2015 ReCap

On the eve of New Years Eve it seems like a good time frame to reflect back over the past twelve months and share a few ways I was able to ~Make Color Personal~ for clients.  I look forward to helping more clients in 2016.

http://weseesearch.com

The calls for help with paint colors and placement were a (always welcomed) steady stream in 2015.  Sources continued to include direct contact at a local Benjamin Moore retailer, repeat and past client referrals, painter referrals and inquiries from Houzz  (click the link to visit my page).  

A fantastic commercial project was with a Condo Association that was looking to add sophisticated colors to the exteriors of  the units.  Based on the location near a golf course and a request for six color options, compared to two, I provided new colors that would meet the Board of Directors request as well as keeping the painters in mind by staying in the same color depth of the previous choices--no extreme color changes--.

'Green' -really a gray green- is subtle but stands out next to gray and tan neighboring units

Yellow without glowing

Taupe in the right hue is like a perfect river rock

Blue per a Board choice request. Used sparingly it adds a punch of color among the neutral tans and grays

Residential exteriors were also individualized for each home owner.  Based on requests for 'something that stands out from the lake view' to 'something that looks impressive/rich' homeowners had ~color made personal~ to help make a house into a home for curb appeal.

Stucco, trim and deck boards now work with stone and brick

Gray and cream stand out but work with the brick

Eye catching even from the lake

Interior consults were a full range of refreshing a room with a similar color, with less 'pink' or 'yellow' to new construction with primed walls, and some needing flooring and counter and cabinet color choices.

Saturated ('dark') gray to balance strong natural sunlight

Master Bath waiting for wall and floor choices

Navy Blue off sets the white Wainscoting and dark furniture

Consults can include details like making sure the trim work lines up with fixed items like windows

Change from gold to rich taupe

I look forward to moving on to 2016 and more opportunities to ~Make Color Personal~, maybe for you, maybe for a friend, neighbor, coworker or family member.  I bring a professional, unbiased view of color and decorating recommendations that won't break the budget.   In fact, a consulting appointment will out weigh the cost of time and samples that just aren't working.  Take a look at my website for more information to see if I am a good fit to ~Make Color Personal~ for you!

Until Next Year

Jill

Trending--Is It Worth Keeping Up

Do you consider yourself trendy? Do you wish you could find a timeless look so you didn't have to worry about having a 'dated' look?  Painting your walls is still the quickest and less expensive way to transform a room.  Some decor changes help you update and still use what you otherwise have.

September is only a day away and fall items are starting to pop up in stores including color trends for 2015.  No 'color of the year' announcements from specific companies in this blog, but that's okay because I want to concentrate on the non-trendy part of paint colors to help transition any updates you try to incorporate into your space.

Over the past few years #gray was considered the new #beige.  I have had friends and clients overhaul their homes to meet this paint color change.  Not everyone can use a classic gray in their space.  I've personally tried to find ways to incorporate gray into my home and it's too cold or gloomy for my liking.  (Michigan doesn't have countless sunny days). Instead I've changed out some paint colors with a warm, green-gray.  

Benjamin Moore Cosmopolitan

Benjamin Moore Seattle Mist

There are some beige paint colors that help balance all of that gray as well.  I have found the khaki beige colors help as neutrals without looking pink or 'builder' beige.  They help the green-grays or brown-grays look more gray than the undertone of brown/green. So when you see green in a beige it's usually helping the color from looking pink. If you see green in a gray its usually helping it from looking blue. 

   

Painting a room in taupe colors that lean gray instead of pink can help give an adjoining gray room some unique definition too, with some warmth.    

  

The best way I've learn to describe combining gray, taupe and beige paint colors is it's like using river rocks.  

Pintrest

They come in a varying range but all work together.  Plus you can add some variation to the rooms' colors but keep a flow or smooth transition from and to rooms.  The single tip to make the rooms work together, without having to paint them all the same color: relate something to each room.  If you use gray on the walls in one room, use the same shade of gray as a decor piece or accent in the next room.  

If you find yourself stuck in changing some colors in your room, call me for a color consultation! 

Best~
Jill
Color Redesign

Blue-Little Boy, Slate, or Gray?

Are you a 'blue' person?  What kind of blue do you like?  Better yet what kind of blue do you avoid?  

Pale Blue Sky

Lake Superior

I have helped many color consulting clients with finding the 'perfect' blue paint color for their space.  There are fine tuning questions that pin point what makes a blue perfect for the space they are trying to personalize.

Sometimes is it soft and airy, like Benjamin Moore's 2014 Color of the Year, Breath of Fresh Air.

Benjamin Moore Breath of Fresh Air #806

Most times it needs to have a gray tone to it to keep it looking soft but grown up.

Great Lakes Inspired

A robin's egg blue is widely appealing.

Robin's Egg Blue Guest Room

Often the more depth it has the richer and cozier it feels in a space.

Slate Blue Office

Blue Gray Living Room

Navy is a consistent strong blue

Navy Exterior

Navy Accent

Do you have a favorite blue?

Have You Picked Up On Your Trend?

It starts as a single purchase; an accent piece...in your favorite color.

I seem to be on a red flower trend.  I bought these pillows from Target last spring to add a punch of color to our outdoor furniture set. 

On an exploritory stop to Pier One this past week I saw this amazing rug hanging on display:

Pier One

I can so picture this in my living room/office!  But to not buy on impulse I am going to analyze/comparison shop.  I believe in time tested purchases; not too trendy, but enough to update a space and last more than a season.

The colors available for the spring season are so bright and plentiful!  Which brings me back to my trend.  I have been looking for new foyer and garage door entry rugs.  The entrances are not in direct view of each other, but they need to tie in~meaning they don't have to match exactly, which gives me more creative room!   Here's what I found, and knew I didn't need to look any futher :)



Foyer Rug

Garage Entry Rug

Notice the red flower theme I seem to be on?  What I love about these coodinating rugs is :

1. They don't match exactly
2. They relate to each other with theme and color tones
3. They relate to (without matching exactly) the porcelain tile colors
4. They relate to the rooms that flow off the entries

Now to find a living room/office rug that doesn't get the floral theme out of control, but ties in a transitional style.

Do you need help deciphering and pulling together your trend 'likes'?  Are your room wall colors flowing with your theme?  Call me for a consulting appointment if you get stuck.

Best~
Jill