Paint, Paint and More Paint!!!

I am happy and relieved to announce that we finally painted the entire first level of our home…in one weekend! No more gross peachy yellow in the family room and kitchen, no more horrid yellow in the formal living room, no more army green in the entry and hallway. My home is now soft, serene and tranquil. All the rooms flow together nicely and feel warm and inviting. What a difference a fresh coat of paint can make. Painting always seems like such an overwhelming task. Honestly, it’s not the most fun I have ever had on a weekend, but it was good to spend time with my husband and good to make our home have a little bit more our style.

Paint is an easy and somewhat inexpensive way to spruce up a space. But it can be a real pain and a challenge picking out the right color. Here are some helpful tips on picking out paint colors for your home.

-Look for color repetition already in your home.
-Open your closet and note the tones you wear most.
-Women, look at the hues in your make up.
-Go to the paint store and see what color families attract you.
-Buy yourself a bouquet of flowers that you like. What colors are you holding?
-Think about your favorite memories, experiences, and vacations-the times you felt most happy -and peaceful. What colors surrounded you? Look through photos albums to trigger memories.
-Flip through magazines and catalogs or check out websites to see what spaces are most appealing to you.
-Pay close attention to how you feel when you walk into different spaces.

When picking out my paint color, I used a few of these techniques. I looked at my closet…lots of browns and earthy tones so I knew that would be a good direction for me. I also looked to my favorite vacation spots, which are mostly beaches. All the colors I chose have a bit of a beach feel to them. I also paid close attention to pictures in magazines and what colors I was drawn to.

Picking paint is difficult, even for the trained eye. Trust your instincts. You know what colors you like and what colors will actually work in your home. As I have said in previous posts, just because a color is “trendy” does not mean it will work in your home with your stuff!! Be true to who you are, but be true to who your house is to.

I hope your next painting project is as gratifying as mine was! It was well worth the work!

When a designer needs to hire a designer.

I love design. I love putting a color palette together, I love picking out furniture, I love doing space plans for my clients. I love it all. I really love the look on a client's face when they see their newly designed room for the first time. I love helping people achieve the vision they have in their minds for their home. So...why is it that I have can't find the vision for my own home??

We moved into our house about 8 months ago. We painted the bedrooms, a few bathrooms, hung some window treatments and replaced a lot of lights. The entire process took about a month, and I am lucky I did not develop an ulcer or rip all my hair out. Making decisions for other people is easy for me. I can do it in my sleep, I dream of a client's home and it is a sweet wonderful dream. If I dream about my own home, I am jolted awake in a panic! It is very stressful designing my own home. Maybe it is the pressure of being a designer and thinking my own home should be a "show palace" of sorts. Maybe I am worried that I will pick the wrong color or fabric and live each day hating my house. Whatever the reason, I have had many moments that I wished I could hire my own designer to make the decisions for me.

However, I am grateful for the experience. I can sympathize with clients that are fearful of something new. I always think every meeting with a client is fun and exciting, but I wonder if they are laying awake at night panicking about the colors I suggested or the sofa I told them they should buy. Or, maybe they are relieved that someone else is doing the work for them. They can go to bed at night and not think about all the colors of paint and all the choices they have to make about tile. Maybe I make their lives a little bit easier. I love that part of my job, making others lives easier. That sounds really nice!

Now...who is going to do that for me??? Ugh, why did I tell my husband I wanted to paint the kitchen and the family room this weekend. Well, I didn't really need to sleep tonight anyway! Look for blog updates on the next design project for my home. If you don't hear from me for awhile, don't worry, I'm just sleeping!

Azure-The New Color for Spring

I get asked on a daily basis "What are the "in" colors right now?" I usually don't have a good answer. I think color trends are just that, trends. They might be in style, but can you really live with a room that is hot pink, or purple? Maybe. However, I like to help clients pick paint colors based on their own personal preferences, what furniture they currently have or are getting ready to purchase and what the house dictates for color choices. I think it is more important to ask yourself how a color really makes you feel instead of whether or not it is "in" right now.

But...I know you are ALL dying to know what the "in" color for spring is!! Azure is very hot right now. I think it is a really interesting shade that adds a lot of drama to a room. It actually works well with a lot of different styles and colors, its a nice backdrop for a room. I actually really like this color and could see using it sometime.

