June 15, 2011

More Ways to Add Color this Summer to Outdoor Living Spaces and the Garden

There is nothing better on a beautiful summer day then having friends over to enjoy a wonderful meal together in your outdoor living space furnished with garden furniture next to your fragrant blooming garden. Good food, good friends and beautiful flowers make for a relaxing and memorable day.

Painted furniture, pots and planters can add a wonderful unexpected bright element to your garden and exterior living areas. Here are some fun and easy new ways to bring color to the outdoors and freshen up your garden and exterior room.

Spray paint flower boxes or pots in a vibrant color
Spray paint wrought iron furniture a bright color
Add decorative garden accessories to liven up the garden
Re-upholster outdoor furniture cushions in a fresh new color palette
Of course plant a new color of annuals or perennials in your garden or in pots
If you can add outdoor draperies to soften your exterior “living room”
Add colorful glass balls to your foundation
Hang a brightly colored bird feeder in a tree
Spray paint your house numbers in a new color
Paint your entry walkway with exterior paint for a fresh new look

For even more inspiration check out our latest newsletter full of all kinds of fun links including “Could a Can of Paint Save Your Relationship”, and a link to get your “Authentic Home COLOR Paint Palette”. Have a wonderful summer!

March 27, 2011

It’s Finally Spring!

I love this time of year when there is a freshness in the air, flowers are blooming and the birds are singing. Spring has that way to bring a smile to your face and a lighteness to our every step.

I especially love the ritual of spring cleaning. Whether it is your home or your spirit, it is a perfect time of year to start a new. Growing up on the east coast it was always in March when I would change out my closests from the dark, heavy clothes to the light and bright spring and summer ones. It is a ritual that I still do living on the west coast.

I also encourage clients and friends to lighten up their homes.

Is it time to bring color to your window coverings? I love the use of multiple fabrics in various colors that definitely set the tone for this living room.

Or is it time to “get out of the box” and reupholester your sofa in a soft pink color? Pink is hot color this year and it is the color a compassion and love. So if that is what you are feeling, go for it!!

Whether it is new window coverings, upholestery in a bold new colored fabric or just fresh new sofa pillows in a coral, pink color or crisp green, a hint of springtime in your home will brighten up any room.

And of course to really bring a touch of spring into your home, why not paint. Paint is an instant color gratification that will transform your room and your life! I love the crsip fresh look of a bathroom that is painted in a cool blue tone such as Authentic Home COLOR Paint in Sky and set off by the white color of all of the fixtures. The black and white floor brings the traditional feel into a more modern look just by adding the blue paint color to the walls and updating the fixtures.

Are you tired of your old “beige” outdoor cushions? Consider reupholestering them this season in a fresh spring green color. It is an easy and inexpensive way to update your outdoor look this season! There are a tremendous amount of outdoor fabrics whether you want a fun contemporary or elegant transistional fabric and color. Sunbrella is the leading outdoor fabric manufacterer and nowadays many fabric manufacturers have their own line of indoor/outdoor fabrics suitable for upholestery and even outdoor drapery use.

May you enjoy all that spring has to offer you!

March 19, 2011

New Showroom for Designer Furniture Galleries

The Designer Furniture Galleries, is one of the predominate furniture showrooms within the Seattle Design Center. Last week they had a celebration to unveil their newly remodeled showroom.

Kathy & Kevin Kurbs

Several new lines such as Hickory Chair as well as the Authentic Home COLOR Paint line were an integral part of the remodel. Kevin Kurbs, DFG’s Interior Designer, shared this photo with me and played a instrumental role in creating the fresh new look for the showroom.

Authentic Home COLOR - Greystone

Kevin utilized the Authentic Home COLOR Paint exclusively and created a neutral palette to enhance the furniture and accessories in each of the room vignettes for an timeless, classic look.

Authentic Home COLOR Paint - Suede

Authentic Home COLOR Paint - Oyster

Authentic Home COLOR - Silver Fox

A great way to highlight your artwork, accessories and furnishings is to create a nuetral color palette. Taupes and beige colors are now passee as the warmth and depth of a grey palette has come on strong for 2011. Don’t think that all grey tones are cool. Many such as the Grey Stone, Oyster and Silver Fox colors have a warm umber undertone which works perfectly when working in these color tones with other items in your room.

Enjoy creating your own Authentic Home!

January 24, 2011

3 Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make With Paint

Mistake #1 Colors within your comfort zone

Often colors are selected just from a likeness of the color and not from taking into consideration other key elements in a room. The style of the home, the natural light, the floor color, the height of the ceilings and size of the room, the furnishings and accessories all play an important role in selecting a room’s paint color. Select a paint color that compliments the colors of other elements in the room. This will create a sense of balance and cohesiveness to the room.

Mistake #2 Same wall and ceiling color

When the walls and ceiling are the same color it creates a cave like feeling. You will bring more interest to the space by defining the walls, ceiling, trim and door with complementary paint colors. Your ceiling is your 5^th wall. By using a color instead of white on the ceiling, it brings this horizontal space into the rest of the space and can complete the look. White is very strong color and when used on a ceiling, your eye naturally gravitates to it when entering a room. Even a warm off white with undertones of gold will compliment the furniture, fabrics and floor color if they all have a similar gold undertones more so than a bold harsh white. Make sure to balance the color of the ceiling with the floor color and tone of the wall color. Try a color instead of white to complete the room and give it some real interest.

Mistake #3 Accent Walls

What do you want to accent or highlight in room is the first question. When considering painting an accent wall, first see what your eye will see when entering the room and make it interesting and not just paint color on a wall. Architectural elements, fireplaces are good accents to highlight with paint color. Accenting a wall is not exciting and just draws attention to the wall. Yet accenting a beautiful piece of art or a marble mantelpiece will bring your eye to the focal point immediately and create interest and an uniqueness to your home.