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Drab To Fab: Multi-Purpose Makeover
Today, my third ‘House Calls’ redesign is featured in The Washington Post!
{illustration by Julius Goyanko}
This makeover was really fun, and I’ll admit, somewhat indulgent. The idea was to show that multi-purpose rooms do not have to be so basic and utilitarian. These spaces can be comfortable and attractive, too — which is something I learned when designing my own multi-purpose room {aka: the basement}. Every room in your home should be a place where you want to spend time there, and any room can serve more than one purpose.
{BEFORE – photo from The Washington Post}
The homeowners have a waterfront property in Maryland. They wanted to use this space for watching TV, sewing {a request from the Mrs.}, crafting with the grandchildren and just hanging out.
{the Design Board}
{The color palette is ‘in reverse:’ blue on the walls and green on the ceiling.}
My favorite thing: this Thomas Paul Crab Pillow {www.pillowsandthrows.com}. Can’t have home on the water in Maryland without a Maryland Blue Crab!
Choosing Colors: What You Should Know About Paint Chips
I was just interviewed for a story about Decor Dont’s over at AOL’s ShelterPop. Specifically, why you shouldn’t pick a paint color based on how the color chip looks in the store {never a good idea}.
Selecting paint colors can be tricky. I always talk to my clients about how to choose colors, but I realized that I’ve never really blogged about it. So, this post will be the first of many “How To” topics when it comes to color selection {I hope you’re cheering}.
In the AOL story, I mention how lighting affects color. This is huge.Most stores use ‘cool white’ fluorescent lighting that casts a bluish tint, even though you may not notice it. Although the store may be well-lit, colors will look more pale than they really are. On the contrary, most homeowners use incandescent {or a mix of} light bulbs that give colors a warmer appearance.
So, unless the lighting in your house is similar to a gymnasium, don’t assume that the colors will look the same at home as they do in the store.
Let’s face it. Paint chips are fickle. They will give you a good idea of how a color will look in your space but it won’t be an exact match.
In addition to being affected by lighting, most paint chips are very small, so it’s sometimes hard to see the color’s true undertones or level of intensity. As a result, colors may appear stronger or slightly different when painted on a wall versus what you see on the paint chip. For example, once you paint, you may discover the gold you selected looks more orange than yellow.
Not only that, but many paint chips always have their family members tagging along. Colors are often grouped into ‘families,’ so that you can compare the different variations — light, mid-tone and dark — by looking at one large color card. Comparisons are great, but when you’ve made your decision, always cut-out or tear-off the color chip that you like and give it a second look.
{flickr}
Colors are easily affected by other colors, and the one you choose could appear brighter or more muted just because it’s next to a family member. So, isolate the color {exclude the white ‘divider’ line, also} and you’ll get a better feel for how it looks before you actually test it out. Uh huh..say YES to the test!
It is always a good idea to test the colors at home. Nowadays, most paint companies sell inexpensive sample-sizes, so there is no excuse to skip this step. I know…not everyone does this and things turn out fine, but testing does ensure that there will be no surprises. At minimum, paint a one-ft. square in the middle of the wall and observe it for a day or two. This way, you can see how the color looks at different times of the day in various lighting conditions.
I know it’s tempting to paint your test-square behind the door, low to the floor, or in the closet, but don’t do it. This will not give you a true sense for the how the color will look in your room. You’ll need to see how the color appears in natural light and in the evening. I cannot emphasize how important it is to test out in the open!
I know that some of you will still be hesitant to actually paint a test area on your wall. “I’ll just use poster board,” you say. I’m begging you not to do this. Instead, inquire in the store about ordering larger paint chips, or you may be able to order them on-line. Taping a larger color sheet to the wall will work better than painting on poster board, which absorbs paint much differently than your walls. This is especially true if you’ll be painting over another color on the wall.
Finally {and most importantly}, be committed to the painting process, and if you’re not having a ‘painting emergency,’ don’t rush. If you’re on the fence about painting or you’re in a hurry, you won’t be willing or patient enough to do what is necessary in order to find the right color. Stay tuned for more paint tips!
Spring Centerpiece: Jellybean Tower
If you’re looking for an Easter centerpiece idea, this Jellybean Tower will add a little vintage sparkle and warm colors to your table.
The photo below shows you all of the parts to this centerpiece: three vintage, glass candy dishes {one of my new favorite accessories} and three glass votive holders.
