How To Create Color Flow in Your Home Now

Knowing how to create color continuity throughout your home will help you coordinate your overall design for a beautiful harmonious look.

Concepts In Color helps you visualize how color can flow throughout your home.

Simple Tips on Achieving Color Flow

Selecting the right colors to connect your rooms starts with inspiration. Do you have a work of art that speaks to you? …a favorite vacation spot, home accessories? Anything can inspire your new palette of coordinating interior paint colors.

Harmonizing color seamlessly is based on continuity. To achieve this, we keep in mind that room and color coordination relies heavily on choosing hues with similar undertones. So if you love reds with blue undertones, look for other colors with blue undertones.

To help you achieve color flow, here are a few tips that can make coordinating your room colors easy:

• Choose one or two common colors for all of your rooms to share (the trim color, for example)
• Alternate primary wall colors with accent colors between rooms (crown molding, French doors, shelves, a fireplace mantel)
• Let each room’s color scheme be a slight variation of the adjoining room’s color palette
• Use the colors of your design accessories, artwork, draperies, area rugs, throw pillows, upholstery-to help colors  flow room to room.
• And remember, Matt Kimble and Concepts in Color can help you for all your Interior Painting needs and ideas!

 

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Contemporary Exterior Paint Colors for 2013

Painting the exterior of your house is a big job—and a big decision. A new color can change the whole look and feel of your home. Going from a dark shade to white can make the house seem to breathe new life, while switching to a shocking pink or purple can announce to the neighborhood that there are new neighbors in town. Paint suppliers offer dozens of contemporary exterior paint colors to choose from, so take your time and investigate your options. Does this Spark an idea?

Find out more about Exterior painting in Los Angeles
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How to Divide a Room for Painting, Concepts In Color Style

Decide where the boundaries for different paint colors will be before beginning painting.

Large rooms can be overwhelming, especially if the entire space is painted with the same color. Divide the room with different colors of paint on the walls. Breaking up the space is not done in just one way. Divisions between painted areas need to be clear-cut to properly delineate the areas of the room you need. First decide how the room is to be divided, then concentrate on the aesthetics of the boundaries.

Multipurpose Room

For homes with a great room that serves as both the dining and living room, use paint to delineate the boundaries of each section of the room. For instance, paint the dining room area one color and the living room another color. To hide the paint line, place a tall silk plant or indoor tree on the wall where the two colors meet. A faux half column, or other flat trim, installed on top of the paint junction hides the paint border with a more permanent solution.

For more info Contact Matt at Concepts In Color

Architectural Elements

Look at the room and use the natural architectural elements to divide the paint colors. For instance, if you have an alcove or a nook, paint the walls inside that space a different color from the rest of the room. The difference between an alcove and creating your own separate seating area with paint is the added third dimension the alcove has. It is physically set apart from the main room. Use a lighter color of paint for the walls of the alcove to brighten it and make it seem larger, or paint it with darker colors for a more intimate feel. End the alcove paint color at the corner of the wall where it meets the main room. To add a border, you might decorate the paint border with a piece of wood trim from the floor to the ceiling or create a painted stencil border incorporating the paint colors from both the walls of the main room and the alcove.

Corners

Corners of a room are used as the boundaries for different paint colors in rooms with an accent wall. The accent wall is a wall with a contrasting color used to bring attention to a piece of furniture or part of the room. In a bedroom, the accent wall would be behind the bed, and in a living room, it would be behind a fireplace or around a picture window with an especially memorable view. The accent wall color ends at the corners of the wall, where the base room color takes over. Ending a color at the corner makes a neat border. Install a strip of thin molding along the wall corner if you want to hide the color junction.

For more info Contact Matt at Concepts In Color

Thanks Athena Hessong at eHow

Today’s Tips: How to Choose Exterior Trim Paint Color

Ask Matt Kimble at Concepts In Color

Is it easy to choose an exterior trim paint color that looks attractive? Dark brown with a beige house, white trim on a sage green house–easy, right? Instead of choosing exterior trim paint colors that simply look okay, choose colors that will make the most of your home’s architecture–whether it’s a 1940s bungalow or a contemporary two-story home. You have almost limitless choices with modern exterior colors to make your home distinctive and add curb appeal without being either ho-hum or garish with fresh trim and accent colors. Let Concepts In Color help find the perfect Exterior Trim Paint Color for you.

