Color Buzz

Cheerful Effects of Yellow

By Michèle Coppin

Vincent Van Gogh once said, "How wonderful yellow is. It stands for the sun." For Vincent, yellow represented happiness, love and hope. Many of his paintings have an abundance of yellow. He was fascinated with color and its effects, often experimenting with different ranges of tone, like in his famous Sunflower painting.

  

Completed in 1887, this painting was eventually sold in 1987 at an auction at Christie's in London for a record $39,921,750!

Indeed, yellow is cheerful, warm and uplifting, which is why I love this yellow house:

In a drab city street, this yellow stands as a celebration to light, an ode to color, a testimony to the owner’s cheerful composition, and happiness. It also seems to be contagious, as the neighbors’ color choice for their curtains and window flower boxes are becoming more daring.

They have also painted their tiny courtyard yellow, decorating it with Mexican tiles and plants.

Friday Project Series - Painting Stripes

By Michele Coppin

Stripes have gone in and out of fashion for centuries. Depending on the time period, stripes have been thin and close together or wide and far apart.

Mary Cassatt was an American artist (1844—1926) who captured scenes of everyday life in her charming, impressionist paintings, especially the social and private lives of women. In this painting called "The Cup of Tea,” two elegant ladies sip their beverage in a room decorated with Victorian-style stripes. The pink stripes are so dominant in this painting, they almost become the subject.

Currently, wide stripes are “in.” They are an easy and simple way to jazz up a wall. With the right color, a single wide stripe may suffice to modernize and bring a wall to life. Generally, higher walls look better with horizontal stripes, as they divide the space nicely and make them appear lower and more intimate, whereas vertical stripes make lower walls appear taller.
 
To paint a stripe:
- Paint the whole wall the base color. When the wall is dry, measure the stripe in pencil. Be sure to keep the marks very light, especially if you are using pale colors.
- With masking or painter's 3M tape, line the stripe following your pencil marks on the outside. (Tip: Wider tape will make your job easier. Press hard on the edge of the tape to avoid paint leaking under.)
- Paint the stripe with a roller. Let dry and repeat. Depending on the color, you may need two coats.
- Remove the tape and touch up the edges with a small brush.

This grey, horizontal stripe serves as a modern touch against the white background.

African Fashion Statements

By Megan Leblond

American fashion has many styles due to the wide range of influences. Cutting-edge design sensibilities and the borrowed traditions of our melting pot combine to form eclectic styles all our own.

In Time Magazine’s Style and Design section, Kate Mossman and Chad Pitman’s photo spread ‘Out of Africa’ pays homage to African patterns adopted by current designers. Interestingly, I found that African prints and patterns actually serve certain purposes in the culture.

Kente is a specific type of cloth made in Ghana. The cloth features symbols and colors which communicate specific messages. Patterns and motifs  transcend village languages and can identify a wearer’s purpose or a specific adage or philosophy. In African Kente weaving, each and every thread is used in a way that allows each thread to be seen. The warp and weft colors are laid out carefully, each carrying specific meanings within the pattern.

Examples of these motifs include messages such as, “One person does not make a nation,” “The extended family is a force,” or “One who climbs a tree worth climbing gets the help deserved.” These fabric patterns express the wearer’s community’s needs and ultimate goals in life.

La Belle Vie

By Veronique Habermann 

Some people struggle to decide on a color for a room. Others get it right the first time; they seem to know exactly what they are looking for.

My friend Nona opened her first SPA (hair salon) a few weeks ago. It is a place she has dreamed of and worked hard for. The location is small, but after choosing the right wall color, she has made it very warm and cozy. It’s a place where you won’t mind spending a few hours with foil on your hair. Besides her warm staff, the expertise of her stylists and the wine, I think her color choice for the space has a lot to do with the relaxed atmosphere.

It seems like she had no hesitation with her choice. She knew what she wanted: a warm, pleasant, intimate and sensual place. But she also had an exact color in mind.

Nona grew up in St. Petersburg and her favorite place to visit there is the Yusupov Palace, a beautiful, long, yellow building on a quiet stretch of the Moika River. The palace was once the residence of the wealthy and respected Yusupov family and was the site of one of the most dramatic episodes in Russian history, the murder of Gregory Rasputin.

Nona has always loved the "red room" there, and while picking colors from a Valspar deck, she found the exact color: Jeweltone. She also used wild lavender for the hallway, and with the help of her very talented contractor, Sevdi Veliu, she chose a textured sandstone paint to add depth.

The wall color, in addition with her choice of dark chocolate wood, really achieves the goal she had in mind. And with a name like "La Belle Vie"...Bravo!

