The Perfect White Kitchen - A Design Myth?

Thinking about remodeling your kitchen? Picking a new paint color is the most inexpensive way to transform the room where you spend so much time. If you page through design magazines, you'll find that designers adore the white kitchen. It's timeless, they say. Some of us who lived through the white kitchens of the 80s might disagree with that theory! Although white is a fine choice, many people feel that it comes off as sterile--especially when paired with stainless steel appliances and stone countertops.

Thanks to House Beautiful's Paint Brush. I've "painted" some kitchens to show you some interesting color choices to use with white cabinets. Soft pastels, tans, or even warm browns are unexpected choices that will make your kitchen so special. And remember, paint colors never look the same in your home as they do online. Be sure to look at the colors in your own kitchen to make sure you get the exact color you want.

If you want specific suggestions to find your perfect colors, call 702.202.7543 for a Color Design Consultation.

Why Exterior Paint Colors Can Go So Wrong

You've decided to update your home's exterior. You've chosen the perfect paint colors. The painters begin the transformation, and you are so excited to see your new home. You walk across the street to take it all in. To your shock and dismay, the beautiful rich taupe you've chosen is in fact, green. What happened? Something must have have gone terribly wrong when they mixed the paint color. The painter pulls out the color chart and hold it up to the house. It's an exact match! Now what?

Unfortunately, I've received many panic calls for help as a result of this scenario. It's the reason that choosing colors for home and building exteriors is so difficult. This phenomenon is called "color shifting." Color is dependent upon a number of factors, most of all light. Tans and grays are the trickiest because they are a combination of many colors. They can subtly shift orange, pink, yellow, purple and yes, even green. It depends on the direction the home faces and even latitude. The sunlight in the desert southwest is much different than the sunlight in upper midwest.

So please be careful when you see a color idea in a magazine. Chances are, that color will look nothing like the picture when it's applied to your home. Whether it's a house or a homeowner's association or a retail shopping center, nothing is more disappointing than spending a fortune painting only to have to do it again. For beautiful results, seek paint color advice specific to your exterior and its architectural features.

To pick the perfect colors for your home or business, call 702.202.7543 for a Color Design quote.

Deep Colors in the Master Bedroom and Bath

When choosing colors for the master bedroom and bath, clients often feel that they should choose lighter colors to make it more restful. Those colors will work for you only if you like lighter colors. It's all about balance and light. When I see an example of an unconventional color choice that works, I love to share. In this case, it happens to be the master bedroom and bathroom of Seattle Seahawk TJ Houshmandzadeh. His home was featured on MTV's Cribs. It caught my eye because so many celebrity homes are done in neutral beige and white.

When I pull out a color sample in a beautiful blue paint color like this, the reaction is typically, "I don't know.. I like it. It just may be too much." So let's take a look at why this color works. Most importantly, there is a lot of light in this room to illuminate such a saturated color. Then, there's the large white crown molding and window treatments, not to mention the white sheer fabric adorning the bed. The white accent color gives the blue a fresh and clean look. It feels airy and reminiscent of a beautiful Caribbean sea resort.

There are no photos, but they continued this blue in the master bathroom, too. I'm all for deep colors in a master bathroom because typically there is very little wall space. With all of the cabinets, mirrors and fixtures, the wall color is really an accent framing everything. The bathroom is great place to start with color if you're feeling uncomfortable about using it on larger room walls. If you are drawn to deeper colors, consider peacock blue, emerald green, or iris purple. These velvety-rich colors will create the perfect restful retreat for you.

To find your perfect colors, email maryfrances@mycolordesigner.com or call 702.202.7543 to schedule your Color Design Consultation.

HGTV Design Star Color - Would You Do Wysteria?

