The color of Cinco de Mayo, a Color Recipe

Avocado, lime, cilantro and tomato. When I saw this Color Recipe I was ready to get my paint brush and repaint my house. How festive is this? These bright, bold colors aren't for everyone but they will look awesome in the right house. Here's how you can do it.

   Cinco De Mayo! May 5th, celebrating Mexico’s victory and now you can be victorious with this amazing color scheme. 

From the neutral tints of the lime to the dark shade of the avocado. Can you feel the heat from the hot peppers?  These are the celebratory colors of Mexico. 

TIP: Remember to use tinted primer when painting with darker colors. Use a gray primer when painting with deep red. I know it sounds odd but it works. Ask a Home Depot Associate for help in the paint department. They’ll know what to do!

    How to get this look? To get this Color Recipe in your home, I’ll break it down for you this way so you can paint your entire home with just these 5 colors. ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ This Color  Recipe get 4 peppers. It's hot!

Kitchen  5

Living Room 1

Dining Room 4

Master Bedroom 5

Master Bath 3

Foyer 3

Hallways  3

Guest Bath 2

Bedroom 1 (girl) - 4

Bedroom 2  (boy) 1

Bonus room 2

Color Suggestions to get this look

Paint Brand -  Behr

Summer Field  370D-5

Mountain Forest 410D-7

Ground Ginger 380F-4

Fire Island190B-7

 Carrot Stick 240B-7

My color forecast

(re-post) With the color forecasting that is going on now in Brooklyn, I thought it would be fun to do my own - after all, I'm a Color Specialist and I see trends developing as I color the homes here in Charlotte. This is what I think the color trends will lean towards.

I still feel that salmon, peach, orange - just about any value of orange, will be popular. Of course it's complimentary blue will be right buy it's side but not for long. There may be a trend twist and you'll see peach combined with greens instead of blues.

I also see greens staying very strong but they will be soft and earthy.

credit

Since warm grays will be coming in hot and heavy, I think they will be matched with the peach values that will already be in our homes. I don't see blue as a "set in stone" color much longer. 

My guess? 

Dreamy peach and warm grays.

Soft, romantic, dreamy, flowing colors.

Salmon, good meal - great color scheme

There are so many good things to say about salmon. It’s a healthy choice, tastes delicious and now salmon is a great color scheme that will look amazing on your walls. If you’ve read about my Color Recipes, you’ll know that I take a photograph of a delicious meal and use it as an inspiration for a color scheme. 

    In the color scheme “Salmon” there are of course a beautiful array of tints of orange representing the salmon, green which can be seen in the beans and if you look at the pasta and shredded fennel you’ll find a great neutral.

    We are usually see orange paired next to blue since they are complimentary colors. Never fear! Orange and green are close neighbors. If you’re not sure if the colors you like match, all you have to do is look at a photograph. If it looks good in a picture and you like the picture, then it will look great on the walls in your home! It’s that simple.

    How to get this look? To keep this easy to swallow, I’ll break it down for you this way so you can paint your entire home with just these 5 colors.

• Kitchen 3
• Living Room:  3, 4
• Dining Room:  3, 5
• Master Bedroom: 2, 3, 4
• Master Bath:  3
• Foyer:  3
• Hallways:  3 
• Guest Bath: 3, 5
• Bedroom 1: (girl) - 1
• Bedroom 2:  (boy) 4
• Bonus room:  5

Color Suggestions to get this look

Paint Brand -  Sherwin Williams

Orange Blast 6646

Yam 6643

Sequin 6394

Tupelo Tree 6417

 Relentless Olive 6425

Getting Complex in Weddington, NC

All colors are from the Sherwin Williams Paint deck. 

Complex neutrals that is. Look at this amazing color scheme!! I just had a Color Consultation here in Weddington, North Carolina which is in the outskirts of Charlotte. My lovely client Pam has a huge home, open floor plan and more nooks and crannies then a Thomas English muffin - gorgeous home!

She contacted me the other day asking if I could please help her with color. She found an article in the local paper that featured my Color Consulting and she had to have me to choose color for her the very next day.

“Your just what I'm looking for!” Pam said. I was glad to help her. This is her situation. Like I said, she has a big beautiful home with many twists and turns. I was able to see 5 rooms and the upper hallway from standing in front of her fireplace. She would love to have bold, bright colors but … she plans to sell her home in 2 years. Hello neutrals!!!

Having just taken the amazing Color Certification class with Kate Smith and Kiki Titterud of Sensational Color, my color skills were fine-tuned. Who would think a Color Specialist would need to get a refresher course after 20 years? Well it was exactly what I needed! I flew through this color consultation with flying colors - no pun intended. The best part about it is this beautiful color scheme, which Pam loved beyond words. As a matter of fact, here are her words in an email she sent to me.

