FARROW & BALL'S NEW PAINT COLORS

I LOVE Farrow & Ball paint. I am so picky about paint colors. They make all the difference in a room. (I think I say that about almost everything, don't I?)

I get really excited when new colors from F&B and Benjamin Moore are released and this latest release from F&B did not disappoint. In fact, it was downright impressive.

Let's start with the dark and dramatic colors:

Okay, I LOVE Downpipe, so a slightly "bluer version" is going to be my new go-to navy blue color. I think it might even beat out my fav Ben Moore color, Hale Navy, that I used in this powder bathroom.

Wow. Such a pretty dark warm gray/putty color. This color would be amazing in an office, or a formal dining room, especially on wainscoted walls. I would love this as an exterior color as well. A pretty shingled home with white trim. Love!

I don't use color like this often, but I think this bright happy pink would be amazing in a girl's room (obviously). I wouldn't personally use it for any other room, although it would work for a formal living, family room, or dressing room.

And now for the light neutrals:

If you know me at all, you know that I am always on the look-out for the perfect white paint colors, and I know I'll be adding this one to the list. "The colour of fossils" describes this perfectly. What a great wall/trim color. Not too bright, not too dull.

Say no to beige and yes to Purbeck! This muddy perfection of a color is great for when a room calls for a beige-ish color but you don't want a brown with yellow in it. This is a cool brownish tone and I LOVE it. Super classy and architectural.

According to my monitor, this color doesn't look gray at all, but I'll take their word for it. I still love the color. Another great "white-ish" color for your walls or trim. I need to get a sample of this, but I will be adding it to my arsenal of fantastic neutrals.

RULE OF THUMB WHEN PICKING PAINT COLORS: Paint either a barely color/neutral or a saturated/dark color. 

I think paints tend to get tacky, somewhat distracting and unfortunately cheesy when they are in the mid-tones. Take blue for example. A barely blue - beautiful. Dark/saturated blue - dramatic and moody. Medium-tone blue - cheesy baby boy, bright and sometimes tacky turquoise. Get it?

(Now that's just a rule-of-thumb for painting beginners, and that's how I like to decorate. I'm not completely against medium tone paint colors, but I very rarely use them because they are hard to get just right.)

While we are at it, what are your "rules of thumb" for paint colors? And what are your favorite F&B paint colors?

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!

HOTEL TOUR - WASHINGTON SCHOOL HOUSE, PARK CITY

If you live in Utah and you have picked up a design magazine in the last year you will have seen photos of the Washington School House Hotel in Park City, but the other day I picked up my Traditional Home Magazine and saw a feature on the hotel in there and I remembered how much I love this hotel. For my next birthday or anniversary I am going to put a weekend stay at this hotel on my list, for sure!

The design of this hotel is almost EXACTLY how I would want to design a hotel if ever I had the chance. It is a wintery dreamland filled with antique furniture and velvet sofas.

The hotel was designed by Paul and Shannon Wehsener of Paul Allen Design based out of California. Here are some photos from the hotel's website. Check out their photo gallery for more (I know I can't get enough!)

Amazing, right?! Hope you enjoyed these photos of this hotel as much as I did! Happy Monday!

MY DESIGN BFF - DARRYL CARTER

This is a picture of my best-friend, Darryl Carter. OKAY, he doesn't know he's my best-friend, but I'm pretty sure we would be if we ever met! Or maybe not, but I do LOVE his style. Oh, do I love his style, and let me count the ways...

1) He loves white as much as I do. (take a look at all off his interiors - all white walls!)

2) He has a minimalist approach to design. (I too think less is more)

3) He has a definite American vibe. (I lean more American than anything else)

4) His designs are so classic, meaningful and unique! (you all know how much I believe in meaningful design)

5) He uses a lot of American antiques. (I LOVE a great American antique, but antiques need to be balanced with modern, or the less-is-more approach)

6) He is based out of Washington D.C. and has a very "D.C. style" (My design aesthetic came from loving my grandparents style, which is very D.C., because they lived in Washington D.C.. It's where my Mom was born and raised and where half of my family was born)

Mr. Carter is a self-taught designer who happened to be an attorney before he became one of the great American designers. Because I too am a "self-taught" designer I always love to hear the success stories of other people who did not go to school. 

And now for Darryl Carter's greatest-hits. And Darryl, if you happen by this post, call me! 

all images via pinterest

 Let's start with my long-time favorite...

A lamp on the floor?! Kind of like it in this space.

Love all the white w the black accents.

A very unconventional dining area - so cool.

That zebra chaise is ah-mazing!

Loving all the white + the glass shelves that see through to the kitchen.

Warm whites.

Super cool kitchen - look at that antique table turned into an island!

Beautiful bedroom with more white + black + zebra

Shelving genius + I love the white painted floor.

Antiques in the bathroom + the chevron floor.

Love this classic bathroom

Antiques but in a modern, eclectic set-up.

I'm a sucker for a kilim/antique rug in a kitchen

Wainscot + white + wood

Beautiful designed round table setting

More zebra! And I'm loving the piano decor.

He used the trendy chalk-board idea in a more modern + classy way

Maybe the only thing by BFF is missing is some gold in his designs. Or he could start a new design firm called White + Black next to my design firm White + Gold! What do you think?

Also, as you look at his work you definitely see a lot of repeats (zebra rugs, black accents, traditional sconces, white sofas). As a designer I have this fear of people thinking I'm a one-note designer, but in a way my friend Darryl has a little of that going on and I don't mind it one bit. What do you think? Is it good to have such a definite style that defines you, or is a more creative approach better?

DOES PAINTING A ROOM WHITE FEEL LIKE A WASTE OF MONEY?

I have a new client who needed some help with paint colors for her home. She wanted a more updated, modern look and needed paint to help her achieve that look. For some rooms in her home the only color I could recommend was a shade of white. What?! White? She thought that seemed like a waste of money to have the painter just paint it white. Have you ever felt that way? Does it feel too boring? Not enough color?

This isn't the case for all homes, or all rooms, but in many cases a white room is classy, modern, traditional - whatever you want it to be because it is a blank canvas for your furnishings + artwork to take over and do all the work. Add your color with your accessories, artwork, fabric. That's why I LOVE white rooms! White also feels happy, fresh, clean. All good things.

Check out some of my favorite white rooms...

 

P.S. I am finally having a professional photo shoot of my house tomorrow! I can't wait to post the pictures!