Elegant exteriors

Just a short post to talk about what to consider when choosing color for the exterior of your home.

• Your neighbors – sometimes it’s not the easiest thing to want to consider, but you must consider the environment that will be surrounding your color choices.  Colors have meaning and sometimes a very loud voice when placed next to another color.  Make sure that you are not choosing a color that will look awful because it’s next to the wrong color…
• I like to work in odd numbers.  There is something about the interest odd numbers create.  I like when there is at least 3 colors in a palette, but I’m usually more of a 5 color girl!
• Choose your color outside!!!!  Make sure you aren’t deciding what color to paint or which siding you are using while at your kitchen table!  The outside light is, oh! so much different and it’s so important to make sure that you are considering the washed out effect the sun can have.  I have met many clients who are mulling over a white for an exterior, only to have every white look extremely similar because the sunlight washes out the nuances so quickly.

Here’s a recent transformation that we worked on.  We meaning The Painting Company.  We painted and picked the palette.  Let us know your thoughts.  I was excited about the end result with the new design.

Before we see the painted red brick... And after.... ahhhhh!

Why care how you feel?

Some of my clients think I ask some weird questions about them, when I’m only there to pick their colors for them!  Why should we care how you feel in the space?  It all boils down to stress!

http://www.babyboomercaretaker.com/images/Distemper-Paint-Health-Risks.jpg

Stress is a cause of and increases the risk of diseases.  They say direct symptoms of stress are headaches, sleeping issues, digestive issues, irritability, and lack of energy or concentration, appetite fluctuation, anger, depression and many more.  There is known to be a greater risk of health concerns such as asthma, skin problems, anxiety, heart problems, IBS, neck and back pain, weight fluctuation, etc. all from too much stress.  This is why we care about how you feel in your environment.  Even if on a subconscious level we can help to eliminate some environmental stressors, isn’t it good for the health of all those living or working within the space?

It’s not a totally different approach to making sure that there aren’t any offensive color combinations.  Interior Design has been beautifying interiors and making art out of living spaces since its inception.  Why not take things a step further and secure aesthetics, health concerns, functionality, and stress reduction?  In order to take steps in this direction it really only means beefing up your education regarding a few major points.

Visual Ergonomics – this is going to encompass all that one needs to know about the function of the human eye and how to best support that function in long-term environments.

Color Psychology – this can go in all sorts of directions but taking color into account and the mood that it can induce for the type of personalities in the space.

Physiological Reactions – this mostly has to do with color and light.  When color is at its purest light we can cause specific reactions in the human body.  However, there have been some studies that show that boring (under stimulated) environments can cause physiological reactions, like increased heart rate.  Something to chew on for sure!

So to you clients, future clients, and friends in the field; be prepared for my out-of-the box questions about your sleeping habits and health issues, questions about your children and their learning abilities and tendencies.  This all comes from a desire to make sure that you FEEL great in your space once I leave!  Anything that we can do to make it feel less stressful is always a plus!

(Looks like this office could use some color help….  What do you think????)

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.working.com/2242050.bin