Newsletters

Fresh Paint Colors | March 2012

What have I been up to, you ask?

Wow have I been busy. It seems that internet matters and e•commerce have taken up much of my time lately, having updated the Vanderwal Design website (www.DurangoInteriors.com) plus getting a design blog up. Also, I’ve put up three blogs for things Bill and I are working on (more later). Blah, blah, blog! Also several window covering projects and a remodeling design in the works.  I love what I do, so it’s all fun and creative.  Speaking of creative, I was inspired to create the article below about color. In the last issue I had promised continued information about remodeling, and  I’ll resume remodeling tips next issue. Meanwhile, we have a color issue.  This also inspired me to offer a color consultation to discuss how and where to use colors in your home. For $100 (a little more if my drive time is more than 15 minutes) I will come to your home and select paint colors and show you where to use them. Knowing me, I’ll probably make suggestions on fabrics and artwork to accent the wall colors, too. Just contact me to set up a convenient time: Nancy@DurangoInteriors.com or 970.385.9929. I still offer a complete line of window coverings, fabrics, and of course, my professional Interior Design Service. 

Fresh Paint Color Schemes for Your Interior

On a recent road trip to Canyonlands National Park, I got inspiration for this article. In Utah, spring was just beginning to, well, spring. The colors in the high desert are always inspiring to me, but particularly so this time. Next thing you know, I’m on the ground photographing dirt. Bill thought I had lost my mind, I’m sure, and he gingerly asks “um, what exactly are you photographing?”. I grin and tell him “my next design newsletter”.

Nature gives us every kind of color scheme we can think of, from the sublimely subtle to the outrageously bold. I love them all. As my clients, you’ve probably had me tell you that color is my thing.  I am providing you with three color schemes from nature that truly inspired me. I call them the Cactus Scheme, the Sandstone Scheme and the Mineral Scheme.

I hope these schemes will inspire you to  spring in to action and freshen up your interior paint colors. To help you out, I have matched paint colors to my inspiration photo, then specified the paint to use. 

On both schemes above, specifications are from left to right. I have used Sherwin Williams paint, which is easy to get.

•CACTUS SCHEME:

SW7701 Cavern Clay (left side)

SW6417 Tupelo Tree ( a lovely fresh green)

SW6026 River Rouge (brown with purple  undertones)

SW6004 Musk (rich taupey grey)

SW6036 Angora (very rich off white)

•SANDSTONE SCHEME:

SW6008 Individual White (lightest)

SW6009 Imagine (like a sunset shadow)

SW7597 Trek Tan (fleshy tan)

SW6024 Dressy Rose (smoky rose)

SW6278 Cloak Gray (deeply interesting)

•MINERAL SCHEME

SW7700 Olde World Gold (from left)

SW6251 Outerspace  (dark bluish grey)

SW6521 Notable Hue (a surprising medium hue smokey blue)

SW6142 Macadamia (light tan)

SW6140 Moderate White

Painting Tips

TIP 1: When painting, always use the premium interior paint grade of whatever brand you or your painter is using. The cost of premium is a few dollars more per gallon,  but the benefits in coverage and durability is well worth the cost.

TIP 2: Many people think that small rooms, like Powder Rooms should be painted 

a light color to make it look larger. I say “balderdash”. That won’t make the room larger.  Paint 

a nice rich dark color to give it personality instead!

Tips for a successful remodeling project | January 2012

There are many factors involved in a successful remodeling project. First one must consider the reason for deciding to remodel. Do you want to make a more usable, updated space for your family, or do you want to remodel to increase your resale value? Increasing your resale value can be a tricky proposition if you are not very clear on local property values, your budget, and construction costs, and it requires careful, disciplined planning to be financially successful. I’ll save this option for a future newsletter.

In this Newsletter I will address several factors regarding remodeling to increase the livability of your existing home.

One of the reasons many people remodel is to update the look of their home. One of the most effective ways to update your home is to paint the walls. Not only does it refresh your living space, but color can have a subliminal effect that creates wellbeing. It’s important to select a color that will be enjoyed by your family for years to come, but this does not have to be white! So many colors used effectively can become the neutral backdrop that allows you to change the look of rooms by changing accent colors in the room’s artwork and furnishings. Replacing flooring is another way that really freshens up a home. You should take your family’s lifestyle in to account when selecting flooring. Hard surface flooring is a must if you have pets or allergies. I like to use hard surface floors and area rugs. Hard floors are easy to clean, and area rugs can be taken outside to shake the deep dirt out, or sent to a professional cleaner. There are many good options to consider. Wood flooring is available that is reclaimed from another source, like old barns, or renewable, like bamboo. These are hard, durable woods that will hold up well under an active lifestyle, plus they are environmentally friendly. Believe it or not, a vinyl “wood” is now available that looks fantastic. Plus it’s really easy to clean with a mop, and very cost effective! Another option is tile. Porcelain tile is extremely hard and durable. With today’s photography imprinting techniques, some look almost identical to natural stone, but don’t require the maintenance of stone.

I’m out of space for this issue, so I’ll  have to address other items like kitchens, baths, lighting, windows, and hvac systems in future newsletters.