Color Works LLC

Color. The psychology of color, color therapy, the cultural significance of color, color in spirituality — color is very significant and many people are afraid to utilize it for fear of creating an unwanted effect, not sure what colors to use ... etc. Color Works can help get over that hump and effectively use color to help make a house feel more like a home.

Here's a quick look into:

Color Psychology
This is the study of color as it affects human behavior. Some examples include blue as an appetite suppressant (great for plates) and oranges and yellows to stimulate the appetite (these colors are often found in fast food restaurants).

Color Therapy
For thousands of years the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Chinese have studied and applied the affects of color to treat ailments in the body. Today it's better understood that each color's vibration has different qualities, or attributes, that allow the body to heal itself, whether it be through the stimulation and production of certain hormones or by influencing certain emotions.

Color and Culture
One color does not mean the same thing to all people. Let's use death as an example: For Americans we think black, but in China white signifies death but in Brazil purple represents death. In this section we'll uncover some of the cultural significance of color.

Color in Spirituality
Much of the varying degrees of color symbolism between cultures can likely be pointed back to that culture's spiritual background. Within this section we'll provide some insight to a particular hue's significance in spirituality.

Your Back To School Special

Back to school specials are not just reserved for school supplies and a Fall wardrobe. In preparation for Labor Day — which many of you may not know is a big paint day — subscribe to the Color Works blog and receive 15% off your next service.

In addition to the 15% off your next service, you'll receive great tips on the effects of color in your home, decorating and staging tricks and find great sources of inspiration with our constantly growing portfolio.

Plus! You can receive a $20 Starbucks gift card for each referral.

The answer is yes, but with many caveats. The big color trend we are seeing in wallpaper is grays. Gone are the days of the “big yellow flowers with bird” print in your grandmother's bathroom, even though Pottery Barn is losing a lot of their market by trying to revitalize some of these patterns. What we are seeing is wallpaper that looks like faux finish paint, such as the sample above.

In addition, damask prints are back, but they are far from the English countryside patterns you are used to seeing. I have included a new damask print below for you to see a sample of what the latest patterns are looking like. Both the grays and damask prints are also sufficiently conservative to last beyond the "fad" cycle and stand up for a few more years than most trends.

An important note on geography: Most wallpaper in the Southwest is being placed in powder rooms. This helps create a small space, which creates a sense of security when guests are using this little important room. In addition, this rooms does not typically house a tub/shower to emit steam and challenge the glue of the wallpaper. If you are going to use wallpaper in a full bathroom, make sure and use your fan religiously or keep the doors/windows wide open. Many a manufacture will claim that their paper will “stand up to humidity,” but to obtain the best longevity from your wallpaper, make sure and stick by the rule of keeping the area well ventilated with little-to-no steam.

A wide variety of colors are found in nature, which can be invigorating and serve as an inspiration point for the creation of your paint color palette. Rather than focusing on all the various landscapes across our great continent, focus on your part of the country.

Here in the Southwest, you will find cacti greens, bright reds from cacti flowers, the bright pinks of the Bougainvillea, and rich purples found in Lantana. By the same token, the rust color of the dirt found in Sedona and even latte color of the sand on the Valley’s floor provide a great neutral palette. The best part of living in the desert is the ability to bring the outdoors in and indoors out through transitional living.

Regardless of whether you living in a warm climate, how do you create a seamless transition from the exterior to interior of your home? Through the use of color on the largest feature in your home, which is the walls. While you can delve into the deeper shades of the hues mentioned above, you can also choose small percentages of each hue to make a more “quiet” and harmonious palette. A subtle yellow or sage green allows for the perfect merging of nature and your habitat.

Whether you find yourself in Seattle or Saratoga, let the great outdoors be your guide!

Did you know that a gallon of paint can cost you up to $40? Your wall finish on either the interior or exterior of your home has the ability to create the greatest impression, as it is largest physical part of any property. However, painting all those surfaces can also add up quickly.

Good news! Did you also know that Color Works has already set up accounts with many paint retailers, such as Frazee, Dunn Edwards and Sherwin Williams? Unlike other color companies, we pass those savings on directly to you. How does that happen? When your color consultation is complete, we will provide you with the appropriate codes for whichever paint manufacture you are using. Then, when you or your painter purchase your paint, you will receive a 20-35% discount! This alone typically pays for the cost of your Certified Color Consultation!

Did you know you can Go Green with your paint? We don't mean the color green, but the type of paint used. The first edition of "green paints" had low VOCs. Now, you can find paint without any measurable VOCs.

What are VOCs? VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds. These compounds pollute your indoor air quality. You may also notice that paint has that typical smell whenever you crack open a can. This is caused by VOCs and explains why you may want to pay a few extra dollars to help protect the environment and youg lungs.

What are your options? Here are a couple of brands that we like and they come in a variety of finishes, including primers, flats, eggshells and semi-glosses:

Every now and then, you find a commercial that is especially inspirational and captures the essence of its industry. Sherwin-Williams has done just that with their "paint swatch" commercials. Through the use of paint swatches, they reminded us of all the ways color impacts our lives and just how powerful it can be.

Not only does this ad represent the creativity involved in paint choices, but makes color fun. This is a great way to calm peoples' fears about choosing such a key aspect of their home. Take a look and tell us what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nBbNo92grs