Color Buzz

Design Dilemma - Gwynne's House

Hello Beehives,

I was wondering if you could help me. I bought Winter Evening Valspar paint and I don't like the way it looks. Can I try lightening it by adding some white or somehow mixing it with another color until I get the right color and ask Lowe’s to match it?  What do you think? I appreciate it.

Thank you,
Gwynne

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Dear Gwynne,

If you put on a color that is too dark, you can always add a lighter tone to it to make it more livable. I think your idea of mixing your own color at home, trying it on the wall, and then taking it into Lowe’s to color match is a great one. That way, you’ll know what you’re getting. And since you’ve already bought the paint, you may as well use it.

First, I would pick a warm white to mix in. Birch White from the Waverly collection is a good choice to go with Winter Evening – they are very compatible. Then, get three to four containers for your three to four color mixes. We measure everything here at the Studio, so I recommend that you get some old measuring cups.

Start by putting a ½ cup of Winter Evening in each of the containers. Then in container # 1 put a ½ cup of your white, in container #2 put a ⅓ cup, in container # 3 put a ¼ cup and in container #4 put ⅔ of a cup. Then paint samples as large as possible (about 1’ x 1’) of each newly mixed color on each of your walls to really get a sense of what the color looks like all around. You’ll notice how the color changes depending on which wall it is on. Pick the sample that looks the most consistently appealing.

Go recreate that color at Lowe’s and away you go to a brighter room! Let us know how it goes. If you can get before and after photos, even better!!!

                                                      

Waverly Winter Evening WV-32003                  Waverly Birch White WV-31003

 

Design Dilemma - Kate's House - Response

Dear Kate,

Your house is warm and open. I love how you want to bring in a tropical feel. I love the color Boston Legacy. We have an alcove painted in that color here at the studio. I would suggest using it on the wall in the kitchen where the backsplash is, and above the cabinets. It will give that area a lot of depth.

If you want to use Tranquil Bay, try it on the wall that runs along the kitchen and dining room. You can paint the opposite wall the Woodrow Wilson Maize. You also might want to consider Filoli Gold Ecru. It has a touch more green in it and goes nicely with the Tranquil Bay. 

If you want to kick things up, you can also paint the wall in the stairwell that has the painting on it. You could try a deeper, toastier tone like Fairmont Suite Gold or a mid-tone beige like Cliveden Sandstone. Both these colors are pretty neutral, so it should blend well with colors from any adjoining room.

Let us know how it goes!

Best wishes,
Ann    

                                                       
              Filoli Gold Ecru 3008-8C            Fairmont Suite Gold 3003-8A 

                                           
                                   Cliveden Sandstone 3007-10B

Design Dilemma - Kate's House

Hi Beehive Designers,

We have just bought a house (our first) and my husband and I really want to make this space reflect both of our styles.  The pictures I have attached are from the MLS listing.  We do not move in for a couple more weeks and between now and then I want to formulate some kind of color scheme and design plan.

My issues with this room are that the living room, dining room and kitchen are all in one space.  We have decided to use a pale yellow grass wall cloth along the main wall that unifies the dining and living area.  However, I have been looking at Valspar colors for the rest of the walls and ceilings and have no idea how or where to use them to create an impact, but to also keep the space looking like we actually had an idea of what we were doing.   

We have agreed that we want to use the following colors:

Woodrow Wilson Maize

Tranquil Bay

Boston Legacy

But where do we use them and how?  We are trying to create a space that feels serene but has a tropical element to it – hence the grass wall cloth.  I would appreciate ANY suggestions or comments.  Thank you.

Regards,

Kate


                        


                        

            
                                      
Woodrow Wilson Maize 3005-8C  Tranquil Bay 5004-5B     Boston Legacy 2005-9A   

Design Dilemma - Chris's Box

Hi Beehive Designers,

I bought an antique box last year and recently adhered a sheet of copper to the top. I’m trying to find the right color to paint the wood of the box, but I’m having trouble. I’d like to place it on the ottoman to make a study surface and use it sort of like a coffee table. However, I already have a lot of color schemes in the family room (I’ve sent photos to give you an idea of the surroundings). The colors of the room are reflected in the couch and pillows in the background. Any help would be greatly appreciated! 

