Color me Crazy

Let's talk Color Terminology

Let's start with…Warm and Cool.  You may have heard this before.  Usually when referring to a warm color, people are thinking of Reds, Oranges, and Yellows…..when thinking of cool colors most think of Blues, Greens, and Violets.  Well when speaking in the term “Color” then you would be correct.  However, when using the word “tone”, it’s a whole other ball game.  Let’s look at some examples, because I think the confusion for most people is that colors like orange can only be warm and gray can only be cool.  Not always true.  You can have a warm or cool gray.  Still confused?  Of course you are, I haven’t explained anything yet….lol.  

You’ve heard of primary colors right?  Red….Yellow…Blue?  Ok, so all those wonderful paint colors from Benny Moore, Sher Will Will,…etc are just different combinations of the primary colors (well with some additives of course).  So depending on how much percentage of each color is in the mix will either bring it on the warmer side or the cooler side.   If the swatch has more red in it….it’s a warmer tone.  If the swatch has more blue in it, it’s a cooler tone.  Get me drift?   Still unsure?….take a look

Now with that said….warm tones vs. cooler tones…..

Typically warmer tones are said to “advance” meaning they come forward more to the eye making things seem closer.  So for a cozier look, warmer paint tones are usually recommended because it will seem like the walls are closer…(notice how I am using the term “tone” instead of “color”)

Cooler tones are said to do the opposite…they recede.  So if you have a smaller room, cooler paint tones are suggested because it will seem like the walls are further away from you. 

Don't be SCARED....

For most people, color is a scary thing.  It’s a big commitment and I know some of you have commitment issues! (not naming and names).  When you go to pick out paint colors, I like to tell people to go into their closet and take a look at the color you see the most of.  If it’s black, try using grays.  (You may also want to revamp you closet while you’re in there, expand your wardrobe people!!!!)  If you find that the majority of your stuff is blue, then try and find a color within the blue family.

Try selecting a favorite object in your house and taking it to the paint store for a color match.  Guys, if you just went into your man cave and pulled out a HUGE 49ers poster….GO PUT THAT BACK…ugh, really?  Just kidding fellas!  You can use the poster just follow this example, because I know you’re about to go for the obvious.  RED!  You would be wrong.  Red is a powerful color, and in my option should only be used as an accent color or if you REALLY know what you are doing.  Try going for the gold tones in the logo.

 

I like using throw pillows or artwork as inspiration. 

Well I think that’s all for now!  If you have any topics you would like me to focus on, hit me up!  I’m here to help!  Thanks for reading and I hope that I haven’t put you to sleep.  I promise the next topic will be more interesting.  Check back for my next post “From the Runway to your Hallway”.

Your Design Staples - How to buy the right furniture pieces

I think this may vary from designer to designer, but this is my blog so……

When I say staples, I’m thinking in terms of your major furniture pieces.  Let me explain, take a look at your closet.  Your staples are that comfy pair jeans, your go to Saturday morning sweat pants, your little black dress, your power tie!  These are things that stay in your closet year after year, season after season, trend after trend, and never go out of style.  Get my drift?  Now let me give you some examples of staples in interiors:

·         your sofa

·         large casegoods (armories, media cabinets, dressers, etc…)

·         lounge chairs

·         beds

·         dressers

·         dining tables

Basically the large pieces in your space that usually cost the most money.  Since they do end up gobbling up most of your budget, then they need to have some “staying power”.  Curved sofas, serpentine tables, asymmetrical casegoods are NOT staples.  You want pieces that can fit in with the new trends, or move with you to the next place of residence.  

Things to consider, when dealing with your staples, is color, texture, and finish.  

Color... for your upholstered goods, stick with earth tones, white neutrals, or gray tones.  These will give you the most flexibility.  Yeah, that loud floral print sofa may be super cute NOW, but boy are you going to be kicking yourself in five years when the trend runs its course. 