1 Take fixed elements on your home into account when choosing paint colors. Avoid colors that will clash with your roof, brick or stonework.

2 Consider the big picture. Don’t paint your house in the same color scheme as your neighbor’s house. If your house is surrounded by trees or located at the rear of your lot, use crisply contrasting trim colors to make it stand out, or try a more subtle color combination to make it recede into the surroundings.

3 Use complementary colors to make your trim and architectural details stand out. Complementary colors are those opposite each other on the color wheel (Ask Matt at Concepts In Color), like blue and red. This doesn’t mean you need to paint your trim red on a blue house. But instead of cool, stark white trim, use a warm, creamy white or light tan for your cool blue or gray house.

4 Choose more subtle trim colors for an understated, conservative look. Pick colors from the same paint swatch, and use two or three shades of the same color for the main color, trim and accents.

5 Use a vibrant, welcoming accent color for your front door. Choose a color that hints at your interior decor or personality, one that matches the car in your driveway or even a color that matches flowers in your front yard.

6 Accent attractive architectural details and minimize unattractive ones with trim color. Unless you think your downspouts and garage door are worthy of accentuating, paint them the same color as the body of the house.

For help with Exterior House Painting in West Los Angeles – Contact Matt at Concepts in Color

4 Tips: How to Find a Painting Contractor

Painting can increase the visual appeal and market value of your home. Although smaller painting projects are easy to do by yourself, hiring a professional makes sense for more complicated, large-scale projects. Painting contractors perform a variety of tasks, such as paint removal, sandblasting, application of a wide variety of paints and wallpapers, paint mixing and surface waterproofing. They can apply paint to either the interior or exterior of a home, or both. As noted by the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, hiring a painting contractor will protect you from any health hazards that might come with the job, particularly in homes built prior to 1978, which may have been painted with lead-based paint. Painting contractors will also provide a high-quality, professional paint job, and discard any hazardous materials when the project is complete.

Step 1

Ask any professional contacts you might have, such as general contractors or real estate agents, for referrals to a painting contractor.

Step 2

Visit your local paint store and ask for referrals. Record the contact information of the painting contractor for future reference.

Step 3

Verify that all of your referred contractors are licensed. In the state of California, you can do this by visiting the California Contractors State License Board’s online “Find a License” page. Eliminate any unlicensed contractors from the list.

Step 4

Contact the previous customers and ask them about their experiences. Ask about the quality of the work, the professionalism of the work crew, payment methods and whether the work was done in a timely manner. If possible, set up a time to view the paint job in person.

Contact Matt at Concepts In Color, Exterior Paining in Los Angeles, For more info about painting your house.

Preparing and Priming Different Exterior Surfaces for Painting

Concepts In Color knows that exterior walls come in many different styles and materials. Preparing and priming each exterior surface properly will help achieve long-term protection for your home and drastically increase the life of any paint job. Here are a few ideas and tips. (For more about Exterior Painting for your home, visit Matt at Concepts In Color about Exterior Painting in West Los Angeles and surrounding areas)

Stucco Surfaces
On stucco areas you want to thoroughly scrape off any loose paint and repair all cracks and holes. To fill gaps around windows and door casings use a caulk to fill the cracks. If you are working with previously painted exterior stucco you want to use a good exterior primer or surface conditioner.
A reaction may occur if the new stucco is not allowed to properly cure. Make sure the curing time is past before applying primer. 30 days is a standard cure time for new stucco before it can be primed and painted.

Wood Siding and Trim
When it comes to priming wood surfaces, you want to scrape off all of the loose and cracking paint. After scraping off the loose paint, sand the exterior area to remove any additional loose paint and create a smoother surface.
If scraping and sanding do not work and more than 25% of the coating is cracked and peeling, you may want to consider stripping.
When you strip, you’ll use chemicals or heat to remove all of the existing coatings down to the substrate. The stripping process can be a very laborious process so you may want to weigh the pros and cons of costs vs. benefits.
An alternative to stripping is to use a penetrating sealer  to glue down the edges of the loose paint then prime that with a thick high building bonder/sealer to fill and bridge the cracks and rough surfaces.

