Certified Color Consultants

SUBTLE SHADES

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CLASSIC CALM

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DESERT DESIGNS

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EXTRAORDINARY EXTERIORS

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STRONGER SATURATION

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Posted by Kate Decker - - 0 comments

Playing with this neat color search lab is full of inspiration in and of itself! Enjoy seeing the power of colors in various settings. Our favorite was this beautiful butterfly.

Find your must-have color or piece of inspiration at Multicolr Search Lab - Id&e Inc. - StumbleUpon
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Why are bright, colorful things so cheerful and why is America so afraid of them? I've spent my whole life becoming fascinated by color and it's combinations, from fingerpaintings to oil paintings to colorful gemstone jewelry. I've often wondered why so many cultures embrace and celebrate color while my own seems to suppress and marginalize it. In Mexico, colorful living is standard practice, a way of releasing control over their lives and giving it back to God. In America, only the fringe live colorfully: artists, bohemians, hippies. Here, a colorful outfit is a sign of a dangerous mind, of an impulsive rule-breaker, of someone who's not afraid to stick out.

My mom had us playing with color as far back as I can remember. She'd set us up at the kitchen table with watercolors or crayons and we'd just go to town for hours! I remember that new boxes of sharp crayons or pristine, unmuddied watercolor sets were the most exciting presents. I used to get so distressed when, in my haste, I'd muddied up a once bright yellow pan of watercolor. Mom would always swoop in with a napkin and resuscitate my sunny friend. I suppose that this early training predisposed me to a love of colorful things....Color + Design Blog / Cultural Color Differences: Mexico & USA by COLOURlovers :: COLOURlovers
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We can thank Magenta, Italy, a quiet town outside Milan, for the name of the color that isn’t really any color at all, but a trick of the eyes. And, actually, it’s probably the French not the Italians we should be thanking. To be honest, it’s all a little confusing, but we’ll try to sort it out!

First, let’s take a look at the event that catapulted Magenta into infamy: The Battle of Magenta, fought on the outskirts of the town during the Second Italian War of Independence. Some historians say the Battle of Magenta was a turning point in the war. That’s all well and good, of course - but how did the color magenta get its name from this battle, what do the French have to do with it, and what was that about it not being a color at all?

As it turns out, the town of Magenta, and the eponymous battle was fought the same year that a synthetic aniline dye called fuchsine was invented. In fact, it was the first synthetic dye ever made - prior to this, all dyes had come from natural sources such as plants, animals and minerals. But as handmade rugs from the East gained popularity, the need for cheaper dyes that could be produced easily became a priority. Want to learn even more, visit Sensational Color's full write-up at http://ht.ly/3gxZR.
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Want some great colors and ideas to create a stunning tablescape for your big Thanksgiving Day feast? Look no further for inspiration than these gorgeous and simple options! The best part? Each of these themes would look stunning on your walls as well!

As always, mother nature has the best ideas for colors. If you ever thought you couldn't use green at Thanksgiving, the first picture in the link below will have you thinking again!

Our favorite? The acorn - simple, classy and understated. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Thanksgiving Decor - iVillage
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A mix between black and white, gray is gaining popularity as the new neutral. From light dove to dark charcoal, this color looks great on everything from home accents to walls. Gray is the ultimate neutral. It looks good with almost any color and ranges from cool to warm. In this bedroom a classic gray coats the walls. A black four-poster and cream-color shag rug complement the cool wall color. Burnt orange accents, table lamps, and throw pop in this neutral room. A mirrored nightstand and metal-framed mirror above the bed add a touch of glamour.

How to Use Color: Decorating with Gray
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Experts have long been trying to predict what color will be en vogue in the years to come. For big businesses, by knowing what colors the consumer will want they can create their products to match the hot new styles of tomorrow. With this line of thinking... Making thousands of purple shirts when green is the hot new style will leave the fashion retailer with lots of purple shirts sitting on the shelves. Want to see the projections, based on gender and other factors? Click below!

Business Blog / Color of the Year 2010: By The People [infographic] by COLOURlovers :: COLOURlovers
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This is really cool and much cheaper than using a faux painter! Enjoy wall tattoos of trees, tall grasses, fragrance gardens, wild bamboo, and blossoming branches to name a few. Mother Nature is the foremost designer of all things great. WALLTAT captures these great designs in the form of Wall Decals & Wall Tattoos and delivers them in an easy to install form. Inspired by Mother Nature are the grass wall tattoo, tree, birds.Find a Wall Decal that will bring your wall to life.

