Colorific

Year of the Dragon

2012-01-22T17:55:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Chinese New Year that is…”The Year of the Dragon”. It’s time to get your red on! Why? The color red symbolizes fire and is said to have the power to expel bad luck. Plus is looks awesome.

This morning as I was sorting my red laundry before the weekly ritual of ablution in the washing machine, the ranges of red were striking; pink undies, a maroon turtleneck and an orange sweater all made it into the “red” pile. What a beautiful mélange!

At Colormix 2012, Sherwin Williams’s Jackie Jordan was all over red in this year’s presentation, showing examples of its ubiquitous presence. Photo after photo were displayed pairing varying shades of reds, all working harmoniously.

During yesterday's color consultation, taking inspiration from a beautiful painting on the wall, we combined Benjamin Moore’s AF- 280, “Salsa Dancing”, with AF-225, “Firenze”. The color combo sizzled in the painting and it will on the walls.

Try Sherwin William’s SW2802 “Rookwood Red” on your front door or reinvent your staid study with the rudimentary ruddiness of “Audubon Russet”, Benjamin Moore’s HC-51 . Or, if you choose to exercise restraint, use it sparingly in a small niche with SW 0057 “Chinese Red”.

Whether one wants to go big with red or prefers a diminutive application, it never disappoints. And hey… summoning a bit of good luck just can’t hurt either. Gung Hay Fat Choy!

dragonsappetite.etsy.com

eb-color.com 206-353-0454 ebrown@eb-color.com

Decorate Your Walls With Gum!

2011-10-28T10:48:00.001-07:00

Now that I have your attention…the famous gum wall at Pike’s Market in Seattle is indeed colorful, but maybe not how you want to dress yours. However, there are many colorful alternatives to paint in order to add color, and especially texture to your walls. Wallpaper, fabric or tile probably first come to mind. Yes, these are good choices, but let’s go a step beyond and consider options made from natural materials.

First, there is stone, which can be presented in a myriad of ways, including, but not limited to a smooth texture,

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or pieced into a beautiful mosaic,

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or even rough.

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What about glass? No matter its application, glass adds a nice reflective value.

This wall partition adds subtle translucent color,

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while this glass wall makes an artistic statement.

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Personally my dream house will one day have interior columns made out of giant glass prisms to scatter colorful light. How's that for the ultimate?

And ah, metal! Metal can be salvage yard cheap or Tiffany expensive. Think how many different looks one could achieve with the use of metal from a rusty metal wall to a contemporary shining silvery showcase. Scottish designer, Niki Fulton’s enlightening post expounds on the dynamic effects of metallic surfaces.

Here are two contrasting looks, from the industrial,

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to the refined elegance of gold leaf.

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I was taken by this metal exterior on a new distillery on the Fremont canal in Seattle. It could just as easily be used in an interior.

photo by Elizabeth Brown

We can't leave out wood and wood paneling, either solid or veneer. As a color consultant,I often specify a veneer to cover some existing unsightly wood as in a mantel, a beam or ledge when painting is not an option. Again, any look can be achieved, sleek...

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or rustic.

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This is only the tip of the iceberg because, yes, some walls are made of ice.

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What other alternatives can you think of? Decoupaging your bathroom with your Halloween candy wrappers is NOT an option!

Call me and let's discuss all the ways to we can successfully use color in your space!

ebrown@eb-color.com 206-353-0454 eb-color.com

Can Color Predict The Winter?

2011-10-21T14:39:00.000-07:00

I just spent a wondrous week in New York with my time divided between NYC and a bucolic setting upstate on beautiful Seneca Lake. In Manhattan, I window shopped, soaking up color palette inspiration. Fur coats were on display everywhere, reminding us of a winter that will soon be overtaking us.

But it was THIS fur coat that really sent me… the one belonging to the Wooly Bear caterpillar, another harbinger of winter. As he crept along the road, I did my best to measure the width of brown versus black in his fuzzy corpulence. According to folklore, the wider the brown, the milder the winter. If you believe this legend, this little guy says it’s going to be mild. Are you convinced of this? I'm not, but the notion certainly bestows the warm fuzzies.

photo by Elizabeth Brown

I’m not a meteorologist, I’m a color consultant. I can’t accurately predict the weather in Seattle, but I do foresee the perfect palette tailored just for you.

ebrown@eb-color.com 206-353-0454 eb-color.com

Six Degrees of Separation

2011-10-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

Recently there was an inquiry from Germany from my website contact form that read as follows:

Dear Sirs,

for the renvation of a "Royal Suite" in the hotel "Intercontinetal Genf" the interior designer Tonychi, New York, chose some colours which numbers are not known at us.
Those are: ELKHORN AF-105, WHITE DOWN OC-131, VAN DEUSEN HC-156, CITRUS BURST 364 and SPACE BLACK 2119-10.Please send us a colour sample of each .

Thank you very much.

Best Regards

G. Müller
Project Mananger

Did he just say Tony Chi? The celebrated New York designer? Be still my beating heart! Now, why they just didn't contact his firm for said information is beyond me. I was happy to oblige, send along the swatches and relish the six degrees of separation. And how did they find me? Easy… Google search. I've specified this Benjamin Moore color, "Elkhorn" a couple of times.

As an accent wall for a living room:

photo by Elizabeth Brown

And as the body of an exterior:

photo by Elizabeth Brown

This happy occurrence was a gift. I became privy to a cutting edge palette specified by an urbane designer without leaving my office. The specified colors were “Elkhorn”, “Citrus Burst”, Van Deusen Blue, White Down and Space Black.

I was so taken by them, they inspired an Etsy treasury entitled “Citrus and Midnight”.

What do you think?

Whether you're urbane or folksy, live in the city or the country, and you're seeking professional assistance in assembling your own unique palette, call me for a color consultation and we'll make it work.

206-353-0454 eb-color.com ebrown@eb-color.com

Elisabeth Louise Vigee-Lebrun...A Remarkable Colorist

2011-10-05T11:22:00.000-07:00

Elisabeth Louise Vigee-le Brun. Sigh. My mentor, my idol, my goddess, Marie Antoinette’s favorite portraitist. And although she lived in the 18^th century, she still whispers in my ear.

Upon making my first acquaintance with Elisabeth at the Louvre eleven years ago, we’ve been fast friends ever since. There I was, meandering the rooms of the second floor of the Sully Wing, in total rapture drinking in such an embarrassment of riches only to be stopped dead in my tracks by the painting below, one of her many self portraits. Look at the sheer perfection of the composition, the exquisite color palette with its subtle passages, all the while expressing such expressive warmth.

And then, I saw this beautiful gem.

After that, I was hooked, happily undertaking pilgrimages to view her masterpieces whenever I was so fortunate -to the Kimball Art Muse um in Ft. Worth, Texas,

The National Gallery in London,

The Uffizi,

Her life was as full and colorful as her paintings and her biography is a fascinating read.

A great site to view all of her work and learn everything Vigee -Lebrun is Batguano.com. (Why a site devoted to this amazing woman is referenced to bat droppings is beyond me, but what’s in a name, right?)

I appreciate beautiful colors wherever I may find them and as a color consultant, would love to help you with yours.

Elizabeth Brown 206-353-0454 eb-color.com

all above images

What's In a Name?

2011-09-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

I think I love words as much as I love color-and when you combine the two. YOWZA!

A few years back when I was a guest on Rachel’s wonderful blog, Hue, I briefly touched on the subject with a post entitled “What’s In a Name?”. Go ahead, read it. It’s fun.

On just about every color consultation, my customer chuckles at the names of the colors and says who comes up with these names? Well, here’s your chance to get in on the fun. Come to “Cupcakes and Color” tomorrow, October 1st, when C2 owner, Robin Daly and interior designer Christian Ursino are giving a talk on color trends at Modele’s Furniture. As part of the presentation, participants get to take a stab at naming some of the 50 new colors C2 will be delivering in the spring.

At our next consultation, lets's have some fun with the names, as we choose the perfect colors for your home.

eb-color.com 206-353-0454 ebrown@eb-color.com

Too Many Notes!

2011-09-27T12:57:00.000-07:00

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Emperor Joseph II: Occasionally it seems to have…too many notes.

Mozart: I don’t understand. There are just as many notes as I require, neither more nor less.

Emperor Joseph II: My dear fellow, there are in fact only so many notes the ear can hear in an evening. Don’t take it too hard. Your work is ingenious. It’s quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that’s all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect.

Mozart: Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?

This memorable passage from the movie Amadeus reminds me of several color consultations I’ve been on recently. In the instance of Mozart’s piece, every note made beautiful sense, yet in regard to these exteriors, this is not the case.

Here, indeed, there are just too many notes! On recent exterior color consultations, I’ve encountered pure visual cacophony -too many competing elements. The eye doesn’t know where to rest. Thank goodness for paint as it can help to edit the composition and camouflage superfluous or glaring elements.

Photo by Elizabeth Brown

Let’s take a look at the example above. I was called on this project by the owner, who was well aware there are “just too many notes”. Nine different competing colors comprise this composition which also exhibits a myriad of textures and values; roof, gutters, trim, window sashes, garage doors, stone work, stucco body (two colors here), front steps and iron work. There was even another color on the side. Your eyes are in perpetual motion as each element screams out “look at ME, look at ME!” like a spoiled child whose has too much sugar. (In this case chocolate.)

