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

How Will 'Color of the Year' Choices Effect Your Design?

Now that late Fall is here most of the 'Color of the Year' announcements are out. Some have created more hoopla conversation than needed, really.  Not every color of the year is perfect or 'new'.  You may never even come close to using any of the trend colors in your own space, and that is okay because color is personal; and timeless color is .....timeless.  

That being said, it doesn't hurt to know what's on trend so if you choose you CAN make an update here or there.  Instead of concentrating on one color, I recommend using the trending colors you like as a starting point and tweak them to work into your space.  Use one color in layers--lighter and darker tints and shades of the same hue--create a flow for each room having a unique color.

Have you seen these? 

Pintrest

 Benjamin Moore: Guildford Green HC-116

This green is a soft green that isn't sage nor yellow, just nicely in-between.  It can be a great transitional color in a main area like a foyer, or can be that bit of color to a room surrounded by the gray/greige/beige or off white neutrals in many homes.

Pintrest

Pittsburgh Paints: Blue Paisley PPG 1238-6

This is a rich blue, more toward a blue berry. It is fresh and makes a statement.  In most cases it will work best as an accent or in small doses.

Pintrest

Sherwin William: Coral Reef SW6606

This is a fresh coral, true to its name. It is not as brown as a terra cotta, but not necessarily juvenile, as this picture shows.   

Pintrest

Akzo Nobel: Copper Orange

This is an interesting choice in my opinion. It can be worked in as a solid color, similar to a terra cotta, perhaps in a higher sheen like satin or semi gloss; or a metallic glaze or paint could be used for a truer copper shine.  

Click here for a great article about this color from fellow color expert Isabel de Yzaguirre

Pintrest

Pantone: Marsala 18-1438

Most definitely the most conversation stirring pick among fellow color consultants this past week.  Pantone colors are not paint manufacture standard colors you can find in color wheel or color deck. They are geared toward the advertising and apparel industries. This year's color relates to a brick tone, burgundy-brown red.

Hopefully you can find a 'color of the year' that resonates with you for adding an update to a room or two.  If not, don't sweat it.  Make color personal to you!  

If you feel stuck on choosing a color, set up an appointment with your local color consultant. It will save you time and stress of finding the color(s) to give your space an updated look.  You can find more about Color ReDesign here.  

Best,

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

Flooring Matters

"Oh, just ignore the carpet.  We are going to get different flooring for this room".

My new favorite comment during a color consultation!

As a small business owner I know the importance of business networking, so I joined a local Chamber of Commerce a couple of years ago and the benefits are starting to return on my investment.  From a gracious invitation from an established and trustworthy #flooring store owner, I have teamed up with Carpet One/Modern Floors, Walled Lake to help my #color consulting clients find the perfect floor to help their perfect paint color complete the project in their home or business.  

Hard surface flooring

Don't be fooled by offers for 'free' padding or 'free' installation.  Nothing is free, but a trustworthy, established business will work with each client to make sure the products quoted will meet the client's project scope and budget.  I treat each of my client's flooring search as if it were my own so I will not sell them short.  I will look out for their best interest and go through a process of elimination of sorts to find the perfect floor from one store.

Caribbean Mist

There are so many flooring products out there from reputable companies with many price points and specific characteristics.  Carpet One // Modern Floors Walled Lake has access to many manufactures and has the buying power of a big network while remaining locally owned, so you can shop local AND get competitive pricing for your new flooring.

Considering new flooring?  Call me and we will see how we can get you a new floor 'from inspiration to installation'.  

Best,

Jill J. Wallace

Second Coat Required

Ever ask a sales person at your favorite paint store if the paint is darker on the wall than the color chip?

Did they answer what you expected?  

As a color consultant that helps customers a few days a week at Benjamin Moore retailer North Cromwell Paint I have been asked this question many times.  

'Take home' chips are usually 1x2" on a strip of eight colors up to 3x4" individual chips unless the store has some larger chips on hand, so in the store it can be difficult to decipher if a color is going to be dark enough or too dark for a certain room.  

Here's what you need to know:

• When you open the can of paint the paint will look lighter than the paint chip.  It could even look too 'something'...pink, yellow, blue....

• When you first paint the wall the paint will look lighter than the paint chip.

• Once you cut in [a nice wide & feathered cut in so you don't get a 'picture frame' effect] the paint will darken as it dries.  You may not notice it at first, but as you roll on the first coat of paint you will see how the two parts look different.

