Building Blocks for Finding the Perfect Color Schemes

I love, love, LOVE color and find it fascinating to learn everything I can about it.  Color Theory was definitely one of my favorite classes in college and thought I would share with you some of the basics to putting together great color schemes.  You must know that there are several variations of the color wheel out there and that they will have a different number of colors on their wheel.  We'll use color the wheel above, "The Prang Theory."

Blue Bedroom Ideas (Inspiration Board)

Duvet Cover and Bed Frame, Drapes, Rug, Lamp, Nightstand, Yellow Vase, Chair, Mirror, Long Cream Pillow, Sparkle Pillow, Yellow Stripe Pillow, Dandelion Fabric

If you would have told me when we first got married that I would be dreaming of blue bedroom ideas for our house I would tell you, "That's crazy, I'm not really a blue person plus it's too mainstream."  Oh how my styles and tastes have changed.  The truth is that I haven't really worked on our bedroom, I wanted to be more established before I started investing in new furniture and bedding.  It looks like it may still be a while before we are truly established so for now I'm just dreaming up what our master bedroom might look like someday. 

This blue bedroom ideas board was of course inspired by this fabulous West Elm duvet.  Like I said, blue hasn't always been my top choice of color but when I saw this beauty on Pinterest I fell immediately in love and started coordinating the rest of the room around it.  

I'm loving the current tread to have a fairly neutral space with pops of color throughout.  I imagine the walls being painted a light taupe or cream color with lots of natural light coming through the windows.  Having a neutral pallet gives me the freedom to mix patterns, colors, and styles without overwhelming the space but creating lots of visual interest.  

What style is this inspiration board?  It's kind of a mix of old world, shabby chic, with a slight modern touch.  Other than the duvet my favorite part of this "dream room" is the mixture of pillow fabrics.  I want the dandelion fabric!

Now that I've started dreaming I have all sorts of blue bedroom ideas racing through my head in various styles.  It's so exciting:)  What color scheme or style do you wish for you dream bedroom?  Do you have an inspiration board or file started?  What piece of furniture or accessory do you start with for your inspiration?

Finding Inspiration In Architecture

The husband and I have been traveling A LOT.  I'm starting to get used to living out of a suitcase.  While it means that getting projects done takes a little bit longer I have certainly been enjoying myself and yes, even finding inspiration all around me.

One such trip found us in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  It's not much to look upon at first sight, at least the whole ride over.  However there are some really unique elements.  After going to an art museum we decided we wanted to walk around Old Town Downtown.  There were so many colors and I loved all the texture.  There is something about history and architecture no matter where it is that just fascinates me.

Let's start with the doors.  I was having a hard time not stopping at every single door to take a photo.  In the photo above I loved the contrast of the bricks and the teal doors.  I loved the rustic look of the peeling paint and the variations of the wrought iron.  Do you notice the different patterns?

Texture.  By now you might be realizing that I am a total tactile person.  When we came up to this fountain I was intrigued.  I love how some of the grout is deeper than others.

Does this remind anyone of our Color of the Year?  Ya me too.  I think one of the elements of Southwestern design that gets me excited is there use of bold colors.

Finally I love the attention to detail.  To think that this door was made way before all of our technological advances just baffles me.  So much love and work went into this one door.  Love it!

All That is Tangerine Tango

I know I'm a little late getting on the subject of Pantone's color of the year... Tangerine Tango.  I've known what I have wanted to do with new 2012 Spring Colors and my blog for some time but I was out of town for all of January with limited Photoshop access.  My goal is to spend one week on each of the colors.  I will introduce the color and how I think it will trend.  Then I will introduce new products, such as wedding announcement packages, graduation announcements, birth announcements, etc. that are inspired by these colors.

So how about some Tangerine Tango?  Yes Please!  Orange is one of those colors you either hate it or love it.  I have loved it for many, many years and think that it is a fabulous color.  So how will Tangerine Tango be used?

