Your Space Our Design: paint

A client recently asked me to redesign her dated 1990's bathroom on a small budget. It wasn't completely terrible but it certainly needed to be brought up to par with the rest of the condo which is a mixture of contemporary with hits of traditional.

Our first stop was Home Depot where we found a beautiful faux onyx floor for only $60 a box. The space was fairly small so it only took 3 boxes. Next, we spotted a gorgeous one piece contemporary vanity for $499. I like this because it has drawers as opposed to doors which makes for more organized storage as well as a cleaner look.

The chrome trough style faucet was $149. Finally, the lighting was a steal and was on sale for $110 from Lighting World (on Blackmarsh rd). We found a luxurious mirror-on-mirror at Homesense for $79 as well as 2 white shower curtains in terrycloth for $29 each. The client had existing artwork so we saved money by reusing.

I chose a deep gray paint color from Benjamin Moore to contrast the white fixtures. One gallon of Aura paint was $80 and already had primer built in so we saved a step.

Voila the reno is complete!

BEFORE

AFTER

Going to another country can have a profound effect on one’s perception of color. While I was in Cuba this past April, I was reminded of exactly how many colors there are to choose from and how underutilized color is in North America. Perhaps it’s the colder climate and what seems like never ending winters that make neutrals so appealing. Whatever the cause, it is my belief that we all could use some color in our lives.

I was constantly inspired by countless hue combinations and diverse textures and architectural details and how they played off each other to create visually stimulating yet not overpowering areas.

This made me think of client interactions and just how many people are afraid of color and tend to stick to safe 'run-of-the mill' shades like beige's and browns (yes brown is a neutral!). I have always tried to sway my clients in neutral opposite directions by focusing on the type of mood they expect from a space which quite frequently is “energy.” Once this is established, then I draw inspiration from photographs not unlike the ones posted here; and finally, I implement these ideas into a functional and client specific design plan.

People are always amazed by the way color looks once applied to walls and how it is harmonized with the use of fabrics such as drapery, throw pillows, duvet covers and even throws and how this affects their overall mood and turns once uninhabited rooms into everyday spaces.

I know I’ve done a good job when a client comes to me and says something along the lines of “thank you for injecting color into my space, this is exactly what I wanted but I was afraid it would be too bright and didn’t know how to put it all together.”

In a world where time is unplentiful and people are frequently exhausted, why not come home to a refreshing pallet of blues, corals and overall punches of color to revitalize the soul?

I was truly inspired by this colonial style building, mainly because of the sheer scale of color usage. The gorgeous cool blue brings out the richness of the wood door and it all works so well to highlight the architectural detailing of the moldings. I love how the ironwork and lighitng don’t draw you away from the overall feel but add to a feeling of grandeur.