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Now that spring is finally here, what item at your home is most in need of a fresh coat of paint? Plase, check out the right sidebar to cast your vote!

Beauty and the Bench

By Michele Coppin

I am currently participating in a fun Public Arts project in my hometown along with 15 other artists. I have been invited to decorate a bench on a promenade facing the marina—a popular hang out for Sunday strollers, after dinner walks, early morning dog walkers, bikers, joggers and teenagers. The effort to embellish this public space has been embraced by everyone with enthusiasm. 

The theme of this "Sit on Art" exhibit is "communication," as benches are a great place to meet friends, relax, chat with neighbors and strangers or just watch the world travel by. Each artist interpreted this idea differently. I chose a sexy, romantic approach to dialogue and conversation  by submitting the image of a woman immersed in golden bubbles. The images were printed on sail canvas which we wrapped around the benches.

Other interpretations are graffiti from the Berlin Wall, miscommunication, the Internet and poetry.

 

 

Le Petit Ecailler

By Michele Coppin

A few years ago, I decorated and painted a seafood restaurant called, "Le Petit Ecailler," which means "the little oyster shucker" in French. I began by painting the sign in ultra-marine blue which has been fading beautifully in the sun...and wind, and rain.

Inside the entrance, I created a beach scene with a lighthouse mural using fresh white and blue tones, reminiscent of the surrounding coastal environment. 

I painted the main dining room to resemble the wood planks of a sailboat's hull with rusty browns and oranges. The orange tones offer an elegant and classic look to the interior. Studies have shown that orange is actually an appetite stimulant, so it’s a great color to add to a dining room or kitchen.

In the stairwell leading down to the restrooms, I painted waves to suggest a descent underwater.

To complete the marine theme, I laced the restaurant's ceiling with white canvas sails. The look was ethereal and intimate.

Just recently, the bartender opened an explosive bottle of champagne spraying the ceiling. This, unfortunately, created enormous, yellow stains and I was called to the rescue. The work involved to take down and wash the canvases was too daunting, so it was my job to disguise the stains. In keeping with the nautical theme, I decided orange fish would fit in perfectly with the existing decor theme and the color palette.

I began by drawing templates of the fish design on paper.

Then, I traced the outline onto the ceiling and filled in the designated areas with an orange wash,  which actually blended nicely with the champagne. Next, I outlined the fish with off-white, loose brush marks to cover up the remaining splatters from the bubbly.

Finally, I added the final details, including a few white bubbles just for fun. I am told that happy hour customers enjoy the new addition above the bar!

 

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We recently posted a new Color Buzz Poll and we'd love to hear from you. What's most important to you when selecting paint? Check out the right sidebar to cast your vote!

Design Dilemma: Kamonda’s Guest Bedroom

Hi!

I am having problems deciding on a shade of purple for my guest bedroom. The pictures below are of the sham. The bedspread is the same pattern with gray/blue, olive, gold, purple and beige. You’ll also see a picture of the headboard - the wood has a cherry finish and the metal is black.

             

             

             

It is a small room, so I wanted to paint one wall a deeper shade than the other three to make the room appear larger. But I am open to using one color throughout.

The two colors I picked were Valspar Plum Burst, on the wall with the window and bed, and Purple Gala on the other three walls. 

     

Plum Burst 4002-10B   Purple Gala 4002-10A

After reading how hard the color purple is to use in design, I'm second guessing myself and really need some direction.
 
Please Help!
 
Sincerely,
Kamonda

…………………………………

Dear Kamonda,

Don't despair; you're on the right track. We’re really happy you've chosen to go with the deeper color on the windowed wall. Can you center the bed under the window? I could see the room looking very elegant with the bed there and floor-to-ceiling raw silk panels in a camel color. For a shade, try a light champagne color. What color is your trim? You may want to go with Cream in my Coffee or Hopsack. 

                

Cream in my Coffee 3003-10C   Hopsack 3033-10B

Let us know how it turns out!

Thanks,

The Beehives

Pairing Paint and Quarry Stones

By Michele Coppin

I am working with two clients, Miguel and Anna, who have gutted their living room and are rebuilding it from scratch. It is a labor of love and a painfully slow process for these passionate DIY-ers. They want the fireplace to be the central focus of the room, so Miguel hand-picked the most interesting and colorful stones from the quarry. He then carefully cut and assembled them to fit together like a puzzle.

              

He explained that he used naturally weathered rocks because the face of each rock was exposed to the elements over thousands of years. I have been following his progress over the past few months and am amazed by the result. He has taken a pile of rocks and transformed it into this beautiful structure. I think Miguel might secretly be a sculptor.