Metal Surfaces
When you are painting iron or steel, the most important thing is good contact between the surface and the coating. Metals rust when air and moisture get under the protective coating.
Rust can be like a cancer. Once rust is in the metal, it is almost impossible to get rid of. Surface preparation is so important on iron or steel. You want to use a good rust inhibitive primer. Rusting metal must be sanded to remove loose rust, and then cleaned. Using a phosphoric acid rust conversion product can ensure that all remaining traces of oxidized iron have been eliminated. Sand to smooth out any roughness and clean then dry thoroughly. Then prime with a rust inhibitive primer.

Masonite Siding
Most Masonite siding is delivered with its face primed with some sort of paint. However, if the paint has peeled or the Masonite has swelled due to water then special preparation is needed.
Pay special attention to the edges of this siding as this is its most vulnerable spot. Remove loose paint on embossed Masonite siding by carefully scraping or using a wire brush. The overlapping edge can be hand sanded with a medium/course sanding sponge. Smooth siding can be carefully sanded with a palm sander or rotating paint sander. The face of embossed, wood grained, siding cannot be sanded. Using oil base primers seem to work the best. Apply two coats of primer to avoid any future problems. (Talk to Matt at Concepts In Color about priming and painting services.)

Cement Board
Cement boards, also known as Hardie boards, are a type of fiber cement siding. Cement board is highly durable, resistant to fire, mold and mildew, and it does not rot.
Cement board does not need to be primed unless it will be exposed routinely to harsh weather conditions. If you do choose to prime your cement board, use an exterior acrylic latex bonding primer. Also, do not paint a cement board unless it has been thoroughly cleaned first, or you will have problems with adhesion.

Before preparing and priming any substrate on older homes, before 1978, check for existence of lead. Homes with lead based primers and/or paints must follow the EPA RRP rules for containment and removal.

Contact Matt at Concepts In Color about Exterior Painting in Los Angeles.

Work In Progress: Hudson Oaks – Pasadena

Concepts In Color, Work In Progress
Hudson Oaks – Pasadena

At Concepts In Color we are dedicated to make your project successful.

All our painters are skilled professionals who understand the finer points of proper preparation and repair. We use superior products and you will be very happy with the results when our painters are finished with your project.

www.conceptsincolor.com

What If Your Exterior Paint Job Could Last Longer

From a professional painter‘s point of view, exterior painting is the most important home maintenance project that can be done. Often the paint and caulking is all that is stopping damage from the weather and water.

Damage to your siding alone can cost thousands to fix. This is just one surface that is vulnerable to the effects of the weather and an inadequate paint job

If you plan on doing the painting yourself be prepared, typically exterior painting will be the most difficult and physically demanding home maintenance project you will do. Exterior painting will involve considerable time and physical effort. Why not do it right and receive the best value for your money plus gain the most time before needing to re-paint.

What If Your Exterior Paint Job Could Last Longer

It’s amazing that this thin film of primer and paint lasts as long as it does! Exterior house paint must stand up to the most extreme conditions that man and nature can dish out. Plus all buildings, including your home, are constantly moving around and breathing.

This happens as the temperatures rise (expansion) and fall (contraction). To top it off wood is constantly moving, splitting and warping. Now add the weather with wind, dust, rain, hail and snow. The best results will need a good method encompassing all aspects of exterior painting.

Following the best exterior house painting tips and using the best quality materials can add years to the life of the house paint before the need to repaint. Plus using top quality painting products, knowledge and practical experience will result in lower maintenance and less repairs in the future.

To top this off, there will be an increase in the value of your home, a win — win situation.

To find out more about how exterior painting can increase the value of your home contact Matt Kimble at Concepts In Color, Los Angeles CA

Interior Painting – Who’s got time?

The most important spaces in our lives are inside our homes. Most of these spaces can benefit from a new look.

The most cost effective and quickest home improvement project is interior painting. You can transform the look of a room or your entire house just by using paint!

Interior house painting can be as simple or as elaborate as you prefer. In order to be the one in control, you need information. That’s what this page is all about. Connecting you to the basic interior painting information you need to complete the transformation of your living space successfully.

The cost savings and decorative improvement with painting a room can be substantial when compared to other improvements such as new carpet or furniture.

With the right colors, the feel of a room can change completely and become a more enjoyable living space. The use of dark or vibrant colors can add spice to a dull room. But beware. These are difficult colors to apply.