What did we decide to do? Well, eliminate about half the colors for one. The white window sashes, the roof and stone work were the only ”givens” we could not change. Not only that, they served as a point of departure for developing the palette. We chose SW 7038 “Tony Taupe” for the entire body. It melded nicely with the stone and front steps. We used the same color for the garage doors, but upped the ante on them with a double formula, so it would not appear too homogeneous.

We eliminated the dark trim on the upstairs’ balcony columns so they would disappear into the background .

Photo by Elizabeth Brown

To create a continuous line, the same color, SW 7047 “Porpoise” was specified for the trim, fascia and gutters.

And finally, we addressed the front door, which should really be the main focus. Here we used SW 6335 “Fired Brick”. It’s got sass and brings out the beautiful veins in the stone and says, “please come in.”

I will share the “after photos when they become available.

Students who undergo training through the IACCNA have to complete an assignment called “Over and Under”. In this exercise one must take an image and manipulate it with color to take it one step “over stimulated”, one step “under stimulated” and finally “just right.” There is a very delicate balance. For me, this was an invaluable lesson in training my eyes and sensibilities.

So now, if I may quote Emperor Joseph II, “Just cut a few and it will be perfect."

eb-color.com

206-353-0454

ebrown@eb-color.com

Volatile Organic Compounds or… Just say No! to Sick Building Syndrome

2011-09-09T17:24:00.000-07:00

Volatile Organic Compounds. Big words here. In fact they are so big they could knock you over the head! And they often do. Simply stated, volatile organic compounds or VOC’s are chemical liquids that evaporate at room temperature. And most paint has them. They are the stink in your newly painted room and create the fumes in your headache. The paint literally “gasses off”.

Now I am not a chemist (but I play one on TV). As an architectural color consultant, my primary job is to specify color, usually in the form of applied paint. But I also care about your personal well being as well as the environment. And I am not alone - paint companies have responded to the “greening” of American consumers with products that are both friendly to humans and Mother Earth.

Be aware that there are paints with low VOC’s and paints with NO VOC’s. A no VOC paint is considered to have <5g/L of VOC, whereas a low VOC paint ranges from 50 g/L to as much as 250 g/L. One paint company that offers no VOC paints is Yolocolorhouse. They have a great website that informs and educates about VOC’s. Another is Stark Paint, a designer line with colors by British designer, David Oliver. Benjamin Moore’s environmentally friendly paint is “Natura” while Sherwin Williams’ touts their GreenSure label.

Then there are of course paints with low VOC’s. All the beautiful colors of C2 Paint can be had with their low VOC line “C2Lovo”. I have personally used this and have had great results. The paint dried quickly and was free of lingering odor.

So the next time you go to buy a can of paint, know that you have the option to spare the environment just a little bit. Think Green! After all...it is my favorite color.

ebrown@eb-color.com

Vinyl Wall Decals...Who Knew?

2011-06-26T19:16:00.000-07:00

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As a member of the Etsy community, when I was creating a treasury today entitled “Gifts from the Sea”, incorporating some of my favorite colors, teal and turquoise, I stumbled on this site for vinyl decals. http://www.etsy.com/shop/ghettovinyl?page=2 My first thought was vinyl? Extremely objectionable! Okay... yuck. But as I scrolled down through the diverse offerings, I was amazed at how good they looked, how they transformed a wall and how utterly special they were. So the gal who writes about wabi sabi in one post and vinyl in the next keeps an open mind.

There was something for everyone. Something to spark a child's imagination,

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the star struck,

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the sailor,

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the skateboarding teen,

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or perhaps to serve as a spiritual reminder.

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By the end, I was completely sold.

I think these are great. Not that I believe one should forsake the decorative arts. Beautiful stencil work by artisans such SF based Debra Disman of Artifactory Studio is always an option and should be considered first and foremost for integrity and lasting beauty. But for apartment dwellers, coeds in dorms, the non-committed, the budget conscious or the artistically challenged, I think these are a quick and easy decorating option and a heck of a lot of fun.

If you want to have fun decorating your space, I would be more than happy to oblige.

eb-color.com

ebrown@eb-color.com 206-353-0454

Still Life in Seabeck

2011-06-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

Photo by Elizabeth Brown

“One for whom the pebble has value must be surrounded by treasures wherever he goes.”

Par Lagerkvist, Swedish writer

Last fall I took myself out on an artist's date to Scenic Beach State Park in Seabeck, WA to cleanse my spirit and fill the visual well. Well, you know what they say, “be careful what you wish for because you will get it”. Situated on Hood Canal, the Olympic Mountains seemingly plunge right into the Sound and at low tide, a plethora of oysters is revealed. Unfortunately, I didn’t check the tide tables before I headed out and only a sliver of beach was available for my solitary trek. Nevertheless, an embarrassment of riches lay on the shore and as my eyes feasted, my camera captured and claimed some of the gold.

As you view these snaps be thinking about beautiful color palettes that could be derived from this gift of nature’s perfection and please get back to me with your findings. Enjoy!

Photo by Elizabeth Brown

If you need color inspiration for your home or work place, call me. I've got it.

ebrown@eb-color.com 206-353-0454

When Color Threatens

2011-06-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

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Scotch Broom...aka Cytsius Scoparius.

This invasive weed is everywhere in the Pacific Northwest. A native of the Mediterranean, it was imported to British Columbia in the mid 19^th century by Captain Walter Grant for cultivation on his Vancouver Island farm. And just as with the introduction of starlings, nobody knew it was invasive with insidious effects.

One unassuming plant can go from this.

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To this.

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To this.

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And finally, to this, in which it is no longer beautiful, but becomes a yellow blight of oversaturation on our springtime verdant hillsides, breaking the Law of Chromatic Distribution.

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Now I am wondering two things. Has it proliferated so because it is bright yellow and it beckons pollinators at every turn? And second, doesn’t all this yellow serve as a warning as does a bumble bee, a yield sign, a school bus or some caution tape? Is it telling us by its golden yellow color, Pantone 130 PC, that if we don’t do something soon, we’ll all find ourselves strangled by this yellow invader?

In my opinion, there is only one good thing about this plant. If one is so lucky to be in earshot of its exploding pods in late autumn, one is in for an auditory treat.

Just to let you know, when I design with color, I exercise a little more restraint than Cytsius Scoparius.

ebrown@eb-color.com 206-353-0454

Chromophobia

2011-06-07T11:48:00.001-07:00

“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance”. FDR

Chromophobia is defined as the fear of color and is a curiosity I encounter all too often. Yesterday I got a call from a woman who was clamoring for help. Admitting that she had lived in her home for 27 years, surrounded by the same off white walls, she desperately wanted to make a change and had not the least idea where to begin. There was so much excitement in her voice, as if making this phone call was a turning point in her life. It seemed she had finally decided to take the plunge and make a big positive change. We scheduled a color consultation appointment for the next day. She was relieved, practically giddy, yet whimpered, “I’m scared.” My reply to her? “Don’t be. Do you know how much fun this is?

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Two hours later, she called again, this time to cancel the appointment. Her voice was rushed and she sounded uncomfortable. I too was unsettled for awhile, even a little disappointed for, as always, I was looking forward to it. I absolutely love what I do in the service provided to others and the resulting joy it brings them. Then it dawned on me. She is scared. Making a change with color just might be beyond her perceptual threshold. Now I am not a psychologist, but I’m going to play one in this post. I believe her trepidation stemmed not from the disquietude of possibly not liking the new color choices, but in actually taking the plunge personally to make that change.

dragonsappetite.etsy.com

In Dr. Morton Walker’s intriguing book, The Power of Color, he states: “if a patch is put over one eye of a chameleon, only half of the chameleon’s body will change color to match the surface on which it crawls.” Not only do I find this fact fascinating, I also view it as a metaphor for wholeheartedly making the commitment to making a positive change with color. You just can’t go halfway there.

If you are ready to make a positive change with color, please DON’T be afraid to make the call.

206-353-0454 ebrown@eb-color.com

eb-color.com

Make a Statement With House Numbers

2011-05-30T19:46:00.000-07:00

More often than not when I go on a color consultation, and I'm looking for the house number, it is obscured. It confounds me. If I can't find your house, how could the fire department need be? Too often, house numbers are either hidden under dense foliage, in the shadow of the eaves, are small and insignificant, camouflaged or just plain boring.

Presenting your home's address should not only be a safety feature, but can also be an art form as well -one more way to express your creativity and the uniqueness of your home. And for sure, another way to add more curb appeal.

With a myriad of options out there, coming in all sizes, shapes, finishes imaginable,they are just a Google search away. But, since I am a d evoted member of the Etsy community, why look any further? It always feels good to support independent artists and craftspeople.

Look at these metal numbers from toughandtwisted. The creator will custom weld your numbers for you. This is great for creating a ranch-like feel especially against the stucco.

How about these vinyl letters from HouseHoldWords so elegantly placed on the rail of the door? It creates a European aura. It reminds me of the stately doors I saw in Amsterdam.

These modern metal numbers from austinoutdoors are striking.

And I especially love the artistry by Melissa at Pieces of Grace.

Have a look at all the options. You will be delightfully surprised.

Besides helping you assign colors to your home that will not only accent its architectural features, I can help you with other ways to enhance of your home's curb appeal. I'm just a phone call or an email away.