               

Now it is time to paint the walls in a color that enhances all the wonderful nuances in the stone, particularly the more unusual purples and ochres (earthy-yellows). These are complementary colors, meaning they sit opposite each other on the color wheel. Each makes the other seem more intense. Therefore, ochre walls would emphasize the purple in the stone, whereas purple walls would bring out the ochre.

We looked at many swatches at different times of day and under different light. Anna does not care for ochre walls so we concentrated on creamy beiges. After helping them identify their favorites, I painted big swatches of the chosen color options above and next to the fireplace.

Miguel’s preference is Dusky Hyacinth, a soft greyish purple. It is quite dark and  would create a dramatic effect:

                                           

                                        Dusky Hyacinth 1003 - 10A

Anna’s choice is Lyndhurst Gallery Beige, which is soft and soothing, yet rich enough to be  very effective:

                                            

                                    Lyndhurst Gallery Beige 2006 - 10B

The jury is still out and the perfectionists are debating. What color would you suggest?

Finding Your Color Voice in Color Combinations

By Megan Leblond

                                     

Having trouble deciding on a color combination for your home? Sometimes we over-think such decisions. If you find yourself agonizing over paint chips at the store, try a different approach. I suggest tricking your mind into finding its way naturally. Take some of the pressure off of your specific color selection and visit a fabric or upholstery store to find combinations in the various patterns that speak to you. Switching gears and giving yourself a fun way to approach colors can help reveal colors in combinations that you could live with. Once you have a few fabrics selected, ask for clips to bring home to add to your paint chips, and see what starts to work best.

I recently visited Aura Fabrics, a fabric and upholstery in Effort, Pennsylvania. I perused the aisles and waited for my eyes to latch onto something fabulous. I was particularly drawn to purple, gold and brown fabrics, as well as some lime-green and yellow combinations with hints of red. I was able to find two distinct color combinations that I really liked without trying.

                 

I asked Ursula, a fashion designer from the Philadelphia Textiles School and owner of the store, how she helps clients with color choices. She said that many of her customers are usually drawn to one particular color to start, maybe the color of a couch or window treatments already in the home. With this starting point in mind, Ursula works with the client to find a fabric that will work well with the existing walls, drapery, and flooring of the home. 

I asked Ursula if she has noticed any current trends. She noted that she find clients are carrying a color combination throughout the home, because of more open design plans in newer architecture. However, she prefers to style a home so that each room can have its “own life.”

                   

I totally agree! We looked at the color combinations I had selected and decided that the greens and yellows were energizing and the purples and golds lent themselves to a more dramatic and elegant look. When choosing color combinations, be sure to keep in mind the tone of the room you are redecorating. This can also help guide your choices.

Hopefully this fun field trip will bring you closer to your color choice, and you might arrange for some wonderful pillows or upholstery to bring the room together. If you have any color combination questions, please let us know. We would love to see any successful final projects too!

Finding Your Favorite Color Combinations

By Megan Leblond
                                

If you are thinking about making changes in your home’s décor, color combinations can seem challenging and overwhelming. Fret not! You are your best compass.

From bold color combinations to the palest of hues, your sensibilities will reveal themselves. One way that I guide myself through color combinations is to simply recognize and take note of combinations that I like. There are often colors or combinations of colors that we “respond” to, but it doesn’t necessarily  mean that we “like” or “enjoy” them.

As a starting point, snip images of color combinations or styles of home décor that you like when you see them in magazines or catalogs. Print color images off the computer, or make copies from books whenever you feel compelled. You can also take photographs of colors or architectural elements you notice in your everyday activities. Please don’t wait until you are working on a project to do this!  It may seem elementary, but it is so helpful. 

 By gathering a stockpile of color combinations that you like, you will already have a great reference when the time comes to begin a project! Not only will this activity help you to recognize your taste, but it may also help you recognize how existing elements in your home can be reinvigorated. This collection will also help you create a visual when working with others working on the project.  

My own collection is filled with tons of snippets from Martha Stewart Living, Vogue, Horticulture Better Homes and Gardens, Real Simple and Dwell. These clippings can also help to narrow down, not only color combinations you love, but styles and elements you refuse to live without!  

Whatever you do, do not miss out on Valspar’s amazing collection of color palettes online. You can  maneuver through all types of palettes and paint a virtual room to see how your choices will appear together. This is a fantastic resource that anyone working on a DIY project should utilize. If you have any questions you would like to ask us, or if you have any images you would like to share of color combinations or projects you have completed, please send them along!