Think Pink! for Spring 2012

What if Pantone's 2012 color of the year (Tangerine Tango)  is not your color?

No worries, Think Pink for Spring!   Everything from fabrics to paint is coming up in rosy hues that are not for the faint of heart.  Here are a few examples to encourage you to unleash your inner pink.  What does the color pink bring to mind?  Bubble gum, popsicles, or ballet slippers?  Quite a difference in all those pinks, but for 2012...the hotter the pink, the better.

Basic beginner pink is a mixture of red and white...but that combination alone would not create a very interesting or complex color.  Add a bit of blue to cool it off, or a touch of orange to warm it up to a salmon, or violet to lean it toward magenta...but go for the complex versions to use the full power of the color in home decor.

Check out the beautiful bright hues of the renovated Saguro Hotel in Palm Springs.  They didn't stop at tangerine or hot pink...each of the balconies showcases one of the spectrum colors in sequence...red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet...and mixtures of the shades in between.  This bold display of brights is probably too much for your home (unless you live in the desert), so take a big step and do a room in one of the bright primary colors, or take a safe step and invest in some new toss pillows for your stately beige sofa...either way, you'll be in step with this season's trends.

Read the complete story at the Dunn Edwards paint site:
http://www.specsspaces.com/Article/TheSaguaroHotelsColorfullyModernistRetreats.aspx 

House Beautiful dedicated their entire March 2012 issue to "the Power of Pink".  

To start it off with a bang, why not paint a tiny space in a bold color...like your entry?  In this HB issue, they have a beautiful example from Jonathan Berger who chose Razzle Dazzle by Benjamin Moore.  The bold color is scary on its own...but add it to a very traditional space as he did, with very traditional furnishing and decorative items, and it suddenly looks just perfect.  And remember...it's only a $40 can of paint, so if you do it and in 6 months you are tired of it...just paint over it!

http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/colors/how-to-decorating-with-pink-0211#slide-1

Want a more sophisticated twist on the pink?  Pair a softer pink with black or charcoal mixed with hints of white and you have a room ready for a party.

For a contemporary feel, mix hot pink and grey and the results can be dramatic as shown in this bathroom.

http://www.housemaintain.com/search/room+color+ideas+modern+red/page/3/

If you are using pink on the walls and crisp white trim, to get a global "I've collected all these things on my world travels" look, mix up the color palette and styles.  

Check out everything that is happening in this room.  A giant herringbone gold fabric on the cushy corner chair is dressed with a floral pillow.  A little mother of pearl inlay table that could be from Morocco separates it from an elegant pink velvet chair, then the sofa is covered in a happy turquoise and white print and topped with a mix of pillows that most people would be afraid to seat together at a dinner party.  The finishing touch is the collection of unframed art hung on the wall to the left.  There is nothing "matchy matchy" in this room and all the elements together create the upscale simple elegance that makes the room both exciting and comfortable.  The wall color is Pink Begonia from Benjamin Moore #2078-50.  The designer is Windsor Smith.

 

Above: JoAnn Locktov's California Dining Room

This is pretty bold and dramatic due to the acid yellow and black striped columns mixed with the hot pink wall...but you can see that "the rules" are breakable for a dramatic impact. How boring would this room be with the back wall in white?  The pink draws you in and sets a whimsical mood. 

Most of us make our guest rooms do double duty.  Here is a perfect example from the Martha Stewart website.  The warmth of the pink combined with a soft grey trim color, grey velvet bench and lacquered coffee table make this a great reading room or an inviting guest room.  Note again the mix of styles from the rustic beam to the shiny footed table to the simple contemporary lamp and finished with a mix of yellow textured throw pillows. http://www.marthastewart.com/274845/pink-rooms/@center/276997/decorating-color#/187877

So...how about mixing Tangerine and Pink...what do you get?  Something like this mix that sends it toward salmon...particularly with that rust accent above the picture rail trim before the crown molding at the ceiling.  This furniture and accessory mix is another great example of an eclectic concoction of style, texture, formality and informality.  The chairs are interesting vintage (love the black), the bowl of cherries adds whimsy to the antique mirrored chest..and what about those formal black-matte prints above the textural wall art. The symmetry keeps this entry leaning toward the formal, but those unexpected touches make it inviting and approachable. 

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/color/article/0,1000138,HGTV_42792_5493119_05,00.html

Whatever your flavor of pink passion...sneak in a bit to freshen up your home this spring!    

Does Your Bathroom Need to be Remodeled?

How to Know when your Bathroom Needs to Be Remodeled

Holes in the floor, a rusty bathtub, a toilet that just won't cooperate—these are the types of big-ticket bathroom problems that require major repairs. But what about the smaller signs that it's time to upgrade your bathroom? They might not be quite what you expect.

1. Little things start to go wrong. All bathrooms are prone to everyday wear and tear, but some problems require more than a simple repair job. "When the tile grout begins to flake out of its joints, the whites in the bathroom turn yellow, or the ceiling is crumbling from moisture, it's time," says contractor Bob Bonano. Depending on the cost of serious repairs, it may make sense to spend a little more and create a brand new bathroom.


2. You're stuck in a retro gear. While it's true that yesterday's trends often resurface, some are best left in the past. Some people still have the avocado-and-gold color palette from the '70s. This is not back yet and not in the color forecast for 2007 or 2008! Creating a fresh look can be as simple as using a neutral color in your tub and lavatory, and accenting it with color on the wall and window treatments. If your bathroom sends you into a time warp, it's due for an update. This bathroom needs a complete overhall. Nothing matches, the fixtures are dated and worn, and the layout is inconvenient. Get out the sledge hammer and go for it!
   


3. You're thinking of selling your home. Why would you remodel your bathroom if you're not planning to stay there forever? The answer is simple, says Seattle realtor Sheila Sabine: Making relatively small changes is a smart way to raise your home's value. "You can have a really upscale house, but it won't look good with cheap bathroom or door hardware," she says. "If the bathroom doesn't look high class, you should upgrade it. Or, if you have an older house update an obsolete bathroom and you’ll get between 150 and 200% on that investment."
   
   The bathroom below just needed a fresh coat of plaster to cover the imposing black walls.
   
   
   The black accent trim in the original 1920’s tile is now what it was intended to be…an accent!!
   


4. Your family's needs shift. When your family situation changes, so does its needs. People often remodel or add a second bathroom when they have children on the way…or they’ve lived with a bathroom full of teenagers who have now gone off to college and they take back their “retreat” space and create a haven for relaxation.


5. You plan to “age in place” in your home. As older adults find their mobility changing, they may be more comfortable in rooms designed for their needs. Older people might not want to step in and out of a tub. Why not replace a bathtub with walk-in showers for safety?
   
   This former “basement bathroom” was transformed with the use of a mix of textures including a dramatic split face tile wall, custom walnut cabinetry, new ambient lighting, and a beautiful square vessel sink. The guests using this bathroom may not want to leave!
   
   
   6. Your bathroom isn't "you" Standard-issue faucets and fixtures may be functional, but there's nothing distinctive about them. If these details don't fit your personal aesthetic, it doesn't take much to find a look that goes with your style. The fixtures in a bathroom are like furniture. Just as you would redesign a living room or dining room, you can create a bathroom that fits your design. Whether you prefer classic lines or sleek modern curves, a few small changes can make a big impact. The bathroom below standard issue all the way. A new cherry cabinet, black granite counter, acres of mirror to enlarge the feel of the room and custom Venetian plaster walls make take this bathroom from ho-hum to enchanting!
   

Analyze your bathrooms and see if a facelift is in order...then call me at 510.339.3229 for a free 1-hour consultation!