Cut in line dried to paint color; first coat wet

First coat of paint with old color poking through

• While you are covering up an old color, presuming you did not have to prime, the old color could make the new color look terrible to the point you'll wonder if you are putting the correct new color on the wall.

• So you'd like to get away with one coat eh? Best of luck because even the self primed paints cannot account for normal, typical walls that manage to avoid the roller releasing paint.  It's really just the old color putting up a good fight to stick around.  A second rolled coat should go on rather quickly as your cut in took care of the wall/ ceiling/ trim board meeting spots.

The answer to the question if the paint color looks darker on the wall than on the color chip is no.   

It may be surprising that even a deep color will look like the color chip when you hold it up to the wall, but overall the color will look a little lighter and brighter in the space because it is on a larger surface than 2x2" and has more light to reflect on it.  

Benjamin Moore's Surf Blue

Deep color: a little lighter and brighter

Hope this post sheds some light on the question of how the paint looks on the wall compared to the tiny color chip you can start with from the store.

Don't let the large paint color selection make you frustrated with your project.  Hire a #color consultant for their experience of how certain colors may or may not display your ideal color in your room.  Your lighting and room characteristics are not the same as a retail store. 

 ~Make Your Color Personal~ (click this link for more information about my consulting services)

Best,
Jill

Exterior Colors Gone Wrong

This was an incredibly long, cold, wet spring  in lower Michigan that delayed exterior paint projects.  With anticipation of helping clients find new or different or updated exterior colors for their existing, remodeled or new construction home I used the uncooperative weather to 'window' shop and see how local homes were trending.

We have many inland lakes in the area, so on some drives I found quite a few different home styles with color combinations that really work.

 

Commerce MI

West Bloomfield, MI

     

In the North / Mid East there are some colors that do not belong aesthetically on a home's exterior.   Some colors do not work for technical reasons: drastic light reflective value (LRV) changes; for example very light siding color to two or three shades darker.  Some colorants, therefore some paint colors, do not handle UV rays even though the exterior paint bases are significantly improved to handle fading and nature's elements.   Home Owners Association Rules are often scoffed at, but they really do prevent hideous colors from popping up in a neighborhood.

    

Some stores have home items.  Homes are not stores and can look eye catching without bright and saturated hues.

IKEA

This subdivision purposely painted repeated colors.  Some are deep tones, but none are saturated and overly bright.  

Canton, MI

Please keep in mind that you cannot close a door to an exterior like you can to the bedroom, den or basement that you gave creative colors.  Your exterior doesn't have to be 'builder beige' but its color should represent the neighborhood well.

If you are really stuck, color consultants, such as myself, can help you navigate the barrage of color choices and color placement.

    

The FRESH Approach to Choosing Exterior Colors

All of the Myan Calendar 12-21-12 talk of new beginnings vs. doomsday has sparked an early New Years Resolution attitude in me.  I will continue to expand my knowledge of color and design in 2013.

As a color consultant I provide the guidance and solid recommendations to my clients in choosing interior or exterior colors for their home or business. 

Taking courses online allows me to refresh some knowlege and learn new information that help walk clients through the decision process of choosing colors that make their space personal to them and make design sense and universal appeal where needed.

My latest course on AEC Daily:

The FRESH Approach to Choosing Exterior Colors

The five steps for color placement:
Fixed Features, Regional colors, Environment & surroundings, Style of home, Historic or 'Have to use Colors'

This consultation was a perfect worst case senario.  The brick is orange/terra cotta/black.  The new roof is light gray.  The siding was a beige.  Conflict!  The homeowners and I found a new siding color that makes the two largest fixed features in two different tones and color families work together.  A new focal point front door helps define the entry too.  A happy ending.

 Gray/blue color cast

 Shutters are the darkest color

 Front entry stands out most

Of course I've taken the classes regarding color & light, color foundations, and paint technology, as well as universal design and generation shifts, but to date my favorite and hardest class (read: most hand written notes) is fire stop: fire safe building construction.  Don't be 'that fix it guy'.  Hire a professional builder; let Code inspect before things are sealed up.

I'm looking forward to tackling more of the courses on my 'interest' list.   

Knowledge is power.  The more I can learn and share in some way with my clients, the better.

Happy New Year!