206-353-0454 ebrown@eb-color.com

eb-color.com

Coordinating Landscape and House Color

2011-04-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

It’s exterior house painting season in Seattle and architectural color consultants like me are in full swing helping homeowners make proper decisions in choosing house colors and their proper placement on each architectural element. As there are a multitude of factors that affect making these correct choices, this post is about just one of them - landscaping.

Landscaping should be taken into consideration when choosing the color palette for your home’s exterior. This not only includes hardscaping, foliage and bloom color, but the landscape style as well. They must harmonize. And conversely you can add even more curb appeal to your home by matching pots and plants with the existing house colors. By coordinating your landscape with your house and vice versa, an enhanced, unified design will result.

I learned this the hard way. Early on in my color consulting career I specified beautiful orange doors, Benjamin Moore #1196 “Burnt Sienna”. This orange hue of the door was just the perfect feel good punctuation the palette needed against the house body color C2 401- “WildWood”.

Yet it was midsummer and the surrounding foliage was still green. When I returned a couple of months later to see the finished result and take some pictures, I gasped. The house looked great, but the Burning Bush in front of it was aflame in all its deep magenta glory. Clash of the Titans! The cringe quotient was high.

The only living thing I could find that matched with the door was a nearly ripe apple! I took it up with my client who had noticed it too. We eventually changed the door color to C2 #056 “Paprika”.

I have never made that mistake again and know they both go in tandem. Here is a picture of a successful job that illustrates just that.

The red front door and window sashes painted in Sherwin Williams 2801 “Rookwood Dark Red” echo the Japanese maples.

The body painted in SW 2808, “Rookwood Dark Brown” is a natural foil for the all the trees and shrubs.

So, this summer, if you are planning to paint, consider your landscaping or if you’re planning a planting scheme, remember what is already there. By the way, a great resource for just that is a book entitled The Garden Color Book, 343,000 Combinations for your Garden. It is divided by different color sections and each page is cut in three so one can mix and match.

If you need help in planning your color scheme, don’t hesitate to contact a seasoned architectural color consultant. Our services are well worth it.

Elizabeth Brown ebrown@eb-color.com 206-353-0454

2011-04-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

dragonsappetite.etsy.com

Since Easter will soon be upon us and young and old alike will be scampering around searching for the golden egg, I thought this would be a good time to share a little story about an impromptu creation.

On New Year’s Day, my friend, Ying presented me with an auspicious gift to welcome the New Year with prosperity and good fortune. What could it be? As I carefully untied the special wrapping, its contents revealed six colorful eggs from her five colorful chickens. Lena, her daughter had carefully labeled the bearer of each one, lest I not get confused.

At that instant, I was so taken by their soft, delicate and finely nuanced color. Now I know, Martha Stewart founded a paint line decades ago based on the colors of her beautiful hen's eggs, but this was a first for me. The only ones I’ve ever known were white. (How considerate it was for Eggland’s Best to put my initials on their eggs. Why thank you, EB!)

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Well, since these were not just any ordinary eggs, I put them in a pan and boiled them up for immediate consumption knowing they contained magical powers.

Upon cooking them up in a frothy boil and gingerly peeling off their outer layer, I just could not bring myself to discard the shells. The elegant shattered pieces were the essence of refinement with their subtle hues. Although it was merely a hushed whisper, they demanded to take on a new form and summoned my creativity. Thus, a mosaic was born. Of course, it was only appropriate that I should assemble them into a rooster.

Okay, I know, I’m not exactly walking on egg shells in this rambling about my little fella and his diminutive form, but let me show you a mosaic on which you are supposed to walk. This is the foyer floor of my friend, Anne’s house. Isn’t it amazing? It’s one of many of her many fabulous creations.

Are any of you familiar with the Mosaic Man of NYC? Now’s here a colorful character. Watch this video and prepare to get inspired.

I am inspired to take the parts of your colorful pieces and turn them into a cohesive whole. Contact me for an expert architectural color consultation, inside or out.

Happy Easter!

ebrown@eb-color.com 206-353-0454

eb-color.com

Branding Colors For a Law Firm

2011-03-07T14:19:00.000-08:00

In January, my first Seattle architectural color consultation of 2011 was for a law firm, located in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood with a killer view of Lake Union.

They are a growing firm, moving into a larger facility so we were dealing with a situation that was still under construction. Last week I finally got the chance to see the new installation over at TMD in which I helped with the color and finish selection.

Since I had never consulted for a law firm, I did a little homework in advance. I researched other law firm design and found the typical paneled walls, red leather seats and other ubiquitous clichés. One can practically smell the cigar smoke. So how to proceed? Well, one look at their logo and it was obvious. Their colors were quite nice, a rich terra cotta, dark greenish gray and a deep brick red. These colors would lend themselves to an interior palette and we’d do the “branding” thing while we were at it.

In this project we were limited to using Sherwin Williams paint because that is what the contractor implicitly stated in the finish schedule. No problem, there are colorful solutions to be found in their architectural kit, and I have always particularly loved their Preservation Palette. Before I arrived, I matched them up with Roycroft Pewter, Rookwood Red and Rookwood Terra Cotta. The combination of these colors was exquisite and my client thought so too. Voila…a starting place. The other given was a carpet sample, already chosen by the owner in which interestingly enough, all of these colors were inter woven.

And these are essentially what were specified in the space. We were once again limited to choosing only two paint colors which needed to be warm and neutral. For the dominant walls we went with "Ivoire", warm and luminescent.

So where to put the terracotta, our secondary wall color? I told her the placement of these colors had to make sense; we cannot just randomly place accent walls. They either needed to serve as path finding, a focal point or anchor something. So we started in the reception area. Clients would either enter from the door or from the elevator. The reception desk was here and needed to be highlighted. Two and one half walls surround the reception desk, creating not only a nice focal point, but a nice backdrop for their logo on the wall and a comfortable station for the receptionist.

Where else to put this color? First I considered putting it on the back wall in the conference room. It was rather long and narrow and I suggested it would “advance", making the room not appear so long. Well, just by saying the word advance, because that is the operative word, made my client hesitate. She said depositions take place in there and one “advancing” wall just might not be a good thing. Right! I have been in a deposition before. All four walls should be equal!

The only places where it worked to put the terra cotta were the walls at the end of the hallway and the wall kitty-corner to that. It would inject some color in nondescript areas.

The window sashes were already burgundy aluminum, so that took care of that color, and we used a mid tone gray laminate counter tops in work areas. Not exciting, no, but it rounded it out the palette creating the necessary warm/cool balance as well as serving as a visually ergonomic work surface.

It was a very successful installation and a pleasure to tour its completion as well as to view their impressive art collection.

A huge thanks to Nedra Daly, over at Daly’s Paint, my all time favorite paint store, for referring me for this great job. They are dealers in C-2 and Pratt and Lambert and top of the line stain products.

If you need an expert color consultation, please call me or email EB Color Consultants and together we’ll get it right.

Elizabeth Brown 206-353-0454 ebrown@eb-color.com

Wabi- Sabi

2011-01-13T17:55:00.000-08:00

Photo by Elizabeth Brown

I believe sometimes that when people consider the work of color consultants, they assume that only the use of bright colors are bestowed in achieving beauty. That to some, color is only regarded as bright and saturated. Not the case. As I have previously stated, everyone has his or her own personal color preferences. And to my eye, the faded, muted colors inherent in wabi-sabi are exquisite.

Photo by Elizabeth Brown

The Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi implies impermanence and imperfection, simplicity and modesty and quietude. It reveals to us what only the beauty of the passage of time can create. Think moss,

Photo by Elizabeth Brown

rust,

Photo by Elizabeth Brown

and patinas.

Photo by Elizabeth Brown

This notion is echoed in one of my favorite books, Elements of Garden Design , by Joe Eck. “…in a culture that, while frequently acknowledging the virtues and joys of youth, seems to have forgotten that beauty also attends old age, gardens offer testimony to the repose, order and serenity that age alone can bring."

Photo by Elizabeth Brown

If you haven’t seen The King’s Speech, by all means go see it! Not for the extraordinary story, the stupendous acting, the poignant scenes, the uplifting music, the gorgeous costumes-but for the beautiful wall behind the sofa in the speech therapist’s office!

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It reveals layers of wallpaper from eras passed, creating a collage that parallels the understated beauty of tree bark. And although most people would not want this as a backdrop to their sofa, it is still beautiful in its own right.

Photo by Elizabeth Brown

So take a look around. Start appreciating where time has left its beautiful mark in some places,

Photo by Elizabeth Brown

and what needs a new coat of paint in others. It's up to you to decide.

Photo by Elizabeth Brown

EB-Color.com 206-353-0454

Good Bye, Mr. Pig

2010-12-21T17:39:00.000-08:00

Sold! to the highest bidder...okay...the first bidder.

As it happens to all pigs, when they're good and fattened up, it's time go to market to meet their fate. Mr. Pig is no exception. Hanging on the wall at Seattle's Coastal Kitchen, as part of their current Normandy Cuisine theme, he met his new owner today.

He was my Wilbur. Some Pig! I will miss him. Since he's on display through March, I heartily suggest going there to say goodbye and to have a savory supper, of course. But, whatever you do, please don't order pork!

eb-color.com

dragonsappetite.etsy.com

205-353-0454

Meet the Beetles

2010-12-02T14:35:00.000-08:00

Back by popular demand, Retrofit Home, a very cool home furnishings and gift store on Capitol Hill in Seattle is presenting the art show "Hundred and Under" and once again, I am so fortunate to be included. As the name infers, all the pieces will be for sale for under $100.

