THE TROUBLE WITH PAINT COLORS....

THE ART OF CHOOSING COLOR

Southern Chateau

Today, I'm addressing a challenge a lot of us have. 

Whether we are using a fabric swatch, a photograph, or standing in front of hundreds of little colored squares

there is one thing we all face when decorating, or redecorating our homes.... 

TROUBLE PICKING PAINT

DRIFTWOOD

GRAY AND BEIGE ARE FRIENDS

Skagway, Alaska
Driftwood store front

I took this photo while cruising the beautiful waters of Alaska.  I could blog on and on about the colors of the water, the mountains, the glaciers, the sky....and I probably will, one day.  Alaska - incredible scenery and fun little towns like Ketchikan and Skagway, where I couldn't resist this little building completely covered in lovely, soft gray driftwood.... charming, isn't it?

GOOD GREIGE CHOICES

SUMMER.... WHERE HAVE YOU GONE?

This Summer season has flown by so quickly

and I've barely mentioned gardens at all

(probably because I have been trying to ignore the awful state my own garden is in)

But I do have the pictures I took of the garden at Ward and Child, a rather wonderful home decor and
garden shop I try to stop by when I visit

Salt Lake City, where my mother lives.

and I really loved this unique and musical water feature there

MANLY COLOR ADVICE

A MASCULINE PAINT THEME...

Juneau, Alaska.  Look at all those lovely shades of blue and gray. 
Just returned from the cruise, and the colors were heavenly.  And very - manly.

WHAT ARE MASCULINE COLORS?

COMPLEMENTARY COLORS

COLOR - FEATURE IT, HIDE IT OR ACCENT IT...

Color wheel 101 teaches us that the colors directly opposite of each other on the color wheel are complementary.  I didn't spell that wrong - they don't compliment each other, they complement or complete each other.  In color talk, that means they make each other look their best, they bring out the best in each other - like a good marriage.  If you want to bring out a particular element in your home - a specific wood tone, the sofa, grandma's quilt, or a painting for example - find its dominant color and complement it - find the opposite color.  The photo above is a perfect example - the gold/yellow and peach tones of the roses pop against the purple tones of the lilacs.  Yellow and Purple are opposites on the color wheel.