San Francisco Color Consultant: Tips for Choosing Interior Paint
Thursday, May 6th, 2010
Selecting interior paint colors is an overwhelming and stressful event for many homeowners. This one area of decorating seems to give grief more than any other. After giving it some thought I narrowed it down to 3 main reasons why this is the case, and corresponding solutions to help you tackle this process.
Bold, saturated colors work well in smaller rooms with generous moldings.
1. Selecting paint colors for your walls is a big commitment. Walls and ceilings make up a huge amount of visual space in your home; if you choose the wrong color it’s very hard to ignore those 8 foot walls screaming at you every day!
Solution: Test strips! Narrow down your paint selections to 2-3 top choices. Purchase small sample bottles and paint 1 foot squares on various walls in the room. Live with these samples for a few days and see which one you gravitate towards. This is the easiest way to avoid partnering with the wrong color.
2. Paint is elusive. Colors change with every minute of the day depending on the lighting; one color can look completely different in another room or even another wall.
Solution: Take notice of how your paint strips look during different times of the day. If a color looks slightly too dark try using the next lightest paint in that color family.
3. Noticing color saturation and tones is a learned art. If you don’t select paint colors for a living chances are that you will be drawn to paint colors that are too saturated and bold to live with on a daily basis.
Solution: Start with the color that you initially are drawn to, then go down two squares to on the paint sample to a lighter version of this color. While you may like a very saturated color in general, it doesn’t always translate well to interior walls. You can use brighter and bolder versions of this color in accents such as pillows, artwork etc. For more on selecting colors for each room see Niche Interiors’ San Francisco interior design newsletter from February.
* Still need professional help? Niche Interiors offers color consulting services in the San Francisco Bay Area! *
Tags: apartment interior decorator san francisco, choosing paint colors for the home, color consultant san francisco, interior color consultant bay area, interior designer san francisco, paint color selection tips
Posted in Paint & Wallcoverings | No Comments »
Fresh, Fun Home Accessories for Spring!
Friday, March 19th, 2010
Spring has certainly arrived in San Francisco. What goes better with cheerful weather than bright accessories, and pops of color? Sometimes all it takes are a few accent pillows or some bright accessories to infuse and change-up your space.
Marimekko Pieni Unikko in Greens Pillow, $37.
CB2 Citrus Vases, $8.95-$10.95
Anthropologie Mantadia curtain, $228 – $268
Matchstick pillow from Room & Board, $108
Area Bulb bedding, $55 – $180
* Need professional help? Interior Designer San Francisco – Niche Interiors *
Tags: apartment interior decorator san francisco, interior design accessories spring 2010, interior designer sf, marimekko pillow, modern duvet cover, spring home accessories
Posted in Accessories & Lighting, Online Retailers | No Comments »
Decor Mag Highlights: December 2009
Monday, December 21st, 2009
Check out my favorite images from the November/December issues of Elle Decor and House Beautiful. Also, a sad farewell to Metropolitan Home magazine…we will miss you!
This room packs a punch! The color scheme provides great inspiration for a sitting room.
The eclectic mix of prints and woods and generous use of linen and cotton create a sophisticated and comfortable retreat.
Great idea to use two smaller tables and a freestanding L-bench in the place of an actual built-in banquette.
Click here for more photos of inspiring interiors!
Tags: apartment interior decorator san francisco, Decor Magazine Highlights, elle decor december 2009, elle decor november 2009, house beautiful nov 2009, interior decor magazines november decemeber 2009, interior design trends 2010
Posted in Decor Magazine Highlights, inspiration | 1 Comment »