Interiors

1. Mirror 2. Flower Pillow 3. Solid Pillow 4. Chevron Pillow 5. Knolls Chair 6. Glass Bowl 

7. Orange Rug 8. Flower Rug 9. Candlesticks 10. Lamp

For the most part I expect that we will see this color mostly in accessories.  Right now I think we will continue to see clean white interiors spiced up with pops of color.  It can be retro, modern, whimsical, etc.  Myself, I wouldn't just go painting any Tangerine Tango walls but that's not to say it can't be done and done tastefully.  I just don't predict that it will trend that way.  An orange chevron rug would be fabulous in a living or dining area and in preparing for this post I found so many great accent pieces like the lamp shown above from IKEA.  Some will still be shy of using this color in their interiors but as more products come out I see it becoming more popular.  With that being said, I don't think Tangerine Tango will be a timeless color.  It will continue to go in and out of style as the years go on.      

Fashion

1. Solid Shirt 2. Lace Shirt 3. Earrings 4. Scarf 5. Skirt 6. Necklace 7. Shoes 8. Handbag 

9. Clutch 10. Nail Polish 11. Glasses 12. Bracelet

This is where I think we will really see Tangerine Tango take off.  I got onto Anthropologie's website to look for some photos to show and didn't have to look far.  Orange is showing up everywhere.  It's prefect for a fun spring and summer look and transitions right into fall... thus the reason it makes for a great color of the year.  It will look great in family photos as it contrasts so well with many backdrops found in the great outdoors.  Some people don't feel comfortable in an orange shirt or dress.  No problem you can still ride the Tangerine Tango train through your accessories.  Grey is still HUGE right now.  Pair a grey top with an orange handbag and shoes and you have the perfect outfit to feel comfortable and trendy in.  With that being said, I think we are going to see many fashionistas making bold choices in how they will incorporate this color.  We will see more orange make-up looks, orange nails, and many many statement pieces.  Tangerine Tango is a very fiery color.

What do you think.  Love it?  Hate it?  How would/will you use this color throughout the year?

Be looking later this week for a Tangerine Tango Wedding Package which will include coordinating announcements, save the dates, and thank-you cards.

Selecting an Interior Paint (Blue Kitchens)

Photo Source: Burrs & Berries

When selecting an interior paint for a kitchen I have rarely seen blue on the walls or cabinets and seen even less that were actually done tastefully. Now I am not a blue hater in any way, in fact the Tiffany Blue is one of my top colors for an interior... in like a living room or bedroom. The honest truth is that blue is a tough paint color for a kitchen.

Photo Source: wwarby

Blue is a color found all throughout nature in many, many shades. Why is a natural color like this so hard to incorporate in a kitchen, a place where we take raw elements (food) and make them into works of art?

Photo Source: prpmbd1050

It goes back to "tasting" your paint color like I described in a previous post. Other than blueberries what natural foods are actually blue? Not many that's for sure. Thus we don't associate blue with food. In addition the color blue can actually suppress the appetite.

Before you go selecting an interior paint in the blue family to help with your "diet" we have to discuss some of the other "feelings" that blue walls/cabinets in a kitchen can create. Like green, blue can be associated with "healing" which is one of the reasons it appears in a lot of doctor's offices. Certain shades can also be associated with depression. Because of the feelings fabricated and it's lack of representation in food, I think blue can make your food taste bland or make it less appealing. If you're still wondering why this would be such a bad thing when you're trying to lose a few pounds think about how hard dieting can be. The last thing you want is to have those select items on your approved list tasting even more insipid when you're fighting those cravings for refined sugars and greasy fats.

Photo Source: bluebirdsandteapots

That's not to say blue can never be an option with selecting an interior paint for your kitchen. There are other factors to take into consideration such as the contrasting colors of the floor, cabinets, other walls, and lighting. It just may prove to be a difficult task when used in such a high volume as opposed to being used as an accent color through your use of accessories.

