ColorSnap

Sherwin-Williams has a fun application you can download to your iPhone that boasts the ability to match real-world colors with paint colors. “ColorSnap” is available to download from the App Store and has a number of cool features (copied from the Sherwin-Williams website):

• Capture a color that inspires you and match it to one of 1,500 Sherwin-Williams paint colors.
• Create a custom palette or Ask Sherwin-Williams for complementary colors.
• Search for specific colors or browse the full Sherwin-Williams color palette.
• Fine tune colors using lightness, saturation and hue features.
• Save colors to your “My Saved Colors” library to compare palettes or share via Facebook and email.
• Learn detailed color information, including color names, RGB values, and LRV numbers.
• Find a Sherwin-Williams Store Near You

The best part about this application is that it is free! I downloaded it and tried snapping a few pictures, then matching their colors and it was actually fairly accurate (my house is painted in all Sherwin-Williams colors). I liked the versatility of the program and could see how it would be very useful for someone who is working on a major project. It allows you to save 3 colors per palette so you could, for instance, save your primary wall color, accent color, and trim all to the “dining room” palette, then do the same for each room of your house. While the accuracy of the colors may not match that of an actual paint chip, it might help in a pinch.

Of course, not everyone has an iPhone. For those who do not, the Sherwin-Williams website has much to offer in virtual assistance. In the end, though, the best way to pick a paint color is the tried-and-true method of painting samples on the walls, then examining them under various lighting conditions.

At Jenkins Custom Homes, we provide our clients 8×11 sample sheets of their initial color selections (available to professionals from Sherwin-Williams) to help them narrow their choices.  Then, we paint samples on the wall of those two or three selections so they can always select that perfect one paint color for each space.  When the project is finished, we provide our clients with a detailed list of every color and stain used in the home, as well as extra paint in case they ever have need for touch-up.

Hot Links From The Home Blog, Second Edition

I subscribe to various feeds from other blogs and websites. Here are a few of my favorite links from the past few weeks.

• If you are in the market for a new cooktop, take a look at this new gas/ induction combination that KitchenAid is now selling in Europe!
• Looking for something fun and different hanging in your home? Love Gummy Bears? Why not combine the two??? I stumbled across this recently and thought it was nothing if not unique. (Of course, you know what they say – if you have to ask how much it costs, you probably can’t afford it!)
• If you love the modern look and are searching for the perfect vanity for your home, you might consider this Brillante vanity. I don’t think I have ever seen anything quite like it before – it’s completely made of glass!
• I really got a kick out of this blog post. Be sure to read the comments, as well.
• Finally, with summer on the horizon, Jandy has just released this:

“Introducing Jandy’s new AquaLink® Touch™, designed with the style and features today’s consumers demand in a technologically advanced controller. AquaLink Touch’s smart, intuitive user interface, customizable features and attractive styling present the best touch panel experience for the pool industry today.” (source: Jandy)

Decking the Halls, Pt 2

Today’s guest is Jessica Nixon of Jessica Nixon Interior Design, the company she founded in 1994. Jessica is a registered American Society of Interior Designers member and has earned the National Council for Interior Design Qualification certification. In addition to her tenure as president of Austin’s ASID, she has held past positions with the association including Programs Chairman and Design Excellence Chairman. Visit her website at http://www.jnid.com/.

To follow up our last article we are now going to be discussing centerpieces, wreaths, and swags – not just for Christmas, but also for Thanksgiving.

Centerpieces:
1. People tend to go overboard with buying table decorations.   Follow the old saying “less is more.”

2.  Try using natural decorations to create a warm and inviting harvest table. Incorporate pumpkins and gourds down the middle of the table on a natural colored runner and scatter fall colors leaves in between. You can also cut the top off and hollow the pumpkins and gourds out and create a candle holder.  To create a unique floral arrangement, get a larger-sized pumpkin and insert a vase or container with fresh flowers in it.

3. To dress your table for an elegant Christmas dinner you can gather various height candle stick holders and place ball ornaments on each to create a pedestal to display the ornament.  If you are using holiday china, choose a color from the pattern and use that color for the balls.

4. For a natural holiday centerpiece, get a large glass bowl style vase and fill it with water and cranberries – enough to cover the stems and add fresh flowers.

5. Another table centerpiece for Christmas that will work on into the New Year uses huge pillar candles all in one color.  Add magnolia leaves or iridescent fake snow around the candles and voila!  You have your table decoration!  By using one color or candles or balls it keeps from detracting from the food being that will be served or china that is on display.