Texture...this one is a little trickier.  If you don’t know fabrics and finishes well, this might be tough to get through, but be mindful of the way the fabric might wear over time and how it will withstand your abuse from everyday use.  Think about if you have pets, or kids, or husbands….that DESTROY EVERYTHING…lol.  I have all three and I love them to death, but when I buy stuff for our home these thoughts race through my mind…

Is it puppy proof!?

Will it show per hair ?

Is it easy to keep clean?

Does it fit the whole family?

Does it have potential FORT capabilites (kid friendly)

Is it husband approved?

Finishes are usually items with hard surfaces…. found on tables, countertops, nightstands, entertainment units, etc.  A finish doesn’t necessary mean a stain color.  It could be glass, paint, stone, stain, or metals.  For this I would just say you need to pick something that you think you can live with for a while.  I know it’s not much of a guideline, but don’t pick out item you think you might get sick of next year. 

Scale is very important in good design.  I understand that  this might be a hard to judge, but most of the time your gut feeling is probably right.  For example,  if it looks chunky it's probably too large, if it looks to dainty then it's probably too small, if you sit on the seat and your feet don't touch the floor, it's probably too deep and you will look like an old maid trying to wiggle your way out of the seat.  You will feel it when it's right.  MAKE SURE YOU MEASURE YOUR SPACE FIRST!, then go shopping.

NEVER BUY YOUR DESIGN STAPLES AS A SPONTANEOUS PURCHASE!

So that's it for your design staples.  Check back in for my next post on Color and Texture!  Happy Shopping, Ciao for Now! - Quintece

Back to Basics - Measure Up!

Since this is my first blog EVER, I thought I would start off with some of what I call 

“The Basics of Design”….

Let’s talk about where to begin, your staples, and color terminology. Yeah yeah, I know….sounds like a boring lecture, but wait…I promise it’s worth listening too because it may save you money in the long run.

Where to begin….ALWAYS start with a floor plan!  If you’re not working with a designer, I can understand how that can be a daunting task.  However, you can make the process simpler by using graph paper as a guide to help you draw out your space.  For every block, it represents a square foot (12” x 12”) in your space.  For example, 1 block=1 foot.  Got it?

If you’re great with a measuring tape, SUPER…if you’re not, ask someone for help.  All those friends on FACEBOOK, someone’s got to know how to use a measuring tape.  Make sure you measure all of your wall space, position of doors and windows, and ceiling height. A designer would take much more detailed information, but we’re just talking about basics. When you measure doors and windows, be sure to take the measurement from molding to molding.  With windows don’t forget to measure the height of the window and the space from the floor to the bottom of the window.  (You will want this measurement if you decide to place a something under or in front of the window.) 

 

Once you have the foot print of the room drawn.  Make a template of basic furniture pieces in standard sizes that you can cut out and use on your floor plan using the graph paper. 24” square table, 84” sofa, 36” bookcase, 48” coffee table etc…  Play around with the layout as much as you want.  Have fun with it, but remember form follows function. 

Why is it so important to measure…..well duh, you don’t want this to happen……

Oh, believe me.  It happens…. A LOT!  I myself have run into problems because I didn’t think about measuring enough.  So this one time at band camp….just kidding….but seriously.  When I first started out in design, I had these clients that lived in a Georgetown Flat.  If you’ve ever been to Georgetown in Washington, DC then you will understand this, but if not…..well let me explain.  Those jokers are a TIGHT SQUEEZE!!!!!!   I ordered this FABULOUS custom designed headboard for the client’s guest room.  They loved it, I loved it, it was perfect….then BAM, the blasted thing wouldn’t turn the corner in the hallway.  I had to pay the contractor to take out the window in the guest room and hoist that bad boy through the window.  OUCH, had I just took the time to measure the hallway I could have made the adjustments to the headboard first.  Now, you may not run into those extremes, but you definitely don’t want to buy a king size bed and find that you have to spiderman-style your way along the wall in order to get in and out of your bed. 

Well that's it for now.  Check out my next post about your staple pieces in design!  Ciao for Now!