California Paint: Made in Massachusetts

Colors inspired by the Historical Homes of America

1. Arranged by hue for easy comparisons
2. Associated with various architectural periods, or
3. On the 83 historic structures restored by the Newport Restoration Foundation in and around Newport, Rhode Island.

Palettes full of unique, fun color names

California Paints recently launched a color blog.  It is updated weekly and the entries are nicely done.

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Disney Paint Specially Formulated For Kids Rooms

These exclusive paint colors and specialty finishes make achieving the most exciting kids' room ideas surprisingly easy and affordable. Reinvent the whole room, or add a simple accent that sparkles, gleams, glows or turns your wall into a chalkboard! You can even use Disney specialty finishes over existing paint colors. For a totally unified look, combine Disney paint colors and specialty finishes with Disney bedding and accessories.

Only Disney Paint Colors and Finishes Bring the Story to Life

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Crayola Paint: Color For Kids

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C2 Paints 16-Colorant System

Though available in fewer than 100 storefronts across the country C2 Paint has a developed a following among discerning color lovers. This small but innovative paint company is one of the few available in the U.S. whose colors are made from a 16–colorants system rather than the 12–colorants used by most paint brands. C2 also uses a high quality paint base that when combined with the colorants produces rich, vibrant colors.

C2 Ultimate Paint Chip

C2 Paint first caught my attention when they came out with the first pre-painted poster board sized paint sample sheets. I thought this was a simply brilliant idea. No more little paint pots, or sample boards or foam brushes and for those of us with little patience when wanting to see how a color will look-- no more waiting for the paint to dry!

What a time saver for designers and homeowners. Best of all the samples is covered with actual paint and is large enough (18' x 24") to give you a good idea of what the color will actually look like on the wall.

I've always been an advocate of sampling the actual paint color on boards and looking at it at different times of day and in different positions around the room to confirm the color is one you love and want to live with. So many people skip this step because of the extra work. C2 has overcome that problem. It doesn't get much simpler than toting a pre-painted board home from the store ready to place in your room.

Cooperative Color

Another thing I like about C2 Paints is that it is a cooperative rather than a traditional company. What this means is that the C2 is owned by independent paint dealers who for years have been helping designers and homeowners in their communities beautify their homes. While a business structure doesn't necessarily guarantee a great product I like the idea of having the product direction set by a group of dealers who understand not only their customers but that their continued success depends on selling a paint line that is not only high quality but has some unique features not available from the bigger brands.

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YOLO Colorhouse Paint: We believe the world can be more colorful and less volatile! Do you?

Ever wish you could paint a room and barely smell a thing? YOLO Colorhouse Paint has made your wish, their command. An environmentally responsible paint with a natural color palette, YOLO offers versatility with a conscience. No volatile organic compounds (VOC) paint ensures no odor and absolutely no toxic fumes . Only durable, washable and fantastic color choices inspired by nature. YOLO Colorhouse paints are Green Seal® certified, the Green Seal® certification automatically qualifies YOLO Colorhouse® for LEED certified projects.

Interior Paint with Artist's Flair

YOLO Colorhouse was created by artists with a relaxing, approachable vibe in mind. With collections including The Earth’s Color Collection Inside, The Color of Hope and the little YOLO Sprout collection for children's spaces, YOLO Colorhouse has incorporated soothing palettes that create flow and energy in a space.

Still have a color in mind not available in their nearly 100 choices? YOLO Colorhouse offers a color match option as well.

Inspiration & Design

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Keeping Up With Martha Stewart Paint

Martha Stewart remains a decorating favorite because she instructs us on how to make everything in our home more beautiful.

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Benjamin Moore Paints: Since 1883

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Farrow & Ball Paint: Unrivaled Depth of Colour & Traditional Formula

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Pantone Paint: Color System Meets Paint Palette

Pantone Paint At Lowes

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Valspar Paint: The Emotional Value of Color

The right color won't only brighten up a room; it can transform your life. Although some may try, no other company appreciates the deep emotional value of color like Valspar.  ~from Valspar About Us

Valspar Color Boutiques

National Trust Historic Colors The National Trust has worked extensively with the Valspar Corporation to develop an exclusive collection of historical colors that are available exclusively at Lowe's. Valspar features 250 colors certified by the National Trust, having been developed from samples taken from the Trust's Historic Sites: examples include Woodrow Wilson Presidential Ivory, Lyndhurst Duchess Gold, and Woodlawn Plantation Pear.

