Color Recipes©

Mardi Gras!

2012-02-21T04:15:00.000-08:00

The colors of Mardi Gras!

Choosing Color is not always so Black & White

2012-02-19T18:50:00.001-08:00

Black and Whites - awesome cookies!

Color placement can be confusing. If you have a room that has an irregular shaped ceiling, will you know which part of the wall is the ceiling and which is the wall? Choosing color is not always so black and white, there's really a lot to consider.

Looking at this room, you see they've painted the “ceiling” white. Doing so, gave this room a very irregular and odd shape. Would you want to have a ceiling in this room or would you want to paint it all one color? My thoughts? Paint it all one color.

Right now the room looks very choppy. White chair rail, beige walls, white window and choppy white ceiling. If you paint this room all one color the focus will now be on the window and chair rail instead of the awkwardly shaped ceiling. The focus would NOT be on the odd ceiling but be more focused on the beautiful color.

So you see, color placement is not just to highlight and make the room look beautiful but it is also to camouflage the “not so pretty” features of the room.

I could just see this room in a real soft blue - like Tradewind by Sherwin Williams - even on the ceiling.

Would you like a Color Recipe for your home?

Contact me,

Donna Frasca

Color Specialist in Charlotte

Spring Color Trends for 2012, they're Fruit Loopy!

2012-02-10T05:55:00.000-08:00

Fruit Loops® ~ a classic cereal that's been on our breakfast table for many, many years. Good things last, just like classic color schemes. Come see how you can enjoy these fruity, classic colors in your home this spring.

Now here is where color trends get a bit tricky. These are the spring color trends for 2012 which are focused on fashion and home decor.

These colors are beautiful but if I said it once I've said it a thousand times, the fashion colors of spring 2012 probably will not translate well into color choices for our home.

Look at Tangerine Tango. It's a great Pantone color but people are using in it very sparingly as accents or in an occasion pillow.

The colors that are coming out this spring are pretty, refreshing, peppy, happy and any other adjective you have to describe them but my job is to get color into our homes - all of the home, not just in accents.

So what are these colors? Well, they can be similar to the spring color trends but I'd tone them down just a bit so they're not so much like the contents of an Easter Basket.

These are the colors that I would suggest. You still have your yellow and blues, green and peaches but they seem to be a bit more “mature” and not so “Fruit Loopy”. See what I'm saying. This is one reason I'm not a fan of color trends because it makes my job as a Color Specialist in Charlotte a little challenging.

Clients may love the new and trendy colors but they will not look good in your home - unless you need to decorate a young girls room or nursery.

Don't get me wrong, I love ALL color but when it comes to putting color in your home, trendy I'm not. I will choose for you, the colors that your home needs not what is running through cyber space.

Aren't these pretty? They are still very spring-like but certainly Donna Frasca approved!

Color Trends for spring 2012 and 2013 that I would suggest.
designed by Donna Frasca

Need color for you home? Live in Charlotte? Contact me to help you update your home in color but not get too trendy. It'a all about how to combine classic colors with a bit of the trends.

What's the best Super Bowl Snack?

2012-02-05T09:32:00.000-08:00

Anything with avocados!

And you guessed it, green is also one of the best color choices for your home. Green is versatile, warm (go with the yellow undertones) and goes with so many colors that are already in your home.

The three paint colors that I have here are beautiful together and the last one is actually a very, very dark green, not black.

Going back to the best snacks for super bowl, where would you put these colors? You guessed it, in the Man Cave! That was a little obvious though wasn't it?

If I were painting my home, I'd consider these colors for the master bedroom. Green, as you know, is a very relaxing and calming color which makes it the perfect color choice for a bedroom.

Now what paint brand would I use? This is where it gets complicated. There are several paint companies with various levels of quality and pricing, like anything else.

For my home, I'd want the best paint in a reasonable price range. Of course we know that Benjamin Moore Aura is probably the best paint you can buy - and this is stated in this month Consumer Reports on their Paint Buying Guide depending on the sheen you want. I'd want to paint once, in a great color of course, and be confident that my color won't fade over the few years.

Behr is also rated very highly. I happen to have Behr paint in my home and love it. The only reason I want to repaint after only 5 years is because I want to change out the color - after all, I'm a Color and Paint Specialist so I get inspired to try out the latest color trends in my own home.

So I'm sorry I can't really help you with you super bowl snacks but I can help you with color for your home. I specialize in just color - for large homes that have open floor plans. Live in South Charlotte? You're in luck, that's my color stomping grounds.

I have many clients in Marvin, Wesley Chapel, Ballantye and Waxhaw. Ask your neighbors - I may have visited them or you can just contact me here at DecoratingbyDonna@mac.com

Enjoy the game, your snacks and of course … your color!

Comfort Food, Comfort Colors

2012-02-01T11:31:00.000-08:00

A warm, steaming cup of coffee, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, chicken soup, these are all foods that are very comforting - they make us feel good! That's what we want in our homes, color that makes us feel good. What are those “feel good” colors? Grab your coffee, sit down and come with me. We are about to embark on a delicious and colorful journey.

Other than the obvious beautiful colors that Behr paint has, the names are just too delicious to pass up. So, if you're going to paint your home anytime soon and you're not sure what paint colors to use, I'd like to suggest just a few.

