How To Choose Color for a Bedroom

my client's bedroom

When I'm choosing color for a master bedroom, I like to make it as impressive as possible. After all, it's the Master.

Like all my color consultations, I first talk with the clients to discuss what type of feel they would like for their bedroom. This is a vital step because I'm also familiarizing myself with their personality so I can capture that feeling in the colors that I'll be designing for them.

One of the first things I find out is about the bedding (comforters, spreads, duvets etc.) Questions like:

• Are you keeping this bedding?
• Do you BOTH like this bedding?
• Do you like the colors that are in it?
• Do you change your bedding according to season?

Once I find out they both absolutely love the colors they've chosen for their bedding, I use that for my color inspiration for the room. 

Shown in the photo you'll see three colors. Color A, B and C. Color A, which of course will be found in the bed set will be the main color for the room. Color B will be a dark color that I usually use as an accent color either in the ceiling or featured on an architectural  structure in the room. Color C I will use to divide the room (if the room is very large) for a separate seating area and perhaps incorporate it into the master bathroom.

When choosing colors this way, the finished product feels complete. Why? It's like the chicken and egg. Which came first? In this case, which was in the room first? The paint scheme or the accessories? You'll never know  - unless you're the homeowner or me. 

A good design for a color palette should incorporate the following:

• It should reflect the personality of the homeowners
• The home accents should co-ordinate with the color sheme
• The bedding should match the color scheme so the two look like that were purchased at the same time.
• There should be a variety in hue, shade and tints for visual interest

Every client, room and color consultation is highly customized. There are other ways to develop a beautiful, designer color scheme but this is a good way to start.

If you live in the Charlotte area and would like a color consultation, please contact me to schedule an appointment.

www.DecoratingbyDonna.com

Thank You

From time to time I like to thank all of you for visiting my blog. 

Your comments and view are welcomed and appreciated.

Thank You

Donna Frasca

A Delicious Color Menu

On today's color menu are the very popular and oh so delicious hues with golden undertones and a slight hint of richness found in the warm palettes.

Bagel  and Pumpkin Toast

Watching your carbs? 

Than you may want to skip these gorgeous colors for breakfast although the rich, warm undertones of these morning treats will look great in any kitchen. 

Creamy Peach and Shrimp Cocktail 

Peaches and Shrimp are two food groups that you won't or should I say shouldn't eat together  - unless your expecting. Speaking of babies, this colorful duo will make a stunning nursery ensemble for the newest baby girl in your family.

Malted Milk and Toffee Crunch

Looking for a midday snack? These sweet treats are just the confection colors that will look great in the master bedroom. Masculine enough for him and sweet enough for her.

Colors served to you by Behr.

Cucumber Salad and Sweet Melon

Health conscience?  Getting your fruits and vegetables in are just what the doctor ordered - in a large dose of beautiful from Benjamin Moore.

If you like any of the colors on this menu and would like to have them in your home, you can contact me to cater up some color for you!

Birds of Color (poem)

There’s nothing better to start the day

Watching the color of the bird

In the morning when people lay

A beautiful show with no word.

With you ‘Unusual Gray and ‘Mannered Gold’

Perched upon a tree

Using black as an accent bold

“You’re my little Chickadee” 

You wear ‘Black Suede’ upon your face

As contrast on your head

But only a fool could see that you

Are royal with ‘Vibrant Red’

My frequent friend your the bright Goldfinch

Clearly ‘Pure Joy’ to behold

A pleasure to watch that I need a pinch

Of colors to be told

“EYE” like it!

Corporate Wellness Magazine

How difficult is it to order a pair of sunglasses? Apparently more difficult than I thought. This past August I ordered a gorgeous pair of Coach sunglasses from a center I won't mention located in Waxhaw. Great frames, great color - I was excited! Well, long story and 4 returns later, I still couldn't see out of them and I was still left without sunglasses.

As my retina's were burning from UV rays I had to do something. I remembered a short while ago I contacted an eyewear professional from iMatthews.com (no longer an active site) and we commented about color and frames. I decided to visit this company since we were semi introduced through social media.