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Auro Paint: An All-Natural Alternative

Its (Auro Paint) gloss paint is an Ethical Consumer's best buy.

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Dunn-Edwards Paint : Made in the Southwest for the Southwest

Dunn-Edwards Paint is the foremost manufacturer and supplier in the Southwestern United States. Their paint covers everything from the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco to the Orange County Jail and the Albuquerque International Airport.

Yes, this is quality paint both for home interiors and exteriors. It comes in every color you might need and is especially made to suit the region. All good stuff especially if you live in the Southwest.

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The designers, architects and color consultants who have given me such support and inspiration over the years inspired Ellen to put together Ellen Kennon Full Spectrum Paints Designer's Palette. I am thrilled to have been invited to have a color included.

“H2 Ahh!” is my color in The Designer's Palette

Here’s what I shared with Ellen about my signature color:

I love the colors of water. All of the hues from the deepest, most mysterious sea blues to the soothing, subtle spa blues speak to me and "H2 Ahh!" captures all of what attracts me to these watery colors.

Inspired by the color water in a warm, relaxing bath, the complexity of "H2 Ahh!" gives it a sophistication that intrigues my mind and the perfect balance of this color has a meditative effect that captures my soul.

'H2 Ahh!' is a timeless hue that works beautifully with all other colors. When combined with rich tan, chocolate brown, antique gold, olive green, burnt oranges, or even navy blue, gray or rosy pink it gives the combination a sense of the unexpected making it more interesting to the eye.

See all of the colors  that Ellen created with some of the countries most talented designers, architects and color consultants. The Designer’s Palette includes colors representing 14 designers who use our full spectrum paints in a variety of applications and lighting conditions

Meet the other 15 designers and read what they have to say about their colors in Ellen's newsletter...

The Designer's Palette and all of the Full Spectrum Paint Colors are available at www.ellenkennon.com

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Running through our busy lives we often wish there were a way to achieve more calm or just a little more time to accomplish things. It is possible to carve out tranquility and even increase energy right in our own homes. As Winston Churchill once said, “We shape our dwellings, and afterwards, our dwellings shape us.”

Feng Shui, the ancient Eastern practice of correct furniture placement and creating a ‘Zen’ or tranquil atmosphere, suggests that our entire being is actually influenced by the space around us. Feng, meaning ‘wind’ and Shui meaning ‘water’ combine to create color and design elements in your home that can bring both relaxation and serenity or heighten energy and productivity.

source

Five Elements and Color

Just as nature includes the components of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood - the human body contains these elements as well. A well-balanced Feng-Shui home keeps in mind the Five Elements when designing to ensure all are represented so proper energy can flow in the space.

One of the easiest ways to bring in Feng Shui is through color. Warm colors can energize, lighten and animate your state of mind. Cooler color choices can soothe, relax or rejuvenate you.

Paint a room the ‘wrong’ color choice and achieve a whole different reflection than what you were trying to achieve. Picked blue because you thought it energized your front stoop? Well, in actuality it is creating a soothing, serene welcome to your and your guests. A great outcome, but not exactly what you were going for…

According to the principles behind Feng Shui, color can even impact something as simple as your doorway. A red doorway inspires passion as you enter the home, a blue one offers a place for serenity, infuse yellow for a center of happiness and joy.

Confused as to what color brings what Chi? This is where a valuable Feng Shui tool comes in – The Bagua Map. This little blueprint of color holds the key to creating the correct Chi and color correlation in your space.

Graphic: Kate Smith

Feng Shui Color Tips

• In Your Kitchen – Painting your kitchen white allows the colorful dishes you prepare to speak for themselves. The kitchen’s element, which is naturally Fire, (hot reds, greens and yellows) is overcome by the element Metal (represented by the stark, pure White) thus creating the best balance in this space.

• In Your Bedroom – Rose, blush and subtle pinks create a perfect setting to increase love, so it is a natural bedroom color choice. Greens and blues allowing for calm and peacefulness are also great choices.