This year I will be exhibiting my own little private beetle collection. Oh, you didn't know I was an entomologist? Each little piece, measuring 8" x 8", depicts a real beetle. Well actually, I got the images from a book. It was such an inspiration because they are so varied and so COLORFUL.

The opening reception for "Hundred and Under 2010" is December 9th from 5 to 10 pm. The show will be up until the end of January 2011. The address is 1103 E. Pike St.

See you there!

eb.color.com

dragonsappetite.etsy.com

206-353-0454

Evolution of a Simple Floral Still Life

2010-11-19T08:27:00.000-08:00

I love to paint as a hobby and some of my little works are featured in my Etsy shop. Escaping into the paint box is just as magical as walking into the wardrobe closet and ending up in Narnia. It's like going on a road trip with no road map or any particular destination in mind. Here's a brief travelogue of one recent journey.

I laid out the "bones".

I added some color.

I put in the background.

Then added accents and highlights.

I went around the world and back and brought back a souvenir, all with out leaving my stance at my easel. I saved a lot of money on gas, but still had to wash out my brushes. It was so much fun!

eb-color.com 206-353-0454

Staining Brick

2010-11-17T09:54:00.000-08:00

I received a good education on staining brick last spring on this particular job in Redmond’s Union Hill Gunshy Ridge, a neighborhood filled with luxurious, Tudor homes, yet where so many look alike. It’s invaluable to be able to change the color of the brick (and the monotony of the neighborhood) without losing the visual texture of its underlying irregular surface which would have resulted if it had been painted with an opaque paint. Any custom color can be achieved by its tinting into either a clear, solid or semitransparent stain.

Here are the before and after shots. Isn't the transformation amazing?

The colors specs are: SW 2827 “Colonial Revival Stone” for the brick stain and the decorative trim, SW 2822 “Downing Sand” on the stucco, BM OC-130, “Cloud White” for the window sashes and gutters and SW 2801 “Rookwood Dark Red” for the front door.

H and C by Sherwin Williams offer excellent masonry products for just about any situation, both vertical and horizontal, where the ultimate aim is a decorative effect and EB Color offers excellent advice.

eb-color.com 206-353-0454

As Unique As You Are

2010-11-11T11:34:00.002-08:00

It has taken me four years and hundreds of consultations to have finally owned up to my true gift as an architectural color consultant. It's been slowly dawning on me as I see the look of relief, satisfaction and pure joy on my client's faces. I have always been confident about my color sensitivity, but it was my most recent color consultation at Tease Salon that confirmed this other innate ability. It was also proof of the power of color and its effect on human emotions. So you're wondering, what is it that I do? Well, I am a facilitator. I "get out of the way" and let my client discover the paint colors they truly desire. And then I make it work.

When we began the consultation at Tease, its owner, Judy was lamenting over the existing wall colors. In the work station, there was a yellow hue, with a pumpkin color undertone. She hated it and so did the stylists who work there. She wanted a complete change in color and feeling. There were already a lot of great elements going for the space - the corrugated galvanized half wall, the beautiful existing warm brown trim that surrounds the mirrors (painted in Ralph Lauren's "Turret Stair") and vintage black and white photographs.

This yellowish hue along with the lugubrious wine colored one on the opposing wall did not reflect "urban", "edgy" or "elegant", the feelings Judy wanted to convey in her salon. Quite the opposite. They gave a "homespun" feel and just did not match with the metal, leather and glass.

First of all, Tease's logo is awesome. (I always love a double entendre). Its Jetsonsesque retro, black and white graphic was certainly the point of departure in selecting a new palette. The black and white contrast demanded a limited palette and a warm grey wall seemed the answer to contrast the cool grey of the metal half wall. The warmth and complexity of Authentic Home's "Grey Stone" was the antidote. The stylists LOVED it, saying it will not compete with or provide any kind of after image as they are coloring hair.

For the other wall, we explored several options from various shades of greens to eye popping orange. But remember, besides urban and edgy, the third criterion to satisfy was "elegant". Judy said "what about blue?" No sooner as I had reached for the Benjamin Moore Aura deck, knowing there are some great blues in there, Judy's finger pointed right to AF-525, "Fiji". Voila...we nailed it. At that point, we were all giddy because this palette came together so smoothly and EVERYONE was happy about the new colors. We danced around the room holding a vision of the colorful transformation with the joyful expectancy of a new baby.

The creation of every palette is as unique as the collaborating individuals who make it. Tease's motto couldn't say it any better.

eb-color.com 206-353-0454

Should Art Match Your Sofa?

2010-10-27T20:50:00.000-07:00

Should art match your sofa? If it's mine it should. But it should also match your soul.

One of my recent Etsy customers was kind enough to send me pictures of her new acquisition, one of my creations entitled "Nisqually", showing its new home. This is what she included in her email. "Thought you'd like to see your baby in her new home. We love it! Not only are the colors perfect, but it has so much meaning for us. We spent our 40th anniversary last year hiking there and have paddled our kayaks all through the Nisqually reach".

(We will keep an eye on your Web site for more great works of art.)

All the best -- and safe travels.

Just as with all my color consulting clients, so far, all of my Etsy transactions have been soulful. It's truly a community. Thank you, Carol. You not only helped bankroll my trip to Amsterdam, truly a dream come true, but you nourished my spirit as well. And isn't that what it's all about?

eb-color.com

dragonsappetite.etsy.com

The Golden Age

2010-10-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of my trip to the beautiful city of Amsterdam was viewing this painting "The Kitchen Maid"by Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum. It is exquisite. Besides revealing an intimate setting in a typical genre painting, the colors are incredible.

Paintings from the past and present are excellent sources for the creation of an interior color palette. The masters had a pretty good handle on color, wouldn't you say, presenting harmonious combinations of colors used in just the right proportions.

Here's a detail of the dress's bodice. Notice the red stitching woven through that expertly ties in with the red pitcher.

There is a beautiful modulation between the blues and the greens of the sleeves. Such a delicate passage.

And finally, this red pitcher in the middle of the composiiton, pulls the whole piece together. Red is always so impactful, especially when applied sparingly.

eb-color.com

In 3-D

2010-10-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

I have been delighted by these colorful, historical stucco reliefs inset in the building facades. They are everywhere. Here is just a sampling.

eb-color.com

The Jordaan

2010-10-06T08:24:00.000-07:00

I've decided I'm going to move here. I love bikes. Everyone sits up so straight and no one wears a helmet.

I love canals with teal houseboats.

And I especially love giant yellow water spickets overhead.

eb.color.com

First Day in Amsterdam

2010-10-05T11:54:00.001-07:00

After eighteen hours of getting here, a gritty eyed american traveler walked out of the Centraal train station in Amsterdam and was catapulted into this beautiful city.

Embracing my inner tightwad, I opted to walk to my apartment which was less than 2 kilometers away instead of taking a cab, my luggage heavily bearing its namesake behind me. Thank you Google maps, you are amazing. It was well worth it- good visuals greeted me in every nook and cranny.

As I walked across the cobbles, catching occasional whiffs of hashish smoke and dodging one thousand speeding cyclists. I wondered, would my apartment really be there? Does this place I found on Craislist really exist?

Lo and behold, not only was it there,

but my name was on door buzzer.

The stairs are almost a complete vertical climb.

The Mondrianesque floor pattern in the landing is very cool.

It's starting off to be a very good visit. Now it's time to take off my shoes and rest awhile.

eb-color.com

Testing Paint Colors

2010-09-08T19:15:00.000-07:00

Are you reading this post because your walls look like this? More often than not, this is what I see when I enter a home for a color consultation.

Or this.

The paint manufacturers know what they’re doing with their sample kits. Yes, they offer a chance to sample paint at a fraction of the cost of a gallon, but maybe they are preying on the whims and insecurities of the color challenged. At five or six dollars a pop, when I add up all the colors sampled on these individual walls, it almost surpasses the fees of a seasoned color consultant -someone who sees the undertones of a given hue, understands the nature of light, but also can pinpoint the direction the client wants to go whether it be by consciously asking the right questions or by sheer intuition.

Sampling paint in the above pictorial illustrations is the WORST way to go about it. Color interacts with its neighbor and you’re not going to get an accurate read this way. It is crucial to isolate it while painting a very large swath of color, not just a 12” square. And you should live with it for a couple of days. This way you can experience the hue under different lighting conditions. Look at it out of the corner of your eye. This is a great trick I learned from former painting teacher, Bill Elston, a master of realist painting who is spot on with seeing accurate color. You’ll know it, when it’s right.

Another approach I advocate is painting on poster board. Hold the board vertically, at arm’s length to view only this color in front of your face and no other competing elements. Plus, you can move it around the room.

I hope this helps. If not, please contact me. 206-353-0454 ebrown@eb-color.com

EB Color Consultants

Let Your Fingers do the Walking, Let My Work do the Talking

2010-08-31T14:27:00.000-07:00

image

Expertly working with color comes easily to me. Marketing does not.

source

Yet my customers have to find out about me somehow and sending smoke signals just doesn't cut it. The wind only blows in one direction and I’m moving out in many. I have to be a chest beating baboon and pound the tom-tom just like everybody else screaming “Pick ME! Pick ME!” I have to step out of my comfort zone when I introduce myself to the world. I would prefer to not use words to promote my services. I want my work to speak for itself.