Wall Decals inspired by Mother Nature - WALLTAT.com - StumbleUpon
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You don't have to be afraid of going dark with your decor and interior design. The spaces in these photos work a little black magic for a look that's sophisticated, seductive, and sure to make a dramatic statement in any season. Check out the full slideshow from House Beautiful at the link below!

Black Home Decor - Ideas for Decorating with Black - House Beautiful
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With Halloween around the corner, "spooky" themed blog posts are everywhere. However, what gives us chills is how many well-known paint companies are enlisting the help of interior designer students, without certification or experience, to help guide your paint color choices. We agree that everyone should have a chance to experiment, but do you want them to do so on your house?

Choosing paint colors can be a daunting task. As a result, we have made ourselves available to help make the experience as pain-free as possible from viewing paint swatch books together to answering questions — no matter how "off-the-wall" they are. (They're usually not.)

Unfortunately, interior design students likely don't have the experience to comfortably guide clients through this process. More unfortunate is the likelihood that these clients could be the designer's first clients; the foundation of their portfolio.

In addition, these well-intended students will be choosing colors from the comfort of the store. This means they will be choosing colors under fluorescent lights, which you likely don’t have in your own home. They will not be able to take into consideration your lot placement, flooring, cabinets, countertops and other fixed assets of your home. However, if you choose to take them up on this “complementary service,” we want to make sure you go in with your eyes wide open.

Protect yourself from being a color guinea pig in your own home:

1. Ask what certifications your designer has received.

You will want to hear: “I am a Certified Color Consultant, who has worked in at least 300 homes and commercial dwellings.” If this is the case, you will probably be in safe hands.

2. Ask to see their portfolio of past work.

If they don't have one, back away slowly. This means you are about to become their first entry!

3. Ask some basic questions that you may have for the project.

See how comfortably, or uncomfortably, they answer and if their answers make sense to you. Interior design and choosing colors are two different animals. This is why we work with many talented interior designers.

Other options

Another alternative is to give Color Works a call. We would be glad to help and come highly recommended. See what some of our client's think.

In case you were wondering, not only have we worked in a variety of commercial and residential dwellings, we also have established relationships with a variety of paint companies. This means that rather than being loyal to one paint company and trying to sell their products, we are loyal to you, our customer. We house over 13,000 colors and will use whatever lines it takes to find the best color for your space.

Certifications: We are the only Certified Color Consultants in the state of Arizona.

Please visit our portfolio.

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Enid Woodward, a physical therapist, lives in a 600-square-foot studio on the Upper West Side that is filled with stunning colors that expand the space. The apartment may be small, but it has one very large asset: it opens onto a wraparound terrace that is nearly the size of the living space. See the slideshow!

A Home in 600 Square Feet - Slide Show - NYTimes.com
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Sherwin Williams is a veteran in the area of color. Not only are they coming out with innovative faux products, they continue to debut the latest color trends. Usuallly, their forecasts are correct.

If you are wondering what is the latest trends for 2011, check out the recent post from a fellow color consultant in Charlotte! A Color Specialist in Charlotte: Sherwin Williams Does it Again for 2011
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Olympic Interior & Exterior Paint - Olympic Interior & Exterior Stain The perfect marriage - Mr. Holmes the "Make It Right" guru and Olympic paints team up to offer you an incredible grand prize:

Two (2) Passes for the Holmes Magazine Launch Party on Monday, Nov. 22 in New York, NY
Two (2) Round Trip Tickets to and from NYC
Two (2) Night Hotel Accommodations for Two (2)
Make sure and click above to register!
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Can you advise on an environmental choice of varnish for a wooden countertop? - Green Home Guide
This is a common question and it isn't often that we find a great answer! However, Amy Green in Portland really brought it all together for us and you!
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Posted by Kate Decker - - 0 comments

We had the chance to meet Ed Mattingly during his stop in Scottsdale and learn that this man is on the cutting edge of faux finishes. Yes, faux finishing has been around for quite some time. However, Ed and Sherwin Williams have teamed up to create incredible products that are easy for the professional and DIYer to use. As you can see, the results are stunning. Imagine if your next space had these types of finishes. Very chic.
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In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, this Color Power takes a look into the color pink. Strongly associated with femininity, the pink ribbon has been the international symbol for breast cancer awareness since 1985. In fact, this year the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is celebrating 25 years.