I came across this photo while surfing and noticed that it was a very safe color scheme. I see what they did though, they pulled a color from the bedding which normally is a good idea but - when you're bedding is just back, white and gray, it doesn't leave you with to many options.

Now to get that comforting feeling that I'm talking about, you'll need to warm up the color - a lot! I'd use Behr's Peanut Butter on the walls to add the warmth this room needs.

You can see the color is already in the artwork that was chosen so you know this homeowner already likes the color. How fun is it knowing you have “Peanut Butter” on your walls?

Another great thing about this hue is that you can can change your decor around and most colors will coordinate with it. It's very universal!

Well, the only comforting thing can say about this dining room is that it's not red! Aren't you tired of seeing red dining rooms all the time? I know I am - it's just so typical. But if you like red, think very, very light and perhaps this “pink” will work for you instead.

Melted Ice Cream is a unique color that will look amazing if you have dark, cherry wood or even a mahogany. Add brushed nickel accents to this room and it'll be stunning! Your new dining room will be a great place to enjoy your “Melted Ice Cream” by Behr.

Man caves, media rooms and basement playrooms are typically very dark colors. Let's make them cozy by keeping it dark but choose a color that's a bit on the trendy side but still very cool.

I going to assume that this is either a guest room or a young girls room. I'd cozy it up for sure with Candied Yam. Can you see the colors in the pillow? Just pulling it from there to make this room warm and inviting.

Another great thing about substanial color like Candied Yam is that in this case, color is the only decor you need. Keep the room very simple, neat and streamline. Beautiful.

So you see, choosing the right color for your home will make all the difference in the world! I choose color specifically for the homes in South Charlotte. If you live in Marvin, Waxhaw, Weddington or Wesley Chapel, I can comfort you in knowing that together, we'd choose the RIGHT colors for your home.

Contact me to schedule a color consultation Monday - Sunday but only 10am-1pm

Winter Edible Whites

2012-01-26T05:25:00.000-08:00

Photo of cake by Mowie Kay

Benjamin Moore whites

Warm white …

credit

Cool white …

credit

Soft White …

Super white …

credit

Gray white …

credit

The list goes on and on about white.

From whites that are so white they look blue to the super soft, creamy whites.

Which white are you?

Who Doesn't Love Mac & Cheese?

2012-01-23T12:58:00.000-08:00

Now you can love it on your walls at Target.

Lettuce Embrace Color!

2012-01-17T12:23:00.000-08:00

From healthy food choices to choosing the

RIGHT colors for your home, you can find it all here!

You've found a unique color combination that you absolutely love, but how are you going to get these colors in your home?

There's somewhat of a recipe or formula that I follow and for the most part, it works but like design, everything is customized to your home and it may not work. For the most part, this is what I do.

Foyers:

The homes in South Charlotte are large and usually have two story, open floor plan foyers. You have to be really careful choosing color here because the color will be seen in BOTH the top and bottom part of your home which means, the colors in the rest of your home should coordinate with the foyer. Having said that, a neutral is always a good choice here - but - it doesn't have to be!

I've blogged oodles of times about foyers but it doesn't hurt to be redundant as long as you know that you should try to choose a neutral here and keep the exciting colors for the rest of the home.

Once you choose your foyer color, the rest of the home is based off that hue. Remember to keep your undertones in the same family.

Here's a sample of a color palette where the foyer starts off light, soft and very neutral. The rest of the home follows.

Here the foyer color has a little more pigment therefor the rest of the surrounding rooms can be stronger as well.

What if you want you foyer to have a little more color to it? Instead of being neutral, have a color lead the palette for the rest of your home.

So embrace your color - but make sure it's the RIGHT color!

Tangerine Tango and What?

2012-01-12T14:54:00.000-08:00

Yes this is an unusual color combination but that's ok - when everyone else will be choosing the typical blues or greens with Tangerine Tango - you won't!

Tangerine Tango is a great color but I'm finding that people are reluctant to bring it into their home - after all - it's a very bright color!

So what exactly can you do with this very popular hue? Here are some suggestions from the Color Story paint deck of Benjamin Moore.

Go for the gold!

Colors of Crate & Barrel

Keep furniture in mind when you're trying to bring color into your home. Here's great leather sofa that has the deep red color of Bewitched - a strong spellbinding color.

Color of Thomasville Furniture

So you see, even though Tangerine Tango may be a bit 'out there' as far as color for our home, we certain can make it doable and bring other colors in with it.

I'm so happy to now see these stronger, saturated colors coming in. Coastal colors have been popular for so long now here in South Charlotte and it's just nice to see people taking a stance in color. Don't be afraid of color … embrace it!

Donna Frasca

Benjamin Moore Color Expert

(loving the new Color Story collection)

From Tangerine Tango to Kiwi Fruit

2012-01-04T06:49:00.000-08:00

By now you should see the Color Trend for 2012, Tangerine Tango popping up in posts, stores and all over cyber space. What if you don't like Tangerine Tango or any orange hue for that matter? How can you keep your home trendy without it looking like circus colors or too childlike?

Here is a perfect example of how you can get the colors you love in your home, lets say the green and brown and still have a splash of trendy fun with orange.

Crate & Barrel

Use green and purple in throw pillows.

If you really love Tangerine Tango be daring and use in it in your sofa color.

Be careful though, the sofa will outlast the color trend!

Brown will always be a core color to have in your home. When choosing a color for your bedding, I'd stick to a mainstream color such as a brown, gray, beige - some type of neutral - and then add a pop of trend with your pillows.