And it does. Hallelujah for Angie’s List to sing it to the world! When EB Color was just getting off the ground, I launched it with a small ad in my local small newspaper - no website, no blog, just a wing and a prayer. The phone began to ring and my heart went pitter pat. One of those customers was Robin A. who hired me to help her choose exterior colors. Of course I bent over backwards (one must be extraordinarily nimble to be a good color consultant) and the outcome was a huge success. Lo and behold, she wrote up a rave review about me and my service on Angie’s List and EB Color was catapulted. Not into the stratosphere, mind you, but almost. I’m still aiming there.

source

If you don’t know what Angie’s List is, let me tell you. It is an online resource for rated professionals by its subscribing members who pay to join. They have to put you on, you just can't sign up. It costs me nothing and keeps the bar high for everyone. I want to do a great job to keep my top listing and the consumer knows he’s getting someone good who has already been highly rated. Proudly, I have earned Angie’s List Super Service Award with 10 AAA ratings. Not only am I grateful, I am relieved - free advertising and a chance to let my work do the talking, not me.

Now if you will please excuse me, my chest is sore from all that pounding.

http://eb-color.com/

206-353-0454

Nightmare on the Ceiling

2010-08-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

C’mon, let’s face it. Popcorn ceilings suck!

And gold sparkles don’t make it any better. There is absolutely nothing worse, except being chased by Freddie Krueger in the middle of the night with a machete. Fear not! You can deal with this eyesore head on! Scrape it off! I repeat, scrape it off! Knife in hand, embrace your inner maniac and smooth out that bad boy.

But first a word of caution. If your home was built before 1975, this lovely texture may be made of asbestos. If this is the case you will need to either hire a professional to remove it or wear protective clothing and a respirator. It will need to be disposed of properly as well. And one more caveat. If the ceiling has been painted along the way, it is going to be a lot more difficult to remove. There are many websites and videos that offer advice to deal with this nasty, but necessary task.

So here’s what you do. First test for asbestos.

Here is Doityourself.com’s recommendation. “Using a spray bottle with water, moisten (don't soak) about four small areas in different parts of your ceiling. Scrape about a 1 sq. inch patch from each area into individual plastic bags with a small putty knife. Take these samples to a lab that can determine if there is any asbestos in the samples - check your Yellow Pages for labs that will do this work”

Um...Did he just say Yellow pages? Obviously, this was written last century.

If there is no asbestos in your ceiling he goes on to say…

“Once the lab has assured you the popcorn ceiling doesn't have any asbestos, removing it becomes essentially a larger-scale version of the sample-taking process.
Remove all the furniture the room if possible, or cover it with waterproof plastic sheets. Spread plastic sheets or tarpaulins on the floor to protect it.
Put on a long sleeved shirt, wear a hat and make sure your eyes are covered. Safety goggles with sides are best.
Use that spray bottle and water to moisten an area of 2 to 3 square feet. Alternatively, you could us a long nap ceiling paint roller dipped in water. The objective is to wet the popcorn enough to soften it and make it "easy" to scrape off without soaking the ceiling above.
Once a section has softened, use an 8 or 10 inch taping knife to scrape the popcorn off the ceiling. Move across the ceiling, section by section, moistening and scraping until all the popcorn is gone.
Once the popcorn has been removed, sand the ceiling and paint it. You will probably have to Spackle some sections of the ceiling, some maybe more than once, to get it as smooth as you would like.

Indeed, it is a lot of work, but well worth the effort. Before you know it, your ceilings will once again have a beautiful complexion and be soft as a baby's behind. There won’t be dark shadows lurking overhead created by a greedy Neanderthal, a wannabe cave dweller trying to reenact a limestone cave for the suburban masses. Such a travesty.

EB Color Consultants

206-353-0454

Better and Best

2010-08-09T17:20:00.000-07:00

After each and every color consultation, I write up a field report. I walk through each job in my mind. I consider each room we tackled; the lighting, both natural and artificial, the existing architecture as well as the individual temperament of the owner. I note what was specified and where. In my wrap up, I ask myself three questions. What went well, what could be improved upon and what did I learn? In doing so, I am continually fine tuning my process in my evolution as color expert. It is my hope that I can provide the best value possible for my customers in the levels of service, expertise and artistic expression.

What usually always goes well is that I “drove” the consultation. I listened to my customer, felt the space, looked around for cues and in tandem we developed a unique palette.

Of course, there is always something which can be improved upon…for instance I can be a little chatty. Yes, it’s essential to develop a good rapport with my client from the get go since they most likely were strangers before they met me at the door. Our pleasant conversation helps put them at ease so we can easily work together. I inherently like people, but my loquaciousness can only go so far - I cannot waste their valuable time and use up the air.

The most revealing part of the process is in my final question. What did I learn? Always SO much! Often, especially in the case of new construction, my clients have already done extensive product research of which I can be the beneficiary. There might be an existing color on the wall that I have not yet seen and can add to my repertoire. I often figure a unique way to deal with a situation. Sometimes, through our collaboration, my client comes up with something brilliant that I had not considered. As always, I learn a little bit more about me.

As the bar is continually lifted higher, there is one thing that always remains constant…I love my job!

http://www.eb-color.com/

206-353-0454

Orange Will Make You Happy

2010-07-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

I have a birthday coming up and according to Colorstrology, by Pantone Institute's Michele Bernhardt, my birthday color is orange. Yay! I can remember my college physics teacher lecturing about the hooey of the Zodiac - that the constellations are not really in alignment with their corresponding dates. But hey, when fathoming the almost unbelievable mysteries of color and light, it could almost seem believable. Besides, I'll take it when my colorful horoscope reads that I am regal, powerful and inspiring. Nevertheless, it's a great excuse to rave about the color orange!

Two years ago, I spent the entire month of January in the amazing city of Buenos Aires. It was summer there and wonderfully hot. I spent each and every sunny day walking around exploring every nook and cranny of that city under a leafy canopy of Sycamore trees, camera in hand. It seemed everyone had a smile on his face, I know I did. I wondered, is everybody so happy here because of all the orange? Or is all this orange here because everyone is just so darned happy? The color orange was everywhere.

From their trash bins,

To their housewares,

From benches to parking garages,

Orange led you in,

And orange led you out.

The ground was orange.

And so was the sky.

Orange served as background for the colorful filteado and as foil for a verdant courtyard.

Even their paint stores were orange. (Prestigio by the way is Sherwin Williams)

Building after building was painted orange.

That is if it wasn't purple, chartreuse or turquoise.

I am grinning from ear to ear with all this color and I hope you are too.
Now go ahead and have some fun with colorstrology. What are the colors of your horoscope?

www.eb-color.com

Behind the Green Door

2010-06-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

No, not THAT green door! The green door in which I am referring is that of my garden gate.

My garden is three years in the making and although it’s still way off from reaching maturity, it has come a long way since the summer of 2007 when I adopted this run down, neglected, forgotten orphan of a cottage which was sorely in need of TLC. Thus began a labor of love.

The yard was dead, literally and figuratively. Only petrified cat poo, weeds, and sandy, salty, parched earth made up the grounds of this place.

I had a lovely rusted out aluminum shed to contend with as well.

When it was first rototilled, not one earth worm reared its head. Yikes! Undaunted, I forged ahead to amend and restore. Little by little, loads and loads of compost were added and by the third layer of black gold, it finally seemed to come to life. Thanks, Cory for all your help!

Earth chi had been activated! I planted shrubs suited for this windy, salty, site, put in a lawn, (oh, get a life, why dontcha!), added flowers, whimsy and lots of love.

I highly recommend eliminating rusty aluminum sheds. Now I have a patio.

This is what I'm blessed with when I enter my garden gate. It has become a refuge.

I have so many clients who are in the same position with their houses. It can be overwhelming and they just don’t know where to begin, whether it be repainting their interior or adding curb appeal to their home’s exterior through paint. That’s where I enter the picture. If I can do it, so can you! Fearlessly, I will help you find direction. I can help you achieve a beautiful space full of life through the use color!

www.eb-color.com 206-353-0454 ebrown@eb-color.com

125 Years of Color

2010-06-08T21:27:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Benjamin Moore presented a webinar entitled ‘Three Centuries of Color’, of which I earnestly attended, spell bound in the front row in my jimjams, computer on lap.

Through time we went, each decade producing a color palette that reflected its own history in our nation. Oh how we flit from one extreme to another - and also, how interesting that color has been part and parcel of our history.

As an associate member of the IACCNA, my core beliefs remind me not to follow color trends. But I gotta tell ya, this is huge! These palettes from decades past are not just trendy colors, merely decorative for the sake of marketing. They are the product of history, inherent in our memories of the events associated with them and are part of every fiber of our being.

One of the most interesting ideas from this seminar is how palettes shift with the decades. Even numbered decades produce subdued cooler hues, edgy design whereas the odd decades reveal soft and warm colors. Just hearing that, I crave some comfort food.

There are future dates scheduled for this webinar and I highly recommend it.

Sad to say, with the Gulf Oil disaster, the West Virginia mining accident and Icelandic volcano eruptions look for shades of black and gray as my global forecast for the decade.