What has your experience been with blue kitchens? Have you found some that have worked? What feelings does the color blue extract from you?

Selecting an Interior Paint (Green Kitchens)

Photo Source: ercwttmn

Photo Source: Jasmine&Roses

If I were to ask you what paint tasted like you might give me a funny look and wonder if I myself have eaten paint and then wondered why. However, that is almost what we do when we select an interior paint color, especially in a kitchen. The mind is a very powerful thing thus when we see a color we associate it with memories we have where this color has been used. If it is a food color we can almost taste that food as we take our trip down memory lane. Green seems like the perfect food color, right; and since eating is typically the main activity for a kitchen it is a great solution... sometimes.

Photo Source: thekitchendesigner.org

Photo Source: urbaneapts

Photo Source: petyosi

So how do you know which greens to use in a kitchen? Always remember that in a place associated with eating we will remember how that particular green reminds of food, good or bad, before we usually remember other objects. Green can look fantastic as a paint color. It also may be better suited to use through the use of accessories as opposed to paint. It just depends on the exact color you settle on.

When selecting an interior paint for the kitchen you will want to take into account the value (lightness or darkness) of the other finishes being used. To do this I try and picture my room in greyscale. If the green of my wall and the brown of my cabinetry would be the same grey value I know I have a problem. The eye likes to see diversity when it comes to the different values of colors. My personal preference is to not use dark paint colors on the walls in a kitchen. However each person's feelings and association with any color will come from their own personal experiences.

If you were to see any of these greens what memory would come to life? How do these greens relate to food? Here a few associations I can think of:

Photo Source: Soon

Photo Source: dpstyles

Photo Source: frankenstoen

The scary science project in my fridge or pantry.

Photo Source: Seth W.

Baby food. I know it is just pureed by the thought of baby food peas makes me a little sick.

Photo Source: Andy Hay

The pumpkin that was left of the porch for way too long.

Photo Source: conanil

Walls that have seen too much moisture.

Certain shades of green remind me of some "interesting" memories I have growing up. I was the oldest child of many and have changed my fair share of diapers. Some were varying shades of green. If I were to paint my kitchen in one of those particular shades I think I might vomit just thinking about the smell. Speaking of vomit... You get the idea green can have some really gross associations.

Photo Souce: rgallant_photography

While selecting an interior paint for a kitchen we tend to associate colors with food first we also want to think about other spaces where green may be used. For example, green is often used in the hospitality and healthcare business. The last thing I would want is for my kitchen to remind me of my doctor's waiting room. For some reason food just doesn't seem as appetizing in a space that mimics anything related to a hospital.

Photo Source: mason bryant

Sometimes the fix is as easy as switching to a paint with just a tad more blue or a tad more yellow. Other times finding a different shade completely will make for the better option.

Thus when you have brought home your sample swatches and put them under the various lighting that you color will be exposed to ask yourself these simple questions.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when I see this color?

How would my room look in greyscale?

What does this paint taste like?

Color Consultant - An Office In The Works

Did you know that not only does Sarah Dawn Designs specialize in semi - custom photo cards and announcements but offers services as a color consultant? What is a color consultant you may ask? Well let me give you a brief description of my current project (which is one of the reasons I have been MIA for a while).

A local office contacted me requesting that I help in the selection of new carpet and paint finishes. This is perhaps one of my favorite things to do, I can't get enough of new finishes. Thus I met with a team of three employees to discuss their needs and wants and to look at the space in need of some serious tender love and care.

For this project my role as a color consultant included the following responsibilities:

-Initial Consultation

-Additional Meetings

-Talking with a Carpet Rep and Procuring Additional Samples

-Pulling Together Paint Solutions

-Providing Wood Squares and Painting Them With Sample Colors

-Creating a Paint Schedule (a map detailing which walls will receive which colors)

I can't wait to show you the difference this little face-lift will make in not only the aesthetics of the building but hopefully in the work environment as well.