Still too afraid of bright bold color?

Candles!!!!!

Interesting … Crate & Barrel had all these amazing colors before Tangerine Tango was announced by Pantone. If you read the blog post I wrote on Crate & Barrel (see link below) you'll see gorgeous color that can be used in our home and quite frankly, I wouldn't mind wearing those colors either. Hint, Hint, Pantone - keep a close eye on Crate & Barrel.

All these accessories can be found in Crate & Barrel.

Color Specialist in Charlotte,

I can help you get this colors in your home.

The Colors of Salty and Sweet

2011-12-19T13:07:00.000-08:00

Start with the chocolate of your choice, add a drizzle of vegetable oil and microwave for about 2 minutes then mix until smooth.

Line cookie sheet with wax paper. I used foil because I didn't have any wax paper but be careful foil doesn't stick to the chocolate.

Dip and drizzle on anything that's not moving.

Refrigerate for about 15 minutes.

And enjoy!

Not only is salty and sweet one of thee most amazing

flavors combined but they also make a beautiful color duo.

If you like this Color Recipes,

contact me and we can have this amazing snack in your home!

Donna Frasca, A color specialist in Charlotte.

Talking About Texture

2011-12-13T05:33:00.000-08:00

Interior Design is so much more than just color - it's also about texture.

Feel texture in the kitchen with this braided place mat. Don't want to use it as a place mat? You can also buy several and use them as wall hangings. Anything can be art, you just have to use your imagination.

Keep your piggies happy with a lot of texture from this Sheepskin rug. Wool not only looks amazing but it's also soil repellent and durable which is why it's a great choice for a rug. Invest in wool when you can.

This acrylic, wool and poly blend is super soft - in any color.

And last but not least, a little visual texture for the eyes.

It looks like an alien but would be a perfect fit for a teens room.

Home decor from IKEA

Donna Frasca

Color Expert catering

to the homes in South Charlotte

How Do You Feel About Stripes?

2011-12-05T08:29:00.000-08:00

Do you like stripes? Would you put them in your home? On your walls? Bedding? Dishes? If you really love stripes you may consider them for your walls but sometimes stripes can be scary so keeping them “in line” and in small doses, will do the trick.

Stripes gone wrong. Do you want your home to look like a candy cane?

There are vertical stripes and then there are horizontal stripes. I think it's safe to say that when most of us think about stripes, we think of vertical stripes.

We all know that using vertical stripes elongates or lengthens a room so you really need to keep in mind all the other vertical elements before you add your stripes. Look at this hallway. I've circled a few of the vertical elements that contribute to making this area look really tall. The planking in the floor, the doorway and the wallpaper - everything is just a little to stripy.

Apartment Therapy

I can see that the whole room is not all stripes (look in the mirror) so having stripes on just one wall MAY be ok but clearly, this look is just not working. Don't you think it's a bit too much? I'd love for the stripes to be on the back burner and highlight that chair. Right now when I look at this room, my eyes go from the wallpaper to the chair to the dresser and back again. With a mellow stripe and overall less “accessories” this would be one smacking room.

I may have used a softer color and a much wider pattern in this room such as the paper I've shown here. In this case, less is more with the stripes.

Throw pillows are always a great way to introduce a design element in our rooms if we're not to sure of it. Be it a strong color or an usual pattern, use accents to ease into your design. Really love these Crate & Barrel pillows.

Crate & Barrel

You can also test out your stripes in the kitchen with dishes and tableware. These cups come in a variety of colors so pick the color that matches your kitchen and enjoy the stripes.

DESIGN TIP:

Have a bright green kitchen like this mug? Paint some white stripes here and there on one accent wall to give your room a very contemporary look - and it'll match your mugs!

Kitchen wall.

If you need help with stripes in your home, in large doses or just a little, contact me for help. You really can have a lot of fun with stripes but don't get carried away!

Helpful article on wallpaper you'll want to read:
Secrets to Hanging and Removing

Purple: The color that's good for you!

2011-11-18T05:52:00.000-08:00

Purple continues to be a popular color choice for the home. It's not the “Prince Purple” from the 80's but deep rich, delicious variation of the grape.

It's good in wine and on our walls …

Give these Benjamin Moore colors a try!

Grapes as we know are an antioxidant. So why shouldn't we bring this hue into our home as a reminder to keep our choices healthy - even our color choices!

Houzz

I like this color in a dining room but you really have to watch that the color of your table doesn't clash. I would like to see a darker, wood for here. Also, with color that makes this much of a statement, keep your artwork minimal.

credit

COLOR TIP: Not sure which purple to choose for your room? Buy a bed set, pillow or drapery that you like and take the purple directly from there. Doing this will ensure a perfect match - the fabric chose the color for you!

The Best Benjamin Moore Yellows

2011-11-12T09:16:00.000-08:00

I know you're out there. You just LOVE yellow and can't get enough of it. You have yellow shirts, shoes, hats and you probably even have a yellow car. But, do you have yellow in your home?

Besides having yellow dishes or pillows, do you have yellow anywhere else in your home? On the walls? Probably not because it's one thing to choose the wrong yellow hat - you can always take it off - but if you choose the wrong yellow paint for your home, well, you're going to be stuck with it for a while.

Many times when people say they want yellow in their home, they really don't want lemon yellow but still want a very warm hue that will liven and brighten a room.