Here is a sampling from the webinar:

The Magic Color Finder

2010-05-24T22:05:00.000-07:00

My friend and esteemed colleague just informed me of this ridiculous contraption. First of all, why would you spend $229 on said machine when there are apps available for free? One could be tempted however because it does resemble the sexy Rhinestone Stud Setter, that MUST HAVE invention of the seventies.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! If you order in the next five minutes, it will take out your trash, iron your shirts, walk your dog and file your nails! But alas... it really won't help you find the right color.

My friends...Hire a professional color consultant. Someone who inherently knows light, understands product and can inject some artistry into the process.

http://eb-color.com/ 206-353-0454

Personal Color Preference

2010-05-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

Recently I was a guest on a Color Budz podcast entitled Color Consultant vs. Interior Designer . I got to chime in with three very talented and experienced color consultants, Rachel Perls, of Hue Consulting, Kelly Berg of Arte Styling and host and moderator, Lori Sawaya of Color Strategies. As the title suggests, we discussed what differentiates a color consultant from an interior designer.

Kelly made a great point stating that when we were in design school, and assigned projects we started with no existing elements. We were given carte blanche to choose the colors, fixtures and furnishings just so we complied with building codes and the program and we satisfied the design concept of the space in consideration. Also she so wisely commented that interior designers often have a “signature style” and are sought out by clients who want that same look in their own homes.

Rewind! That’s it! Kelly nailed it. As color consultants, we DO NOT have carte blanche like kids in a candy store to choose the colors for our clients - we must strategically and artfully work around what is already there. Nor do we impose our own personal style and color preferences upon the clients. As we collaborate, we guide them and intuitively draw out of them what they want if they don’t already know it. And then we make it work through our expertise. It is quite a gift actually.

As my clients and I build a palette together, no two ones are ever the same. I am always amazed by the uniqueness and the beauty of each individual scheme. And also, none reflect the colors I have chosen for my own home. Everyone has their own personal “color timbre” as described by Joseph Itten, in one of the all time classics, The Art of Color. Itten instructed his art students to become keenly aware of their own subjective color preferences as they will accompany them throughout their lives.

Here are some assorted palettes from successful jobs in the past with EB Color that illustrate how completely different people’s color preferences can be.

This is a pretty bold expressive palette especially in regard to the size of the house. Yet it reflects the vibrancy of its owner, a young professional bachelor who wants to bathe himself in high chroma. It is successful because it is expressive nature, the hues being of equal brilliance.

I just love this palette created with a psychiatrist. She loved yellow and blue. Believe me, it’s not anything I would have ever come up with on my own. This was a true collaboration and we were indeed both very pleased with the outcome.

As this was new construction, we actually did have carte blanche. It’s such a restful palette for a couple of retirees who planned and built their dream home with tender loving care.

Now what do you do when your clients say “we don’t like blue, yellow, green or peach”? This one was a bit of a challenge. We turned to beautiful grays as dominant colors and then pulled a punch with a red dining room which is smack dab center of the their beautiful home. But we achieved their objective…to create a modern feel for this young couple’s home.

Here’s one more. Isn’t it nice?, It’s not like any of the rest because Joel and Arlene are not like any of the rest.

Finally, here are the colors in my home. For whatever rhyme or reason these are the colors that speak to me in this particular space. And as you can see, they are not like anybody else's.

Let’s see, last checked there were over 6 billion people on the planet… and a personal and unique color palette to go with. My style as an expert architectural color consultant is to make your wish my command.

EB Color Consultants ebrown@eb-color.com 206-353-0454

The Law of Chromatic Distribution

2010-04-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

When I confide in my friends that I have broken the Law of Chromatic Distribution, they break out in laughter, assuming I am feigning erudition. But no! I am referring to a real law that exists in the realm of color theory. As with all other natural laws whether it is gravity or the law of attraction, this is one force to be reckoned with!

I first was taught about the Law of Chromatic Distribution back in design school in 1992 by two master colorists, Beverly Thome and Jill Pillaroscia of Colour Studio. But I didn’t really learn it until I broke the law myself. Busted! I used too much chroma or in other words, saturated color on too large of an area.

Chroma or saturation is the purity of the hue. The Law of Chromatic Distribution simply means that if you are to cover a large area, the color must be diluted by either one of four ways so as not to achieve disastrous effects – adding white to the mixture, adding black, adding gray or adding its complement on the color wheel. As areas reduce in size, the chromatic intensity can be increased.

Here is a house on my street that has broken The Law of Chromatic Distribution with impunity! There is simply too much saturated color for this large of a surface. It is so hard to even look at this house without becoming nauseated.

This house's exterior has had some white added to the hue. Doesn't it look better, way easier on the eyes?

This is a mixture with black. Yes it is dark, yes it is strong but still pretty to look at because the saturated color has been toned down and there is a richness to it.

Here is one with white and gray added. Nice, huh.

And finally, this garage is an example of a mixture that has been toned down by the addition of its complement. It not only diluted the blue, but also warmed it up achieving a nice balance.

It seems so easy to avoid disasters with education and experience. That is the role of a good color consultant.If you would like some help in the the planning your exterior color scheme, give me a call or send me an email. Together we'll get it right. www.eb-color.com.

Mixing a Can of Paint

2010-02-05T19:24:00.000-08:00

When you've gone to the paint store to buy a can of paint, have you really understood what goes into the can? I had a general idea, but being a woman of science, I needed proof to confirm my suspicions. I thank Kevin Greenlee over at Nayer Paint, a Benjamin Moore retailer in Gig Harbor for enlightening me.

I showed up with 12 empty bottles hoping for a lesson in universal tints. Kevin thought it would be best to explain the process through the actual mixing of a can of paint.

He said "go ahead, pick a color." I decided upon "Putnam Ivory", HC-39, a warm, soft neutral I had recently seen applied in a client's bedroom.

Then, he brought the formula for "Putnam Ivory" up on the computer. Here you can see the individual colorants that make up this hue and their proper amounts for mixing: yellow oxide (OY), black (BK), orange (OG) and grey (GY).

Before he started mixing though, I had to first be educated on the different bases used by Benjamin Moore: pastel, being the lightest in value, medium, deep and ultra deep.

The pastel base is thick and opaque and consumes almost the entire can, whereas the ultra deep's can leaves room for a lot of colorant to be added. It was translucent. Here they are brushed out side by side.

Starting with the can of pastel base, Kevin added the colorants one step at a time until the mixture was compete. At each step, he brushed out the paint on a white card. First black, which rendered a beautiful light cool grey. Then the orange which turned it into a dusty mauve which was not at all what I was expecting. Then grey, which turned it violet, and finally, the yellow oxide. The mixture was complete.

The most amazing discovery was that the colors that were brushed out at each step of the way made up a beautiful harmonious palette in its own right. I would love to experiment with other formulas to see if the parts of the whole always make for such harmony.

Kevin filled up my empty bottles and now I have new color tools with which to experiment. And of course, I also have many new unanswered questions. But isn't that what makes the study of color so fascinating? www.eb-color.com

Some Colors I saw in Thailand

2010-02-05T18:42:00.000-08:00

Fortune shined on me for three wondrous weeks in the kingdom of Thailand. Warmth, beauty, miracles, and smiles made for the most colorful palette, providing eye candy at every turn. A thousand shots of memory stored on a digital camera will help keep those in my head and heart alive.

On a layover in Incheon Airport in Seoul, South Korea, it was totally worth it to wait on these pink chairs. I mean, why not pink chairs? Orchids were the standard norm here, like common daisies or geraneums. Such an unexpected sign that said "welcome!

First day in Bangkok. If only there could be scratch and sniff over the internet. Yes, you see all the color and texture, but what is missing here are the olfactory delights. A whiff of burning incense, simmering fish sauce in the wok from the sidewalk vendors, fresh flower offerings and oh, the fumes from exhaust. It's not perfect.

Look at all this color! For a girl who craves this, someone who has just left the black and gray January gloom and doom that is Seattle,this worked me! I highly recommend beaming yourself here. It's very do-able.

Of course, temples are everywhere for each and everyone, as well as palaces, fit for well, you know...kings. Each is rich and unique and makes you spend an entire afternoon saying "wow". Aren't I eloquent?

Here's a typical close-up. This kind of rich color and beautiful combinations makes for slow going on my outings. Good thing I'm on my own. I might drive any other travel companion mad with my attention to all the detail. (Check out the person sitting in the corner, meditating perhaps.) Gives an idea of the scale.

Well, it's time for dinner. I could have phad thai or green curry or panang or chicken and cashew stir fry , spicy papaya salad but I have decided on this. The turquoise plate was the clincher.

Now I'm on a plane for Krabi, towards the decadent beachy party of the trip. Look at these seats on Thai Airways. They say I have arrived!!!!! Aren't they wonderful! And festive! And happy?

It's another world down here. But just as magical.

Didn't I hear once that blue is calming? Ahhh...

Pantone people...eat your heart out. Turquoise has always been the "Color of the Year"!

I made sure I got in good shape before I landed here. But I didn't need my running shoes after all. I just sat and dwelled on infinity.

www.eb-color.com

White Noise

2009-12-17T19:07:00.000-08:00

This morning on the ferry, as with most mornings, I was entranced by the quiet. Most of us regular commuters that have dibs on a particular seat in the upper deck respect each other with a code of silence. But then I came to notice that it wasn’t actually quiet at all, that there was a din blowing from the vents in the ceiling. I immediately flashed on the concept of “white noise”.