• In Your Dining Space – Eating together, flowing great conversation and sharing love are all achieved when you paint a dining room pink, green or blue. These colors are all stimulating, appetite-inducing choices that are great for keeping your hungry crowd satisfied.

• In the Bathroom – This high-traffic area can become an area of tremendous rush, as you get ready in the morning or at the end of a long day. Painting the bathroom in warm grays, blues, pinks or even white will create calm and serenity. These are often colors seen in a spa because they induce thoughts of the Water Element that offers purification for both mind and body.

Whatever room you choose to begin your Feng Shui journey, remember that your space has the power to define your state of mind and increase the energy for your well-being. Choose color wisely and your home will pay you back with more restful nights, more energized days and more abundant relationships.

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Nostalgic, fun and whimsy fill our color scheme inspiration. Hues selected from the photos of an old fashioned carnival will bring energy and vintage appeal to any space. Soft blues and lavenders and yellow tinted neutrals allow for a calm environment while more vibrant pops of green, turquoise, and yellow add energy. The neutral walls and furniture inContinue Reading

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The classic look. The finest homes. That traditional and elegant feel isn’t something you can only get by looking at glossy magazine covers. You can create that same mood in your own home easily and affordably by simply choosing the right colors.

Start creating that time-tested atmosphere in your room today with these five classic color tips:

1. Darker shades are a great way to convey an established old-world feel. Incorporate deep tones of gold, blue, green, or purple for a truly timeless feel. You might also choose colors like navy, hunter green, and burgundy, which top designers frequently use to convey style and refinement.

2. You need not worry about your traditionally decorated room being stuck in the “dark” ages. Consider adding a contemporary touch by using rich jewel tones, such as sapphire, teal, turquoise, amethyst, or emerald. These can add a brighter tone that lightens the room while retaining an elegant mood.

3. Remember, classic colors and styles don’t mean you need to reject any hint of the trendy. Add splashes of trendy colors in the form of accessories. This strategy allows you to have the traditional overall feel you want while giving you the opportunity to regularly switch out pieces that find their way onto the “out” list.

4. Consider using local history to guide your traditional color choices. If you live in the Southwest, for example, choose colors that convey the area’s past, such as shades of green, orange, and yellow. Dashes of turquoise are also a great way to add a color that’s classic for that part of the country. The next time you drive around town, take a look at the area’s historic homes to find color schemes that inspire you.

5. If you find comfort in traditional colors and décor, don’t limit that feel to formal areas like living rooms or dining rooms. It’s easy to evoke a classic mood in a bedroom or bathroom. For example, combine refined colors with a four-poster bed and detailed wood bureaus to create the kind of bedroom you’ll love to spend time in.

Fashion that classic feel you love so much right in your own home. By choosing traditional colors and the right accessories, you can evoke the elegance of eras past.

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Accent walls – some of us love ‘em for the chance to add that bold color we adore so much but know would be too much on all four walls. Others just want to run the minute they spot an obviously contrived accent wall. Yet regardless of our stance, an accent wall can be aContinue Reading

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When it comes to color, paradoxically enough, there’s nothing more striking and dramatic than black and white in a room. How could it not be when the basic facts stand - white reflects light and dark absorbs it?

source: istockphoto

Not only can a simple black and white color scheme appear ‘orderly’ but the simplicity of it can also provide a much-needed sense of calm in today’s fast-paced world. Black and white interiors can also lend, not simply a ‘clean’ look to a room, but also some added sophistication and elegance – which means it looks great in retro apartments in particular. The color scheme can also provide a ‘playful’ and edgy look to a room, such as a black, white and grey bathroom with the bold fuchsia cabinets that enhance the dramatic look

Add in a few bright cushions and vases/picture frames and you have a whole new startling and rather dynamic look (and, in fact, any bright color would work well here). That’s because it draws the eye to focus on the spot of color.

source: istockphoto

If you’re looking for warmth in the room then consider adding red or yellow. If your preference is for drama then its purple or electric blue you should be looking out for.

Designers famous for their love of black and white included the fashion queens Coco Chanel and Mary Quant. Meanwhile homeowners who want to stick with mainly black and white will want to give some thought as to how they plan to use the scheme overall before buying new furnishings.