Dear Donna, Thank you so much for the productive consultation yesterday.  You put me at ease and came up with the perfect selections.  I am so excited to get started. I would not hesitate to recommend your services, such a positive experience. Pam G What I was surprised to hear from Pam while we were chatting at her home was that she preferred to have a Color Specialist help her with color instead of an Interior Designer. “Interior Designers try to sell you all kinds of things once they get in your home. Since I know you specialize in just color, I know THAT is what I was going to get”.  I still have to put my color portfolio together but I just HAD to show you how amazing this scheme looks. It has a great flow (hard to tell on monitors) and the undertones change slightly from room to room. A few rooms do have an accent color to anchor the scheme and each color I chose matches and incorporates her decor.  I would like to thank Kate and Kiki for the fine tuning they provided for me and again, I HIGHLY recommend taking their course. You won't believe how it will change your views on color or fine tune what you think you already know! Would I have been able to do with without the certification class? Of course but I'm so glad I did. To be updated on color trends, reunited with the color wheel and just some tips and tricks from the Pros was just what I needed to get my business soaring. Wait to you see what I have in store for the Queen city next. I'll give you a hint … it's going to be very colorful!!

Earth Day Painting Tips from Olympic Paint

“Environmentally-Conscious” Painting Tips for the Home

There’s no better way to spruce up your home than to add a fresh coat of paint, but it is important to know how to use paint properly so that it is less harmful to the environment. Below are four tips from Olympic Paint just in time for Earth Day for consumers that want to spruce up a room while continuing to protect the environment.

1.     Buy only what you need.

Before starting any painting project, it is important to measure the area to determine the amount of paint you will need to purchase. Depending on the surface you are painting, you may need more or less paint. If the wall has been painted previously, you may need to use primer first to cover the old color. A good rule of thumb is that a gallon of paint will cover about 400 square feet.

2.     Use “Green” paint.

When selecting your paint, consider products that are more environmentally-preferred, because they are non-toxic and have less of an odor. Paints that contain low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) reduce the emissions of pollutants into the air. Make sure to check the label on the cans for certifications to ensure you are using a low, or better yet, a ZERO VOC paint.

To help improve indoor air quality and eliminate unsafe fumes, consider using Olympic’s Premium Interior Latex Paint, which contains ZERO VOCs and dries with no lingering odor. 

3.     Dispose paint correctly.

If you still have paint leftover, empty it into absorbable material such as, shredded newspapers or kitty litter. Do not pour any leftover paint down the drain or throw it into the trash, because it can contaminate drinking and ocean water. Also, instead of throwing away the empty paint can, you can recycle it or be creative and use it as a flower pot!

4.     Donate the leftover paint.

Consider offering the extra paint to a charity or a local community organization. You might even want to ask a family member or friend if they are working on any remodeling projects that require paint. Furthermore, if you are having a garage sale you can sell any leftover paint at a discounted price.

A Virtual Color Consultation?

Taking color to the next step … color consultations by email? 

I had someone recently (actually last Thanksgiving, I was just digesting this for a while) suggest to me to try to work my color consultations from my home office. I looked at him like he had a thousand heads. “I don't know, call me silly but don't you think I really need to be in a home to get the best view of what color scheme should be created”? It might be a difference between this:

and this:

Both color schemes are beautiful but one is clearly a warmer scheme and the other a cooler color scheme. How will we really know which one is best?

That is where 20 years of field experience and all the certifications and degrees in Interior Decorating and Design come in. Hiring a professional and experienced Color Specialist to choose color for your home is really the best choice! And now, you have the option to do it all from the convenience of your home! 

Like I said, I have been thinking about this since last November and decided to try it out. How fun would it be to choose a color scheme for someone through the internet? I know there are many sites that already offer this feature but is it possible to satisfy the client without the interaction of the hand shake and the visual of the paint fan decks popping out of my briefcase along with the basic one-on-one visual with the client? 

The answer is YES! 

I've had a few clients already asking me about it and now I won't have to turn them down if they are out of my radius. The longer I have to drive to an appointment, the more I have to charge for the consultation service. I try to be as affordable as possible and now there is another option to do so!

This my friends, is going to be the upcoming way to color consult! Don't get me wrong, of course it will proceed as usual with the traditional house consultations but now there will be a new, exciting, innovative and oh so convenient way to choose color for you as well!

From choosing the right deck stain to selecting the right awning fabric for your home. It's small decisions but very crucial to making your home look it's best!

Have any questions? You can email me with any questions or please visit my website and see how I can choose color for your home.