As with all sensorial experiences, I considered it in terms of synesthesia, just what is its color? Before I noticed the din, it most definitely was white, in the true sense of the meaning of white noise. It was uniform and evenly distributed as is white light. But it started to become a roar and the more I started to notice it, it started to saturate the environment, even pollute. The sound took on tones of dirty grays -no pure color reflected as if it hit a prism of sound. It got to the point where I could no longer stand it. Thank goodness for the invention of the Ipod.

How much of our environment is just a din of white noise in the background until we put our attention on it for better or worse? Only then to come alive, with throbbing grayness or better yet, soothing color.

www.eb-color.com

Approaching an Historical Job

2009-11-02T18:35:00.000-08:00

When I got the cold call from a customer, who needed help in choosing the exterior colors for his 1908 Foursquare house in Everett, Washington, I knew I had my work cut out for me. It was my biggest job to date not only in sheer square footage, but one that was going to involve preliminary research. He wanted to stay in the area of an historically accurate palette. It was a massive home, with many architectural elements that needed to be sensitively treated.

In researching this job, I made some nice discoveries that I would like to share with you.

Where to start? First, I took myself on a walking tour of historical homes in Tacoma’s North Slope neighborhood to see firsthand this style of house. Although, it was enjoyable to look at an eclectic mix of older homes from Victorians to Bungalows, none of the Foursquare Homes provided much information as to historical accuracy.

I researched pictorial references hoping to glean the information I was seeking. One book that was a big help was Classic Houses of Seattle by Caroline T. Swope . There were a lot of photographs of Foursquare houses and the beauty was that they were in black and white. Although I could not see the hues, they provided a great value study. It was so interesting to see the difference between a house painted in a mid-tone or either a high or low value. It really helped in seeing the balance of architectural elements.

Then I stumbled upon a great book, Bungalow Colors by Robert Schweitzer.

Although, this house is not a bungalow, it is of the same Arts and Crafts era. In it, the author showcases many of his own personal jobs, showing before and after photos as well as providing alternative color schemes. For all of them, he specified Sherwin Williams’ Preservation Palette. This resource was invaluable to me for this particular job.

In collaboration with my clients, we arrived at a beautiful palette also using the Sherwin Williams' paint colors: Body: “Rookwood Dark Brown”, trim: “Ivoire”, front door and sashes: “Rookwood Dark Red”, barge board and other doors: “Renwick Olive”, gutters, eaves, fascia and front porch ceiling: “Colonial Revival Stone". Absolutely beautiful!

For me, this was a dream job. It combined my love of architectural history and research with my unwavering devotion to color and its application.

www.eb-color.com

A Colorful Stroll Through the Hood

2009-10-29T15:44:00.000-07:00

Ah, Manette. The place I call "the land that time forgot". And the place I call home. In all its funkiness, artistic quirkiness reveals itself at every turn. It's such a delight to live here! I just have to share some of my discoveries from my daily round.

Well, we have musicians in residence with sense of humor.

First you see the totem. Seems to have everything but the kitchen sink.

Then you notice this, nailed onto the fence.

You look up, see the string, pull it and voila, you ARE a street musician! A bell rings.

Here's my favorite ride. Isn't it cool? I just love it. I have a soft spot for old trucks.

I loved it so much I had to paint it.

Okay, so it's a funky rough draft, just like my neighborhood.

There are some wonderful gardens that offer inspiration. How sweet is this?

Here, Mr. and Mrs. Mouse are holding court and you don't even give a damn!

It's good to be reminded to do this.

Here's what I come home to each and every day. My house is the little cottage on the point with the white picket fence.

Now if you're really starting to worry about me... you should. I don't know if I'm coming or going!

Here is my next door neighbor taking a moon bath!

Have no fear, I offer evidence we do have electricity here AND progressive people.

If you ever want an insider's tour, I would be happy to show you around. The folks here are the nicest people on the planet. Smiles abound and I take comfort in my surroundings. This parting shot says it all.

Happy Halloween!

The Smile Guy

2009-09-13T20:00:00.000-07:00

Each and every day, Bremerton and Bainbridge Island ferry commuters are treated to the Smile Guy. Displaying his colorful sign and waving a peace sign, he demands a smile from you as you pass by and even after a weary, unproductive day, I oblige. He always lifts my spirits and I'm sure I'm not alone. He has a cup out, yes, albeit discreetly, but deservedly so. He adds value to each and every passerby.

Yeah sure, perhaps he is just another beggar with a shtick. But besides reminding us what it's truly all about, to dwell in the here and now, this guy is colorful! Is he enlightened because he is colorful or is he colorful because he is enlightened? Once again, we’re presented with the chicken and the egg dilemma.

No doubt, it’s all about that color! We are attracted to his colorful sign and his colorful spirit. I will easily fill his cup with a donation.

Etsy

2009-08-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

I have about three hundred fifty million paintings in my studio. What to do with all of them? Sell them on Etsy, that’s what! Or at least try to.

So I signed up with Etsy, which was about as easy as buying a quart of milk from the grocer- surely a heck of a lot easier than finding a storefront, signing a lease, and hoping the best for customers. I can see that this might probably be a money losing situation, though. There are so many cool things up for sale- handcrafted goods, vintage items, art work of all kinds.

As I started to familiarize myself with the site I was taken (naturally) by the section “Shop by Color.” If you really need some artwork to match the sofa (heaven forbid)… here you go. Or if you’re craving some knock-out chartreuse earrings, one of a kind of course, just click on the colored circle and your wish just might be granted.

Check it out…dragonsappetite.etsy.com!

Why Do Fish Jump?

2008-06-04T21:12:00.001-07:00

This post has nothing to do with color, but instead, with another love of mine; the natural world.

Tonight I'm watching the fish jump.
They are cavorting, playing leapfrog, being just plain silly.

I had to look it up. Why in the heck are they doing this?

Well, just as when I was raising my babies and I would seek counsel in the baby books to tell me what I already knew, I found the answer I was looking for.

Here it goes:

"Have you ever watched from a deer stand or on a nature show as deer frolic? Have you ever seen chimpanzes chase each other just for the joy of it? Have you ever seen bear cubs tumble and rough house? Did you watch as your youngster, in that never-never land between toddler and teen, ran pell-mell at the speed of light playing with friends simply because it felt good? If you have, then you already know why fish jump.

I am convinced that Mother Nature sees to it that every organism above a certain point in the food chain is blessed with enough sense of self to enjoy being what they are. One universal expression of this joy is the exuberance of physical activity. The whole-body rush as adrenaline and endorphins flood the system. The invigorating flush of heat and motion. The stretch and play of supple muscles, the dynamic tension between skin and ligament, bone and tendon as we each discover our physical limits. The range of emotions your face undergoes as you fight a fish leads us to the same conclusion. First surprise, followed in short order by confusion, concentration, determination and finally pride and joy as you bring the fish to net, all point to the same reason.

Fish jump because they can. Because it feels good. It's that simple."

from Why Fish Jump By Dennis Dobson

What is the Color when Black is Burned?

2008-05-25T00:50:00.000-07:00

What is the color when black is burned? Neil Young offered us this riddle in 1969 and I’ve been pondering it ever since. Does it eventually condense and turn into “Colored Rain” so wonderfully expressed by Steve Winwood or perhaps more specifically into Prince’s iconic” Purple Rain”? Only Neil knows the answer but last checked, I believe the answer appears to be dark black. But could there be another color? Or is this really a question about colors? Some have interpreted the lyric to really be more of a statement about emotions and the heartbreak of love.

What does it mean? I need takers on this one.

One thing I do know is that where there’s smoke, there’s color. The color of smoke can say a lot about what's burning. It can also tell rescue and search parties where to look when someone is lost. Some of the common colors are black and white but there can be colors of orange, red, yellow and green.

Many wildfires contain color blends of orange, red and yellow. This could be in part because of the fiery sparks intertwining and blowing through the smoke. Another reason that smoke contains color is because of burning metals. Metals burn off color. Another fun way to see the different colors that smoke can be is to light up fireworks such as the popular smoke bomb. Fireworks can also burn white or black smoke. Check out the color of smoke from sparklers and black snakes.

If you get lost in the country what color of smoke will get you noticed? The answer is black. A large cloud of black smoke continuously rising into the sky is a sign that something is burning especially in forestry, park, and lakeside settings where there are many trees and underbrush. A person lost should burn black smoke in the day then switch to white smoke at night.

What kinds of things burn off black smoke? Plastic garbage bags, tires, rubber, oil, petroleum products, paint and paint thinners. Most chemicals will burn black that's why house fires billow out dark smoke. In the same fashion that's why most house trash will burn black. If you need to build an emergency fire to signal for help you can burn your rubber tennis shoes to make black smoke. Some things will burn white and then black. Take for instance a candle it will burn off white smoke until you blow it out and then the smoke turns black.

Now put that in your pipe and smoke it! It feels like colored rain, tastes like colored rain, bring on colored rain!

Color Pulse 2009

2008-05-23T10:25:00.000-07:00

I recently attended Color Pulse 2009, put on by Benjamin Moore Paint. Color scouts for Benjamin Moore travel the world gleaning what’s happening in color and design trends and come back with what they’ve reconnoitered. An excellent slide show, a veritable visual treat, was presented and their forecasts were divided into four themes with edgy names: “Raw”, “Urban Silence”, “Simplexity” and “ Private Identity”.

“Raw” was all about nature and natural materials. Think sand and weathered wood. Khaki and variations of the grey scale. Furnishings made from sandbags and cinderblocks were presented as well as orange crates and metal poles.