Located in Matthew, NC is Austin Village Eyecare. I pulled up to the store front, got out of my car saying to myself “OK, 5th time's the charm right?”. Ok, we'll see.

As I walked into Austin Village Eyecare I was greeted by the people who worked there, Meghan and Carol. Ok. Good start. Looking over the frames and pretending that one of those frames could be mine in the form of sunglasses, I turned around and was greeted by Dr. Bhat. “What?” I said to myself. How cool is that the Dr. himself came out to talk to me. I was still hesitant but impressed.

“How can I help you?” he said. “I would really love a pair of sunglasses and I would really love them by the time winter comes.” He looked at me like I had 10 heads. I proceeded to tell him about my sunglass fiasco.

Dr. Bhat

After a full explanation about sunglasses, UV and how he will get the right lenses for me, I was willing to give it a go. I picked out these Nicole Miller frames in olive. Ok, I knew that the olive color would compliment my skin tone and hair color but Dr. Bhat's article also clarified that in his social media blog.

So, just a week later I got this amazing pair of sunglasses and they got it right in the first visit! As I put them on I could see crystal clear. It doesn't look like I'm seeing underwater! Wow. Now THAT is a professional eye care center! The first time.

So in closing, am I making a big deal about getting a pair of sunglasses? Yes and no. In this day when the economy is tight and people don't have the money to spend on designer eyewear, you better make sure you take care of them and I'm pleased to say that Dr. Bhat and his team did just that. 

As I was leaving with my gorgeous “glassies” a customer came in complaining that she just had a bad experience at her eye care center. I didn't ask who the company was nor did it matter but what mattered was that she was in good hands. By the way, she loved my sunglasses but olive green was not her color -whew!

Thank you again to Dr. Bhat and Austin Village Eyecare. We'll see you Monday for my husbands eye exam.

PS - did I mention that his center had an awesome color scheme? You didn't think I could write a blog without mentioning color now did you? 

Fennel Splash and Withered Moss by Valspar

Color and Memories

A client of mine brought up a good point that I'd like to talk about. It's about how color can be associated with a memory.

We all know how smells and even sights remind us of past memories. For example. Whenever I see sheers, it brings a smile to my face. I remember when my mom used to iron her curtains in the living room. She was listening to Andy Williams on her small radio as she ironed away. I remember how the sheers smelled as they were pressed by the iron. This is how we associate objects and memories. So from seeing my mom ironing, smelling the freshly pressed sheers and seeing a smile on her face as she ironed, this implanted a fond sight/association memory for me. By the way, I have sheers in my home and they were bought based on this good memory. Of course the styles and colors are different but every time I see my sheers, I associate this memory with them.

Back to what my client said. She said “I love the blue that you chose for us but it reminds me of my Grandmother's house. She used to have those religious statues all over the place and they had blue in them”. (the color I chose was Benjamin Moore's Gray Wisp)

Monitor representation of Gray Wisp not accurate but you get the idea

Was the blue I suggested for her close to the blue that is typical in religious statures?  It doesn't matter because (see above) in her mind, she associates lighter blues with that memory. I thought this was an awesome discovery! Nevertheless - the color was changed!

So whatever my client decides on, and I gave her a few choices that would work, in the long run she will be happy because she won't see “Grandma colors” in her home and I'll be happy because she is happy. 

Thanks L.P of Weddington!

Colors Trends to Consider for 2011

Designed by Donna Frasca

Will we see these colors in clothing or on our walls?

Fall is quickly approaching and you may be thinking about the next color trends. I'm not a big fan of using the word “trend”, to me it's just another name for “lucky guess” or “just because everyone is talking about it” color. Having said that, there are a few leads you can follow that will be a sure hit as far as upcoming colors. One very reputable lead is the New York Times.

I've referred to it before and for me, it's provided a strong direction when searching for color palettes. The New York Times Fashion & Style section has an array of beautiful runways schemes you may want to consider for your home. Use the runways as a guide to what colors may be up and coming. Here's what I've found:

Designed by Donna Frasca

Trendy colors for 2011. They are classy and infinite.

