Decorating with orange- it's just peachy!

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Well fall is here, the kids are back in school, and it's time for me to get back to work and start blogging again! With the change of season, it's the perfect time to focus on the color orange and using it to decorate your home.

Orange is warm, vibrant and energetic. It is a great color to consider in your decorating scheme as the days turn cooler. Orange is associated with harvest time, pumpkins and falling leaves.

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I'm always interested in how color affects people's feelings and moods and how it reflects one's personality. Individuals who love orange, usually also love red and yellow. They are adventurous, enthusiastic, extroverted and hard working.

If the above describes you, here are some ways you can use orange in your home. I'm including some Benjamin Moore paint options as well.

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Entry area: A variation of light to mid tone orange works well in this space. It is warm and inviting, a perfect way to welcome your guests. Try- B.M. Delicate Peach, Sun Blossom, or Glowing Apricot.

Dining Room: Orange is an appetite stimulant, making it a good color choice for this room (or a restaurant) Try- B.M. Soft Marigold or Pumpkin Spice.

The Kitchen: This room is a great place to use brighter shades of orange. Use in dish wear and as accents.

Bedrooms: Paler shades of orange work well in bedrooms because they are warm and inviting. Try- B.M .(AF- 195) Terra Bella, (AF- 210) Milk and honey, (AF-220) Masada.

The Family Room: Using deeper shades of orange work well for this gathering space. Try- B.M. (AF-355) Etrustan, Bronze Tone (2166-30), Pumpkin Spice-126.

The Bath: Use light peachy tones here because they are warm and flattering to the skin. Try- B.M. Delicate Peach 120, Ivory Lustre- 184, Point Pleasant 155.

Kids rooms: Bright shades of orange are great choices for children's rooms because they are happy, fun and energetic. Try- B.M .Tangelo 2017-30, Party Peach 139, Soft Pumpkin 2166-40.

If you want some more great ideas of how to decorate with orange this fall, contact me at erinkent75@yahoo.com

Let the Sunshine In



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If you are like me, you just feel better when the sun is shining. Well, you can bring that same effect into your home, when you decorate with yellow. Yellow represents the sun, which is warm, bright,and vibrant. It is a great color to use for lifting one's spirits. This may be the perfect color to use if you live in a climate where it rains frequently or the winters are long and snowy. Also for rooms that don't get a lot of natural light, are north-facing, or don't have windows, yellow is a perfect color choice. Sounds like Buffalo is a great place to use yellow in your decorating scheme!

Pastel yellows are gentle and calm, great choices for children's rooms.

Ambered/ golden yellows are warm and can be used when a sense of permanence is desired.

Vivid yellow are seen as active, cheerful, and outgoing.



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Yellow can open up a small, dark space such as a hallway, or small bathroom. It is an excellent accent color, used to highlight a focal point. Yellow can make a strong statement when combined with black and white, or navy and white. Yellow and gray together is very current, and sophisticated.

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 Individuals who love yellow tend to be warm, optimistic, creative, and artistic. If you love yellow, and want ideas on how to bring the warmth into your home, please contact me at erinkent75@yahoo.com.

If you have a decorating or color selection question that you want answered right now, contact me at the above email address for a flat fee of $25.



Our Five Favorite Yellows - Yellow Color Palette, Paint Color Selection - Benjamin Moore

Our Five Favorite Yellows - Yellow Color Palette, Paint Color Selection - Benjamin Moore
Clink on the link to see some favorite yellow paints.

Pink shadows.

Pink shadows., a photo by jimacos on Flickr.

an example of a gentle, light pink

The pinkest pink: Benjamin Moore 'Conch Shell' in Hamptons bedroom, from Elle Décor

The pinkest pink: Benjamin Moore 'Conch Shell' in Hamptons bedroom, from Elle Décor, a photo by xJavierx on Flickr.

"Pretty in Pink"- Decorating with pink paint

Pink paint: Designers' favorite colors, a photo by xJavierx on Flickr.

I'm sure you have heard the phrase "pretty in pink". Well YOU can be pretty in pink too, when you surround yourself with pink in your home. Pink is very personal, and probably not the first color people think of using in decorating, except in a  little girls bedroom, which is where we traditionaly see it used .

I have been doing a lot of reading on color lately, and it has changed the way I think of pink.  Before writing this post I would have said I was not a "pink person", but I found a picture of a very cool chair done in pink ( a hot, vibrant, fun pink) and fell in love with it! It opened my mind to all the different ways you can use pink. Keep reading and maybe you will realize you can be a pink person too. (I was so inspired by writing this, that I even painted my toenails pink!)

In my last post I talked about the color red. Although I (and many others) love red, it's not for everyone. Pink is an option for those that feel red is just too bold. It is a watered-down, softened red, a modest "blush", a "glow". The lighter shades of pink are pleasing to use in interiors, because it is warm and flattering.

Light pinks are described as innocent, soft, tender, romantic and cute.

Dusty pinks are perceived as soft, cozy, soothing, romantic, subtle , yet sophisticated.

Bright pinks are seen as exciting, happy, hot, trendy, attention getting, energetic, youthful,
fun and spirited. These pinks can be dynamic and powerful. Extroverted individuals love brilliant pinks. Which pink is the one for you?

Here's how and where to use pink in your home:

Bedroom- It is a perfect color for the bedroom, it is soft, cozy and romantic.

Bathrooms- Another room where pink works well, because of it's warm flattering effects.

Living and Dining Rooms- Use pink in prints and patterns, or choose rosy, clay, or mauve tones.

Kitchen- You can have fun with pink in this space, especially active, hot pinks! You can use it as accents in your linens, glassware and art.

 If you love pink, you tend to be less showy than a red person. You are soft, romantic, gentle, refined and are upset by violence. You are talented, but not overambitious. You are more contemplative, more cautious. People are drawn to you by your charm and warmth.

So if you would like to be "pretty in pink" and explore how to get a design that reflects you, contact me at erinkent75@yahoo.com

Also see "Pink Shadows" and "The pinkest pink" post for examples of different shades of pink.

Seeing Red...

Ever wonder why you like a certain color, or what a color can say about you? In my quest to create designs that are truely individual and reflect the client, I do think about this. My undergraduate degree is in Psychology and I am very interested in the psychological effects of color on individuals, and how I can include that when I am choosing colors for a client.

Red is the first color that babies see after black. It is the beginning of the color spectrum, so it seems fitting that I start with that color.

Red is associated with fire, heat, danger and excitement. It is dynamic, dramatic and commands attention.  It can be lively and warm, to rich and elegant.

If red is your favorite color, you are self-confident, passionate, extroverted and have a zest for life. Those who love red are high achievers, driven and intense. In addition red lovers may be opinionated, overbearing, moody, bossy and fickle (sorry red lovers!!)

It takes a self-assured and extroverted person to paint their world in red. If you're not quite that daring, you can still use red, just in moderation.

Where and how you can use red:

In the Kitchen- Red is best used as an accent, especially because it increases your                       metabolism...so you probably don't want to use too much!

In a Den- This room tends to be more traditional, so you will want to use a blue-red, such as claret, or maroon, which are rich colors. You may also use a jeweled red such as ruby, which looks elegant.

In a Bedroom- Use soft reddish pinks, or deep reds to calm down the intensity of the color.

Hallway, Entry, Powder Room- You don't need to be afraid to use red in these spaces and have fun! It can make a big impact and since you don't "live" in these rooms, you are less likely to tire of the color quickly.

So, I will now tell you that I have a red accent wall and chairs in my living room...so you all know a little more about me!


If you love Red and want a design that reflects you, then contact me at erinkent75@yahoo.com for a consult.