Today I'm going to mention a few Benjamin Moore yellows that I've used before on color consultations. It should help you get into the right ballpark of “yellows” to think about.

I think Barley in the most popular “yellow” I've used. It's my go to hue for when clients say they want a yellow but they don't want it to scream.

Montgomery White is really not a yellow at all but has enough yellow in to to make it more than just a neutral. It also is a great foyer color for the homes in South Charlotte. Remember that lighting plays a HUGE roll in how a yellow hue will look. Keep that in mind.

And in the case where the client says yellow but really means gold, this is a great one to use.

So I hope you can use some of these yellows in your home. If you're still afraid these yellows won't look good in your home, contact me to help you choose the right color - sorry - but you'll have to be in Charlotte!

I Want Color To PoP (Tart)!

2011-10-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've heard people say, “I want a color that pops!” and I'm sure you've said it a thousand times yourself. I know I have. So what exactly happens when color “pops”? Let's talk.

Color that pops is just referring to a visual and not a sound of course. Pop is just when you can see a high contrast between two colors and this can be seen in my Peppermint Patty post on dark brown and white.

Looking at the Pop Tart, the prop of choice today, you can see some neutral tans and a navy. So where's the pop? The pop comes in when you add white. See the high contrast? It's almost like looking at black and white.

So how do you work these contrasting colors in your home? Easy! If you're working with a dark color such as the red seen in this picture, make sure you have a bright white ceiling, white columns, trim or chair rail and there you'll get your “pop” of color.

Now this is a nice example. Here you have a black wall next to white which of course will pop but look at the bright green door? Is that a dark color? No. So here you have it - not only will dark colors pop with white but bright bold colors will also.

Hope you enjoyed a little information on color that pops. If you need help with your popping colors, I'd be happy to help. Donna Frasca, Color Specialist in Charlotte.

How To Work With Bright Color

2011-10-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

How do I use bright color?

I was looking at this picture and was wondering how to incorporate these peppers into a color scheme for the home.

If you have a strong color you love by all means use it but just as accessories to start. I was thinking if it were used as wall color, it may be a bit too much. Here's what I've found in the very colorful Crate & Barrel store:

Like strong color?

Try it on bedding and sleep on it. You can decide in the morning if you like it.

For a small splash of color, small accessories are perfect for big color choices.

Getting a little more daring with a curtain of color!

Subtle bits of color really soaks up the look!

Look at all this fabulous color I found in about 5 seconds flat! That's the thing I love about Crate & Barrel. You can find amazing color without getting gaudy or tacky. Sometimes it's hard to combine the two.

Now getting back to bright color. We may love the color but sometimes, even for me, the color may be just too bright. So when you find a color you love, where is the best place to put it? Will you tire of it in the bedroom? Can a color this bright be relaxing enough for a bedroom?

I'm not sure if I'd put a hue this bright in a bedroom - at least not for a main wall color. However, look how nice it is just on the bedding and even in the rug. I suppose if you're a teen girl this would be perfect but for the most part, a more subdued color would be best.

So to recap, if you like a really bold color and you're not sure where to put it, take it in baby steps, one step at a time and in small doses until you feel comfortable with it.

Chocolate Lovers' Series: Peppermint Patty

2011-10-05T11:33:00.000-07:00

Black and white. Opposites. Dramatic. Classic. Sharp. Striking. Beautiful and any other word you can describe these two colors that can be seen in the Peppermint Patty.

Actually, it's not exactly black but a very dark brown, almost black which is just as striking. So today, I'm talking high contrast color.

credit

How perfect is this bedding to capture the Peppermint Patty look?

This color scheme is beautiful for bedding but would you put such a dark hue on your wall? Black/brown is trending well as main wall color somewhere I'm sure - I personally prefer to use it in accessories instead of wall color or

… with furniture …

… with fabric …

Schumacher

… with texture …

… and art …

Fine Art America

and of course, great color …

Like these Sherwin Williams colors? Try

Andrion and Incredible White

Chocolate Lovers' Series: Peanut Butter Cups

2011-09-27T08:25:00.000-07:00

As this series continues, I'll show you how you can combine beautiful color with brown. Many people don't like brown but if it's combined with the right color and used in an innovative way, brown can be a very likable hue.

Now who doesn't like peanut butter cups? I must confess, I did go through a few of these “props” until I got the perfect shot. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! Not only are these peanut butter cups incredibly delicious but look how beautiful these two colors are!

How would you use this brown in your home? Wall color? Flooring? Accessories? Well yes to all that but today, I'd like to use it to represent furniture and I'll show you how to get the look in your dining room.

I'm not so concerned with the style of this china cabinet because everyone will like something different but rather to pinpoint the exact wood stain to achieve the look.

This is a deep, orangey brown wood with both high and lowlights in it. If you look at the post on Mint Chocolate Chip, you'll notice that brown is so dark it's almost black. This piece has more life with the gold undertones and you can do so much with it.

To bring in the very rich “peanut butter gold”, I would suggest using cork to incorporate this color in your flooring. Here is an example of a cork (this is the one I have in my house) that captures the right amount of gold without overtaking your room with a strong hue.

Like these Sherwin Williams colors? Try

Cajun Red and Gold Coast

Chocolate Lovers' Series: Mint Chocolate Chip

2011-09-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

Mint Chocolate Chip is one of my favorite flavors of ice cream and I do believe that its color plays a large roll in the love.