It’s a good idea, for instance, for those who are not a fan of the overly-dramatic or dynamic themes, to have more white than black. That’s because painting the walls white allows more light to come in and gives the room a far more airy feel.

source: istockphoto

Then again, of course, there are those who prefer that ‘life on the darker side’ touch; black can look particularly stunning and inspiring, especially when the finish is glossy.

Try and avoid putting too many dark pieces together as this could make the room look a little on the oppressive side. Instead just tone in with the odd piece of dark furniture. And don’t forget about black and white pattern. It is a great way to add this scheme to any room and can lend a feminine or historical appeal to your décor.

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Have you ever stared blankly at the hundreds of paint colors in the store display? Maybe you’ve paged through a design book that featured colors with odd names like oxblood or cerulean? Picking color doesn’t always seem so simple. But, in reality you don’t need to have an eye for design to create a color palette you’ll love to live in.

Here are three places you can look to today for color inspiration:

Go au natural
Never has there been a more inspired artist than Mother Nature. When you need to spur that decorating spirit, imagine the natural places where you love to spend time. Do you love to listen to the ocean as the surf tickles your toes? Then a green or blue scheme accented with a sandy neutral is an inspired choice.

Don’t forget to look outside your own window, either. Whether serene green lawns or yummy veggie gardens surround your home, you’ll find color schemes that stimulate your mind, soul, and even your senses.

Go glossy
That’s right. The checkout counter is home to dozens of magazines. Home and garden magazines are the ideal place to start and will feature inspiring color schemes that use combinations that range from classic to chic. But don’t limit yourself to home-related publications. Pick up a fashion or celebrity magazine to find a creative spark in everything from advertisements to clothing layouts.

Go with what you love
One of the easiest places to look for inspiration is in the things you love. Did your much-adored aunt give you the antique vase her husband purchased overseas? Does your 2-year-old’s crayon-and-marker interpretation of the cat make you smile each and every time you look at it? Take the colors you see in those contentment-inducing objects and incorporate them into your living space.

Of course, these aren’t the only places to find inspiration, but they will take you on the first step toward your journey in finding the perfect color that will create your perfect room.

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Do you suffer from too much pressure, stress and never being able to unwind properly? If the answer’s yes then perhaps it’s time to alter the color scheme in your home to something a little more tranquil and relaxing.

Color therapists have known for decades that color affects mood and provokes physiological reactions. Being surrounded by a peaceful, calming color therefore could certainly make you feel that life is more under control and you are a little more serene.

For this reason alone, blue or lavender is often found in bedrooms and bathrooms. It’s also a good tone to have in an office, as it’s believed cool colors make us more productive. In fact, it’s a color which tends to be favoured by quiet, intellectual and reserved people and is thought to be one of the easiest colors to live with.

Light blue should be blended with medium and darker shades to provide balance in a room of blue hues but the predominant color should be light rather than dark blue. Brighter blues could be added with cushions, watercolor prints and vases.

Other ways to create more peaceful surroundings in your home include:

Decorating in predominately light, cool colors such as light blue, aqua, and lavender or light neutrals and use warmer colors more sparingly.

A child’s bedroom with its walls and drapes in aqua has a light, airy feel. The buttery yellow, white together with light carpet keep the feeling upbeat and youthful.

Downplay pattern and texture on fabrics, floors and wall coverings.

The pattern in this room is on the accessories rather than main pieces. Even then the subtler patterns are made up of lighter shades of blue and tan. This addition of patterns adds a bit of vigour to the room without being too energetic. It is a nice touch when placed against the more muted and neutral shades of light blue and cream.

Keep contrast to a minimum

The light brown and aqua drape and pillows in this contemporary living room provide a contrast which isn’t too overwhelming. Since the patterns use two colors that are in subtle contrast to one another and each are light shades of their respective colors the room feels both fresh and calming.

Using light pastel blue, aqua or even green with neutrals or other colors that are does not create high contrast but will create a space that feels calming, relaxed and serene overall.

A monochromatic color scheme is often used to create a tranquil retreat.

How restful does this bedroom look with its soothing blue shades in a monochromatic palette?

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