Perfect Wedding Color by Pantone

I want to be a Pantone Bride! I just found this beautiful website called The Dressy Group. This company helps you plan your wedding from style, invitations, destinations and which can be the hardest part, color.

I usually don't write about fashion, it just not my thing ya know ;-) however, I do know color and this website is the go to tool for brides. Look what I found:

The Dressy Group

This photo is on their main banner - you have me sold right here! Love the dress and color of course, it's a beautiful silvery gray with the classic touch of black but - I really love the background color! It's not the dreaded, bubble gum girly pink that is sometimes associated with weddings. It's rich, classy and elegant. Now I am reminded it is just a background color but it's these details that sell the product. Great web designer - who are you? Let's talk.

Jumping on the Tangerine Tango color trend -as you should - so many women look great in this color. From hair to skin tones, coral is the hue to choose. Be careful of the raspberry. If you have a blue undertone in your skin (I know that sounds silly but it's true) this color will not look good on you. (ppppssttt - use coral)

Products don't go anywhere without clever advertising and packaging. Very nice!

And here we have some of the colors to choose from. Aren't' they beautiful? They bring a tear to my eye! Really though, all joking aside, look at the array of color you have to choose from. Without a wedding guide or planner, would you know which color to choose?

Just for giggles, if I were a bride this year, my choice would be the Pantone Merlot. Love the trendy purple, which in my opinion, will always be trending in one hue or another.

I say the same thing when it comes to color for your home - without a Professional Color Expert for guidance, you could be making a very costly mistake on a very important decision.

So whether it's color for your wedding or color for your home, call the professionals for help. It's a good investment for peace of mind, for your important day or for your home.

Wedding Color Choices

Saying I do to Color

The Gift Of Color For Weddings

The Wedding Bed

Telling a Story With Color

Color choices are not only needed in our home but in so many other applications as well. Nico Yektai of Sag Harbor, NY is a Furniture Designer and specializes in hand-made and one-of-a-kind works of art.

Bravely, I tweeted yesterday and asked if anyone needed help with color and I received a tweet from Nico asking about color for  his sculpture. I was thinking wall color but color of course can be used in any application so sculpture it was!

This is the photo he sent me. It's not complete and I hope he  doesn't mind me posting a photo of his work before completion but it's so very cool and I'm sure he won't mind.

Here is his work in progress and the colors I suggested along with the reason why I chose them. I hope he likes them!

Nico,  

I’d like to make three color suggestions if I may. These hues are from Benjamin Moore Color Stories which as you know is brand new and the best of the best in pure color. It’s quality is superb for those who want “make a statement color”. Having said that, this is why I chose these colors. 

Your sculpture shows movement so I thought you could take it one step further and show movement in color as well. With the lighter color on top, darker on bottom, it makes your eyes look down. Your “ladder” does the same. The “steps” make my eyes start at the top and then look down but cleverly you have the motion blocked or stopped by the marble (nice).

Espresso Bean is not black but is actually a very dark brown - nice trending color. Grays are also very trendy now but it you look at their names, I thought it was perfect for the NY flair in name. 

All these details contribute to great color and design. From choosing the color and even the name. Now when you explain this piece to a client, you can tell a complete “Color Story”.


Hope you like it!
Donna Frasca
Color Expert

What Color Should I Paint My Closet?

Closets By Design

The closet is actually a very important “room” or space in the home. It really can make or break a home sale if there's insufficient closet space. So, taking it one step further, when designing your closet, also keep color in mind.

For the most part when I'm at a color consultation I always ask my client if they'd like to paint their closet. The majority of the time it's a no because after all, “why do I need color in my closet” anyway?

There are several reason why you'd want to paint your closet:

1. It's probably still the contractors beige or white.

2. It's probably a flat or matte sheen which gets dirty very easily.

3. It looks unfinished.

4. It's hard to keep clean.

5. Painting is a minor detail that will have a high impact if you have to sell your home.
6. It will look better.

Reasons you aren't painting your closet:

1. I don't know what color to choose for my closet.

2. I'd have to take all the shelves out or paint around them.

3. It's a HUGE project.

4. No one will look inside my closet.

5. It's just a closet.

The best time to paint your closet of course is when you first move into your home and it's still empty. You'll more than likely have some type of wire shelving to paint around but it will definitely be worth it.

Now to the question - What Color  Should I Paint My Closet?

When I'm designing a color scheme for a home, 9/10 I have a fairly neutral color in the foyer and hallways.

Benjamin Moore Whites

Most of the time I take the foyer/hallway color and also put it in the laundry room and the closets. 

DESIGN TIP: Keep the color in your closet subtle and neutral. There really is no need to put substantial color in this room. Here's why.

Neutral Closet

This graphic represents a neutral closet. The background is an off white or beige and the rectangles are your clothes. We all have just about every color from lights to darks in our closets so having the background a neutral will visually make the closet more appealing and easier to see. It's really a small detail that will make a large impact in your closet.

Now this closet was painted the same coastal blue that's been trending for quite some time. So many people have this color in their bedroom and have taken it into their closet but look what happens. It's very unsettling to see all this color in a closet. The color of your clothes fight with the blue and it just becomes a mess. It's like painting every room in your home a different and unrelated color. It doesn't make sense and it's just ugly! By the way - the color of the “clothes” are the same in both these graphics but see how different they look?

