Designs by Shoshana

As seen on TV today (I will add the link to view the show when it is available)….

The least costly way to change a rooms look and feel is by changing the paint color.  Are you ready to freshen up a space, or your entire home?  Are you also frustrated with choosing the right colors and the sheen of paint?  Below are common questions and answers I hear a lot from homeowners.

“What paint color should I use?  I have a whole house to paint and want the colors to look good together?”

There are so many color choices that it can make your head spin.  And with more and more homes built or renovated using an open floor plan, it can be frustrating to find, not just one, but a number of paint colors that can be used side by side in the common areas of your home.  To keep you from getting overwhelmed HGTV has recently selected a number of Sherwin William paint colors that work well together. They grouped the colors into eight different collections that can be combined or used by themselves.  CHECK THEM OUT HERE.

Elizabeth Battjes, the Assistant Manager at the Sherwin William store at the Tilghman Square Shopping Center in Allentown PA was kind enough to sit and answer my questions about the new paint line and give me paint tips! Elizabeth, an artist herself, thinks highly of the the new color line and says they have become popular with homeowners.  Each color was selected by the interior design team at both HGTV and Sherwin Williams.  Benefits to using this line of paint include:

-they are Sherwin William durable

-easy to apply

-have zero VOC (volatile organic compounds);

-and are sold at a very economical price.

** VOC- Paints and finishes release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application. The source of these toxins is a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). New environmental regulations, and consumer demand, have led to the development of low-VOC and zero-VOC paints and finishes. Most paint manufacturers now produce one or more non-VOC variety of paint. These new paints are durable, cost-effective and less harmful to human and environmental health.

This line of paint is a great option for most rooms except for spaces like full bathrooms that need moisture resistant, stain resistant paint that is as washable as a semi gloss.  Elizabeth recommends using a higher durability paint for this type of room.

“Is there a FOOL PROOF way to choose paint colors?”

YES! Try my ’5 PAINT COLOR STORY’ strategy -

Create a color story for your home.  Sticking to the colors you choose, and building on them throughout, keeps your home looking well put together, just like a good story!

How to create a ’5 Paint Color Story’:

-Choose 5 paint colors that will create the color story for your entire home.  With these 5 colors you have enough selection to define each area, yet keep it cohesive as a whole.  Here’s how to choose your 5 colors -

1. Choose a neutral color for main areas like foyer and hallways.

2. Choose a cool color for areas you want to keep bright and relaxing like bedroom, laundry room, sunroom.

3. Choose a warm color for areas you want to feel cozy and comforted in like the kitchen, office, family room.

4. Choose a bold color for areas you want to build drama in like dining room, living room, transitional walls (I will get to that next).

5. Choose a molding & trim color that you can use on all trims and doors with the other four colors you selected.

Using these 5 colors throughout your home in different combinations, your paint colors will always work together beautifully!

My Fave '5 Paint Color Story'

EXAMPLE of a ’5 Paint Color Story’ I love

(plus these paints are part of the HGTV line)

*this color is one of Sherwin Williams Top 50 Most Popular Paints for 2011

*this color is one of Sherwin Williams Top 50 Most Popular Paints for 2011

TIP - Before purchasing a gallon of paint, sample the colors on your walls using Sherwin Williams ‘Color to Go’ containers.  It is very inexpensive (around $5).

TIP - Once you decide on your colors, grab the paint chips (samples) from the store and place them all on a keychain.  CARRY THEM AROUND WITH YOU so whenever, whatever store you go to find furnishings for your home, you will know how it will look with your paint color.

Ways to tie your 5 colors together throughout your home

Now that you have your 5 colors, decide what color will go in each area of your home.  Then, either after your paint is up, or beforehand, think about how to layer one or a few of the other four colors in each area.

For Example:

Bee's Wax & Latte stripes!

-Pull the neutral foyer/hallway color into your kitchen by adding stripes of it onto one wall!

Bee's Wax, Latte, Watery & Cavern Clay stripes!

-Pull the bold color from the dining room, the neutral from your hallway, and the cool color from your bedroom, to your warm family room, through multiple sized stripes along one wall.  It will be a true eye catcher.  I designed a wall like this for a client’s kitchen.  It gave the room an interesting vibe, turning that wall into a focal point.  HERE IS HOW I DID IT.

Tie a few or all 5 of your paint colors to a wall!

-In a powder room using a warm color, add the cool color to the upper 1/4 of the wall and the ceiling for a great contrast!

-In an office using the warm color, pull in the bold color by painting it on the door and moldings.

“What sheen should I use? I want it to be washable.”

Sheen refers to how shiny it will look on the walls.  The shinier the paint, the more washable it is, but the shinier the walls, the more imperfections show through.  So when asked what sheen to use, the answer depends on two things:

1. what room is it going in?

2. how often do you re-paint your walls?

If you change wall colors every three to five years and the room you are painting does not have high moisture (like a full bathroom), I recommend a SATIN sheen for the walls and semi gloss for the trim and doors.  More washable than flat or matte, but not as shiny as semi-gloss.  If you will go over five years without painting again, try a higher durable paint that is more washable.  This could mean going with a more expensive brand with a higher level of shine.

Tip - For ceilings, I typically use a flat sheen if applying white paint.  BUT if I am using a deeper color, I prefer satin so it has a reflective value.

Tip - Paint companies offer different levels of satin finishes.  Some are shinier than others so compare sheen samples they have to get the finish you want.

Tip - For a traditional look, choose a different sheen on the trim and moldings than on the walls.  For a contemporary look, use the same sheen on all.

POPULAR PAINT TRENDS

-Elizabeth says ‘Grays have become the new Beige!’ We are seeing more and more grays used as neutral colors in the home.  Sherwin Williams HGTV color Fawn Brindle SW 7640 is a beautiful gray tone.  If you use a gray Elizabeth strongly suggests not to forget adding another color through accents and furniture so it does not look stark.  I personally love how orange and purple tones feel with grays (two other popular 2011-12 colors).

-Paint the ceiling a color other than white. Choose a lighter or darker tone of your walls for beautiful contrast in any room.

-Keep your wall color light but paint your moldings and door a deep warm contrasting color.

PAINTING TIPS

Proper paint coverage is all in the strokes:

Elizabeth recommends dividing your wall into 3′ sections.  Per section:

1. cut in using an angled brush.

2. using a roller, roll out a ‘W’ starting at the top of the wall, working your way down.

3. using a roller, roll straight down the wall, top to bottom over the ‘W’.

Tip - Use at least two coats of paint on your walls to get the best looking color.

Tip - 1 gallon of paint should cover 350 square feet