“ Remember, you can also give the

gift of color for that hard to buy for person ”

Do you dream in color?

I know for a fact that when I dream I see color but I never paid attention to see if the colors matched or what type of color scheme they were. Were they cool? Warm? Complimentary? Were they colors that were just “there” to represent something in my dream or did they actually represent the object they were portraying?

photo credit - but not the color swatches

Do we dream what I call “emotional colors” that are vibrant and bouncy or are they mellow, pastel colors? This is something worth paying attention to. 

Benjamin Moore Dreamscape colors could be:

Enchanted

Mellow Yellow

Return to Paradise

Hazy Blue

Misty Teal

Dreamy Cloud

If not by the color but by the name alone - just dreamy!

The Dreamy colors of Benjamin Moore

I wish my computer could duplicate pearlized colors. Maybe this dreamy, wispy color scheme is one that may be seen in upcoming color trends?

Benjamin Moore colors like:

Touch of Gray

Winter Gray

Silver Lining

Misty Gray

Peach Cloud

Very dreamy, very soft, very nice!

Design Board Shopping • Coastal

We all love Pottery Barn. So I came up with the idea of “ Design Board Shopping”. Come up with a theme and compile products on a virtual design board using all Pottery Barn products. As I think of a theme, I'll put together a Design Board and all you do is print and go shopping! Here is a Coastal theme Design Board - just a little taste of the beach. Throw in some beach glass, jars of sand and you can already smell the salt in the air!

Sensory Overload

I went to the store yesterday, of course with my camera, and started taking pictures of anything that caught my eye. My family ignored me, my in-laws wanted to know why I was taking pictures of food and the customers thought I was a snitch from the Health Department. Whatever it was, I had fun.

I took quite a few pictures and as I downloaded them I noticed the one thing they all had in common.

Most the photographs I took were either red or orange. Why is that? Does that mean I'm just drawn to those colors or are these colors the most “sellable”. There's got to be a study on what colors are more marketable then others.

Ok - I took this picture because I like chocolate. It has absolutely nothing to do with the color!

The Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday~

The Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday~

Painted flower pots for your porch

These are great flower pots for any front porch - and great colors too! Most of us have a few of these terra cotta pots in our garages and sheds so take them out and get this look for your home!

Take your paint of choice - I have quite a bit of acrylic paint in my office so that is what I would use - and start painting away! If you have an eye for color you can mix any color you'd like of course or you can pick up a quart of paint at your local paint store. To get the look try any of these fabulous colors by Porter Paints:

Carrot Cake

Asparagus

Tweed

How To Stain Your Deck - the right way.

Archadeck

It's that time of year to start thinking about completing your staining projects. The temperatures are right  - you need to be between 50˙ and 90˙ so if you want to get one more project in before fall sets in, now's the time!

I'd like to offer some expert advice on preparing your deck for staining and great tips on how to properly stain your deck. The products that I recommend are from Olympic.

Exposure to UV  rays and outdoor elements will cause your deck to split, crack and warp over time. In order for your deck to look better and last longer, there are a few steps you can take to ensure you'll have your deck looking it's best for years to come.

Keep in mind, this project will take a few days to complete - if done correctly. You'll have to wait a bit in between cleaning and sealing so the weather will play an important factor in this project. Grab a helper, follow these steps. It's one less project you have to do next spring.

Step 1.

Do you know for sure that you even need to stain your deck?

Here's how to tell. The water test. Sprinkle clean water on your deck, just about a cup. If the water soaks right in, your deck is ready to be stained (which is a sealant). If the water beads up on your deck, your deck still has a sealant on it and is still protected.

Step 2.

Preparing your deck for staining.

Ok. Your deck just failed the water test and now you are ready to prepare your deck for staining. Most people at this point grab the power washer and clean the daylights out of their deck. *** DO NOT USE A POWER WASHER TO CLEAN YOUR DECK **  This is so important. Although it makes sense to wash the deck this way, this step is too invasive for your wood. Power washing pounds water INTO the wood, along with the dirt. Although the end result does look like the wood is clean, what you're actually doing is roughing up the pulp on the wood. If you look closely at the wood when you are done power washing, you'll see it looks a bit "fuzzy". This will result in an uneven application for your stain. Use a garden sprayer -they're cheap, only about $10-12.

FYI.

Just because your deck is brand new and has perfectly clean pressure treated wood doesn't mean it doesn't have to be cleaned. Pressure treated wood is LOADED with chemicals. You ALWAYS have to clean your deck right before staining. If you don't, the stain will NOT properly soak into the wood resulting in an uneven application for stain.

