DIY projects. However, when I saw the Brushed Pearl finish I was so taken with the look that I quickly forgot all that and headed off to Lowe’s to pick up the paint.
I’m really glad I chose Valspar Brushed Pearl. The process was simple and the results beautiful. I think that even someone doing faux finish for the first time would have success with this technique. In fact I doubt I’ll receive any S.O.S. calls from my friends if they use this product.
My final words on this project–
“The room certainly looks ‘Simply Elegant’ just as the color name said it would!”
Resources:
- Valspar Brushed Pearl paint and tools are available at Lowe’s. Type in your zip code to find your local Lowe’s
**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.
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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:
- Do you have a color dilemma? Post it in the Makeover Gallery at RoomVues.com and you be the next reader to have your color questions answered on the Color For Your Home blog.
- Type in your zip code to find your local Pittsburgh Paint dealer
**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.
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9th Jan. '08
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Living Spaces
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Tags: neutrals, orange
Authored by Kate Smith
Today’s color dilemma…
We recently purchased this tangerine sofa and wanted to know what would be the best color to paint the walls? – smoov22 (picture on roomvues.com)
Kate suggests…
My first thought is that what probably attracted you to this sofa was the bold tangerine color and interesting shape so play up those features.
I would make your sofa the focal point in a room decorated in rich neutrals as shown below.
A mid-tone warm beige would look great with accents of cream and either deep chocolate almost black brown.
You could also use black but to keep it up-to-date use a soft black; think of how black appears if wood is stained rather than painted or when painted has an aged look.
I would find a tan that blends with the tan in your carpet. It appears that the only light in the room is from the sliding doors so I am suggesting a color a bit lighter than shown above since with limited light it will appear darker.
It is difficult to tell from the photo exactly the color of the carpet but a couple colors that you might want to consider– Valspar Churchill Hotel Maple #2008-8B, Sherwin-Williams Sand Dollar #SW-6099, or Benjamin Moore Brookline Beige #HC-47 or Shaker Beige #HC-45.
I would not over use orange within the room but let the sofa carry the color and only show hints of orange in the accessories, artwork or other elements.
If you want to add hues other than the neutrals I would suggest selecting colors that are closely related to the tangerine color. Maybe go a bit deeper or more gold but basically stay with color familes that are adjacent on the color wheel as shown above.
The room below is from Pottery Barn although an entirely different style shows orange used with closely related accent colors on the walls and in the artwork.
The most successful color schemes balance the warm colors of orange, yellow or golds with touches of cooler colors such as blue or green. You don’t need too much but a few items can give your room the feel of being professionally decorated.
The glass top on your coffee table will help balance the warm palette with a bit of cool since this will read slightly blue green. You could also use silver for metallic objects rather than gold, which will also work well with your more contemporary style.
Live green plants add a natural element to the room and add contrast both in color and texture.
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.
Have an idea of what might work with the tangerine sofa? Please share it with us in the comments.
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