Combustible Color

Forth of July is a day to celebrate our Independence …

Signing of the Declaration of Independence

… and  it's also a day to get together with family and friends to celebrate events and enjoy a slew of outdoor activities.

The 4th is associated with fireworks, barbecues, parades and color. I'm always looking for different inspirations for color schemes and fireworks make for some very explosive choices.

This would look great in a teens bathroom. 

Does your teen have an attic room with a ton of strange angles? Dress it up with unusual color!

How about a basement that your teen turned into his domain? Can you see this color scheme with a black light? By the way, when using bright, bold color, a tinted primer will really help get the color on the wall with less coats of paint.

And last but not least, the teenage girl that wants cool color but still needs to have pink. Keep in mind when you work with deep reds, a gray primer is a MUST.

All these colors would be great choices for any teenagers room. They are bright yet still dark and are unusual color combinations. We already know that these colors will look great with black which is another great accent color option for the room. Keep in mind, teen rooms don't have to be just black. Unusual color combos such as these will still stir the pot with mom yet, in my opinion, are really awesome color choices!

Ready to cook up some color? 

Here are the chemical compounds that are used to 

produce these combustible colors.

COLOR SCHEME FACTS

Initially, fireworks were popular because of the sound they produced. In the early 17th century, the Italians discovered the visual effects and added trace metals to produce colors and other effects.

The first fireworks were produced by incandescence, which is light produced through heat. As the mixture grows progressively hotter, it glows red, then orange, yellow and white.

Blue and green fireworks weren't invented until the 19th century. These require luminescence, light produced by sources other than heat. Chemical compounds, or salts, are used to create different colors. Barium and chlorinated rubber produce green, and copper compound produces blue, which is the most expensive color.

Other salts create the following colors:

• Aluminum: Silver and white
• Lithium and strontium: Different shades of red
• Magnesium: Very bright white
• Sodium: Gold or yellow
• Zinc: Smoke clouds
• Titanium: Sparks
• Calcium: Deepens colors

Have a safe 4th of July weekend!

Stairway to Confusion?

Does anyone have this type of stairway in their home? I've seen it once in a clients home and another time in a model home recently but all in all, not too often. Not sure I like it. Do you think this is a good look?

This is why I don't care for it. The rise in these particular stairs are unusually short. I also found the transition from carpet to hardwood very distracting. I felt that I had to think about where to place my feet and felt I was going to trip because of over thinking it.

Stairs with a runner is a great option but then you have to think about a carpet color. This blue/lavender hue is a bit awkward for me, especially with the white side banding. 

This I really like! You can see the wood plus you have a bit of carpet to keep the noise level down when climbing. But again, choose a color that won't show dirt too soon. This beige, probably not a good idea but it does look pretty and will match any decor.

credit

Ok, just threw this one in for fun.

If this were my room I would . . .

Sherwin Williams

Of course start with fabulous color! The only problem is the colors I like depends on which way the wind blows - really - I can't decide on one particular color scheme because I love so many. Just this morning I was asking my husband if we can paint our home again (it's been 4 years now since we painted last). He remarked with a 3400 sq. feet of NO!

Oh well, I'll just have to live through my blogs and pretend. So, having said that, if this were my bedroom, I'd design it this way. The color is already picked, now the bedding.

Do you know why this is a great choice for bedding in the Master Bedroom? Look at the wall color I chose - a little pink right? Well if you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you may remember a post about color for the master - girlie enough for her but manly enough for him? Well here's where the “ manly” comes in if you feel the pinkish color is too feminine. Bedding is a great place to add some masculinity to a room. Love this!

Can't have great bedding without a great bed. I currently have a sleigh bed and that would have to be a must to keep. Can't you just see yourself curling up in this bed? Trust me, it's heaven! If you don't already have one - this is definitely on the Bucket List of must have's.

Some art work to tie in the look.

I'd have a few Audubon prints in the rooms since I'm an avid birdwatcher.

These most fragrant candles ever! Orange Vanilla is my scent of choice. These were a great find when I stayed at the Golden Pineapple on Long Island a few years back.

And overstuffed, leather chair.

Almost forgot …

Solid, hand scraped Chestnut wood floors from BR11.

Can you picture it?

When Fashion Makes Great Wall Color

Here's how fashion can translate into color for your home.

Using the rule of thumb to keep the lighter color in the foyer and hallway, the medium tone as the main wall color and any of the very dark colors can be used as accent colors on just one wall or used in accessories. 

COLOR TIP

Keep in mind that your flooring counts as a color too! 

Denim - which blue are you?

Which blue are you?

Not only do we have to decide on the perfect style of 

blue jeans but how do we decide on the color?

I say … buy one of each!

COLOR TIP: Look at all the colors that go with blue, 

regardless of the style of your jeans. 

Thanks to Old Navy for providing these color inspirations for your home!

This is a great way to combine fashion with home decor. They have the colors already picked for you. Now you just have to decide which outfit will look good in YOUR home.

What NOT to do in a foyer

I kid you not when I tell you that I saw these colors in a MODEL home today! It was so frightful I just HAD to take a picture. The designer who chose these colors and design should be fired - really. 

Can you imagine trying to find fabric for your home to match that teal? Other than off white, what fabric you would choose to settle these colors down? These?

“You may love these colors today, but will 

you love them tomorrow, next week or even next year?”

There's nothing wrong with choosing beautiful color for your home - just be really careful HOW you place your color.

If you like bright colors, think about using them on one wall as an accent color. This way, you're not committed to the color for years to come - just in case you don't like it.

Here's a link to a previous post I wrote on foyers. You can always contact me if you need additional help or advice. 

ps - Be careful with teal!