Once again, heaven forbid, there is an embracing of white. A boutique was shown in which the shopper has to first travel through a completely white, glossy, unadorned space. No color, no signage, only a black rod iron staircase that signals to descend into where the color finally dwells. This supposedly allows one’s palate to be cleansed before seeing the ensuing palette. White on white will be prevalent once again.

Next was “Urban Silence” which I believe is an oxymoron, don’t you? It’s about bringing nature back to city dwellers. We saw a massive rooftop garden at a Ford Motor Plant carpeted entirely in sedum. Also showcased were contemporary spaces by architect, Rene Gonzalez, whose innovative use of materials is both tactile and experiential. Patrick Dougherty’s installation, a building on LA’s Melrose Avenue wrapped in swirls of twigs and plant materials was intriguing. And most unusual was the Das Park Hotel in Linz, Austria. Each room is a concrete manhole structure.

Check out this cool video:

As you can imagine, with the greening of urban steel and concrete, the predominant colors of this theme were gray once again, but this time mixed with fresh greens. Brown, embraced by many different cultures as well as with both men and women will also be big.

“Simplexity” was the next theme and that’s just what was represented. Think origami. You’ll be seeing folds in design as well as cellular structures and fitted puzzle pieces. We saw furniture covered entirely in thumb tacks or safety pins or ribbons. There were patterns with a kaleidoscope effect and rapid prototyping. Be on the lookout for the evolution of reds intermixed with ocher.

Lastly was “Private Identity”. Individuals will be seeking to make their own mark and choose their own individual identities. From the cutting edge Zona Tortona show in Milan, a giant thumb print as company logo revealed a landscape upon further observation. On display was the “chapter chair”, a chair with multiple folding backs that resembles a book. As in the “Goldilocks Approach”, the user can decide which adjustment is right for him. Designers were sketching in mid air via the use of holograms. These sketches are echoed in fabrics and other materials. Bright directional color dictates here.

Just as every day people don’t wear the outrageous fashions that runway models wear on the catwalk, obviously these over the top ideas won’t be recreated in the average space. But quotidian color and design trends are born from such spectacles.

Why Do You like Red, But I Like Green? There’s More To It Than You Think

2008-04-08T14:23:00.000-07:00

We all have color preferences. But did you know they are based on much more than our personal likes and dislikes? Our prediliction for certain hues is a result of many reasons, from many different levels of our being, each building upon each other, forming what is called the “color experience pyramid”. This was first explained to me by one of my esteemed teachers in the IACCNA, Frank Mahnke. If you have further interest in this subject, it is explained in depth in his book Color, Environment and Human Response.

The base of this pyramid is formed by our biological reactions to color stimuli. It comes down to mere survival. Animals have relied on color cues to know when a fruit is ripe and ready to eat or that a potential mate has good genetic breeding material. Changing colors have alerted us to changing of seasons. These biological reactions are completely out of our conscious control.

The next level is referred to as the “collective unconscious”, archetypal images that we have inherited from our primordial ancestors. We are born with this knowledge; it is part of the genetic makeup of our brain. From these inherited experiences of millions of years of past generations we carry on such behavior, including our color reactions.

On top of this sits our associations with color, also known as color conscious symbolism. We all make color associations and many are universal. For instance, if you were to ask people, from any part of the world what colors they associate with the words love, growth and hatred, they would reply with red, green and black respectively. Expressions such as ‘I’m green with envy” or “I’ve got the blues” are color associations.

Cultural influences come next. Specific cultures all have associations and experience color accordingly. While white is the color of mourning for the Chinese, in the west it represents pureness. Red is auspicious for some and threatening to others.

Fashion and trends follow in sequence. Don’t be thinking you’re not immune to their sneaky influence. You may believe it was actually your idea to paint your dining room “wasabi”, or “aubergine”, but it probably, more likely, is a subliminal reaction to the insidious effects of advertising. Whatever the Color Marketing Group has decided will be the next year’s “in” colors, we consumers tend to follow.

We’ve finally climbed to the summit of the color experience pyramid, that very small part atop, resting upon the supporting lower strata. Here lies your personal relationship with color, your very own likes and dislikes. Well, at least you thought they were your own.

http://www.eb-color.com/

The Professional Color Consultant

2008-04-03T20:30:00.000-07:00

A professional architectural color consultant should have a refined sense of color earned from years of experience, yet refrains from imposing her own personal color choices upon the client. Although she is aware of current color trends, she does not follow them.

She concerns herself not only with decoration, but the psychological and physiological aspects of color as well. Her ultimate concern is the end user’s well being.

A pamphlet from the color store may show some fine color combinations, but a good consultant knows how to balance them: in placement, quantity, lightness and darkness, coolness and warmth and saturation. She knows where to start a line and where to stop it. She knows how to move the colors through the space.

A professional color consultant qualifies each and every job through profiling the customer’s needs. How do they want to feel in the space? What image do they want to convey? How will the space be used?

She has received thorough training in all aspects of color through an organization such as the International Association of Color Consultants, North America (iaccna.org), an organization that merges the art and science of color. Design schools prepare architects and interior designers to design, but little attention is given to the study of color and its effect on the end user.

A great consultant loves color and finds inspiration everywhere. Beautiful and useful color palettes can be derived from observing nature’s subtleties. A clam shell or an alder twig, for instance, yield beautiful color combinations all displayed in proper proportion. Perhaps a work by Picasso, Rothco or any other master could be a point of departure.

Just as you would look for a certified accountant to do your taxes or a licensed contractor to build your deck, take some time to find a qualified color consultant that is the right fit for you.

Red Sky At Night, Sailor's Delight

2008-04-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

And then, of course, they go on to say “red sky in the morning, sailors take warning!” Shakespeare mentioned it in “Venus and Adonis”. Even Jesus said it. “When in evening ye say it will be fair weather, for the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather today; for the sky is red and lowering.”

But why? And is this a true weather predictor? Now that I live on the shore and am witness to such colorful spectacles, I have become all the more curious.

So, ready for a little physics lesson? We see the sky as red in the morning and evening because the sun is low in the sky and the atmosphere is at its thickest, filled with water vapor and particles. The sun’s electromagnetic light rays pass through and are immediately ordered into their spectral divisions. They don’t even “Pass Go”! Red, being the longest wavelength makes it through, while the blues are broken up and scattered in smithereens.
Usually, weather moves from west to east, blown by westerly trade winds. This means storm systems generally move in from the west.

When we see a red sky at night, this means that the setting sun is sending its light through a high concentration of dust particles. This usually indicates high pressure and stable air coming in from the west. Basically good weather will follow.

A red sunrise reflects the dust particles of a system that has just passed from the west. This indicates that a storm system may be moving to the east. If the morning sky is a deep fiery red, it means high water content in the atmosphere. So, rain is on its way.

This colorful post is based on an article from “Everyday Mysteries” from the Library of Congress. And if it’s information from our government, it HAS to be true.

Synesthesia

2008-03-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

Have you ever described something visual as delicious? Or laid eyes on visual clutter and labeled it cacophony ? This is the phenomenon of synesthesia, the crossing over of the senses, and we all do it.

There are even people who see the letters of the alphabet in different colors or have assigned different hues to the days of the week in their mind’s eye. In her book, Blue Cats and Chartreuse Kittens, How Synesthetes Color their World, Patricia Lynne Duffy describes in depth her such experiences and those of others.

In Buenos Aires I would be awakened early each morning to rattling trucks careening down the avenue at breakneck speed. These behemoths, seeming only to be loosely attached components of scrap metal, hit every bump in the road, surely losing nuts and bolts along the way. As I lay in my bed with my eyes closed, this auditory experience transmogrified into giant mobiles of swaying Mondrianesque rectangles of primary hues.

Last night, Saint-Saens’ Symphony in No. 3 in C minor evoked all kinds of imagery, especially swirling bowls of cake batter with lots and lots of butter. But I think I was just hungry.

Now please, if you will, post a comment and tell me about your synesthetic experiences. I will be listening as I read them.

Wearing of the Green...Shamrocks and Leprechauns

2008-03-17T19:06:00.000-07:00

She was wearing the coolest green knee socks. When I spied them, green with envy, I realized today was St. Patrick’s Day and of course, everyone is wearing green. Luckily, including me. It is after all my favorite color. It got me wondering. Just why do we wear green on this day?

So I did a little research. According to Wikipedia,” The “wearing of the green” is actually the wearing of shamrocks on your clothing. According to Christian legend, St. Patrick used this three leaved plant to explain the Holy Trinity to pre-Christian Irish. However, this story did not appear until 1000 years after his death. The actual color associated with St. Patrick was blue.

In ancient Ireland, the Celtic people revered the shamrock as a sacred plant because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the 17th century, when the English began to seize Irish land and suppress Irish language and religion, the shamrock became a symbol of Irish nationalism.

Here’s another tidbit: According to Bridget Haggerty, author of The Traditional Irish Wedding, in the United States, it's customary to wear green on St. Patrick's Day. But in Ireland the color was long considered to be unlucky, “Irish folklore holds that green is the favorite color of the Good People (the proper name for faeries). They are likely to steal people, especially children, who wear too much of the color.

Does anyone know why we pinch someone who is not wearing green? Is this just the stuff of vicious school yard shenanigans?

Did you wear green today? Did you get pinched?