Archives for February 2013

Exterior House Painting – Add Accents with Windows and Doors

February 22, 2013 By Rachel Joye

Home Exterior accent paint colors can help you achieve the look you desire, whether that be a more formal, casual or whimsical appearance.

As with interior design and fashion, choosing paint colors for your home’s exterior takes a little know-how. Highlighting a home’s front door in a contrasting color is a great way for a homeowner to express their creativity and boost curb appeal. In times past, the preferred color choices were black, green, and red. Today’s homeowners are faced with so many exterior paint choices that making a decision can be tough. In a recent article from This Old House magazine, architectural color consultant, Amy Wax, offered a few suggestions.

Before you zip out to the paint store, take a moment to consider these points:

the architectural style of your home
what the exterior is constructed of and its color or colors
the door’s trim
the exterior entryway leading to the front door-is it wood, stone, brick?

Wax explained that for homes with solid colored, neutral exteriors, the paint pick for the front door should serve to compliment and enhance. Siding that is pale, such as white, gray, or beige; practically begs for a pop of color. Formal, stodgy entrances take on a new attitude with an unexpected choice that is both bright and bold. Casual residences can look more sophisticated when the front door is painted a glossy, deep shade of a primary color such as blue or yellow. For a touch of whimsy, consider using ice cream colors or shades inspired from the Caribbean: turquoise, coral, and sea foam green.

Doors that incorporate glass are able to handle strong shades because the glass tends to soften the overall effect. Residences with darker exteriors benefit dramatically when the front door color is incorporated artfully. Wax suggests repeating a shade that is already present and playing it up. For example, is the perfect choice lurking in shade variations within the brick or stonework? The answer could also be discovered in the home’s surrounding foliage or foundation plantings.

If you are on the cautious side, don’t worry. Paint stores provide samples so you can try a color or two out before committing to an entire gallon. For inspiration, here is the link to the article and photos from the This Old House article: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20567862,00.html

If you want help choosing colors or for us to give you a quote for painting services, you can request a quote online or call us directly at 910-686-3067.

Filed Under: Exterior Painting Tagged With: color selection, exterior painting, exterior painting wilmington nc, home painting, house painting wilmington nc, Wilmington NC Painters

Color Therapy

February 15, 2013 By Rachel Joye

Color Therapy or Chromotherapy is the use of color to help modify mood and emotions.

Color therapy, also known as chromotherapy, is the practice of using colors from the visible light spectrum to enhance moods, restore emotional balance and combat a variety of psychological problems. Although some critics argue the validity of this practice, others are more inclined to accept its theories.

While using colors to affect your emotions may seem like a silly theory, there may be some truth in this “pseudoscience” after all. For decades, advertising companies and corporate design teams have utilized color to trigger desired behavior in their customers or employees. For instance, the most common color associated with fast food chains is red. McDonald’s, Hardee’s, Chick-Fil-A and Arby’s all use the color red in their logos and packaging. This is most likely due to the theory that red is an attention-grabbing color that is sometimes associated with appetite. (This is also why red is such a popular color choice for home kitchens and dining rooms).

As another example, pink can sometimes be found in prisons, behavioral health centers or other types of places where residents may need to be confined or subdued. “Passive pink,” as it is called, is used as a calming color, though its effectiveness is often criticized by the scientific community.

As for homes, most interior designers will agree that color has a powerful effect on the overall mood and atmosphere of a room, which in turn will affect the mood of anyone who enters it. If you want to create an inviting space for guests to mingle and feel comfortable, a warm orange (think terra cotta, not traffic cone) may work well. If you’re an artist in need of inspiration, try purple – the color often associated with creativity and spirituality.

While most scientists will agree that color can have an effect on a person’s emotional state, most reject the notion that color has any effect on the physical or physiological aspects of health. While we at Colour Solutions consider ourselves experts when it comes to painting, pressure washing or wood staining, we aren’t exactly equipped to help our clients combat physical or emotional illness. If you find yourself experiencing any physical or psychological problems, you should contact your doctor.

Sources:

Color has a powerful effect on behaviopr – NY Times
Color Therapy for Designers Pt 1: The Meaning of Color – Smashing Magazine

Filed Under: Blog, Interior Painting Tagged With: choosing paint colors, color solutions, color therapy, interior painting, interior painting wilmington nc, paint colors, picking paint colors

Choosing Paint Colors as Part of a Home Remodel

February 8, 2013 By Rachel Joye

Choosing new paint colors is one of the most important aspects of a home remodel.

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for a room. Whether you’re space is in need of some serious TLC or you just want a quick and easy way to give your room a makeover without breaking the bank, paint can be your secret weapon against interior design disasters. If you’re about to embark on a home remodeling project, be sure to give some thought to your color scheme and then choose your paint accordingly.

From building an addition to knocking down walls to installing new appliances and light fixtures, any home remodeling project can be further enhanced by incorporating a new paint color. When choosing your colors, it’s important to consider the setting. Depending on the room and what it is used for, you may want something bright and invigorating, or you may want something a little more subdued. For instance, lime green or fire engine red may work well for a kitchen or play room, where there is usually a lot of activity and creativity going on, but such a vibrant shade probably won’t work well in a bedroom or study, where things need to be quiet and calm. Something more along the lines of a soft blue or muted violet would be well suited for a serene atmosphere.

When in doubt, you can always stick with the tried and true neutrals – just don’t go stark white or jet black. Grays, tans and off-white colors like cream or eggshell are standards that offer versatility in design and decorating. But if you’re looking for something a little more fun, don’t be afraid to use color!

If you need help deciding on the perfect paint colors for your home remodeling project, we at Colour Solutions are happy to assist you. Just contact us at 910-686-3067 or request a quote online.

In addition to providing residential painting services, Colour Solutions is also proud to offer commercial painting services, pressure washing, light carpentry work and more. And rest assured Colour Solutions will work hard to ensure your project is handled professionally and to your satisfaction. Check out our testimonials page to see what some of our satisfied clients had to say.

Filed Under: Blog, Interior Painting Tagged With: choosing paint colors, color solutions, colour solutions, home remodel, interior painting, interior painting wilmington nc, paint colors, picking paint colors