Color.
Everyone has a favorite, what’s yours?
Nothing can bring calm and serenity into a space like color. There was a time I embraced warm saturated colors. The brick reds and deep golds made me feel cozy and secure. Lately though I’ve lightened everything, choosing instead to bathe my surroundings in softer, lighter hues.
Now that we’re moving, I’ve been working on a color palette for Stone House Lane. I wanted to narrow down the choices without painting 20 squares of color in every room – In researching the best way to decide on a color palette I ran across a blog written by a color specialist. She made the suggestion to paint pieces of poster board instead of your walls…but I can’t find that blog again! If you know who she is tell me so I can give her proper kudos! I love this idea!
After deciding to go with a soft toned-down color palette in the new house, I went through a hundred colors…Finally I narrowed my choices down to ten! Yikes! Since I like the colors in my house to flow smoothly from one room into another, all the colors I chose were similar. But still, I had to choose and the process of painting small pieces of poster board, made it ever-so easy to narrow down my colors.
After getting my 10 Behr Ultra paint samples, foam brushes and poster board…
I painted each sheet of (small) poster board leaving a taped off strip at the bottom. After the first coat of paint dried, I put on a second coat and removed the tape leaving a place to label my color!
Here are the colors … (I added a couple from the Willow Creek house)
It’s kinda fun to play around with different combinations! I tried out combos and when I found one I liked I wrote it down in my design book…
After we closed on the new house, I took the color boards to Stone House Lane and put them in the room I was considering…I was able to rule out lots of the colors immediately. Lighting totally changes color, that’s why it’s important to live with the color you have in mind for a few days. You’ll be amazed at how the color changes from morning to evening light.
In the end I chose Behr Dolphin Fin to be repeated throughout the living area…it’s soothing, calming and reminds me of the just before dawn moments when the sky goes from inky dark …to soft gray. I’m going to change the name of this paint color from Dolphin Fin to First Light.
The bottom of the walls in the dinning room and (I’m almost sure) the kitchen cabinet color will be Irish Mist…I will not change this color name because I like it!
In the great room, foyer and up the stairway I chose the soft- whipped taupe color (also Behr) … sadly for this Celiac, the name of the Behr color is Wheat Bread! Hence forth I will be calling this color Whipped Taupe. 😉
And to add a bit of accent color…the guest bath will be Rhino…(not crazy about that name either!)
I spent all weekend painting the dinning room, the guest bath and the master bedroom- I’m so happy with the result. Mr. Max is sending his helper Tony to paint the great room, foyer, up the staircase and the kitchen tomorrow, I’m so thankful I won’t have to paint all of that because some of those walls are really high!
Remember my one-word for 2012…Simplicity? And remember when I wrote earlier this year that Chaos proceeds Simplicity…?
I’m saying that to myself over and over all day long my friends…whew.
What colors do you have in your house and how did you pick them out?
Sending you love today my friends…xo
Pinky says
April 22, 2012 at 9:16 pmI have rusts , browns and golds in this house and some tans. I am trying to decide what I will do i the new house. I love your choices and can’t wait to see it all!!!! SOOOO happy for you my friend. XO, Pinky
Regina says
April 22, 2012 at 9:26 pmThe color choices are beautiful. Right now I have fall colors but am ready for a change. Maybe when school is out, I can get started. I can’t wait to see the changes you make to your new home.
Julie Garmon says
April 23, 2012 at 8:16 amYou’re right. These colors are so soothing. And the poster board idea is a-ma-zing. This would have saved me so many trips back and forth to Home Depot. (Can you just add a tad more yellow to this? etc.)
I’m so impressed that you carefully wrap your paintbrushes!!!!!
Robin says
April 24, 2012 at 8:24 amJ…Emma so loves to add yellow to her colors! You know her design business is called Yellow Door Creative!?
Julie Garmon says
April 24, 2012 at 8:56 amLove the name, Robin~~
Myrtle says
April 23, 2012 at 8:42 amAnd the poster board idea is a-ma-zing. Thanks for sharing your thoughts..
Elaine Arent says
April 23, 2012 at 9:42 amI wish I would have read this post about 3 months ago. I painted the computer room I thought was a grey. But after was on the walls with the light that comes in it is a blue. I want to repaint but have to wait for hubby to agree. Love the colors you have chosen.
Gina says
April 23, 2012 at 9:53 amI love your color choices! They are so soothing. The poster board is a great idea too! That is funny when you think of paint color names, many are named after food. My family room area is crunch granola. 😉 Others in my house are raphia basket and various shades of white. 🙂
Brenda Osborne says
April 23, 2012 at 12:26 pmKudos to the Most Organized Woman I Know !! Your choices are very pretty and I am sure the end result will be beautiful. Very happy for you and Mike on the new house.
Can’t wait to see the completed project !
Love,
Brenda
Robin says
April 24, 2012 at 8:21 amthank you Brenda!
Michelle Saunders says
April 23, 2012 at 4:59 pmWe are getting ready to close escrow here soon too. I have a stack of paint chips and colors whirling around my mind. I was so excited when you started showing the new house and now the painting…..This will be our very first home of our own. I am so excited! I love the idea of poster board (extra large) paint chips! I am totally using that. Love your color palette….I am still working on mine. Congrats on your new home!
Robin says
April 24, 2012 at 8:21 amMichelle…goooood luck with your new house!!! xo
Krizza says
April 23, 2012 at 10:06 pmTherapeutic color schemes support a desired mood and lifestyle. Strong colors such as gold and deep apricot help create a warm, friendly atmosphere in a living room. Lighter shades of turquoise and lavender have a calming effect. To choose a living-room color scheme, start by considering where you enjoy spending time.
Liz says
April 25, 2012 at 2:48 amStrong colors such as gold and deep apricot help create a warm, friendly atmosphere in a living room. Thanks for the great thoughts, looking forward for more usable blog.
Mary @ Fit and Fed says
August 8, 2012 at 10:36 amC2 paint is our favorite, low VOC paint and you can buy big squares for samples, as big as the ones you painted yourself. I think they are about $6. Even with that, I also like to buy a ‘sample-sized’ mini-can of paint and put some on the wall. And I’m known for customizing the color a little from there, adding a little white or gray or red or whatever I think it needs. The paint store I shop at keeps a record of the modifications I made to the color so I will be able to match it later. You can see I’m very picky about my paint colors!
Genny says
February 1, 2013 at 7:44 pmHello! I recently came across your blog! I love your color palette for your new home! I, too, have embraced the golds and reds (currently) and after seeing so many homes with the colors you have chosen, I’m ready to paint! My husband and I are a lot like you and yours. I dream something up and he makes it happen! lol!
Robin says
February 3, 2013 at 11:18 pmGenny, I’m so happy to meet you! Good luck with your painting project! I love that you have a husband who can do the projects you dream up!!!! Looking forward to getting to know you ! xo
Jen says
May 14, 2013 at 11:30 amI’ve seen a website that suggests painting a huge sample on posterboard. This is where I found it: http://www.mariakillam.com/must-have-tools-for-colour-consulting/
Is that the site you saw it on?
Robin says
May 14, 2013 at 1:48 pmJen, I love that website but I’ve never been on it before! The one I saw didn’t have big poster board size they were the size of 1/4 a poster board! xo
Orlando Painting Contractor says
September 13, 2013 at 1:59 pmRobin, really like the color palette suggestions and ideas you’ve shared! Excellent choices and I’m sure the results will be gorgeous.
Robin says
September 18, 2013 at 1:07 pmOrlando Painting Contractor…thank you my friend! Have a wonderful day~