Thursday, September 30, 2010

"What Were They Thinking Thursday!!??" - Go Easy With the Paint

Picking out just the right paint colors can be difficult. Most of us want to put some color on the walls but are not completely confident with our color choice. You don't want your rooms turning out like these:

A very psychedelic room


Looks like a box of crayons
Cane much?







Wow, the worst of all. Check out that rockin carpet and not one but two fine wallpaper borders


Neat idea, but just too much.

And don't forget about the outside of your house. Seriously, what were these people thinking????


I think they were puffing the magic dragon when they painted this house.

Only a big stuffed dinosaur would feel at home in this place

First off, when picking out paint colors, remember it's always going to look darker on the walls then it does on the little swatch. That's why it is always best to paint a sample area before you paint the whole room. Most paint stores sell 1 qt. samples for about $5.

Second, if you want to go bold and bright on the walls, you need to stick to a small color palette in furniture and accessories. A bright color can look really great, as long as everything in the room isn't all different bright colors. You should try to repeat your accent color at least 3 times in the space. Here are some examples:





A laundry room is a great place to start with some bright color. It will lighten the mood when you have to wash clothes.

Bright colors are tricky, if you don't have a "design eye" definitely seek professional help when deciding what color to paint. You should have a healthy respect for bright colors. Don't take them too lightly because they will really surprise you once they get up on the walls.

If you want to add color to your space, you don't have to go super bold. There are many great shades of neutral colors. Take a look at these colorful yet calming rooms:




Did you know that grey is the easiest color for the eye to look at? If you are going for a calm space, grey might be the color for you. Yellow is the harshest color for the eye so mixing the two really makes a great contrasting palette.


If you are just too afraid of color, try a nice neutral on the wall that will make your furniture and accessories stand out.


Notice how everything that is a bright color really stands out in this room


I love the pop of yellow here

And if you are just really incapable of even picking a neutral, you can always just leave the walls white and put up the paint swatches like this!!:

But seriously, if you aren't sure, get a second opinion or give us a call. We have special 3-hour consultations available and we would love to come help you! Check out our website for more information www.studiobinteriordesign.com
~Jessica

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Finally It's Fall!

The weather has finally cooled off and it is really starting to feel like Fall, my favorite season! I am already sipping hot coffee in the evening and burning those delicious pumpkin scented candles that make everyone think I am baking but seriously, who has the time.

In honor of the recent temperature drop I have decided to blog about America's favorite mountain house style, the log cabin. The log cabin has been around for a very long time. Log cabin construction was brought over by the swedish in the 1700's and evolved with the Homestead Act of 1862 which gave people rights to open land as long as they cultivated it and built homes that had to meet certain requirements.


Well, log cabins have come a very long way since 1862 and today they have all the amenities one could desire. From log mansions, to modern mobile log cabins. There is something for everyone. But they all have one thing in common, the nostalgia of the American Frontier.

Take a look at all the very different styles of log cabins:


The Cute and Quaint Cabin in the Woods


A-Frame Cabins


I love this one! Tree house log cabin

Ultra-modern log cabins




Quite literal log cabin




Log mansions





And last the most amazing of them all, the tallest log cabin in the world! In Russia, built by Sutyagin stands 144 ft tall! Too bad he went to prison and can now only afford to heat four rooms on the very bottom floor.

~Jessica