Step 3

Clean and prepare

Of course remove all deck furniture, plants, grills or any other accessory you may have. Sweep, remove any popping nails and lightly sand any splintered areas with 80-grit sandpaper.

Step 4

What cleaner do I use on the deck?

You won't believe how simple this step is. Lowe's has a product called “Olympic Deck Cleaner”. Here's what you'll need:

• a garden sprayer ( shown above ) 
• stiff bristle push broom 
• a garden hose to rinse

**** Warning: Use Olympic Deck Brightener for cedar and Redwood. If you have cedar or redwood on your deck and use the other deck cleaner, your deck will turn BLACK. Make sure you use the correct cleaner for the type of wood you have. If you have composite wood, the other cleaner is fine.

Like all cleaners, read the instructions carefully. You may have to pre-wet the deck. They also recommend wetting all vegetation around your deck that my come in contact with the cleaner and it may recommend covering the immediate bushes with plastic sheeting.

Spray the cleaner on, wait 10-15 minutes then rinse. That's it! No scrubbing needed. You may have to repeat this process for suborn or older stains. Again, read ALL instructions for detailed information.

Step 5

Staining  / Sealing

Staining and sealing is the same. Some people think they have to seal the deck after they stain it but that is what a stain is - a sealer. There are a few different types of stains:

• Clear - offers minimal protection from the elements. This is good to use if you want to see the beauty of the wood. You'll have to reapply this from 6 months - 2 years so you see this offers very little protection for your wood.

• Toner - this product is very similar to Clear but has a slight hint of pigment in it.

• Semi-Transparent - Now we are getting into the stain that has more pigment in it. You can choose the color you like - remember, if you need help with color, call in a Color Specialist to help you with your decision. You really don't want to go through this entire process then realize that you are not happy with your color choice. This product has subtle color but still allows some of the grain to show through. Can last from 5 - 7 years depending on if you use it on deck or fence before it needs to be done again.

• Solid - The solid stains will offer you the most protection for your wood - up to 8 years before having to re-stain. Know that using a solid stain you will NOT see any of the wood grain through the stain. It's really quite thick. There are many beautiful colors available in the solids.

Step 6

How to apply the stain

This is what you'll need:

• A natural bristle brush - not a synthetic. If you use a sprayer, the stain will not get worked into the surface and you'll go through more product. If  you use a roller, make sure you use a very high quality roller so lint will not shed into your stain. Whatever you choose to apply the stain with, you will still need a brush to "back brush" or "back roll" to prevent puddles.

• Rags, goggles, work cloths, different size brushes to get into small areas or a staining glove and a nice sunny day to dry your stain.

I know this sounds like a lot and it is a big project. What I can recommend from experience is to:

1. choose the right color
2. prepare your surface
3. read all instructions before starting
4. use the right products and materials to get the best results - no short cuts - it will show!
5. make sure weather conditions are ideal.
6. Keep in mind that the color will vary depending on the type of wood you have. The samples that are at the store are a starting point for color. Call a Color Specialist to help you with the color decision. If the wood has a yellow undertone, using a yellow color like “Soapstone” will appear yellower when complete. 
7. Stains will preform differently on different types of woods whether it's decking, fencing or siding.

I'm sure everyone has there own way of cleaning decks and fences. The choice is up to you and the results will be best if used by a reputable company. Good luck!!!

Happy Easter everyone!!

Keep in mind the day . . . .

All the best, Donna

How to choose a color for your awnings

With the sun glaring down on us and peering into our homes, there's nothing like the shade of an awning. Awnings are like drapery for the outside of your house. They come in different fabrics and hang over the windows. The question is, what color fabric is right for your home?

I just LOVE this fabric! It's a Seafoam linen. If you look at the house above, you'll see the shutters are blue. I could have been matchy matchy as they say and chose a blue awning fabric as well but I thought that may be a bit too ordinary. Look closely at the color of the front door - it's green and it looks great with the blue shutters. The blue of the shutter and green of the awning is the same tone so it blends with the house - one doesn't stand out more so then the other. It's a beautiful look -almost like beach glass.

Now this home has a very typical look. Here you have a brick house, black shutters and white accents - really no color. I chose to bring a bit of green into the awning. It's a pale sage green which will give the house a bit of color and co-ordinate with  the landscape. I also chose a stripe to jazz up the house a bit since it doesn't have any spectacular design or color feature. Stripes - a little bit of fun with fabric.

This house was also fun to choose fabric for. I also chose a stripe to echo the brick arch feature on the front door. It is a tall house, now with a stripe to make it look taller. I also chose a soft gray and soft black color to match what is already on the house. It seems the landscaping is a bit young and out of scale. If it had some mature trees and round bushes out front, that would counter act the verticalness of the house. I like it!