Some of the more vibrant colors would be a good choice for clothing picks but when we think about color for our home, we gravitate towards the more classic, muted colors such as the ones I have displayed above. These colors are timeless, classic and have an enlivening approach to how we think about color.

If you look at the pallet I've pulled from the runway hues, you can see the all the colors co-ordinate with each other. You can mix and match these color for your entire house! 

Although I absolutely loved the run of coastal, spa-like blues this year, I felt the turquoise was way too trendy to put on a wall. Although pretty in it's application, I just felt it would be a short timer. Don't get me wrong, I really do love this color but I can't love it for a long time. To me, it's such an energetic color it seems to bounce up a room too much to be a long lasting color for my home. Also, when you have a large home and high ceilings like the majority of the homes in south Charlotte, you better make sure you absolutely are crazy about the color since it may be a while before you paint again.

Turquoise. Will it have a long shelf life?

Are you thinking about a new color scheme for you home this fall? Be on the cutting edge of color and have one of these fantastic colorways to call your own.

Donna Frasca

Color Specialist

Providing beautiful colorways for the south Charlotte area

Email me to schedule your colors today!

Original Painting of the Twin Towers

Acrylic
by Donna Frasca

The “Odd Wall” Dilemma

Like these colors? Try

 Bracken, Cream  

Kings Arms, Rose Pink Medium 

 Market Square, Green Light 

Pratt & Lambert 

From the Williamsburg Color Collection

I bought my home here in Wesley Chapel, NC brand new so I didn't have the pleasure of the “odd  wall” dilemma. However, I've noticed it in a few of my clients homes who lived in older subdivisions.

What's the “odd wall dilemma?” It's a part of a wall that juts out in a contorted way. There could be a dormer in the room, a bulkhead, the result from a gabled roof, ventilation system - who knows? This is not my area of expertise but I do know that sometimes it's a guessing game when it comes to choosing color for it.

Should you leave it white? If you do, then it seems that part of the wall will be the first thing you notice as you enter the room.

Should you incorporate it into your color scheme ? I say yes! Unless it's a gorgeous wall and you feel it needs to be accented, have it blend in with your color palette.

There will be people that disagree and will insist on keeping it white, then go ahead! I like to accentuate the positive and not eliminate the negative but have it blend.

In this particular bathroom the client will have the wallpaper removed. The colors in the wing chair will be the inspiration for this lady-like loo with the three Pratt & Lambert colors I recommend for her.

How does it flow? 

• Cream walls
• Rose Pink accent (wall not shown)
• Light Green for accessories

So in the case of the “odd wall dilemma” - I SAY PAINT IT!

Special thanks to Paula Doelling Lynn for sending me a Pratt & Lambert goodie package! 

Looking into Fall Color Schemes

It's that time of year where the world around us gets it's new coat of color. The colors shifts from green to yellow, yellow to burnt orange and then to earthy brown. All boasting the colors of Autumn.

designed by Donna Frasca

Sherwin Williams was the paint company of choice for the beautiful run of light coastal colors for the homes here in the south Charlotte area. Homes that have open floor plans particularly subdivisions  Marvin Creek, Highgate, The Chimney's and Piper Glen were the big hits for this gorgeous palette for the summer of 2010.

These colors flowed endlessly from room to room. They lightened and brightened homes that were already beautiful and resulted in my clients saying “I would have never thought of those colors. I love them!”. 

So as we transition our seasons, the color palette too will progress from the summer palette to the vibrancy of fall. 

Featuring the delicious photography of Mowie Kay, I would like to post the color combos featuring some innovative and diverting possibilities for future falls trends.

Not only is “Plum Cake” a delicious dessert but it's also makes a great color scheme. Try to think outside your comfort zone when it comes to color. Wouldn't you like something a little different from what your neighbor has? A color scheme that just “wows” everyone when they come to your home?

If you find these hues too bright, think the same color but a lighter tint of it. For example:

 

If you would like to discuss these cozy hues, contact me to set up a color consultation - but you have to be in the Charlotte area! Choosing color for your home now will get you ready in time for the holidays. It's the perfect time of year to paint.