Over the years I'm sure you've seen tons of brown and green combinations right? Well I'm going to tweak that look a bit and show you a more “minty” version of that.

The chocolate brown in this Color Recipe is very dark, almost black. It's a very rich, very strong color so be careful how you incorporate this dark hue into your home. Here's how I'd use it:

A dark brown background will look great in any color scheme. This BR111 solid wood flooring would be the perfect flooring to contrast the minty green.

If you're hesitant to put a mint green on your wall, try it in a fabric first. This tropical Kravet fabric would look beautiful in drapery, seating or even in some accent pillows. You call always go back and add an accent wall to coordinate the look.

Like these Sherwin Williams colors? Try

Well Bred Brown & Kiwi

Miss a post? Catch up here. It's going to be a long series!

Introduction to Chocolate Lovers Series

Chocolate Lovers' Series: Introduction

2011-09-13T14:50:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love chocolate and color? I'm about to show you a very seductive way to get color into your home and chocolate is going to be the main ingredient.

We are about to embark on a delicious journey into color. This is the start of my Chocolate Lovers Series which will include postings on color of course but also how a very specific color can be the “bitter sweet” ingredient to beautify your home. What color am I talking about? It's brown of course!

When we think of chocolate, the color that first comes to mind is brown. Brown is the perfect foundation to start any color scheme for your home and it's not necessarily a paint color I'm referring to. You can start with a brown carpet, dark, rich wood flooring, a deep brown field tile or even accessories in your home. But, it's how you use OTHER colors in conjunction with brown that will make this “feel good” color surprise you.

So get those serotonin levels pumping because if your not excited about brown now, you certainly will be by the time this series is complete.

Chocolate Chip Mint Color
Peanut Butter Cup Color
Peppermint Patty Color

* this series will be featuring the colors of Sherwin Williams. All the colors that will be mentioned here will have a name and number so you can easily get the look for your home. Any questions, just let me know here on this blog and I'll love to help you out.

Are you Afraid of Orange?

2011-09-07T06:48:00.000-07:00

Photo by Taylor Mathis (not including color chips)

Orange is so bright. I wouldn't know how to use it.

What room will orange look good in?

What is the best orange to use?

Is orange a popular color?

Should I use orange on all walls or just as an accent color?

What rhymes with orange?

Minus the last question, these are all legitimate questions and concerns when it comes to orange. It's a tough color to use and a lot of people are not sure how.

I always say,

“If you're hesitant about a color, start off by using it just as an accessory in your home then work up to an accent wall and it you are crazy about it, use it as your main wall color. Baby steps are key when it comes to exploring a new color in your home.”

Where can you use orange in your home?

Wherever you want to of course! As with any color though, there are a few things you need to think about before you choose any color for your home. For instance:

Exposure … Orange is a bright, warm hue. Be careful when putting orange in a room that already has a lot of sunlight. It will glow. A low lit or Northern exposure room may be just right for it.

Energy … and orange has lots of it! Perhaps it would be a good choice in a child's room, playroom or even a kids bathroom.

Kitchen … It may be a bit too much first thing in the morning if you have it in the kitchen. Be especially careful if you have the dreaded “orange kitchen cabinets.” There will certainly be orange overload in this case.

I would NOT use orange if you have these cabinets.

Credit
Orange will look great with contrasting cabinetry.

Here's how to use orange in the rest of your home.

Using the juicy Clementines as inspiration for your home, I would use the lightest tint of orange for your main foyer area. This way, you can put a pop of color in your dining room and you would have a great contrast.

I would certainly keep the bright color on the bottom of the chair rail and bring in more accents as seen in this Schumacher fabric for the drapery and seat coverings. That would be a very striking room!

Orange you glad you know about orange now?

Can You Have Too Much Blue in Your Room?

2011-09-01T06:05:00.000-07:00

Photo of cake by Martha Stewart.com

If you really, really love blue, the question is, “Can you have too much blue in your home?” Probably. Even though there are millions of blue hue's out there, do you really need to have all of them in your home? You can if you wan to, it's your home after all but here's a few suggestions on how to break it up - just a bit.

Blue has been a very popular color since 2009. It really started out in 2007 here in Charlotte as purple but evolved into the softer spa like blues of the coast.

Let me detail how you can incorporate blue

into the main part of your home - the living room.

Using that delicious cake as a delectable inspiration, the main focus will be blue but I'll certainly change it up by adding light blue (B) as the main wall color, gray blue (A) as an accent for the recessed area's and navy (C) and the secondary accent color on the columns to give the rooms some division.

I would most certainly use a neutral color for the foyer entrance, lower hallways and upstairs halls. Can you picture how striking this will look as a backdrop to that navy? You do have the option to add this neutral to the mantle to soften the look a bit.

Schumacher

I'd love to see a stronger color in the center of the room with just a hint of gold in the fabric. You can also see green in the fabric. That will tie in the green that should be in the area rug.

So when you're using blue in your home, make sure you use a variation of the color you love. Just like you see in the cakes from light blue to navy and even incorporate the other colors in the photo. It all adds up to one delicious color palette.

Contact me, Donna Frasca, a Color Consultant in South Charlotte, to schedule an appointment with you if you'd like to see these blue hue's in your home.

