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COLOUR TIPS
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         Colour Focus for 2010
     Wondering what the colour trend is for 2010? Turquoise. A leading global authority on colour and provider of professional colour standards for the design industries has selected this welcoming and warm hue for home decorating,  Read more...  by BN
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         Selecting Fabric for Dining Room Chairs
     Four amber-coloured armless dining chairs were selected for this dining room; only two are shown here. Typically placed at the ends of a rectangular table, consider introducing two armchairs that are upholstered differently. These chairs are sometimes Read more...  by BN
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         Colourful Ceilings that Complement
     There’s no rule that says ceilings must be white or off white. I’ve seen a room with deep red walls brought to life with a forest green ceiling and creamy white crown moulding and trim, though such a dramatic look may not work for everyone.  Read more...  by LRW
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         A Cold Weather Pick-Me-Up
     Some people enjoy outdoor activities in winter and others, well, consider anything indoors a winter activity! Take advantage of these cold temperatures by updating a room in your home. Once you’ve determined the function and ambience for this room, Read more...  by BN
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         Colour Trends and You
     A couple of design colour trends this autumn/winter are bold colours like yellow and red. However, a trend is irrelevant if you can’t apply it in your own home. Read more...  by BN
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          Add Colour for Impact
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          The 2011 Colour of the Year...
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          Are there paint colours you should never use?
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         Fresh Spark
     An economical way to add fresh spark to a space is to reupholster a single chair in a bright new colour. The Pantone Colour Institute recommends Mimosa, a clear vibrant yellow which is 2009’s Colour of the Year.  Read more...  by LRW
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         Deep, Cool, Chinese Red
     To give the exterior of your home a punchy injection of colour, paint your front door a deep cool Chinese red. This is a red with blue undertones such as Para Paints’ Garnet or Benjamin Moore’s Rapture. Avoid warm reds that will have an orange or yellow u Read more...  by LRW
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Wondering what the colour trend is for 2010? Turquoise. A leading global authority on colour and provider of professional colour standards for the design industries has selected this welcoming and warm hue for home decorating, fashion and jewellery. Don’t be surprised if you also see turquoise in the kitchen appliances, accessories and dishes. From the tranquil colour of the Caribbean sea and sky, turquoise is said by some to be a talisman or protective stone that also aids healing. This positive colour can be easily paired with neutrals, like browns and whites, other colours from oranges, reds and pinks, to a perfect complement with deeper blues and greens. If you’d like to use turquoise in your home, consider an easy-to-peel-off wallpaper for a feature wall, or accessories – these small doses of colour will make it easier to change in the future.   by BN

Four amber-coloured armless dining chairs were selected for this dining room; only two are shown here. Typically placed at the ends of a rectangular table, consider introducing two armchairs that are upholstered differently. These chairs are sometimes referred to as the “king” and “queen” chairs. The colour palette of the striped armchairs not only coordinates with the dining room colours, but also with the living room upholstery and area rug providing visual interest in texture and adding another layer of pattern to both rooms.  by BN

There’s no rule that says ceilings must be white or off white. I’ve seen a room with deep red walls brought to life with a forest green ceiling and creamy white crown moulding and trim, though such a dramatic look may not work for everyone. When looking for a new ceiling colour, choose something complementary to the wall colour, or consider painting it the same colour as the walls or one or two tones darker. You’ll be surprised at the lift a fresh ceiling colour can lend a space without making the room feel closed in.  by LRW

     Some people enjoy outdoor activities in winter and others, well, consider anything indoors a winter activity! Take advantage of these cold temperatures by updating a room in your home. Once you’ve determined the function and ambience for this room, one of the next steps is to determine the colour scheme. Blue and blue-violet are calming and relaxing colours and are ideal choices to use in low activity rooms like a bedroom and living room. Blues tend to be frosty and can create a cold mood; they need to be tempered with warm colour accents. For inspiration of a shade, consider the range of blues in the sky at different times of year. Do you prefer the dawn or dusk shades?  by BN

A couple of design colour trends this autumn/winter are bold colours like yellow and red. However, a trend is irrelevant if you can’t apply it in your own home. Yellow and red are wonderful and dynamic colours, but they’re not for everyone. So how can you have fun with seasonal trends? Taking into consideration your current colour scheme in your living room for example, you could either contrast or harmonize it with some golden yellow accessories, like a vase or a couple of throw cushions, or for something really innovative is to have tailored slipcovers made for your table lampshades.  by BN

If you have an uninspired foyer that needs a makeover, here are a few tips:
-paint the walls a neutral shade, different from the door trim. If the trim is white, paint the walls
a soft light grey.
-add a unique light fixture that attracts the eye, perhaps with sparkle
-update the foyer floor mat with a contemporary striped version
-paint the ceiling, taking your cue from one of the mat colours, using an unexpected hue, like teal, or indigo purple
-add some artwork, a photograph or a mirror for added personality
-update the foyer closet door hardware

And voila! After you've made these upgrades, you'll want to linger a little longer in your new ambient foyer!  
 

...is Honeysuckle (Pantone 18-2120) as named by Pantone, the professional colour people. 
According to Leatrice Eiseman executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute, "The colour says we need to be hopeful and, think of things that satisfy as many senses as we can." 

This colour is pink - there's no denying that. But how can it be practically used in a house with men, women, boys and girls? In calculated doses as an accent to the overall design style:
a)small accent pieces: toss cushions, a vase, a painting
b)a feature wall
c)if you're really daring, honeysuckle could be used in curtains or shades!

Pink hues that men tend to prefer are those that lean towards orange, salmon and coral. Contemporary pairings that work with pink are gray, black and chocolate.

    There's no restriction. Any colour that's chosen should either serve
as a backdrop to the room's style; or it can serve as a prominent
foreground colour with the furnishings taking a lesser role in the
overall design scheme.

Black is a neutral that a majority of people would shy away from. But
used within the right design context and in the right amounts, can
create a contemporary and chic room for a living or dining room.  

An economical way to add fresh spark to a space is to reupholster a single chair in a bright new colour. The Pantone Colour Institute recommends Mimosa, a clear vibrant yellow which is 2009’s Colour of the Year. The colour of sunshine, Pantone predicts this warm yellow may well inject a much needed sense of optimism into peoples’ lives this year.  by LRW

To give the exterior of your home a punchy injection of colour, paint your front door a deep cool Chinese red. This is a red with blue undertones such as Para Paints’ Garnet or Benjamin Moore’s Rapture. Avoid warm reds that will have an orange or yellow undertone. A cool red will work with most neutral exterior colour schemes and is especially effective paired with taupes, white, creams, cool grays, black, and charcoal. It’s also considered good luck in some circles.   by LRW