TRIED + TRUE TUESDAY - DOWN PIPE BY FARROW & BALL

I've never done a paint color for Tried + True Tuesday, but today I thought, why not? Paint is definitely a product we all buy and use and we need to know if it's a good product, right?! I picked one of my favorite go-tos, Farrow & Ball's Down Pipe.

Keep in mind that while buying the paint from Farrow & Ball is best, there are ways around it if you are on a budget (since their paint is a little pricey).

- Order a sample paint can from Farrow&Ball and have it matched at your favorite paint store.
- Get a swatch from F&B and take it to your favorite paint store who can likely match it from the swatch. Best part is that their swatch books are free! 

I have used Down Pipe for a number of projects.

1. CABINETS

bathroom cabinets painted in Down Pipe (for one of the flips)

Kitchen cabinets are stunning in Down Pipe.

2. EXTERIORS

Before on the left, and Down Pipe painted on the right
(one of my current projects - soon to be on the market)

Front Door in Down Pipe via Theshopwindow.org

via Dwell.com

3. INTERIOR ROOMS

Loving this treatment of Down Pipe - contrasted with fresh white painted stairs and flooring.

And as a wainscot color it's beautiful.

After looking at these pictures you see how different applications of the paint and lighting changes the color. In my experience, Down Pipe is a deep gray with a blueish undertone. And my favorite application is probably on exteriors, since exterior colors are so hard to find, and this color hasn't failed me yet.

Have you used Down Pipe in your home? Please share!

A VINTAGE FLUSHMOUNT + NEW FAV PAINT

I was at my favorite antique store in SLC (Thomson & Burrows for you locals) and saw this beautiful art-decoish flush mount made of wood and painted a beautiful gold color. I had to have it and whomever buys the N Street home is one lucky winner of this light because Jamie and I really want it for ourselves.

This light will be in the dining room of N Street in the coffered ceiling, somewhat like this photo from the House Beautiful kitchen of the year. (the blue color on this ceiling is a little too Las Vegas for me)

You get the idea. It's going to look really nice.

And we just finished painting N Street. I chose Benjamin Moore's Halo (one of the OC colors) and everyone loves it. It's a little green, and a little tan. It's a soothing color that is great for homes looking for a nice warm neutral. I'm going to add this to my list of favorites (with Revere Pewter, Intense White, Gray Owl, and 50 shades of white, of course).

And while we are talking paint colors. Have you checked out my BFF Darryl Carter's paint line with Benjamin Moore? It's AMAZING! I can't wait to use one of his colors on my next project.

I'm loving his Sheridan Gray.

And Grantham Blue

If you have a question about paint color and what to paint your room, don't hesitate to contact us! We love paint consultations!

WHAT'S UP - 10.1.12

This post was meant for Friday but that's the kind of week I've been having - I'm behind on everything! Sometimes I feel a little burned out and I don't want anything to do with work when I'm not working. But after my weekend of no blogs, design magazines, work, and (almost) no Pinterest I am excited to be back.

+ Last week Jamie and I worked on the N Street project quite a bit. We narrowed down our exterior paint colors for this historical home to two colors...

Benjamin Moore's Amherst Gray 

OR

Benjamin Moore Whale Gray

Exterior paint colors are tricky because when you are dealing with paint on this large of scale it is hard to imagine the paint on the whole house. It's way easier to work off of pictures so you can see what it looks like on a grand scale. I'll be picking up samples of the paint today and trying it on the house. ALWAYS paint samples!! That is a very expensive lesson I have definitely learned!

+ I've been looking for really cool black + white tile patterns for a client who is redoing their master bathroom. We have been inspired by these photos...

We are loving this tile from Ann Sacks (but don't love the price :)

This tile from Ann Sacks is also very fabulous.

This bathroom is so amazing and expensive (marble slabs on the walls!!) I love the floor!

+ Jamie has been searching for another client who is looking for rugs. I'm the biggest fan of Madeline Weinrib but she also found some other fantastic rugs that would look amazing in her home.

Madeline Weinrib

But I also love these beauties as well!

I could do a very long (Tolstoy long) blog post on rugs. But I would love to hear from you if you have a rug you recently bought and love. Especially if you got a great deal on it and it looks like you paid a lot more :) 

+  And it's this little girl's birthday in one week and I'm trying to throw together a game plan for her birthday party. Turning 4 is a big deal! 

You have to see this kitchen we bought for her birthday. I wanted the Pottery Barn one, but it wasn't a $700 want. I mostly wanted the PB one because it came in white. All of the other kitchens are so gender specific and we are hoping to one day have a boy and I don't want him to feel like he lives in a sea of pink. So, when I found this KidKraft all-wood turquoise kitchen it was an instant buy. 

Someone is going to have a very happy birthday!

Hope you all had a fantastic week.
And that's what's up!

THE BEST BLOG POST OF 2012

I stumbled upon the BEST blog post yesterday that I had to share. Here is a hint: 1) it involves this beautiful actor...

2) and gray paint colors...

And it's by interior decorator and HGTV star, Emily Henderson. CHECK IT OUT!

Let me know what you thought about the post.

This is why I loved it: I am always looking for the perfect gray paint and I agree/love her choices. Oh, and any excuse to look at Ryan Gosling is great.