Integral ColorViews Blog 

Following the last post here about price of paint and Titanium White (a major ingredient in house paint products) I want to share this article with you.

From the magazine Period Homes, it’s titled “A Primer on Paint,” and offers a detailed view of trends in paint products. It’s not about ‘color trends’ but rather about the actual development of paint products.

It's the pigments that make color visible. Aren't they beautiful? Kremer Pigments manufactures pigments from natural materials to create a wide range of historically authentic paints and finishes. Photo: courtesy of Kremer Pigments.

Major paint and pigment manufacturers are featured, with comments from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, Behr, Fine Paints of Europe, and Kremer Pigments.

If you have been wondering about Waterborne – vs. – Oil based paints, differences in paint qualities, “VOC’s,” and pigments, be sure to read the article. You will also glean a few tips from color consultants James Martin and Barbara Jacobs (Yes, I am honored to be included in this article).

I hope you enjoy reading it, and perusing the magazine, in general.

Do you have a “Period Home?’ What are the joys and challenges?  What do you love the most about it? Let us know about your experience.

Share/Save

Here we go again, in Paint as many industries and products.
Yes, prices are going up—again. It used to be that paint was, well, “Cheap!” We always would say, hey, it’s the best way to get the most change for the least money spent.  Big change for small change, so to speak. Whether you’re “into paint” or just buying paint again after a long time away from your paint store, now you might be surprised at the current prices and the projected trend in this direction.

What is the story about the paint price increases? It’s not just for a few “premium” companies, but apparently all across the spectrum of brands, quality and price points.

What’s in that can of paint?
Basically, all paint colors are made up of tinted bases. In sheens from flat to high gloss, the base material is a combination of materials, but this story is about, essentially,  “titanium dioxide.” That’s what makes the the paint color white, in the can, before adding tints to make Your colors. So, when the cost of that material goes up, so goes the price of paint.

If you’re into the economy of science–or the bottom line on why paint products are continuing to get more expensive– you might enjoy this article.

But OK, I will still say it—Paint is the way to go.  All the more reason why we want to really carefully consider what colors we’re using, and paying for.  And, all the more reason to make the most of the paint we are using—and enjoying.

Share/Save

For the most part, paint color consultants are concerned primarily with specifying color for ceilings, walls, trim, and other architectural details. Even so, (we) paint color consultants also consider the colors and textures of floors, since those surfaces are a big factor in how we all perceive any space in its entirety. In fact the colors and textures of floors will always affect the wall and ceiling colors we select.

I was recently inspired by seeing some particularly beautiful floor coverings and flooring materials, and wanted to share them with you. So, here’s a quick overview of a few that inspired me personally.

Hard Surface Materials
Wood, stone, tile, concrete, natural linoleum? Consider the various materials, colors and  texture, and how they are all related.

Wood is always a beautiful choice and the new, high quality engineered products are a good choice.

A floor only stains and finishes as well as the type of wood you start with.
A beautiful example, from Finland, in a gorgeous gray.

Silverwood: Impresario - Color: Stonewashed Volcanic Ash

Silverwood - Smoked Ash Ancient White

More gorgeous "smoked finish" woods from Silverwood

Made in Finland, Karelia floors from Silverwood Flooring feature a thick 4mm veneer over a Quarter Sawn Nordic Spruce core for ultimate stability. Karelia is offered in a multi-strip, 5.4” or 7.” wide format. This series is available in multiple finishes including lacquer and a 100% vegetable oil. Perfectly milled square edge product suitable for floating (click) or glue down installation including over radiant heat. (description from Silverwood.com)

Full Plank wood from Carlisle is great way to achieve a unique look, with a US-sourced product.
Carlisle describes Hickory like this: “…Hickory is tough and handsome, with a tensile strength that rivals steel and a surface appearance long admired by woodworking purists and cabinetmakers.”

Hickory, from Carlisle - lots of personality!

Wood patterns in Parquet, which Carlisle can make in a variety of patterns.

The artistry involved in making parquet flooring first emerged during the Baroque era of the early 1600’s.

Light floors can add light to a room, even if you don’t have a wall of windows.

Floors and sky are the feature in this spacious open, contemporary room

Concrete
Concrete, a truly decorative and durable floor product. From funky to glamorous; old-world to contemporary and smooth to patterned or textured, it’s a multi-use material that invites your creativity.
A few examples, from Scofield Decorative Concrete.

Pretty "hip" for a fire station kitchen!

Is this concrete or leather and pebbles?

Five colors were used in this stained concrete floor.

Natural and Biostatic: Marmoleum Linoleum
Made from natural raw materials, including linseed oil, pine rosins, and wood flour, Marmoleum is biodegradable and environmentally friendly. It’s antimicrobial properties make it the perfect health care flooring. Of course it’s also great for a home!

There are so many ways you can be creative with this product. A few examples here are from Forbo – Marmoleum

Forbo: Marmoleum - Rusting Leaves

Forbo: Marmoleum - Vibrating Copper.

For more drama you can always get really creative with this product.

Floor color speaks volumes -- and in this case, surfaces.

Forbo: Marmoleum "Click"

Other interesting flooring (and paneling) materials worth considering
Durapalm: Palmwood -another great reason to love coconut water!

