This time of year turns our focus from the inside of our homes to our outside spaces. Whether you have a well manicured garden, a patio, pool or a simple lawn - we will all be spending more time outside.
It seems like Memorial Day weekend is the trigger for our family to crank up the barbecue, trim the shrubs and power wash the patio because guests will be coming and the weather is perfect for a little outdoor entertaining.
I've been focused on what that entails and what creates a great living space in the great outdoors and what will extend my indoor space to my outdoor space - so that I get the most out of my property. In California - space is money - so we should use it wisely and make every inch count.
According to the scientists - the California drought is far from over... so we need to think along the lines of drought tolerant and California native plants. Succulents are very popular right now and I recently visited this property belonging to a true lover of all things cacti and succulent in Laguna Beach, California...
I don't know about cacti..... but I can definitely get behind the succulents! My friend Kelly Jackson has a whole new business based on her love of succulents. Check out more of her creations here.
QUESTION FROM A READER:
It seems like Memorial Day weekend is the trigger for our family to crank up the barbecue, trim the shrubs and power wash the patio because guests will be coming and the weather is perfect for a little outdoor entertaining.
I've been focused on what that entails and what creates a great living space in the great outdoors and what will extend my indoor space to my outdoor space - so that I get the most out of my property. In California - space is money - so we should use it wisely and make every inch count.
According to the scientists - the California drought is far from over... so we need to think along the lines of drought tolerant and California native plants. Succulents are very popular right now and I recently visited this property belonging to a true lover of all things cacti and succulent in Laguna Beach, California...
QUESTION FROM A READER:
Greetings! I bumped into your help serendipitously.
My kitchen, dining room and living room are painted in Sherwin Williams’ Sea Salt, Quietude and Rainwashed.
My family room top half including all woodwork, baseboards and chair rail is painted in Clamshell ( to complement the fieldstone fireplace) and the bottom paneled section is painted in Valspar Desert Travels.
Exiting off the family room through oak French doors is a sunroom painted in Valspar Lunar Tide.
I am looking to paint my foyer which leads to the family room on one side and living room on the other a color that would flow and coordinate. I was considering Desert Travels, leaving all woodwork and doors in white as is all the trim in the rest of the house excluding the family room. My stairs are carpeted in a silvery green. Are any of my choices fatal?
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| kitchen leading into dining room ( to right of DR is LR) Kitchen is Quietude, DR is Rainwashed. |
My family room top half including all woodwork, baseboards and chair rail is painted in Clamshell ( to complement the fieldstone fireplace) and the bottom paneled section is painted in Valspar Desert Travels.
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| family room (above chair rail is Clamshell, Below is Desert Travels) |
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| sunroom (Lunar Tide walls) |
I am looking to paint my foyer which leads to the family room on one side and living room on the other a color that would flow and coordinate. I was considering Desert Travels, leaving all woodwork and doors in white as is all the trim in the rest of the house excluding the family room. My stairs are carpeted in a silvery green. Are any of my choices fatal?
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| foyer ( with glimpse of living room which is totally inaccurate as pictured because it has been redecorated.) |
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| Living Room is soon to be Sea Salt (border and wallpaper to be removed soon) |
Your best shot at helping me is appreciated!!
Bonnie
Bonnie,
You have done a lovely job in updating your home. The paint colors are great - I think the only room I would have done differently is the family room:
(1) - I would not have broken the wall up with two colors unless I were applying wainscoting to the bottom portion - in which case I would have painted the bottom wainscot in the trim color of the room. If I were to paint it two toned, I think a color with more contrast - darker and heavier, would be my choice for the bottom color.
(2) -I would chose a color with a little more gray in it for that room - instead of trying to match the stone in the fireplace (which you have done exceedingly well) I would have contrasted it a little with a cooler color - a soft gray or beige gray - which would allow the stone to stand out more and cool the room down a little. (See example below)
That being said, I am pleased you are using a color already in your palette for the foyer - I would caution using too strong a color in that area - 25% - 50% lighter, if you use Desert Travels, might be the ticket. If the living room is to be in Sea Salt, you might consider painting the foyer Benjamin Moore REVERE PEWTER (and I would also use that in the family room - if you are so inclined to repaint that area).
Sea Salt looks beautiful with Revere Pewter and will pull in the tones of the rug from there and create a nice flow.
Good Luck!
Bonnie,
You have done a lovely job in updating your home. The paint colors are great - I think the only room I would have done differently is the family room:
(1) - I would not have broken the wall up with two colors unless I were applying wainscoting to the bottom portion - in which case I would have painted the bottom wainscot in the trim color of the room. If I were to paint it two toned, I think a color with more contrast - darker and heavier, would be my choice for the bottom color.
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| updated approach to chair rail walls - all one color + trim color via interiorsbycolor |
(2) -I would chose a color with a little more gray in it for that room - instead of trying to match the stone in the fireplace (which you have done exceedingly well) I would have contrasted it a little with a cooler color - a soft gray or beige gray - which would allow the stone to stand out more and cool the room down a little. (See example below)
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| Warm stone tones are enhanced with cool walls via the-hall-way |
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| Revere Pewter (Benjamin Mooe) via Veronikasblushing |
That being said, I am pleased you are using a color already in your palette for the foyer - I would caution using too strong a color in that area - 25% - 50% lighter, if you use Desert Travels, might be the ticket. If the living room is to be in Sea Salt, you might consider painting the foyer Benjamin Moore REVERE PEWTER (and I would also use that in the family room - if you are so inclined to repaint that area).
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| Revere Pewter (Benjamin Moore) |
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| Revere Pewter (Benjamin Moore) |
Sea Salt looks beautiful with Revere Pewter and will pull in the tones of the rug from there and create a nice flow.
Good Luck!