Psychology
Pink is well-known for symbolizing femininity as well as being a color of romance, love and gentle feelings. The color has a calming effect and, as a result, used in many unexpected places. Places such as locker rooms for the opposing team in order to keep their players feeling passive.

Color Therapy
Pink is associated with the following qualities:

* Soothing anger
* Awakening compassion
* Affection and love
* Purity
* Increasing sensitivity

Color and Culture
The femininity association of this color has weaved its way through culture including with clothing brands such as Victoria Secret's "Pink," the pink cadillac that became the trademark for Mary Kay, as well as the "Pink Ladies" for the girl gang in Grease.

However, the color has also covered some gender-neutral ground as well, including with: seeing pink elephants, getting the pink slip and icons like Pink Floyd and the Pink Panther.

Color in Spirituality
In Catholicism, rose (or pink) is used to note joy and happiness and its use is seen on the Third Sunday of Advent and the Fourth Sunday of Lent. In some Protestant denominations, a pink candle is lit on the Fourth Sunday of Advent or "The Sunday of Love."

Meher Baba, a spiritual leader in India, would wear the color pink to please his closest female follower. Today pink, symbolizing love, is still a significant color to Baba's followers.

Pink is also associated with the heart chakra and the most well-known gemstone associated with this chakra is the rose quartz.
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Psychology
This cheery and warm color is bright enough to still get people's attentions. It comes as no surprise that Post-Its utilizes this color to attract attention without alarming the recipient, like the color red. As with orange, yellow can increase metabolism and is often found in fast food restaurants.

Color Therapy
Yellow is associated with the following qualities:

  • Energizing
  • Relieving of depression
  • Improving memory
  • Stimulating appetite
Color and Culture
The culture surrounding the color yellow paints it in a varied light. To be yellow is to be a coward. Why? Throughout history the color has been used to mark out "traitors"— in France the doors of traitor's were painted yellow and during the Spanish inquisition the victims wore yellow robes to signify that they were guilty of heresy and treason.

But not all history of the color yellow is so negative. The ancient Maya associated the color with the direction South and the glyph for the world "yellow" means "precious" and "ripe."

Furthermore, The Beatles and the "Yellow Submarine" serve as another reminder of the fun and happy associations yellow has throughout culture.

Color in Spirituality
Yellow, as well as purple, are one of the colors used to represent Easter. It comes from the crocus flower, which blooms in Europe in the spring. 

In Eastern religions, such as Hinduism, the color yellow is representative of the third chakra or the solar plexus.
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Color Help From Benjamin Moore and $10,000 Dining Room Makeover From Pottery Barn
This post is just a major FYI! If you've been trying to convince your significant other, your pet, your kids, or even yourself that it's time to redesign your dining room, this is the perfect time to do it!

Pottery Barn is offering up $10,000 worth of their products and Benjamin Moore will gift you the color consultation, paint, and labor for your dining room if you're the lucky winner. All you have to do is enter by November 1, 2010.

Here are the details, how and where to enter. (Image via Pottery Barn)

Benjamin Moore has teamed up with Pottery Barn for years bringing out the fab color choices in their catalog each season. Did you know you can see all the tempting colors in the catalog and get a seasonal fan deck from Benjamin Moore right here?

Get signed up today!
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Posted by Kate Decker - - 0 comments

Color Psychology
A melding of two primary colors — red and yellow — orange is known to get one's attention. In marketing, the color is associated with drawing attention but not as immediately as red, think traffic cones and construction work.

Orange is believed to stimulate the appetite, activity and encourage socialization while stirring up feelings such as excitement, enthusiasm and warmth. Not surprisingly, many fast food restaurants incorporate orange to encourage customers to order, eat and then get out.

Color Therapy

Orange is associated with the following qualities:
  • Excitement
  • Playfulness
  • Creativity
  • Joyous
  • Independent
  • Sociable
The benefits of using orange, through color therapy, include: 

  • Anti-depressant
  • Removing inhibitions
  • Providing optimistic outlook
  • Stimulate appetite
More muted than red, the color orange is utilized to evoke attention that is warmer (not as staccato) and encourages creativity.

