Entries Tagged 'color' ↓

Finally, moving home is completed, new kitchen galore! Back to this blog, finally.

(You only realise how much time you spent in stores, with contractors et al looking back after you’ve completed the project. Ah, bollocks, it’s never completed

Today’s theme is colors again. Interior designers, painters, etc and probably you all use color swatches (those little stacks of colored papers) when trying to find “your real colours”. Colors here are usually presented linearly, one after another, in the order they are on a color wheel.

The color wheel can be a very useful tool for you: it not just shows the colors, but also help you find contrasting or complementary colors if you know how to use it.

But what do you do if you don’t have the time, or decide that the color wheel is simply not for you? If you use the net (ehh… reading this, I presume you do you can find inspiration in every corner.

Today I’d like to show you three sites full of color and inspiration.

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Red is the hottest of all the warm colors. Red can have a physical effect, increasing the rate of respiration and raising blood pressure.

In most cultures red means power, hence the red power tie for business people and the red carpet for celebrities and VIPs. In some cultures, red denotes purity, joy, and celebration. Red is the color of happiness and prosperity in China and may be used to attract good luck.

Red gets attention: flashing red lights mean danger or emergency. Stop signs and lights are red to get drivers’ attention and alert them to the dangers of the intersection.

Use the color red to grab attention and to get people to take action. Use red when you don’t want to sink into the background. Use red to suggest speed combined with confidence and perhaps even a dash of danger. A little bit of red goes a long way. Small doses can often be more effective than large amounts of this strong color. Multiple shades of red and even pink or orange can combine for a cheerful palette.

In decorating, red is usually used as an accent. Decorators say that red furniture should be perfect since it will attract attention. Red can have a dramatic effect in a room, whether used on the walls or as small accents in an otherwise neutral palette. The bright hue also energizes the room and sets the stage for convivial gatherings.

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2007 is far from being over, but the new 2008 colors are already here. Let’s see the new transa as Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert with The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute sees them.

“Consumers’ increasing color confidence and personal style makes any color fashionable for 2008”, Zimmer says. “From glass-like blues, botanical greens, dramatic black and white and whisper soft pink, color directions will drive towards individual self-expression, glamorous living experiences or an increasing awareness of important environmental causes.”

Well, it’s not a great help to be honest, please help us a little, is there some guidance beyond “anything gooes” ?

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Consider these when choosing your kitchen color scheme:

• Yellow is a cheerful, uplifting color that is also known to help with digestion — making it a perfect choice for your kitchen!
• Blue is a calm, soothing color that not only lowers blood pressure, it is also known to decrease hunger. The perfect choice for a diet!
• Red is a stimulating, upbeat color that adds visual punch and a high-energy feeling. Beware! It can also raise your blood pressure and induce hunger!
• If you are a very orderly person, white is an ideal for your kitchen color scheme, as it creates a sense of cleanliness and order.
• If white is too white, a soft gray might be a better choice for your kitchen. Gray has calming properties and also decreases hunger — but avoid using it heavily, it can also be depressing!
• Black is the new black! Black is a classic, elegant color choice for your kitchen, creating a feelng of depth and richness. In a large room, black will make the space feel warm and more intimate. However, in a small room, black is overwhelming, making the space feel too small and closed. Use it moderately unless you have a large kitchen.
• Green is a pleasing, tranquil color. It’s your ideal choice if you want to create a feeling of nature. Even better, it can reduce allergic reactions to certain foods and lower blood pressure.
• For a sense of casual warmth, brown is your color. Various shades of brown can be used together to enhance the sense of natural comfort.

Color has always been a key factor in the success of housewares products, but it has intensified as consumers become more knowledgeable and sophisticated, according to Lee Eiseman, internationally renowned color and design expert.

“Color is such a huge enticement,” says Eiseman, who again will be giving two provocative presentations on color at the International Home & Housewares Show. “I don’t care how many potato peelers you have. If you see this cool new purple one, and purple happens to be one of your favorite colors, that’s going to draw you. Statistically, in the last few years color ranked anywhere from 60 to 75 percent in a product’s success. Now, we’re seeing as much as 80 percent.

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