{january color of the month: sugar dust white}

Warm Off-White Paint Color with Yellow Undertones

January Color of the Month

What better way to start the New Year than with a fresh slate, or rather, a fresh coat of paint on your walls? This month we celebrate our favorite warm color – the dreamy Sugar Dust. This off-white color evokes tranquility and a sense of peacefulness, making it a hands-down favorite among Hirshfield’s designers and staff. So, warm up this winter with a little Sugar Dust sprinkled throughout your home.

“Sugar Dust 0011 has just enough golden undertones to make it a warm off-white that works well in our Minnesota climate,” says Mark Masica, Hirshfield Color Services Manager.”

Sugar Dust 0011 is shown on the fireplace breast, ceiling, and trim | Cyndi Parker Interiors

{friday finds: 2015 pantone color of the year}

Design World Reacts to Marsala

The 2015 Pantone Color of the Year exploded onto the scene with plenty of fanfare. Marsala is a rich, earthy red, inspired by the fortified Sicilian wine. It invokes sophistication and natural earthiness with its deep hues.

The color is “nurturing and fulfilling,” says Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Marsala is a natural fit for the kitchen and dining room – making it ideal for tabletop, small appliances and linens throughout the home.”

Pantone’s pick is one of the most anticipated design announcements each year, influencing fashion, beauty, interior design and home furnishings. Of course, it didn’t take long for the reviews – and product placements – to start rushing in.

Pantone

{benjamin moore 2015 color of the year}

Benjamin Moore Identifies 2015 Color Trends

In mid-October, Benjamin Moore revealed its 2015 Color of the Year: Guilford Green HC-116, described as a stunning silvery green that complements both modern and traditional styles in a seamless manner.

Benjamin Moore 2015 Color of the Year

“We chose Guilford Green as our 2015 Color of the Year because it can be the hero or the highlight in any room, enhancing the architectural identity of a space,” said Ellen O’Neill, Creative Director at Benjamin Moore. “Guilford Green is the perfect thread to connect nature, spaces and interiors with color schemes that signify fresh energy and growth.”

At the same time, Benjamin Moore also unveiled Color Trends 2015, featuring monochromatic color designs and saturated hues for a balanced home. These trends include a curated palette of 23 colors featuring four gorgeous color families – green, blue, blush and berry.

{what color should i paint my room?}

Benjamin Moore’s Design by What Matters Inspires Color Selection

You’re painting a room in your house and you’re not sure what color or colors you should use. You’ve read magazines, spent hours on Pinterest, friends and relatives have opinions and your head is swirling. You’re stuck. So you head to the paint store to ask the experts, “what color should I paint my room?” The question is impossible, because paint color is so personal, even emotional. You ultimately take home some paint chips to imagine what they might look like in your space. This too is a dicey proposition. Maybe the actual color looks terrific splashed up on your walls, maybe it’s a nightmare. Well, painter, the folks at Benjamin Moore have made it easier with a new online personality quiz designed to help you pick colors that agree with your preferences and lifestyle.

Courtesy of designbywhatmatters.com

{world cup colors}

Brazilian Color Inspiration

There’s currently a lot of attention on Brazil, with the World Cup in full swing and the 2016 Summer Olympics on deck. Whether or not you’re a soccer fan, if you like things with a tropical flair, Brazilian colors might inspire you to add pizzazz to your home.

 

Modern Entry by New York Architects & Building Designers Jonathan Schloss / Architect

This entrance has a great feel with an accent wall in mango.

{friday finds: how hirshfield’s creates the best paint in the twin cities}

As grownups, looking at the paint colors at Hirshfield’s can make you feel like a kid in a candy store. All of the colors, the finishes, the possibilities!

How do they create all of these beautiful, amazing colors? I was curious about how the process works and thought others might want to find out too. How does Hirshfield’s create the best paint in the Twin Cities?

First of all, it’s a large, busy operation. Did you know that they make 4,000 gallons of paint every day? Much of the paint goes to customers in the Midwest, but some goes across the world, even as far away as Japan. Here’s what they emphasize during the process.

Quality
I learned that the Hirshfield’s process starts off with high-quality raw materials and have never contained lead, crystalline silica, mercury or other unsafe materials. They realize that consumers have a number of options, so they remain vigilant in their efforts to make sure that their products are of high quality and perform to high expectations.

“If you do not have the product and it’s not of high quality and a fair price, your product is not going to be selected,” says Hirshfield’s Jason Boedigheimer. “In addition to the servicing and the commitment to our customer, we feel that we have a very strong product in the market, the quality and performance that’s needed.”

{pick the best color with confidence}

Hirshfield’s Color Expert, Kate Smith, shares insight on how to pick a paint color with confidence!

You’re sick of the same colors in your home and are ready for something new, fresh and different. You’re rarin’ to start but aren’t sure exactly how and where to begin. What’s the first step? How do you know what the best color is for you and your home? Color expert Kate Smith has insight on how to pick the best color with confidence.

{friday finds: does white make a room seem larger?}

Is White the Way to Go?

If you have a smaller room in your home and you want to make it appear more spacious, you might assume that white would do the trick. However, that’s not necessarily the case.

According to color expert Kate Smith, who gives wonderful paint advice in Minnesota, a small room that is painted white can end up looking dirty and dingy. Blame the lighting—in dim light, shadows can be created that make the room feel smaller and more closed in, the opposite of what you want. Color can actually help a room appear bigger.

{expert color advice: how color is affected by light}

Looking at color with light.

It’s very important when choosing color that you look at it in all different light scenarios. Color expert Kate Smith from Sensational Color knows what it takes to decide which color will be right for you. Follow these expert tips so you don’t regret your color choice.

Choosing Color

Have you decided on a color and by nightfall, you’re regretting your decision? There’s a word for that: metamerism. Metamerism means that colors seem to change under different light conditions. That’s why testing is key!

{friday finds: color combinations for fall}

Decorating with fall colors.

The fall season evokes memories of burnt orange and warm browns that welcome us into the months of pumpkin pie, crisp days, and falling leaves. These fall favorites can be translated into color schemes that are fashionable year-round!

Fall Inspired Color Combinations

Color splash. Shades of orange and yellow make for wonderful room accents. Use muted fabrics to let the bold colors stand out.

Stone brown. Benjamin Moore describes their Stone Brown (2112-30) as comfortable as a favorite pair of stone-washed khakis, this warm brown adds an air of cozy warmth to any space. 

Dark yellow. This typically spring color takes on a fall flavor when it comes in a darkened hue. Match it with a rich gold and cream to add depth.

Forest green. A forest green is a bit more muted, boding well with chocolate brown. This look can come across as heavy, so partner with white to lighten it up.