by THAT Painter Lady on Thursday, July 31, 2008
I am overwhelmed by color choices!!! I want to have a fun Mexican theme. I want a yellowish- gold wall (primary walls) with green and blue accent walls. There are soooo many yellow-golds out there, not to mention the blues and greens! Please help! Before I don’t have any hair left…. Cheri
photo credit: tim eschaton
Hi Cheri, Mexican colors are so inspiring. What a great way to bring life to a room! A good idea, in your case, would be to print out a few pictures of mexican blankets and get your colors from there. I have been looking through my Benjamin Moore color charts and I have picked a few colors.
Yellow-Gold: American Cheese 2019-40 and Sunflower 2019-30
Blue: Electric Blue 2061-40 and Bermuda Blue 2061-30
Green: Prairie Green 2038-30 and Irish Clover 2038-20
Red: Rosy Apple 2006-30 and Sangria 2006-20
These are just a few suggestions. They are on the bright side. But you can also go a little more subtle if you like. You can grab a few color chips and make your choice from there, but at least you have a good starting point.
You may be able to have these colors mixed in other brand paints besides Benjamin Moore. Check with your local paint store. Send pictures when you are finished painting!! Here are a couple of books I use for inspiration:
Adobe Details
Mexicolor: The Spirit of Mexican Design
by THAT Painter Lady on Saturday, July 26, 2008
Here is a recent reader question who is asking for color suggestions for a kitchen with black and white appliances. Tawn has answered this one with some creative ideas.
I am painting a kitchen that has black appliances and white countertops. What color would you suggest for the walls, cabinets and for the floor? ~Nydia
Wow! What a great starting point for you. Using white and black can create a stunning and dramatic room. It can be used in almost any decorating style. Contemporary/modern and even Country French. Black and white gives a fresh and clean look to a room. Sophisticated and elegant, or cozy and classic.
If you want a more “contemporary” look to your kitchen you could paint your cabinets with a metallic paint. Silver would be good. OR you could take the doors off, paint the frames black and take the doors out and spray paint them with a Metal Hammered Finish spray paint.
Going modern I’d use a square pull on the doors. Something more linear for a pull.
Or, if you want a more “country” look you could paint your cabinet black and then rub the paint off here and there (edges, corners, etc.) to give them a worn look.
Here are some articles about Distressed Finishes.
Paint Color Choices
Excellent paint colors for your walls, to go with your black and white room, would be salmon, or green, or taupe, or red or turquoise. This gives you a wide variety to choose from for your walls depending on what feel you want to end up with. Even yellow would be a good choice depending on how bold you want to go.
Are you painting your floors? You could tape them off and paint large 2 foot by 2 foot squares of black and white. I wrote an article here about painting diamonds or squares.
Hope these ideas help. Please send a picture when you finish so we can see how fabulous it looks.
THAT Painter Lady
Here are a few resources on choosing color that I find really helpful:
Click Here For Help Choosing Colors: An Expert Choice of the Best Colors to Use in Your Home
Click Here For Help With Color Schemes Made Easy (Better Homes & Gardens)
by THAT Painter Lady on Saturday, July 19, 2008
Tuscan Yellow Faux Paint Finish
Hi Debra
I plan on doing a colorwash or faux on our walls. What color paint do I use to achieve a soft Tuscan Yellow Paint Color Wash? My base color is a lite yellow or buttercup shade. I can’t seem to get any help at the stores.
Thank you Sharon
Hi Sharon,
Light yellow is actually not a great base color if you are trying to achieve a Tuscan look.
I would go with a warmer brighter yellow and then go over it with a darker yellow / brown to tone it down.
Try it on sample boards first. Try a few different base colors and then a few different glaze colors.
Don’t be too quick to practice on your walls, because then you will have a larger mess to fix if you are not happy with it.
Take the time to practice, I can’t stress that enough!
The photo above was sent in by:
Tony Tobey
Paint Contractor
Five Star Works
“We make it look new again”
317-514-5732
http://www.fivestarworks.servicemagicpro.com
Tony didn’t send me instructions… but if I have to guess at the process this is what I would suggest:
You will be painting the wall with a light color of a warm yellow as the base color (save some for a thinned topcoat glaze).
The next layer should be a dark gold color applied with something like “wadded up plastic bags”.
Then a few “blotches” of a light sage green (I see some veins in the same color on this wall).
The last coat is that thinned (with glaze) light color used as the base coat. Apply over the entire wall using a brush in one hand and a dry softening brush in the other.
Visit My Italian Design Website For Tuscan Style Decorating Ideas
