Color Buzz

Decorating on a Shoestring

By Ann McGuire

Recently, I was interviewed by Tracey Morgan of WDSY Radio in Pittsburgh. We explored the idea of how to make the most of your decorating dollar. So many of us are faced with a financial crunch right now. Instead of dinners out, movie nights and even vacations, we are creating atmospheres at home that take you somewhere out of the ordinary.

We talked about how redecorating doesn’t have to be expensive. For $40 to $50 and one weekend, you can transform an otherwise forgettable room into a pleasing destination. Tracey wanted to know what room to start on. I suggested the family room or the kitchen because those are the rooms everyone in the family enjoys. With painting, you really do get the most bang for your buck.

What mistakes do people make with kitchens? Making them too busy is a problem we often see; there is so much activity in this room. Keep the décor clean and simple, and it will create a space where it is easy to focus on the task at hand. Perk up the walls with children’s artwork or family photos that can be changed out each season. A bright cheery color is great in a kitchen because the wall surface is usually limited. You can always put sunny yellow next to clean white cabinets.

I’ll continue briefing you all about what we discussed in future posts. If you can, check out the interview. Let me know if you have any additional ideas or experiences on how to decorate on a shoe string.

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   

Bringing Functionality and Feeling Together

So many homes these days are built with a great room which serves as a giant architectural multi-tasker. These rooms have a conflict; they are lofty and vast compared with the rest of the home, but they are also a place where the family comes together. One way to bring the function and the feel of the room together is by painting it a subtle color that almost reads as a white. You need a color that feels light in order to avoid creating an enormous cave. First, consider what is going on in the rest of the house. Is it cool and modern? Or, is it warm and cozy? A cool-palette home could have a warm grey-blue in the space. Perhaps use a color like Valspar Woodlawn Sterling Blue or Tempered Gray. These tones can hold the space together gently without feeling too cold. For homes that are warmer in nature, colors like Valspar Belle Grove Light Amber or Baked Scone give warmth without dragging the space down.  It’s like when you paint a space that reads white, but there’s much more at work.


                                       
        Woodlawn Sterling Blue 5001-3B      Tempered Gray 4004-1A



                                       
         Belle Grove Light Amber 3006-8B      Baked Scone 3007-8B

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 - Anne's House

Anne, a Color Buzz reader, wrote to the Beehive Studios designers asking for color and decorating help on her house.  She sent in photos and the following background information.  Today’s blog features Anne's design dilemma. Other entries are encouraged, so please feel free to email the Beehive designers with your specific design dilemma.  And come back on Friday to see the recommendations from the Beehive designers.

Hello,

I'm buying a new house and looking forward to painting. Well, actually the house is not "new." 

                              Living Room

It was built in 1948, it’s located in Los Angeles, and has lots of character that I want to play up.  It has a big red brick fireplace in the living room with a wooden mantle surrounding it, a built-in book case, a big west-facing window in the front of the living room, good natural light throughout, wood floors (I think the color is red oak - most of it is under carpet right now, but we plan to expose it) and crown molding. There are also a few things I'd like to disguise: the ceilings are lower (8-foot, I think) and flat, and the house is fairly small at 1,100 sf total.

                

                                                  Dining Room                           

Fit & Trim

This blog is written by Beehive Studios designer Veronique Habermann.

You’ve gained a few extra pounds this winter? Who hasn’t! Well, I actually don't think I have - at 5’5”, I do not seem to be able to go over the 100 pound mark. Let me tell you my secret, and it’s not because I am French (as legend has it, the French don’t get fat - even though I drink my wine and eat my cheese and bread). I paint walls for a living... nothing like it, girls! Not only does it work every muscle in your body, it is also very aerobic. Here is a breakdown of the benefits as I see them:

• Picking up those paint gallons at Lowe’s: 100 calories (tones your arm muscles)

• Preparing the room for paint: 150 calories (moving furniture around must be a fully body workout)

• The actual painting, especially if you use a brush instead of a roller: 300 calories (arm and shoulder toning)

If you are seeking a more advanced workout, how about painting a ceiling? It's probably another 300 calories right there. Oh, and all these neck muscles you'll work out, and butt too... going up and down the ladder!

But the all-around best is painting a floor, especially if you decide to try a checkered pattern. The taping alone must burn a good 200 calories, and the painting -- another 200. Oh, the muscles you'll work out. I bet you didn't even know they existed!

So when is the last time you felt so sore and actually got an aesthetic reward at the end? I'm not talking about your body, but a nicely painted bedroom or living room?

Give it a try! House painting is a wonderful and challenging adventure, and the rewards are amazing. You'll have a fantastic work out, while enjoying a creative escape. You can sit back at the end of the day and celebrate the results (with a good glass of wine... you deserve it and you can afford the calories!).