One of my guilty pleasures is getting my fix with HGTV's Design Star. Yes, I know the design situations are unrealistic and completely set up for disaster. But, I love seeing what the designers come up with on the fly. And of course, I'm especially interested in their paint color choices. So yesterday, I saw the celebrity design episode, featuring rooms for Tiffani Thiessen, Jason Priestly, and Kathy Griffin. I guess Jenny Garth and Tori Spelling were busy. Lonni played it safe with eco-friendly neutrals for Tiffani's guest bedroom. I got a little nervous when I saw the blue and green choices by Dan for Jason's nursery. I was worried that the color would be overwhelming in such a large space. I breathed a little easier when he explained that he would be breaking it up with the curtains and other design elements. And that he did. Good move. I have to admit that Antonio left me scratching my head with his color choice for Kathy Griffin's office. Candice Olson called it "wysteria", a hot, trendy color. I thought for sure that the judges were going to let him have it. Much to my surprise, they loved it! Don't get me wrong. I've used my share of purples in Color Designs. I use it quite often actually--in homes. When choosing colors for offices, you should take into consideration that there are a number of people working in the space. In my experience, there are people who *love* purple and people who absolutely can't stand it. And, there are certain shades of purple that actually make people feel nauseous. Trendy or not, there was a lot of purple in that office. I also felt, that in conjunction with the new dark reddish laminate flooring, that the space was dark and cave-like. With the green movement, we are moving towards more natural light in the workspace. It inspires associates and makes them feel good. I can guarantee that people working in this space would be gravitating toward the outdoors whenever they had the chance. This is one case where the color worked on a technical level but struck out on a psychological level. When choosing office colors, go for light and harmony and balance to create the optimal environment where people love to work.

Orange Walls in My Living Room? It May Be the Perfect Color for You!

When choosing colors for their living rooms, many of my clients think neutral. Bold colors are for dining rooms, kitchens, kids rooms, accent walls and bathrooms, right? When the furniture is neutral, warmer and more vibrant colors are perfect for living rooms. Look what happens to the fireplace and door when orange is used together with white. Features that would have disappeared with white walls are now special elements in the room. Orange is the universal color for happiness. What a great way to counter the gloominess of cloudy days and lift your spirits. You could spend lots of time and money accessorizing a room and never the same impact as a vibrant color. If strong oranges are too much, find a lighter version that suits you. If you tend toward more earthy colors, choose more of a burnt orange. Some of my favorites are Sherwin Williams Mandarin SW6891 and Inventive Orange SW6633. Look beyond the basics to find the perfect colors for you.

For a color design consultation to find the perfect colors for you , call 702.202.7543.

A World Without Color

A dear friend of mine passed on the following video about the gift of being able to see in color. It took my breath away. I've always been overwhelmed by the beauty of color in nature. It was my first connection in being drawn to color...and the basis of my work in bringing the joy of color to people's lives. Take a moment to appreciate this special gift:

http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/Colors/

House Beautiful The Color Issue - The Best Way to Choose the Wrong Colors for You

As a color design professional, I was so excited to see that the September issue of House Beautiful is devoted to color. Upon perusing the article titles, my heart sank. Upon reading them, I was downright irritated. Here was a credible design publication providing readers with completely inaccurate information about color and how to choose colors for their personality. It made me wonder how many people will waste their time and money only to be ultimately disappointed.

The first article I read was called "How to Fix Your Home with Color". Sounds easy enough. Here is an excerpt from the article:

Concentration

Yellow increases your focus. It is known for enhancing intelligence and mental agility. It can help stimulate conversation and clarify thoughts. Try a yellow...No. 2 pencil, bookmark, pad of Post-it notes.

A pad of Post-It notes will increase concentration. That's all it takes? Wow. So if that's the case, and I paint a classroom yellow (and give all the children No. 2 pencils for good measure), all of the kids will be focused and be A-students of course. I would also want to paint one of the walls orange since that is the universal color of happiness. Because who wouldn't want happy, high-achieving children? Then we'll get the teacher a green desk because that's the color of prosperity, and then the teacher will get that well-deserved raise.

I wish I were exaggerating, but these ideas were taken directely from the article. If it were this simple, would we be vexing over choosing colors the way we do? If there was a formula, couldn't the paint companies produce 8 standard colors and scrap all the rest? I'm trained in Applied Color Psychology, the science behind color and the human response. I'm sorry to say that no color is going to "make" you feel a certain way. Yes, certain colors have a measurable physiological effect. Short-lived in most cases. Whether it's our personality or experiences we've had in our lives, we do have individual responses to color. Some of us need more stimulation than others. Blue isn't necessarily a calming color. Some people feel cold in a light blue room.

My frustration levels soar when I see color myths like this being perpetuated. My clients get confused about how their homes are "supposed" to be to make them feel good. It's all about you. When we work together, we learn what YOUR colors are. No quiz is going to do that. A newspaper reporter once described me as something akin to a "color mystic." It's not that complicated, and I'm no psychic. I just listen and learn about you and use my experience and training to create the perfect color design for you.

.