Ripe Color

2011-08-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

Color inspiration doesn't have to look beautiful it just has to have great color or at least color you like. For instance, look at this ripe banana. Is it a gorgeous photograph? No, not really but hey, photography is not my forte but color certainly is. Here's what you can do with “Ripe Banana”.

From the not so ripe part of the banana which is a bit on the green side to the very ripe, rich brown you see for the media room, this potassium filled color scheme is enough hue for your entire home! That is a wide range of colors!

Since choosing color for homes with open floor plans is my specialty as Color Specialist, I almost always use the lightest color for the foyer, halls, ceilings or trim.

I love to use warm colors in the kitchen such as golds, yellows or very warm greens. Since we all spend so much time in the kitchen, it's just a nice choice to have a color that will be gentle to the homeowner first thing in the morning.

In most cases, the living room is right next to the kitchen so make sure these two hues “play well” with each other.

You can get a bit more dramatic in the dining room so go darker! Keep in mind that many dining rooms have white or cream crown molding, white ceiling and maybe perhaps a white chair rail so dark and dramatic in this room is good - it you like that look.

Last but not least - the media room or man cave. I say, the darker the better here! Make it movie theater dark with dramatic hues.

The red that I highlighted here is actually from the apple. In this case, you can use this red as an accent color with ANY of these ripe colors. Do you know how many color combinations you can make here? Dozens upon dozens!!! How fun is this?

Choosing color for your home this way is perfect for the home that has an open floor plan. When you have one theme or inspiration piece, it ensures that ALL the colors will look great together no matter what combination you use.

Some designers will use various subject matters for inspiration such this design board. Here you see various objects from glasses to horses to sharks. Although the colors that Color Solutions International has pulled for this board are beautiful, one can possibly get confused if they were to choose color this way for their home. Keep in mind, CSI is in the fashion industry and color selection is different from fashion to home so the colors you wear may not be the colors you want in your home.

credit

Having said that, if you are choosing color for your home, consider using ONE theme such as a ripe banana or your favorite meal, dessert or even a cocktail. If you are still reluctant to choose color this way, please contact me at DecoratingbyDonna@mac.com and I'd love to choose the perfect Color Recipe for you!

Color Trends for 2012 • Back to Basics

2011-08-07T05:30:00.000-07:00

It's color I can live with.

How about you?

Fine Dining, Fine Color

2011-08-01T06:19:00.000-07:00

The finest wines, the best cuts of meat and the freshest seafood. Who wouldn't love that? Just about everyone I know enjoys the fine dining experience.

What is it that we love about fine dining? The flavor? The ambiance? The aroma?

The answer is yes to all those questions but there's one more detail that we probably don't realize when we dine - the colors. We eat with our eyes. If it doesn't look good, chances are we won't eat it.

When I look at these delicious presentations, I not only see a fabulous meal but I see color schemes. Rich color, dark wood stains, accent colors to bring out architectural features of a home, multi dimensional drapery to tie in the look and a color palette that will tie in the clients likes and the features of the home.

Delicious food means delicious color. Wouldn't you like to see “Apple Crisp” in your kitchen? Or perhaps a “Ruth Chris Filet” in your living room?

Incorporate rich, unique color schemes into your home - even the bathroom. These Rob Beecham bathrooms are cozy, rich and rooms you just want to spend hours in. Why? Because the towels are soft? No. Because the art is fantastic? Not so much. Why than? Because of the design and of course, the color.

You may or may not realize it but the color of a room has a huge impact on how we are going to feel in a particular room. Look at these bathrooms. The color scheme is cozy, spicy and luxurious.

This warm palette is comforting with it's yellow undertones and relaxing. Would you want to relax in this tub if the room was bright orange with yellow towels and bright blue window treatments? Not for long that's for sure.

So it's imperative to choose the RIGHT colors for your home. It's what turns a house into a home. With the millions of colors that are available to us how will you know which ones are right for you?

I'm Donna Frasca, a Color Specialist in South Charlotte. I specialize in color schemes that are highly customized to suit you and your home. Contact me to help you choose the finest color for your home.

Jiggly Red Color

2011-07-31T05:26:00.000-07:00

Jello is so much fun to eat - in any form! Next time you indulge in this wiggly treat, notice the levels of color that you can see in it. From lights to darks and everything in between! Let's see how you can juggle this jiggly color scheme in your home.

Now think where you'd like to put these hot hues. In your kitchen? Bedroom? Dining Room? You can really put this color scheme anywhere but there are few factors to consider before hand.

If you put reds in the kitchen, will you be happy with starting your day with these hot hues? If so, it could be one very dramatic kitchen. You can incorporate red in your wall color, backsplash, cabinets, accessories or just window treatments but don't forget to add some of those neutrals to tone things down a bit and you'll have one gorgeous kitchen! You decide how much red you're comfortable with.

credit

Want red in the bedroom?

Red in the bedroom is a VERY romantic choice. I think it's where I'd prefer to see this very hot hue. From bedding, pillows, wall color, lamps or wallpaper - you can really have fun in this room, with red.

credit

Want red in the dining room?

The dining room is probably the only room in the house where I WOULDN'T put red. It's just so dated already. For years now it seems clients think they want red in the dining room - until I show them a completely different color that's so much better!

But if you really want red in the dining room, here's a way to mix it up with a neutral and a deep, dark, cherry red. Delicious!

