MORE ANSWERS TO READERS QUESTIONS

Hard to believe Halloween is just around the corner.

I've been a little pre-occupied with plans for the halloween party this year - 

the

2nd Annual Black Hat Society party

Last year was so fun - I've been deciding what decorations to use

What food to serve.

What treats to give-away...

 I will be hoping for some inspiration at Rogers Gardens next week.

Can't wait for Halloween!!!  Can you?

QUESTIONS FROM READERS:

Hi Claudine, I came across your blog and was reviewing your suggestions for colors.  I am re-painting our house and deciding on the right color.  Our brick is light however the house is painted a darker grey.  

I would like to change the color to complement our brick and was thinking of a taupe color.  I have looked at Sherwin Williams and am debating on using Studio Taupe. 

 I was also looking at Behr colors however did not find anything quite right.  I'm attaching a few pictures of the house for your reference.  We are also replacing the roof so I feel it's the perfect time to change the overall colors.  I would greatly appreciate your suggestions.  Thank you!  

A Midwestern girl looking for help

Vanessa Lloyd

Hi Vanessa and a shout out to the Midwest!  Thanks so much for reading.  
Your brick has a very warm tone, and it may be hard to find the right color that will compliment it - which will be your task to paint the samples and hold them up there to see the effect.  Gray is actually the most popular accent to use with the orange toned brick. Not sure taupe is the way to go as it can have a bit of a purple undertone.  Possibly a beige with a gray undertone. On the other hand, a blue gray, or blue-green gray would be a perfect compliment to your house color - maybe for an accent color? or a door? -

 but here are a few colors to try:

try Benjamin Moore Raccoon Hollow

try Benjamin Moore Brandon Beige

try Benjamin Mooer SMOKEY TAUPE or STONE HEARTH

try BenjaminMoore LOUISBURG GREY

BM Louisburg Gray

Personally, I'm kind of in love with the painted brick look for updating a home these days - so I've included a couple examples of that - just because they look so awesome.  I just spend a week in Utah working with a homeowner who just purchased a red brick house.  

There are a gazillion red brick homes in her town, and the only way to update this look is to paint the brick.  However, you may be very fond of your brick - so this is just a suggestion!  Good Luck!

Hi Claudine,
I was hoping you could help me out. I am really dissatisfied with the color of the walls in my library. 

All the paint in the room is by Benjamin Moore. The walls are Pale Oak, the built-in bookshelf is Revere Pewter, and the trim is Catalina Blue. It is a large room with high ceilings and two walls of very large windows, facing East and North (and one window facing West). It goes without saying the room has a lot of natural light, mostly unobstructed, since we live on the ocean. My original idea was to keep the paint mostly neutral, because the room has a lot of artifacts and texture. I chose the trim to be brighter, shooting for the sea glass hues. I love everything in my library, except for the walls (besides, the wall paint would be the easiest thing to change) -- and for the life of me, I cannot figure out what other color might work. There is so much light in the room, that the color of the bookshelves ends up blending with the wall color. I'm thinking something warmer than Pale Oak might work, as long as there is enough contrast in the bright light. What would you suggest?
Thank you so much,
Natalia

Hi Natalia,
I think you are so blessed to live on the Ocean.  The room is simply lacking contrast.  I know you said you get tons of light, but a room without contrast can get a little 'meh', and I think that's what you are feeling.  The wall and bookcase are too close.  It needs freshening with some soft white. 

Benjamin Moore REVERE PEWTER with white.

 Revere Pewter looks amazing with white.  Try Benjamin Moore DOVE WHITE on the walls, and you could bring that sea glass trim color as an accent wall - Benjamin Moore BEACH GLASS - in your wall niche 

Benjamin Moore BEACH GLASS

and maybe even at the back of the bookcase, similar to this:

Good Luck!

Hi Claudine,

I found your website while searching for ideas on exteriors for brick homes. I saw your write up on Curb Appeal where you discovered white wash for brick homes.

Our home is half orange ugly brick and the other half is white siding, black shutters, black front door, white double garage door, and dark grey shingle roof.

. 

I really like the idea of white wash but because of the ugly orange brick I think it would be better to either paint, lime wash or German Schmear. I also like the taupe and possibly a darker taupe for the shutters and the question would be what to do for the siding and what color and what technique do you recommend.

I have attached some pictures. Let me know if you need other pictures. I’ve also attached pictures of homes that I like.

Thank you,

Carmen Carver

cmcarver@me.com

Carmen,

You are absolutely right.  A white wash over the orange could leave you with peachy pink - and I agree that paint in a taupe or gray would be an amazing look for this home.  I would consider a charcoal or navy for the accent color (shutters, etc.) and for a true update, paint the siding the same color as the brick, as the two toned look is more dated.  Here are some examples of color, and the treatment mentioned above.

 Good luck!  Contact me again once  you have decided what look you like if you need specific recommendations for colors.

CARVING OUT A LITTLE GARDEN SPOT (AND A KITCHEN QUESTION)

A LITTLE GARDEN SPOT

via

Having a spot outside to call your own is essential for your sanity

HOW TO PICK THE PERFECT WALL COLOR.... FEATURING REVERE PEWTER

via

I'm especially excited to talk about choosing wall color today, 

because I just repainted my living, dining and entry - with the PERFECT wall color.

GRAY AREA

A LIGHTER SHADE OF PALE

Sage Atelier

a lighter shade for a wall color will make a room feel more spacious

a darker shade - more cozy or dramatic

SPEAKING OF COLOR

and a fireplace

source

Contrasts are important in design.

New and old.

Hard and soft.

Dull and shiny.

Dark and light.

It is what makes a room unforgettable.

WALL COLOR AND WOOD TONES

MAKING THEM ALL HAPPY

Most of us have wood tones in our home.  If not on the floor, then as furniture or kitchen cabinets.

While wood isn't considered a 'color' in your color palette, their tones do need to be considered.  Wood can have red, brown, yellow or in some cases, gray tones.  

Red toned woods, like mahogany or cherry look great with cooler wall colors - cool greens, blues and grays, and gray toned beiges.  Yellow toned woods, like oak, also do well with greens, grays and purple tones.  Dark woods can handle both cool and warm tones.  If you have a mix, a grayed down neutral may work with all the wood tones.   When in doubt, choose the wood tone you have the largest amount of, or the most dominant and find a color that makes it look beautiful.

STONE HOUSE COLOR PALETTE

BRIDGING THE GAP

Interior Decorating is primarily about color.  Color that defines a space, color that accents a space, color to create a mood, color to enhance architectural details, color to create interest, color for contrast.  Color to create flow from room to room and make sense of it all.... to bridge the gap so to speak...

OPEN FLOOR PLANS

COOL NORTHWEST LIGHT

Hi Claudine,  I recently bought a house with some interesting light variations, which I thought would be fun to repaint. I didn't notice that there is no mill work between the living, dining, kitchen, and foyer rooms, so color from one area has no barrier from the adjacent area.

PAINT COLOR

NEW COLOR FOR A FAMILY ROOM

For a while, dark walls were all the rage.  Furniture looked amazing against them, as did artwork.

They were dramatic and fun.  A whole room could be dramatic - or just one wall. 

 I noticed lately, that there are less and less 'accent' walls, 

and that dark walls are giving way to lighter, fresher colors.

Sometimes how we feel is reflected in the smallest of ways.  Like paint color.  

Things have been a little tough - economy has been down - we want change, 

we want something new and fresh and we want our burdens to be lighter

Could that be why things are lightening up around the house?