Thank you,

Chris

                                            

Hi Chris,

Glad you wrote! After looking at the box, I'm thinking a soft green grey like Stony Path would be nice. The greens in this color would be a great compliment to the copper and the grey tones would work well with the furnishings in the room.

Best,
Ann

                                             
                                            Stony Path 5007-1B
 

Design Dilemma - Anita's House and Response

Hi Beehives,

I am having a problem finding the right color for my bedroom.  The room is 16’ x 14’ with an 8’ ceiling and a large window facing west.  I would like to paint the room a light brown color that would compliment the teal-green bed comforter.  The bedskirt is a chocolate brown.  Help!!!

Anita

Dear Anita,

Since I can't see the actual teal and chocolate colors, I'm going to give you a few light browns.

Oregon Coast
Sandy Cove
Mark Twain House Oak

Each has a touch of green in them which I think will work nicely with the teal. Let us know how it goes.

Best,

Ann


                              
Orange Coast 6007-1C    Sandy Cove 3005-10A   Mark Twain House Oak 3004-9C

 

Design Dilemma - Anne's House - Response

 Hi Anne,

Your house is wonderful!  It has a great layout and the lighting looks cheery and bright.  The fireplace in the Living Room is a terrific focal point.  Without much other information to go on, I am putting together a palette that is warm and neutral at the same time so that you can bring in more accent colors as you grow into the house.

For the Living Room, I would try a color like Dakota Trail in eggshell.  It is very neutral but has a touch of green in it to play against the red of the fireplace and the red of the floor. 

For the Dining Room, I would try something slightly more dramatic to create space.  Try Redstone Dining Room Gold in satin on the bottom with Belle Grove Light Amber 3006-8B in eggshell on top.

Design Dilemma - Penny's House

Hi Beehive designers,

Okay here goes.  My foyer and hallway is painted in Waverly New England Yellow, in a semi-gloss finish I believe.  My kitchen is sage and can be seen from the living room.  What would be a nice complementary color to the Waverly New England Yellow and sage color?  I have brown microfiber sofas and two paintings that I love with various reds/poppies and greens framed with dark frames.  Any specific direction or suggestions with this is greatly appreciated.   

Thanks,

Penny

Design Dilemma - Melissa's House - Update

Hi Melissa,

Thanks for updating us! Your progress looks great, and painting the bar in Café Miel looks like a good choice.  Some of your questions are about the wall areas that connect the different rooms. Below are some suggestions, but the great thing about your color palette is that all of the colors work well together, so there’s really no “wrong” decision!

Design Dilemma - Melissa's House - Update

Hi Ann,

            Dining Room

We are working on the paint slowly but we are getting there. I loved the colors and thanks soooo much for your help. We painted the dining room so far. When the Strawberry Malt went up I was thought, “Ohh my gosh, we have a pink dining room and living room!” But then it dried as a more beige color and it goes well with the tile.

Then when we put up the Cafe Miel color and it looked good. We painted the kitchen backsplash also so far and I love that color (we chose Churchill Hotel Maple) – it really brings out the counter top. Next we are going to paint the top of the kitchen and put up the chair rail in the dining room.

        Kitchen Backsplash

I also want to put a black wood dining table in there and a new chandelier.  We didn't know what color to paint the bar so we painted it in Cafe Miel color and it looks good.

I did have a couple of questions though...

A More Sophisticated Kitchen

This blog is written by Beehive Studios designer Megan Leblond.

I met with Julie on an overcast Monday morning.  Her smiling face, a sweet white poodle named Grace, and a steaming cup of coffee greeted me at the door.

Julie is a proud parent of two college graduates.  With the kids now out of the house, Julie was looking to welcome a new look into her home. While updating her kitchen and creating a more sophisticated look, she expressed interest in downplaying her cabinets which are currently a white-washed pine. Excited to showcase her new contemporary tile floor laid on the diagonal, Julie also wanted to steer far from the mauve and blue tints she once used in the kitchen and living room. 

Julie described a nice, rich, red kitchen as her ideal new space. However, she was having trouble selecting a specific red -- some seemed too bright a pink, and others, too close to the mauve she was eliminating.  She also mentioned a light green or gold as considerations.