What they say: "Palmwood flooring makes coconut water worthwhile".

I have some cooking utensils like this, but never before thought of it for the floor!

Cork: beautiful colors and textures in sound-absorbing, comfortable surfacing.

Cork is well known as a versatile floor material that comes in a variety of colors and natural patterns.

Check out DuroDesign for great ideas texture and color, in cork and bamboo.

Cork comes in many patterns, also. This is DuroDesign-Edipo Bleach White

I love the deep mossy color of DuroDesign: Cleopatra Negra Steel Green

Carpet Tiles
FLOR
Looking for a softer solution to floor surfaces? Durable, beautiful, varied, with seemingly infinte options whether you do it yourself or get professional help. You can even explore designing your own patterns on their web site.

From the Patterns group of FLOR carpet tiles

FLOR: Graphic Pattern

More from FLOR

If you’re into painted floors…
You can either yourself, or hire a decorative artist to do the creative and installation processes. You’ll have a universe of creative options at your disposal.

Large "marble squares" painted on wood kitchen floor. Wood floor and wall finishes by Barbara Jacobs. Photo by Barbara Jacobs

This kitchen floor in an antique home received a decorative floor finish painted by Barbara Jacobs. Photo by Barbara Jacobs

Detail view of painted floor, from the back entrance to the kitchen.

One example of balancing floor and wall colors
In this project, the color of the tile floor dominated the space and made the clients uncomfortable. It could not be changed so we modified the effect with wall color.

Dominant floor tile color is balanced with a rich, earthy wall color.

Future: Natural stone, tile, and soft surface flooring
A future post will address more inspirational options, from the various types of machine-made carpeting in a variety of materials to hand knotted area rugs.

Are you FLOORED yet?
Please let me—and other readers—know your favorites, and your thoughts about using purposeful color on floors.
Your comments are always welcome!

Share/Save

Last year was a big year for my mom. Making the decision to move to Los Angeles from her lifelong home in Minneapolis was not easy, but once she did, she did it with her typical commitment to a project.

Granted, this is not my usual kind of subject but I wanted to touch on it anyway.  After all…it’s this type of life change that make you reflect on future development and how it’s a quite a mystery that we can only “plan” for to a relatively limited extent.

The reason I wanted to bring this up is that she had a lot of help from a friend and “moving-on-professional.”  I don’t know what we would have done without Laure Green, a Minneapolis real estate professional who also has a compatible business in helping elders with exactly this type of transition. From identifying attachments and being able to “let go” of them–right down to the last minute managing the movers. My mom—and we, her family— were so lucky to have Laure’s help.

Moving in, or moving out? This room needs color!

Emotion Rules…for better or worse!
More recently, and locally to us here in Massachusetts, Lisbeth Wiley Chapman has started a new “move management” company on Cape Cod. She’s named it “Extra Daughters,” and the name really fits the service.

Beth’s description of what is involved includes emotion as playing a major role in the moving process:
“It’s all about emotion. Downsizing and de-cluttering means making decisions. Rather than making them, we have spent years stashing stuff higher and deeper. We save too much and get emotionally bogged down in life’s leftovers that we will never use and have tenuous reasons for keeping.”

Beth’s Top Ten Tips
Check out Beth’s Top Ten Tips for Moving.

Between the two of them, Laure and Beth have a world of experience. Laure, from the Real Estate side—and Beth, having moved her own full household eighteen times before coming to Cape Cod nearly 12 years ago—has an unusual depth of  experiences to combine with her organized, focused approach to everything she does. Beth has settled five estates and worked for an antique/collectibles dealer.  Recently, she was the program director for Seashore Point, the only outer Cape continuing care retirement community.

Make the transition one that is joyous, radiant and full of positive energy!
Since this is, after all, IntegralColorViews, I can easily make the color connection:
Change a gray, depressing and overwhelmed feeling and experience to one that is brightly glowing with yellows, oranges, and luminous blues! As we age, our color needs change.

As always, environmental color is, in itself, an absorbing  and expansive subject.  It’s not unusual for designers of elder housing to create spaces with only the family members in mind. But it’s the people who live there who count the most!

A few the reasons to give color the serious consideration that people deserve

• Emotional comfort
• Physical comfort
• Wayfinding
• Safety in the home

Even if there is not a move planned at this time, you can always revive a current home to make it more appropriate for elder residents.
For now, I offer a few considerations, and tips for selecting colors as we age:

1. Hue: Many hues can work, but consider that we see more yellow as we age.
2. Pattern: larger patterns are sometimes easier to “read” but don’t overwhelm the viewer with visual information
3. Contrast: regardless of our age, higher contrast makes important items more identifiable
4. Sheen: high sheen creates reflection and can add confusion
5. Intensity: use colors that are moderate but not boring. Consider contrast, intensity, sheen.
6. Lighting: a critical piece! Consider lighting closer to daylight, rather than yellow-based lighting color. Consult an experienced lighting designer for this all-important part of the environment you want to create
7. In all cases, the balance between these elements is key.  Too subtly neutral is “boring” and can create anxiety, and too much color and pattern can create confusion when not used judiciously.

I look forward to addressing these details more specifically in a future article. Meanwhile, I’d love to hear your experiences in this area.

Share/Save