So my friends, whether you have a very large walk in closet or a very small closet, take the time out to finish it. Just paint it neutral, perhaps a creamy beige, and it'll look great as a background color for your wardrobe.

Here are some darker neutrals if you have a really large closet and just want to cozy it up a bit. Make sure you have good lighting in here to!

If you need additional help 

choosing color for your closet, contact me, I'd love to help!

Are Boobie Lights a Turn On?

I just read a post from Color Chats about how some lighting companies are inspired by Benjamin Moore and are tweaking their lamps and decor to coordinate and or match with Benjamin Moore colors. Now THAT'S innovative!

The lattice on this  shade can be made to any Benjamin Moore hue. Please read the post on Color Chats to read all about these cool finds.

Ro Sham Beaux

Now speaking of lighting in my house, I have a HUGE problem. 

THIS!!

Aka - the “Boobie” light.

Unfortunately, this lovely appears in various places in my home and I find it quite distracting. It doesn't provide any decent light, it's ugly, it's in all the homes in my neighborhood and I'm tired of my guests making jokes about it because of what it looks like. Why did the builders do this? Was it “lighting fixture of the week” when they built my home?

Needless to say, it's un understatement that I would like it replaced. But, as you may guess, finding “the one” may not be an easy feat. Here's some of the other lighting fixtures I have in my home.

This fixture is in my soon to be bar (being constructed as we speak) so it was purchased with having a theme in mind. The bar is a step back in time and will have the look of an old Bardello. Decor will be ornate and gaudy.

I love this lamp! This to will be in the bar room. Love the feathers! It was originally $140 and I bought if for $30 (hello Designers' discount).

This chandler is standard and very typical in the homes in my area. This will be seen from across the bar and will be replacing this eventually to but … getting back to the boobie light.

What to do with this???????

The Black Dining Room

credit

Have you been reading a lot of Black making a come back? I haven't seen it to strongly yet in South Charlotte but it's certainly starting!

I'm currently working with a client who's dining room is in need of updating. Here is the BEFORE photo:

Right now the green wallpaper will be removed, wall repaired and painted White Dove. It's a white with a slight gray undertone which is perfect because the office, which is right across from this room, is Señora Gray.

The entire lower half of the room (chair rail) will be painted Midnight Oil where you can see grays and blues which makes for a very interesting black. Ceiling and trim are white. The foyer is Winds Breath, which ties in both the office and dining room.

Now keep in mind not everyone can have a black dining room. The kitchen in this home also has black appliances and you'll be able to see them when you stand in the dining room.

Everything in the home has to relate. You just can't decide you want a black dining room without taking into consideration the rest of your decor and the lighting in your home. 

Look at the table in this room. The black wood will really pop against the White Dove. Also, if you can see the fabric on the chairs, it's a pattern with white, gray and black. See how it fits in?

UPDATE 1/26/12

I just got back from my clients home to check on the color and just LOVED THE DINING ROOM! It's still not finished and still needs a second coat but couldn't resist sharing one picture with you. Here it is, almost complete.

I'm also going to get to decorate and stage this home so the sky's the limit with design! How fun!

If you live in Charlotte, NC and  would like to consider black for one of the rooms in your home, contact me, Donna Frasca - a certified Benjamin Moore Color Expert.

What Color Should I Paint My Dining Room?

Last year I designed a beautiful dining room and the main color what a rich, chocolate brown, similar to Riding Boots of Color Stories. The homeowner was a little nervous with such a dark color but I explained why is was such a great choice for her dining room.

Reason #1 - it wasn't red. The red dining room is sooooooooo very dated and very typical.

Reason #2 - Dark brown would look great contrasting with her white chair rail. 

DESIGN TIP: It's not shown in this photo but I would paint the chair rail white so the entire bottom half of your dining room is a crisp, bright white - THIS is how you'll be able to have a very dark color in your dining room without it being too overwhelming. 

Quietly Violet. I love this color from Benjamin Moore Color Stories.  It's unique, unusual, cozy and it's not red. This room will look great with gold or brushed nickel accents and rich brown woods. This is very unique color and that's what choosing color is all about. I love that it has a slight purple undertone. 

Don't forget about your ceiling - it doesn't have to be white!!

My dining room in the day.

keep in mind … colors have to look good at night to!

My dining room in candle light

Red or Orange?

This question was taken from the Benjamin Moore Color forum. It was such a great question I had to repost it here. Since orange and red seem to be trending now, which direction should you with these hues? Here's the question and my answer:

I would love an orange kitchen. Could be in peach family or soft pumpkin. Room is northern exposure with large windows.  Dark blue counters and natural maple cabinets, halogen recessed lights.  The conflict is that in the taupe living room I have raspberry color upholstered club chairs, aubergine leather sofa, and dark green pattern wing chair.  Would you suggest another color for the kitchen?  I want a cheerful room.


Denise, 

The color that concerns me in your home is the raspberry. That can fight many colors however, I'd like to suggest a red instead of an orange to perhaps coordinate better with the raspberry.

I'd love to suggest “Flamenco” from the Color Stories Collection of Benjamin Moore. It's one of the most beautiful, true reds I've seen. As you may know, red goes beautifully with taupe and of course dark green. Take a look at the color and see how you like it. I would also recommend using it as an accent color in your kitchen verses all over color so pick the prettiest wall to showcase this amazing red.

Donna