Touch Up Doesn't Equate to Dab of Paint

Have you stopped into your local paint store and asked for 'touch up' paint in the smallest amount possible just to get a resistance and a bunch of clarifying questions?

Here's why.   Even if you use the same paint from the same original color, the 'touch up' area will have a different coverage of the paint.  You most likely will see flashing. This article on Houzz is a good reference.  

To use a new can of paint will increase the chance for a slight color difference, not to mention the sheen difference.  If at all possible you need to stick with the same type of paint that was used on the wall you are painting.  Manufacture's eggshell, satin and semi-gloss differ from each other.  A companie's own lines (good, better, best) will differ from each other too.  The new paint will look lighter and fresher than the existing paint....especially if it has been up for a few years.

I touched up a wall recently with the original paint. I knew it could potentially create a flash effect but I couldn't take the white spot from a nick created by 'not me' family member A, B, or possibly C ;-) When I look at the wall straight on the difference doesn't show, but when viewed at an angle the touch up area looks flatter than the rest of the wall.  

Touch Up Flashing

It is possible to touch up with some paints.  Benjamin Moore Aura is one of the few paints actually stated by the manufacture that it touches up.  Depending how long ago you painted also makes a huge difference of the touch up results.  Flat paints flash the least.  The higher the sheen the more likely you will have to paint the whole area or get very creative to meld the old and newly painted surface.

Just know that if the person helping you at the store puts up some resistance it's to save you the frustration and to give you the knowledge you may be painting corner to corner, or feathering a LOT more than you planned, not just putting paint on a touch up area.  

Happy painting,

Jill

I Saw It In a Magazine

You've read about it before, 

'Colors are approximate. Printed and monitor calibrations vary.'

Meaning the images your find in a printed book or magazine and images you find on Pintrist, Houzz, BHG or HGTV web pages may look like the perfect color, but even if a paint color name is provided, keep in mind printing, lighting and computer calibration factors may make the color look different from the actual manufacturer's paint chip or paint test sample you get.

I ran into a perfect example today.  I found a picture in a printed color catalog of a room that I liked so I thought I would match up the colors I thought were used before I looked up the names provided. (Color consultant games we play)


Here's what I got:

PPG Colors

Here's what was used:

PPG Colors

Similar but not the same. The Edelweiss chip looks grayer in this post to me compared to the paint chip from the store and Soft Cream looks more peachy cream on the paint chip compared to the picture here.

Yellows and blues can be more tricky to get that 'perfect' color because they can go brighter than you expect on the wall. Taupe can give a pink or purple cast, Tans can go too yellow and Grays run the gamut of too blue, too purple, too green.... 

If you find yourself in this predicament, call me for a color consulting appointment for a professional, unbiased meeting of ~making color personal~ to You!  

Best~
Jill

Thank You! Best of Houzz 2013 Award

Extremely excited and pleasantly surprised today to find out I have earned the 2013 Best of Houzz award for Customer Satisfaction!  

The "Annual Survey and Analysis of Community of 11 Million Monthly Users Reveals Top-Rated Professionals and Design Trends".  The Houzz community rated me as one of the designers at the highest level of customer satisfaction. 

Please read the press release Houzz sent to me:

Color Redesign of West Bloomfield, MI Receives

Houzz’s 2013 ‘Best Of Houzz’ Award

Annual Survey and Analysis of 11 Million Monthly Users

 Reveals Top-Rated U.S. Professionals

West Bloomfield, MI  --  January 21, 2013 – Color Redesign of West Bloomfield, MI has been awarded  “Best Of Houzz” 2013 by Houzz, the leading online platform for residential remodeling and design.  The 6 year old Color and Redesign company was chosen by the more than 11 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community.

The Houzz “Best Of Houzz” award for 2013 is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction award winners are based on homeowner members who rated their experience working with remodeling professionals in 12 categories ranging from architects, and interior designers to contractors and other residential remodeling professionals.  Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the community of 11 million monthly users, also known as “Houzzers,” who saved more than 124 million professional images of home interiors and exteriors to their personal ideabooks via the Houzz site, iPad/iPhone app and Android app.

Making Color Personal


“Houzz provides homeowners with an in-depth, 360-degree view of building, remodeling and design professionals through images of their work, reviews and an opportunity to interact with them directly in the Houzz community,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of community. “We’re delighted to recognize Jill J. Wallace among our “Best Of” professionals for exceptional customer service as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

With Houzz, homeowners can identify not only the top-rated professionals like Jill J. Wallace, but also those whose work matches their own aspirations for their home. Homeowners can also evaluate professionals by contacting them directly on the Houzz platform, asking questions about their work and evaluating their responses to questions from others in the Houzz community.

About Jill J. Wallace

Jill J. Wallace’s expertise is in residential and commercial color, organizing techniques and redesign.  She leads her clients through the color choice process for new construction, renovation and blank spaces.

Jill earned her Marketing degree from Oakland University, Rochester, MI.  Using her 20+ years of business experience, customer service skills and continued training in color theory and knowledge Jill works closely with her clients to help her motto ~Making Color Personal~ become a tangible client result.

About Houzz

Houzz (www.houzz.com) is a leading online platform for home remodeling, providing inspiration, information, ‘advice and support for homeowners and home improvement professionals through its website and mobile applications. Houzz features the largest residential design database in the world, articles written by design experts, product recommendations, a vibrant community powered by social tools, and information on more than 1.5 million remodeling and design professionals worldwide who can help turn ideas into reality. @houzz_inc

Have you stopped by Houzz lately?  

The Neutral Trap

I've noticed it happening, variations of 'current', safe warm/stone grays are taking front stage when I'm analyzing color ideas for a client.  This past week I worked with two different clients that weren't afraid of color and I found myself having to turn off the neutral button in my brain. What a nice pick me up!

Gray is still the 'new beige' but you can fall into neutral land just as easily with this update and have one color staring back at you in every room.  The trick to update a space without ending up just shifting from all beige or 'builder white' walls to all taupe or gray takes a little faith to think outside the conservative box.