Color Advice for Foyers

Capturing Those Coastal Colors

Who wouldn't just love to live by the water? The colors, the sounds and the smells of the coast are just breathtaking and there's nothing else like it. I know because  I've lived on Long Island for the first 28 years of my life.

As you walk by the shore you can see the blues of the water and sky, the greens of the flora and the warm beiges of the sand. Depending on the time of day and the weather, these colors will change of course so find the “time of day” colors you love the most and bring those colors into your home!

 Try these colors by Sherwin Williams

Rain • Refuge • Sand Dune

Here's how you can use them in your home.

It's always a great idea to keep a neutral in the foyer especially if you have a 2 story foyer. This way, all the other colors you choose for your home will coordinate. The room to the left will look stunning with these blues, keeping the darker blue on the bottom to “ground” it.

The blues will transition into the neutral (Sand Dune) because of the open floor plan. You know these colors will look great in your home because they already look great in your inspiration photograph.

There are enough colors in this coastal scene to design a palette for your entire home. I just highlighted six of the main colors but if you look closely at all the shades and tints here - there are literally dozens of color combinations you can use. 

“Keep in mind, coastal colors 

are more than just blue and green.”

Do you like the soft, muted colors of sea glass?

COLOR TIP: This color palette is perfect for a home with an open floor plan. The soft transition of these complex neutrals is the perfect color choice for this type of home because the colors will quietly flow from room to room. Again, keep the lightest color choices for the foyer, medium tones for the main wall color and use the darkest hues as accents.

Coastal colors remain the most popular color palettes in Charlotte, to date. If you would like these amazing colors in your home too, email me to schedule a color consultation.

Making a Kids Bathroom fun!

“I want a fun color for my kids bathroom” Elizabeth, my client said. She's a young mother of two toddlers and wanted to update their bathroom.  And fun it is, Refresh, a Sherwin Williams color was perfect for her … and the kids.

Ok, so now you have a great, fun color for the kids bathroom but don't stop there! There's shower curtain, countertops, towels and other accessories to consider to complete the look.

Go for fun all the way with this Dolphin Bay shower curtain by Bed, Bath & Beyond. It's the perfect match to the wall color.

Throw in some purple towels that you can get just about anywhere. I pulled the purple right from the shower curtain. See that plant in the lower right corner? Purple is a very kid friendly towel color since the dirt won't been as noticeably let's say if you had a yellow towel.

As far as countertops for the kids bathrooms, hands down it would be a Corain surface and I would choose it in Acorn. This is a great color, almost like sand at the beach to go with the theme and I used it first hand so I know how beautiful it looks.

Corian is an ideal surface for a kids bathroom because it's a solid surface, no seams, you don't have to seal it, can't scratch it and if for some reason you do have the machete out and you scratch it, it can be sanded smooth again. It's just an all around fantastic surface. Read this link for more about this surface.

Let's see, what else? Flooring! I'm not a big fan of ceramic tile. It's cold, slippery when wet and unless you take uber good care of the grout, strange things happen to it. What are the options? I'd probably go with bamboo. It's an innovative choice rather than the hum drum, boring 12 x 12 tile. It's water resistant, grows fast so that makes it a green product (bamboo is actually a grass) and I've seen this first hand in a friends house and it's just crazy beautiful!

And to put on top of your bamboo, I'd use a regular, area rug. I do NOT like or use the typical, shaggy, very scary bathroom rugs. This rug by Capel has great color, is the perfect shape for in front of the sink and you can easily shake it out or wash it. Just look at the color! Don't forget your carpet grips to put underneath to prevent it from slipping and sliding.

As far as accessories, just keep pulling colors from the shower curtain but don't add too many. I would keep it at three. Here's what the color scheme for this bathroom would be:

DESIGN TIP: When planning your bathroom design, keeping the countertop a neutral color is a good idea. This way, you can change the entire color scheme and your countertop will more than likely, still match. If you choose a blue countertop, you options are a bit slimmer down the road if you want to update the loo.

Here's the final look - 

Still need help?

You know where to find me!

www.DecoratingbyDonna.com

Saying “I Do” to Color

credit

There is so much planning and preparation when you are about to throw the biggest event of your life … your wedding.

You and your fiancé talk about all the details from choosing a date, selecting  the bridal party, what color your bridal party is going to be and perhaps even designing your wedding bands.

Painted Room

credit

You've even picked out a beautiful home that you will share together for years to come.

But …

Can you decide what color to paint your Master Bedroom?

House Beautiful

How do you choose a color that is manly enough for him but feminine enough for her?

Here are some options I've used.

These soft greens by Sherwin Williams are always a nice compromise. The green relaxes and it's a color that is liked by both men and women.

Beige is a safe color scheme to use. It's a good choice if you don't know what color your bedding or drapery is yet. It'll ensure a match every time.

Sonoma Clay • Barberry

Benjamin Moore

These gray/mauves look crazy if you have mahogany furniture. The darker color will look very romantic if put on the tray ceiling.

Here's a nice choice of beige with a hint of green which most of us like. Again the beige color can be used for the main wall and the green is great for an accent wall or if you have a tray ceiling. You can even bring the darker color into the Master Bathroom to echo the color scheme from your bedroom.

I always love greens in the bedroom. Just an all around great color choice to relax in. The nice thing about these greens is that you'll find it in most beddings and drapery. Another alternative to use instead of beige if you haven't chosen your bedding yet.

Agreeable Gray • Chatroom

What else can I say about  Greige other than yes!

And course …

Coastal colors remain to be extremely popular - at least in the South Charlotte area of North Carolina where I consult.

Want to see some of these colors in your bedroom?

You can contact me here:

www.DecoratingbyDonna.com