America's Color Consultants

Feng Shui & Color

Have you ever walked into a home and it immediately felt right? It might have been because of the Chinese art of arranging one’s life in accordance with the forces of the universe. This art is rooted in a sensitivity to nature, is over 7,000 years old and is called Feng Shui. The practice of Feng Shui is also a science with diagnostic equipment, mathematical formulas and specialized terminology.  The use of color in Feng Shui is driven by your particular circumstances at that moment of choice. An example of a Feng Shui driven color choice would be – soft tones of color are ideal for bedrooms such as warm pink tints and pale peach shades as well as colors in the red spectrum — eggshell, magnolia, beige and light tan. However light colors in the blue/green spectrum are also great for bedrooms as well as sitting rooms and bathrooms. All of these colors are ideal for creating a soft relaxing effect. However in the practice of Feng Shui, if you should use the red spectrum or the blue/green spectrum would depend on many different factors directly related to your home placement, your balance of yin and yang at the time of choosing.

Purple & Greens 

 

 

All Color

Color is the place where our brain and the universe meet.

Paul Klee

Product Review

I use this taped line drop cloth for specialty painting projects, it is great! It could be used to tape off furniture, windows, doors and trim. It is available from several different manufactures all work the same, however sometimes if the product has been sitting on the store shelf for too long the tape does not unroll. If this happens to you just return it for a fresher package.

Color Psychology as Therapy

Ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians and Chinese, used colors for healing. This approach is still used today as holistic or alternative treatments.

• Red was used to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation.
• Yellow was thought to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.
• Blue was believed to soothe illnesses and treat pain.

Most psychologists view color therapy with skepticism and point out that the supposed effects of color are often grossly exaggerated. What do you think?

Pink

“I fell off my pink cloud with a thud.” –Elizabeth Taylor

The Smoothest Finish

Paint rollers are made for different surfaces and finishes.  There are dozens of different rollers to choose from today.  When selecting a roller remember, the longer the nap the better it is for a rough surface. Also the longer nap  means you will be able to apply paint to your surface more quickly. The shorter the nap the smoother the application.  So if your goal is a smooth surface, use a shorter nap and take your time applying the paint.

Three of the smoothest finishes are the Flockfoam, Microfiber and a Mohair Blend rollers. The Flockfoam roller is great for varnishes and urethanes, yet not so great for paint.  Microfiber rollers work well on a rough surface.  This roller however is an excellent roller to apply a smooth metallic finish to your wall.

My favorite is the Mohair blend — it works great with all paints and gives the smoothest finish. For instance, use this roller for the smoothest finish on a wood door.

The Color Purple

Purple is a color occurring between red and blue on the color wheel. It is created by mixing the primary colors red and blue in varying proportions. Purple has been associated with royalty and nobility. A mysterious color, purple is also associated with spirituality. The opposites of hot red and cool blue combine to create this intriguing color.

Purple has a special, almost sacred place in nature: lavender, orchid, lilac, and violet flowers are often delicate and considered precious. Because purple is derived from the mixing of a strong warm and strong cool color it has both warm and cool properties. A purple room can boost a child’s imagination or an artist’s creativity. Too much purple, like blue, could result in moodiness. Deep or bright purples on painted walls suggests riches and nobility while lighter purples are more romantic and delicate. Use redder purples for a warmer color scheme or the bluer purples to cool scheme. A deep eggplant purple with neutral tans or beige are an earthy, conservative color combination with a touch of the mystery that purple provides.

 

“There is no blue without yellow and without orange.”

— Vincent Van Gogh

During our lifetime, trends are constantly changing. What we liked 10 years ago is different than the present, trends change, we change. Textured finishes have come and gone and then some have come back again.

Popcorn textures were common in the 60’s and 70’s and thankfully have never returned as a trend. First it was a trend, then it became a treatment to cover imperfections in dry wall installations. Many homes today still have this texture because it is difficult and expensive to remove. There are products to remove the texture and you can scrape and sand. But an easier option is to plaster over textures. The best results are achieved by hiring a professional. A professional will cover the finish with minimal sanding required, the result less of a mess.

One to three coats of plaster are skimmed on top of the texture then lightly sanded for a smooth finish. Average cost $500 to $1,000 depending on the size of the room and the amount of coats needed.