I’m using the Anna Sova food paint palette as inspiration for this modern apartment. The bedroom below is literally a blank slate with brand new furniture. Our reader writes “the only problem is that I have NO IDEA what color to paint the bedroom.”  No idea? No problem! Let’s see what we we can cook up with some food paint.

I first dipped into the Ancient Europa collection with rich jewel tones and solid neutrals. Here is a sophisticated and modern take on saturated blue using Isle of Sky and Winter Solstice. Accessories include a black and white print of the Guggenheim museum, whose lines are echoed in the Road Dog Builtby Lamp at 2modern.

Next, an earthy and bold exotic retreat from the Ancient Asia color collection. The palette is completed by the golds and reds in the Buddha print and complemented by the sculptural Cupstack lamp.

For a bold classic room, I used the warm reds and beiges from the Odd Sorbets collection. A small hit of Radish red keeps the Masago tan color looking fresh and not too muddy. The duo is perfectly matched with a this modern twist on a classic reclining nude and the Paolo Tube Top color lamp.

Lastly, a calm beach getaway pulled from the Ancient Americas palette. To keep the beach theme from turning tropical or kitschy, stick to a muted palette like this Sage Smoke and Paracus Sand Sculpture combination. Also, avoid palm trees, shells and sailboats. A very mature beach landscape (complete with suited men!) says “beach” without saying “Tiki lounge.” The scene is finished with a few oars hung on the wall and a Japanese Float table lamp.

I hope we’ve provided some delicious post-Thanksgiving inspiration with Anna Sova food paint. This room can really go in any direction and you can also sleep better at night knowing that zero-VOC paint won’t harm you or your pooch. Yum!

My initial idea for this room is to paint it pale yellow. Pale yellow is a classic and rarely a disappointment. In this room, the yellow both preserves lightness and adds a cheery warmth. It also brings out the red tones of the floor. I’ve added some modern furnishing, which are clean and un-fussy in a room that will be dominated by a piano. The modern classic furniture includes: Design Within Reach Theater Sofa, Noguchi coffee table, and Tripod lamp. To complete the modern feel-geometric textlies from the Shade Store and a Rothko print in a bold primary pallette. I quite enjoy this yellow!

For a completely different feeling, check out the pale blue. The room retains the same lightness, but feels much more cool, calm and collected. This is great color to relax the energy and encourage a more quiet mood. Matching blue silk curtains keep the look streamlined and a Picasso print keeps it modern.

Looking for something more dramtic and classic? Instead of wallpaper, try a subtle beige-on-beige stripe. Vertical stripes are a true home decor classic, but in the wide beige they don’t feel prissy. I added a little drama with two sweeping silk curtians hung to puddle and draw attention to the wood floor. With the grand piano, the curtains and stripes are very operatic and remind me of the theater. How divine!

Lastly, a little casual modern in a friendly light green (with a hint of yellow). Choosing the right shade of green can be tricky. Too much yellow looks sickly, too much blue looks like a hospital waiting room. I recommend using multiple shades of yellow to minimize the problems. Here, painted a desaturated yellow-green on the walls and paired with with an unexpected ceiling in a dark gray-green. The bright green leaves of the plant round out a green trio. Some bright white orbs and brown window panels complete the modern earthy look.

]]> http://mochihome.com/living-room/new-color-for-a-stylish-new-home/feed/ 1 http://mochihome.com/exterior/a-warm-and-sunny-hacienda-exterior/ http://mochihome.com/exterior/a-warm-and-sunny-hacienda-exterior/#comments Thu, 28 May 2009 22:01:26 +0000 carly http://mochihome.com/?p=264 Our first post on exterior colors comes from reader inquiry. She wanted some ideas for her parents’ house before settling on a final palette. I just love the hacienda bungalow style – complete with arched colonnades and a terra cotta tile roof. I’m certainly envious of this warm weather home.

Spanish style homes often look best in classic Mediterranean palettes. Colors include yellows, peach, pink, olive, terra cotta, brown, white, etc. Think lush, warm earth tones and refreshing cool waters. This is Behr Sunbath, a color that is optimistic and timeless. It also goes well with the terra cotta tiled roof. I created some contrast with bright white trim and a dark brown deck.

Another classic hacienda color is pink (or coral/peach). I chose Behr’s Antique Cameo and again contrasted it with a white deck and brown columns. Make sure the pink/peach doesn’t clash with the terra cotta roof. A warm shade of pink should do the trick and a little Bougainvillea adds another dimension to the palette.

If yellow and pink are too colorful, why not a tasteful beige?  I found this nice color from Behr called Cardboard. When used with terra cotta, white and dark chocolate brown, Cardboard is much more interesting than the name implies.

Lastly, and perhaps my favorite, is white with colorful accents. White is very fresh with the roof and greenish-blue trim. The element of the shutters adds even more visual interest with a beautiful tile pattern. I found these lovely Pueblo shutters at Shutterstile. An architectural accent like these shutters is not only distinctive, but can provide inspiration for the entire palette.

I’m always a fan of trying daring colors on interiors and exteriors, but sometimes it’s nice to stick to your architectural roots. Rooting this house in a Spanish hacienda color palette is both festive and classic (and will look great even years from now).

We hope our reader’s parents find something they like!

I picked 4 of Kris’s recent color stripes and tried them out on our friend’s very bright (and clean!) Hong Kong apartment.

Cherry Blossom Palette

First, a spring (and Japanese) inspired cherry blossom palette. You can see how the color stripes are pulled directly from the photo to create endless custom palettes. I thought the dining room would look great as a dramatic accent wall and the black doesn’t disappoint!

Venetian Palette

Who doesn’t love Venice? These colors make a warm, inviting space. I always love shades of terra cotta and the green is just the right shade of olive. Also notice how we added a throw blanket on the couch to pull the color across the room. The walls include art from CB2 and West Elm.

Rustic Door Palette

Next, a modern room inspired by rustic architectural details.  Blue and brown are an excellent combination that can be both modern and classic.  To give it a little playfulness, you can also include the aqua color stripe.  Big paper lanterns and live bamboo freshen up the whole look.

Sweet Treats Palette

I couldn’t finish this post without a proper striped wall, of course! Again, the dining room wall is the perfect place to highlight the lovely sweet treat palette.  With a wall this bold, you don’t need much art.  However, a bold light from CB2 helps balance the strong graphic pattern.

I’ve been following Kris’s Color Stripes for awhile and we hope you can find inspiration, too. Why not use your own favorite things or places to inspire a palette for your home?

Red and green are compliments. These colors vibrate so much, it hurts.

Have I mentioned how much I like drama?  And of course, paint is one of the quickest ways to do it.  The most dramatic effects come from high contrast color schemes.  If you are nerdy, like I am, you can learn all about the science of color theory.  Or, to save you some reading, I’ll sum it up.  If two colors are located kind of opposite on the color wheel, they are very vibrant when next to each other.  Complimentary colors (direct opposites) actually sort look like they are vibrating.  And vibrating = dynamic = drama!

Here’s a demonstration of paint drama on an interior event space. You can see the room has it’s own structural drama with tall ceilings and spotlights.

But what if we add a black ceiling?  Black and white is the classiest of high contrast.  A black ceiling immediately gives the effect of infinity, as if you were under the night sky.

Too much? Here are some nice tan walls. The back wall is left white, to contrast the tan, but with less drama than the black and white. The tan also looks great with the red painting and table cloths.

There are lots of great drama ideas out there. Check out how AbbeyK paints the back wall of a bookshelf. So clever!