❝Whoa! Red! Red! I want red

That's what I said! That's what I said

Gimme red, red,'cause I want red

Some like it hot, I like it red.❞

Better Midler from the song RED

Banana Cream Pie

2011-07-25T05:20:00.000-07:00

Who doesn’t like a creamy dessert? If you like banana, this is the dessert for you! Not crazy about this potassium rich dessert? You can still enjoy it but without all those calories.

This soft and subtle Color Recipe would really look good in just about any room. From the kitchen to a formal dining room (couldn’t you just see this with beautiful black accents?)

How to get this look?

There’s no monkeying around with this recipe. Let’s put this delicious color in the dining room. Here' the color suggestions for “Banana Cream Pie”.

Paint Brand: Benjamin Moore

Lemonade 2024-60

Beacon Hill Damask HC-2

Spring Dust 2150-40

COLOR TIP: This color scheme would be perfect for a room that didn't get much natural light. It may be too much hue for those southern exposures.

I would love to see this gorgeous Schumacher fabric on the chairs.

Turkey Dinner for Your Walls

2011-07-25T04:37:00.000-07:00

Pepperoni pizza, black cherry pound cake, Parmesan baked salmon, artichoke hearts – hungry? Don’t pick up a fork just yet because; food has now become an inspiration for designer paint schemes in your home.

We all like food and I think most of us like color. Now there’s a way to combine food and color to completely transform your home. It’s called – Color Recipes. Roasted turkey and stuffing, creamy mashed potatoes, green beans and cranberry sauce. Sound like dinner? Think again. You’re not only looking at a delicious dinner but at a very beautiful color scheme that will look great in any room.

A recipe by definition, as we know it, is “cooking instructions or directions.” A Recipe for Success is basically a means or way of achieving a formula for instant success. By combining both definitions, Color Recipes becomes a way to create a color formula for an instant color scheme.

As a Color Specialist and the owner of Decorating by Donna, I’m constantly scanning through magazines looking for new color schemes. While thumbing through various home décor magazines, I noticed how beautiful the photography was in the advertisements. Ads for soups, pasta dishes, salads, desserts, - just about anything you see in photographs, has amazing colors. Advertisers are trying to sell a product, so they have to make the photographs look their best – and they do! So good in fact, I took my paint fan deck and started pulling out the colors that were already seen in the photograph and voila! a perfect paint scheme just got “cooked” up. “It’s come to the point that whatever I look at - turns into a potential designer paint scheme for someone’s home. My office is full of magazines with color recipes just waiting to be cooked up for the homes here in Charlotte. It’s really a delicious way to work,” says Donna.

With this fun way of choosing a color scheme for your home, it’s not only affordable but it’s something the entire family can do together. How cool would it be to have a “turkey dinner” on your living room walls or a “hamburger with cheese” in the family room? Better yet, how about a “banana split” in the kids room and let them pick out the colors?

The ideal time to choose a color recipe is before you move into your home. It’s easier to paint in an empty house rather then one that is full of furniture and home accessories that will need to be moved around. For the homeowner that has been in the home for a while and just wants to update, in-home consultations are a great option. Here you will be able to choose a new color recipe that will incorporate your existing décor.

Donnas’ thoughts about color, “I can’t get over how many new homes have been built in South Charlotte. I see all these new houses with blank walls just waiting to get painted. And I want people to know that they can afford to beautify their home even when they are on a fixed budget. All you need is paint – but it has to be in the right colors.”

It's 5:00 somewhere!

2011-07-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

Martini's anyone?

One of my favorite cocktails … the Martini. I like them shaken or stirred, up or on the rocks. This classic cocktail also comes with a classic Color Recipe. The colors are a bit masculine and somewhat stately, earthy and even a little pretentious. Which ever way you look at these colors, they will be sure to relax you at the end of the day.

Where would I use the Martini Color Recipe?

I think these colors would look great in the bonus room turned “man cave”. Now this type of man cave is a bit different from the typical cave as we know it.

There are two types of man caves. The first which is the most elaborate is the “I spared no exspence” man cave which has ALL the bells and whistles you can think of. Then there is the second type of man cave which is “I got whatever room was left over in the house and I'm calling it the cave” room. Both caves deserve the best color possible!

This is not a glamorous man cave by any means but it can be with these colors - ok and maybe with some new window treatments and a really nice entertainment center. But either way, serve it up classy with the “Martini Color Recipe” and enjoy!

Monotone Doesn't Mean Bland

2011-07-06T05:26:00.000-07:00

When you think of monotone color, what comes to mind? You may be thinking “all the same color” or “boring” or even “uncreative”. Well think again because Monochromatic color is not as bland as you think it is.

Perogies are a staple in my house. It's one of my son's favorite dishes and since he's a vegetarian, it's served up often in a variety of ways. No matter what you put on the Perogie, it starts off as a variation of beige.

Choosing color for a room is so much like cooking. You start with a beige room but then add accent colors to bring out the rooms beauty. In cooking, you start off with a neutral perogie and add other ingredients to enhance the flavor and to make it look delicious.

Think of these tomatoes and possible accent colors for your room.

Here's how you can place this monochromatic color scheme in an entrance way.

When you have an entrance way that opens up to several rooms such at this one, you'll find that working with a palette such as this is very accommodating. The two darkest or most dominant colors here, the red and brown, are your accent colors.

Depending on the type of decor you have, the red can be seen in pillows, throws, an accent wall or area rug. Don't get too crazy with this hue, just tease your home with splashes of red just to break up the beige. Incorporate the brown with your furniture and flooring color.