You can find vintage candy dishes at just about any thrift store or antique store. I bought these at a thrift store for only $2.00 each. The glass votive holders are available just about anywhere — the grocery store, craft store or Wal-Mart. As you can see, I filled two of them with jellybeans and used one as a vase for the ranunculus. These flowers are brilliantly colored and have tons of petals that actually look like paper. Very pretty!
The final step is to stack each part on top of the other beginning with a candy dish and ending with the flowers. Add extra jellybeans in the top dish {optional}, and you’re done! Needless to say you can use any color of jellybeans you wish. I wanted warm hues, hence the yellow and orange.
The great thing about using clear glass items is that they become whatever color you want them to be just by what you put in them. So don’t ignore a pretty glass container even if you want something colorful.
One other point — this tower is best suited for adult gatherings. Unless you glue all of the parts together, the display can topple over so use your discretion when children are around. I’m pleased with how this centerpiece turned out and I’m sure it will make a great topic of conversation at Easter dinner.
Design and photos by Kelly Porter of Porter House Designs
Accent Colors For Gray Bedrooms
Not only is gray a hot neutral, it’s also a terrific color for the bedroom — especially when it’s paired with vibrant accent colors.
Gray is a serene and tranquil hue — perfect for relaxation — but too much of it can look drab. The good news is, you can add just about any other color to gray and it will instantly liven up a bedroom, which may be just what you need when that alarm clock goes off in the morning!
Pops of Pink
Refreshing Turquoise
Energizing Orange
Regal Violet
Cheerful Yellow
{decorpad}
Luscious Cranberry
{fixtureworld}
Rusty Red
eDesign: Three Colorful Stories
One thing I love about electronic design is having the ability to work with clients no matter where they live.
It’s so nice ‘meeting’ and working with people who are passionate about bringing color into their home or business, even when they live in another state or country. I had the pleasure of creating this Design Board {above} for Libby, a fellow blogger who lives in North Carolina in the Chapel Hill area. She authors the wonderful blog, An Eye For Detail.
Libby already had great ideas for her kitchen. She just needed an extra set of eyes and opinions to help her pull everything together.
We had a couple of phone conversations, email exchanges, and I viewed photos and a video of her kitchen that she uploaded. Then I crafted a Design Board that put her in the right direction. Libby has made a couple of changes, and that’s OK. With Design Boards, I use specific items to create a vision, but I also encourage you to inject your own ideas. You can follow Libby’s progress on her blog.
Tale #2 is about Allyson, a busy mother of four who lives in the Columbus, Ohio area. Allyson contacted me after discovering my blog while she was snowed-in last month. She wanted to create a colorful dining/living space — a departure from the rest of her home, which is mostly done in neutrals. Although she loves color, Allyson was uncertain about how to add color to her home, but she was determined to overcome her hesitations.
She tested the paint colors that I suggested {very good idea!} and even sent photos:
{In the end, Ebbtide by SW won out. This color looks terrific with Allyson’s new hardwood flooring.}
Shortly after Allyson made the final decision, I was delighted to receive a photo of her gorgeous blue room. From there, I was able to create a Design Board based on previous information she gave me about her style and the space itself:
Allyson wrote that the Design Board “is perfect for someone like me who loves to shop for home decor so I can pick out items and try paint swatches myself.” I hope to have more photos to show you soon of Allyson’s transformed space.
Finally, I want to share the tale of the Silver Star Diner, which will be opening soon in Ontario, Canada.
Last summer, the owner contacted me about helping him create a dynamic color palette for his new restaurant. The restaurant would bring high-quality ‘contemporary comfort’ food to St. Catharines, a college town on the south shore of Lake Ontario.
After he emailed a few renderings of the restaurant’s original design, I colorized the sketches with specific wall colors that echoed my color choices for the seating {not shown}. I also selected a silvery glass, mosaic tile for the restaurant’s entry wall.
When I last communicated with the owner, he mentioned that there had been some structural changes to the original plan, but the color palette was still a go. I can’t wait to see photos of the restaurant when it’s finished and open for business, and of course I’ll share the pictures with you.
I hope you were inspired by these eDesign Tales. I think they are great examples of how real people in different places are moving beyond the neutral zone to create really unique, colorful spaces. What about you?
View more of my Design Boards HERE.
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