Color and Culture
Orange in the United States is synonymous with the Fall, especially Thanksgiving and Halloween.

In the Netherlands, orange is representative of the royal family — the House of Orange-Nassau or more casually in Dutch society referred to as oranje, which is also the nickname of their national soccer team.

In Ireland the color orange dates back to William of Orange, the Protestant English king and it became associated with Irish Unionists and, as a result, is seen in the Irish flag today.

Color in Spirituality
For Hindu swamis, orange is very significant as it symbolizes fire and its ability to burn away the self-centered attributes, such as the ego and personal wants. The Hindu swamis traditionally wear orange robes.

Orange is also represented in an energy wheel or chakra. The Sanskrit word for the orange chakra, or sacral chakra, is swadhisthana, which can be located between the lower abdomen to the navel. This chakra is believed to be the "emotional center" chakra.
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Color Psychology
A primary color. Red is known, as a bold color, to get the strongest's reaction from people and so is utilized heavily to gain attention — stop signs, advertisements ..etc. Red relays the message to ACT NOW.

It's effect can be overpowering and too strong for some, but as an accent, red can provide a necessary punch to provide energy in a space.

Color Therapy
Red is associated with the following qualities:
  • Courage
  • Strength
  • Vitality
  • Vigor
  • Ambition
  • Alert
  • Sexuality
  • Willpower
  • Aggressiveness
The benefits of using red, through color therapy, include:
  • Overcoming negative thoughts
  • A sense of power
  • Self-confidence
  • A feeling of security
As a bold color, red can stimulate and excite the senses and inspire action. Color is also associated with being connected to the physical self.

Color and Culture
In America, red is a passionate color as its significance can range from love (red roses) to fighting/blood/heroism ("seeing red").

In China and India, red is the traditional color of bridal dresses and symbolizes purity.

In some parts of Africa the color red is representative of mourning, while in Central Africa the Ndembu warriors rub red onto themselves during celebrations (heroism).


Color in Spirituality
For some Native Americans, red beads were used to evoke the red spirit to ensure long life, a speedy recovery, success in love and other ambitions in life that could put these strong properties to good use.

Red is, of course, the color of blood and is therefore the liturgical color for the commemoration of martyred saints. Red is also used as the liturgical color for Pentecost.

In the Tibetan culture, red is a scared color — one of the colors of the five Buddhas and seen on monk's robes. It is also believed to be protective and sacred buildings are, as a result, painted red.

Those who study yoga may be familiar with the sanskrit word chakra, which means "wheel" or "turning." According to Indian medicine, there are seven major wheel-like energy vortices throughout the body. The base, or root chakra, is symbolized by the color red and is believed to ground individuals to the earth; a physical chakra.
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You asked: Please point me in the direction of effects of natural light on wall color. North, South, East and West all have their own reflective color and I need more information.

Natural light is a key element to look for and utilize in your home, especially when considering paint colors. Here are some helpful tips that may help you choose the right color. A few key points to remember; consider the time of day you spend the majority of your time in the room. Also, make sure and account not only for the natural light in the room, but the type of lighting you are using in your fixtures and lamps. This will greatly impact the overall paint color.

The North-Facing Room
This room is typically cooler since the hue of natural light is bluish. In this room the wall color will be a little subdued and bright colors could feel more muted here. North-facing rooms are typically a great room to collect oneself as the feeling from this natural light is calm and centering.

The East-Facing Room
The temperature in this room is starting to warm up a bit more as the morning sun filters in through the windows. The natural color reflecting on the walls is a yellowish tint. As the sun continues to move throughout the house this room will feel cooler as the day goes on.

The South-Facing Room
Certainly warmer than the East-facing room but not as warm as the West-facing room, the natural light will give this room an orange-yellow hue. Anyone who's napped following the sun can attest to the South-facing room's attributes of being relaxing, but for paint color selection the intensity of the light can make some colors feel washed out. Once again, you will want to assess how much time you spend in the room and during what part of the day. This will help you determine how intense of a shade you will want to use.

The West-Facing Room
As the sun sets in the afternoon the light that comes into a West-facing room is warm — in temperature and in color. The hue is usually an orange-red color. Avoid orange or red colors as the effect is going to be amplified by the natural lighting. The feeling in this room is certainly relaxed as the light comes from, usually, a scenic sunset.


Have a question?
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