6.  In our first article, we talked about scrunching fabric around the base of the tree for a custom tree skirt.  In the same way, fabric can be used as a table runner for any of these centerpiece ideas.  Just turn under any unsightly edges.

Wreaths
7. If at all possible, use fresh or natural wreaths materials.  This requires less dressing up and then you can place in compost at the end of the season.  For an autumn themed wreath, use a natural material such as grapevine or wheat and simply add a pretty bow to it.  This look is elegant and not over done.  If you want to dress it up just a tad more, you could also add pheasant feathers on each side of the bow to make the wreath a little more three dimensional.

8. For the Christmas wreath, use a fresh pine wreath to which you can add magnolia leaves.  You can spray paint the leaves gold to add some pop.

9. If you feel that a faux wreath is better suited for your needs my suggestion is to add sprays of different species of pine to give a little more character to the wreath.  Also make sure that the size of wreath is in proportion with the size of area you are placing it. (If you have a large front door you wouldn’t want a 9 inch wreath.)

Swags
10.  There are many places you can use swags or garlands.  The most obvious places are on the mantel or stairs to adorn on your stair rail; however, you can also use them draped around your front door or inside your house, atop each window in the family room or kitchen. In any situation if you are using fresh or fake you can dress the swags by adding bows at the place of attachment.

11.  Hang glass colored balls on the garland that coordinate with the area of your home, or use all gold or all silver balls to coordinate in almost any setting.

12.  Finally, if you are using the garland on the exterior of your home, try to coordinate with the hardware and accessories that are near it.  For instance, if it hangs near a brass door knob, use gold ornaments.

By: Jessica Nixon

Decking the Halls, Pt One

Today’s guest is Jessica Nixon of Jessica Nixon Interior Design, the company she founded in 1994. Jessica is a registered American Society of Interior Designers member and has earned the National Council for Interior Design Qualification certification. In addition to her tenure as president of Austin’s ASID, she has held past positions with the association including Programs Chairman and Design Excellence Chairman. Visit her website at http://www.jnid.com/.

To create a beautiful sophisticated Christmas tree here are some helpful hints:

1. There is no better way to exude elegance than the use of white lights.

2. To make the white light even more angelic try purchasing some white tulle (wedding netting).  Cut into 1 yard pieces, scrunch together, and fill in any empty spaces between the tips of the branch and the trunk with the tulle.  This not only helps the tree look fuller but gives an extra twinkle.  It also looks great if you wrap the base of the tree with the tulle.  Tulle comes in many different colors another sophisticated color to use would be silver or gold.

3. Many pre-made tree skirts barely cover the tree stand.  One method to make it look fuller is to purchase two to three yards of a beautiful fabric from the fabric store.  Just wrap around the base of the tree, fold under any exposed rough edges, and puff and scrunch until it gives the soft, billowy look.  This is a custom, no-sew tree skirt for less.

4. As for tree topper, what I think always look beautiful is a glass finial.  If budget is an issue, you can do a bow on top of the tree.  For the bow, I always say “bigger is better.”  If you cannot make bows, you can go down to your local crafts store or florist shop, and they can make them for you out of the ribbon you chose for a small fee.  Also, I recommend having streams of the same ribbon that cascade down the tree.  All you have to do is cut the ribbon that will be showing at an angle to have clean finished edge.

5. If you want a sophisticated look and you have children, my suggestion is to have a separate tree for the kids to put their collection of ornaments on in the family room or even play room. That way you do not have to Mickey Mouse on your formal tree.  My friend has a mini tree in each of her boys’ room, and they have fun picking their favorite ornaments to go on their own mini tree.

6. If you can not get around having only one tree, make it over the top!  One way to achieve this is to use a fun, hip-colored garland.  Another way is to choose a tree skirt that has a lot of color.  You could also try the same no-sew method tree skirt here again, but make the color something that is bright and festive.  A patchwork skirt or even a patchwork quilt could be a very unique tree skirt.  And lastly, do everything multi-colored.  Instead of using one color of ornaments, use red, purple, blue, and green and definitely go with multi-colored lights.  By using all these elements together you can create a tree that is whimsical and fun for everyone.

Look for us again when we discuss swags, wreaths, and centerpieces.

Jessica Nixon, ASID

My Favorite Product

I LOVE the Sherwin Williams product called Illusions® Translucent Metallic Technique Finishes. The Pearl color adds so much “luxury” to a small space like a Powder Bath wall or a barrel ceiling, and it requires no technique at all! You can just paint it on the space, and it gives it a pearl sheen.  If you tried to faux paint an area, and it didn’t work out so great, you can sometimes hide it with this product.

What’s your favorite product?