Color For Your Cupcake

2011-07-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

This Color Recipe is screaming girls nursery!

I was never a big fan of the pinky pink, bubble gum nursery's. Don't get me wrong, I love pink but only a select few.

This is a great place for bubble gum color.

A few years ago I had the pleasure to design a nursery for a client who didn't have a budget for her project. She wanted the best of the best, and the most expensive materials. Everything was custom ordered and designed. Well, many hours and $10,000 later (some of the fabric as $325 a yard) a very classy nursery was designed and these were very similar to the colors she wanted. Are they a bit to mature for a baby girl's room - yes, I think so, but nevertheless, it was beautiful!

So here a the colors for a very classy baby girl.

This photo by Pottery Barn shows the wood stain that would look best in this room. If you can get a mahogany wood that would even be better.

Benjamin Moore has a great color selection starting from Georgia Pink 2092-60. Watch your undertones with these pinks - keep them warm and muted and baby soft.

Lemon Yellows to Pucker Your Home

2011-06-21T06:17:00.000-07:00

My cheeks are puckering just looking at these cookies from Women's Day Magazine. The monotone hues will have an all around warm, universal feeling.

Where to use this Color Recipe?

From light to dark, you can use this Color Recipe for a kitchen and living room. I think yellow and golds are a great place for the kitchen. It's a cheery color to see first thing in the morning and a great way to start your day!

A small kitchen is perfect for a monotone color scheme. The overall yellow hues will give it the feeling of one larger space instead of breaking it up with various colors. It'll work nicely especially with an open floor plan where one space flows into the other.

This living room should also have yellow in it but only as an accent. Too much yellow is just, well too much. Use the green that is shown in the cookie dish for the main color of this room and use that bold yellow for an accent on the mantle.

PAINTING TIP: You'll have to sand and prime the mantle then paint with an oil primer such as Kilz. The mantle should be painted in a semi gloss sheen,

In the perfect world I would get rid of the tile in the kitchen and the carpet in the living room. Changing the flooring to a bamboo or a light wood like I've shown above will really make this small home appear much larger - and prettier!

Beans Are More Than Just Good for Your Heart

2011-06-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

They make a great color scheme for your home too!

How unique are these colors? I just love them and I must say, it made a tasty lunch as well. Can't I ever just enjoy a meal without looking at it like a color scheme? No. So let's talk color.

This color scheme graduates from pale yellows to deep rich purples. Do you know what a broad spectrum of color that is? This particular Color Recipe is perfect for the person who wants to do something different with color for their home and won't be afraid to use it. Here's how I'd place these hues:

The foyer or entrance way would be the lightest color in the recipe which would be the beige color on the left. Since the room above is right off the foyer, the beige should be incorporated into this room so it relates to the foyer. Adding the darker red as an accent brings a little color punch to the otherwise hum drum beige.

Here's what you can do with the rest of the Color Recipe.

PAINTING TIP: You're going to need a tinted primer when working with dark colors. This will help reduce the coats of paint you'll need to get the color right. I've worked with dark reds before and used up to 5 coats of paint when I didn't use a tinted primer (back in the day). With a primer, 2 heavy coats will probably suffice if you're using a high quality paint.

WELCOME!

2011-06-11T13:21:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my first Color Recipe! Well not MY first but the first for this blog. Here I'll have many Color Recipes or culinary inspirations, for you to refer to if you need help choosing color for your home.

Below I'll talk a bit about the recipe and then suggest how to use it in your home. This is such a fun and easy way to choose color but warning, you may gain a few pounds if you follow this blog regularly. The pictures will be delicious and sure to make you hungry!

Photography from Mowie Kay

Cupcakes come in all colors but these cute little delectables are baked up in pastels. Pastels by the way, are the perfect Color Recipe consideration for girls ~ of all ages.

The great thing about choosing color this way is that you can mix and match these hues throughout the room, or home, and they'd all look great together. You just need to know where to place the colors for the best possible result.

Where would this Color Recipe look best?

As I mentioned before, these pastels would look best in a girls room. If you look at the color palette you'll see a nice, creamy beige. It's similar to Jersey Cream, which is a Sherwin Williams color. You can use Jersey Cream as your main wall color choice and any of the other colors as accents. That's a lot of color combinations to choose from!

Here's one that I like. I'd use Jersey Cream as the main wall color, Persimmon as the accent color where my headboard would be and I'd use the blue in accessories such as throw pillows, drapery and bedding. Adding a dose of blue to the palette just keeps the room from looking too “girly”.

Now, referring back to the Cupcake Color Recipe, do you see the two darker colors right below the photograph? That's where I'll be placing the accent colors. Accent colors will be the darkest hues in the palette and can be used to represent furniture, flooring or accessory choices.

The darker colors are usually just the “shadows” in the photo but still represent an important role in the Recipe. It's similar to writing an essay. You need a beginning, middle and end. Same goes for a Color Recipe, you need light colors, medium colors and dark colors to complete the “story”.

Keeping these key elements in mind are crucial when choosing color for your home this way. It's a great way to be innovative with color, use the colors you like because you'll have the photograph of your choice and now you have a guide as to how to place your colors.

If you need some advice or help with your Color Recipe, there are links on my main website that are available for you to schedule a color consultation. Meanwhile, bon appétit!