October 20, 2011

It’s Not Just A Can Of Paint!

Yes there is much more to just thinking it is a can of paint! We have all experienced an emotional connection to a color at some point in our lives. What was the color of your first bedroom or bicycle? What emotions does this bring up? For most people, one of the first decisions of the day concerns color harmony. What am I going to wear? This question is answered not only by choosing a style and fabric appropriate to the season, but by making the right color choices. And it goes on from there. Whether you’re designing a new kitchen, wrapping a present or creating a bar chart, the colors you choose greatly affect your final results.

How often have you caught your breath at the sight of a flowerbed in full bloom? Most likely the gardener has arranged the flowers according to their color for extra vibrancy. For retailers, shopping is the art of persuasion. Though there are many factors that influence how and what consumers buy. However, a great deal is decided by visual cues, the strongest and most persuasive being color.
Color evokes moods and feelings which are emotions. Each color of the spectrum has a meaning and portrays an energy that effects ones body, mind and spirit in ways you may have not realized. Colors act upon the body as well as the mind. Red has been shown to stimulate the senses and raise the blood pressure, while blue has the opposite effect and calms the mind. Color is light and light is energy. Scientists have found that actual physiological changes take place in human beings when they are exposed to certain colors. Colors can stimulate, excite, depress, tranquilize, increase appetite and create a feeling of warmth or coolness. This is known as chromodynamics.

My goal in creating the Authentic Home COLOR Paint™ line is to bring awareness to your emotional connection with a particular color. 

By arranging the Authentic Home COLOR Paint™ colors into five mood palettes, Elegant, Serene, Playful, Fresh, Regal, you now have a starting paint to begin the selection process so to achieve your desired feeling for your home. I invite you to enjoy exploring the meaning and effects color can have on you and your life.

The Meaning of Color
While perceptions of color are somewhat subjective, there are some color effects that have universal meaning. Colors in the red area of the color spectrum are known as warm colors and include red, orange and yellow. These warm colors evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility. Colors on the blue side of the spectrum are known as cool colors and include blue, purple and green. These colors are often described as calm, but can also call to mind feelings of sadness or indifference.

I hope you enjoyed part 1 of It’s Not Just A Can Of Paint! “The Meaning Of Color” series…check back next week for “The Meaning Of Blue”.

October 13, 2011

Authentic Home Color Paint™ Exterior Paint Freshens Up This Family Treasured Cabin

This 1930’s summer cabin holds very fond memories for this adult family as it has been in the same family for generations. Due to the beautiful north Puget Sound location, the home receives considerable amounts of weather and this year it was time to tackle the exterior painting.

Cabin Back - Before

Kathy partnered with All Pro Painting to provide their expertise in repairing and painting a home located on the sea.  The home had not been painted in over 15 years so there was considerable amount of caulking and repair work needed on the original wood siding and deck.

Cabin Side - Before

Authentic Home COLOR Paint™ was used on the exterior of the home.  Authentic Home COLOR Paint™ in Sable was applied to the body, and Authentic Home COLOR Paint™ in Dark Glacier was applied on all the window trim, sills and soffits and Authentic Home COLOR Paint™ in Prosseco was applied on all window panes.

Cabin Side - After

The home looks fresh and new and ready for a lifetime of enjoyment.

Cabin Back - After

Visit Authentic Home Store to shop for paint and take a look at our resellers page for a local distributor of Authentic Home COLOR Paint™ near you.

October 7, 2011

Authentic Home and Kathy Banak’s Newest project – 1950′s Seattle Home Remodel

The couple of this 1950’s split level home wanted a more contemporary feel to their entire home especially since the wife recently retired. Tom Fine of Fine Construction headed up the project while Kathy provided aesthetic guidance with the selection of the interior materials for the kitchen and living rooms including the furnishings. The scope of work consisted of removing a main wall between the living room and the kitchen and dining room and the removal of several windows so to take advantage of the beautiful sound views. Authentic Home COLOR Paint in Greystone, Lemongrass, Ocean Mist and Champagne on Ice were used throughout the home.

New modern flat style cabinets in a white wash birch material by Kraft Maid were selected to keep the feeling clean and light. Chroma by Pental in the Stormy Sky color was used for the countertop and a 2”x 7” iridescent tile by United Tile were set horizontally for the backsplash. With the new open floor plan we replicated the horizontal backsplash tile and installed horizontal 9” x 18” Groove tile by Statements for the new fireplace wall. The new Kasala sectional and chairs set the tone for the new modern feel for the living room. Fabrics by Kravet, Robert Allen and Pindler & Pindler were used on the chairs, ottoman and pillows.

In order to give the home a more contemporary feel the interior walls where realigned to provide a good flow throughout the house, both bathrooms where modernized, new Fir millwork was installed throughout the home and glass railing panels were installed on the stairs leading to the basement.  New interior doors are all Fir and a clear coat was applied to see beautiful wood grains in them. A large 4′ wide Fir door was also installed to provide separation from the living room to the master suite.
The outdoor deck was not structurally sound and rot was found hidden between boards. New stainless steel railings where installed with new waterproof decking membrane applied with a pattern to the new decking. Lights are installed in the railing to provide accent lighting at night. Powered screens are installed to help reduce the sun light heat gain, in addition to the new powered awning to provide a relief from the blazing Seattle sunlight.

On the exterior a custom front door with an integral weatherization system, new fences, exterior lighting on the house and low voltage lighting for the driveway were installed to keep the owners important little house guests, their dogs close to the home. Finally the exterior of the house was cleaned and painted, bringing this home back to life for many years to come.

You can view this beautiful home during an open house on October 15 and 16th.  Contact Authentic Home for any information regarding interior design and Authentic Home Color Paint™ for your home.

October 5, 2011

Authentic Home’s Kathy Banak & Rodda Paint at FOCUS ON DESIGN 2011

Kathy Banak and Rodda Paint Stores will be particIpating along with the NWSID (NW Society of Interior Designers) and NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association) Puget Sound Chapters.

This years theme is CREATIVITY; presenters and booths will be featuring ideas on vision boards, strategic visioning, color, feng shui, photography, paint, design trends, marketing and much more.

Open to the Public – Thursday Oct 6th
3:00pm-6:00pm
Open to the Trade – Thursday & Friday, Oct 6th – 7th
8:30am-7:30pm

Join us in the Design Center Atrium from 3-6pm for this years new addition to the show, the PRODUCT SHOWCASE, featuring products and ideas from creative businesses around the Northwest.

3:30-4:45 Choice of three seminars

• From the Inside looking Out – Real World Tips on Universal Design, Jennifer De Rosa, Michelle Malloy, Jay DePhelps
• Picture Perfect – Styling for Interior Photography, Roger Turk
• The Ten Things you NEED to know about Feng Shui, Danielle Varanda

5:00-6:00 Raffles will be held during Product Showcase
Seattle Design Center Atrium
5701 – 6th Ave S.
Seattle, WA 98108
Read More and Register (trade only) to attend at Focus on Design 2011