Let me know what you think about Azure. Where would you use this color and what colors would you put with it??

Dining Room Update

Well, here are a few pictures of my dining room. Unfortunately, still very "naked" in it's decor. I have yet to hang anything on the walls, or put up curtains. However, I love having a dining room so much, it rarely bothers me! And believe me, things like that usually bother me. They keep me awake at night! Anyway, my goal is to hang a few things, a mirror (pictured here, just not hung)a few other pieces of artwork and window treatments. I am still trying to decide a suitable fabric for the treatment. My ideal timeline for window treatments is before spring when that room turns into a sauna. I will keep you posted with my progress...if there ever is any!!

MIA...

First off, I must apologize for my absence over the past 3 months! Wow, that is a long time! I have been busy and working. I know...there is no excuse for me to keep my vast design knowledge from my loyal readers!! HAHA!! I will try to do better...it is one of my New Years Resolutions!

Soon I will have updates on all the fabulous projects I have been working on. My dining room is finally finished, furniture and all. I will update with pictures so you can see the progress. It really is amazing to have a room full of new furniture. For weeks, I just stared in the room, never going in, just staring! I was in shock to have dining room furniture! I felt so grown up. We ate a few meals in the room, and are hosting our first dining party in the dining room this weekend. I guess it's time to remove the plastic from the seats!

Well dear blog followers. I promise to be better with my posting from now on. I have had my time away and I have missed it. Just hope it was worth the wait!!

Tips on Picking Paint Colors

1. Paint chips Colors on the chips can look different from how they appear on the way so test two or three samples and live with the samples for a few days before making your selection. This way you can see the colors in a variety of light conditions.

2. Walls A plain coat of paint can do wonders for your walls, but you don't have to stop there. Stamps, stencils, murals, stripes and colors blocks, plus all kinds of faux finishes can bring interest to your walls as well. Let your imagination soar!

3. Trim A consistent choice of trim color throughout the house can add flow. A popular choice is white as it reflects light creating an airy feel. But just about any color can work.

4. Ceilings The standard for years has been to paint the ceiling white. But trends are changing. Why not try a muted sky blue or a percentage of the wall color mixed with white?

5. Furniture High-gloss paint can spruce up tired wood furniture. Paint items alike to create a unified look or choose different colors to add character.

6. Latex or Oil? Unless you are painting floors or bare wood, latex is a greener choice. It has less odor, dries faster, and clean-up is a snap.

7. Materials and Preparation Buy the best materials you can afford. A good brush is an investment worth making. With proper cleaning and storage, it will last for many years and make all the difference in the paint application. Prep your walls well and the paint will go on smoother and look better.

8. Small Spaces Conventional wisdom states that light colors make a small space look bigger. But no amount of white paint will make a diminutive powder room or entry feel palatial. So why not add a touch of spice to your small space, like a pleasant surprise.

9. Kids' Spaces Since children often prefer bold colors that are too bright for adult sensibilities, compromise can be the way to go. Try choosing softer tones in the same family color family of your child's preference. Then you can bring in the drama with accent pieces. What could be more fun than a lipstick-red end table?

10. Take a Risk Even if you are hesitant about darker hues, don't automatically resort to play-it-safe white. For the cost of a can of paint, you can try something different. You may just surprise yourself in how much you like it.

My Assistant

I often get asked about my "group", my employees. So, I thought I would feature my employee of the week. My absolute favorite employee, my assistant, the fabulous...Oliver. Not only does he bark and warn me of unwelcome visitors like the shifty UPS man, but he has a great eye for colors and fabrics. Which is so strange because dogs only see in black and white!

Its funny how dogs become more than just "dogs" to their owners. I remember about 9 years ago, I had this friend who was crazy about her dogs. Referred to them as her children, made an absolute fool of herself over the dogs. I swore I would NEVER be that way about any pet I ever had. Fast forward a few years when I received my 25th birthday gift from my parents...Oliver! This little guy is certainly more than a "dog" to me and I wouldn't have it any other way! Now, if I really could train him to help me pick out fabrics...