Confining vibrant colors to one wall for an accent wall is a great way to change the overall feel without breaking the bank. Painting just one wall can be a quick and easy way to achieve a new look.

Even though a do-it-yourself interior painting project is cost-effective, you must be willing to make a considerable investment of time and patience, which is not always easy after you’ve put in a full day at the office. Consider consulting a professional who can help you get the job done easily. Matt at Concepts In Color can give you a free consult to help you get started…

Concepts In Color, Inc is a professional interior and exterior licensed painting company located in the West Los Angeles area. We paint projects ranging from large residential and commercial contracts to smaller interior jobs. We offer free estimates for all house and commercial painting projects and stand by our work with a written guarantee.

Concepts In Color, Interior and exterior painting in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Bel Air, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Malibu, Hollywood and more.

Choosing an Accent Paint Color: Tips and Tricks

Are you eager to choose an accent paint color for a wall or ceiling but feeling overwhelmed by the possibilities? With some simple tips, the right color choice can be easily found.

In recent years, accent walls have become a hot trend. Painting just one wall (or the ceiling!) a contrasting color is a great way to make a bland room come alive. Moldings, trims, and stenciled designs can also accentuate your main color and bring life into a space. Color can have a powerful effect on your mood; be sure to choose a paint color you and your house mates will be comfortable with.

Creating a Cohesive Look

Choosing an accent paint color that goes well with the rest of the room is critical. Take a close look at the room. Pay attention to the current wall color, flooring, and furnishings. If your decor includes art, take that into consideration as well. Eventually, a pattern should emerge, with some colors emerging as more dominant than others.

If you’re having trouble, ask a friend or neighbor to take an objective look. It’s easy to become blind to the things we see every day; a fresh perspective might be all you need to choose the right hue. Feel free to contact Matt at Concepts In Color, Interior Painting in West Los Angeles

Create a natural flow from room to room by using similar accent paint colors in each room; try using one color in your main living space, and lighter or darker shades of the same color in other rooms.

Another way to transition seamlessly from room to room is to use the same paint colors throughout the house; just vary the amounts. For example, imagine you love brown, beige, and blue. In the living room, beige walls, chocolate trim, and blue furnishings provide a calming atmosphere. In the bathroom, blue and beige striped walls are complemented by rich brown towels and accessories. And in the bedroom, chocolate walls, a beige ceiling, and a soft blue comforter provide a welcome respite at the end of the day. Too complicated? Try making it easier by painting one room white with gray accents, and the next gray with white accents.

What You Need to Know About Lighting

Lighting is another important factor to consider. A shade that looks fabulous in full sunlight might look terrible under incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. Think about how your accent color will look from different angles, or at different times of day. If you can, try painting a sample square and checking it out in the morning, afternoon, and at night. If you can live with it in any lighting, you’ve found a winner!

If you have a room that is naturally too dark or too light for your tastes, color can provide a refreshing illusion. Choose a buttery yellow or a bright white to make a dimly lit room feel airier; subdue a sun-filled space with a muted gray or deep burgundy. Find answers to your paint color questions.

Accent Doesn’t Always Mean Contrast

The decorating magazines may have trained you to think of accent walls as “contrasting” walls, but that doesn’t need to be the case. An effective way to liven up a space is to use an accent in the same color family as your base color. Wouldn’t your bedroom look great with misty blue walls and a navy accent behind your headboard? And wouldn’t your moss green living room look more exciting with an olive-colored rectangle to group your photos in? Find answers to your paint color questions.

Don’t Neglect Neutrals

Many people think of accents as a “pop” of color in an otherwise bland room. In fact, neutrals can be very effective accents. Silver, pewter, and gold, for example, go well with most colors and can lend a very contemporary look to your space.

Gray or brown can “bring down” a high ceiling and make a room seem cozier and more intimate, while white, cream, and yellow can “open up” a small space.

Using neutrals with high contrast will create a timeless look with visual interest; avoiding super-trendy colors can lend longevity to your paint job, because today’s hot shades will look dated tomorrow. Try adding polish to an otherwise white room by adding black baseboards, moldings, and door trim. Alternatively, you can punch up a dark, navy blue space with gloss white trim for a nautical feel. Find answers to your paint color questions.

For more info on Accent Paint Color contact Matt at Concepts In Color, Interior Painting in West Los Angeles

Thanks to House Painting Info at http://www.house-painting-info.com