Okay, so this is not about Interior Design. But clients ask me for help with their Exterior choices too. This client has a house in Milwaukee that they are fixing up with some remodeling inside and also were painting the exterior and installing a new front door. My client really had her heart set on gray and she is also using grays for her neutral colors inside, so when she asked for help on her color selection, it was really about choosing the right gray. I thought you would enjoy seeing how helpful the free online color selection programs are. This one is Personal Color Viewer® by Benjamin Moore.

Here is the exterior before painting, and below are three of the many grays we considered. You can see what a difference each shade makes. I recommended a paler warm gray because I felt it worked better than the deeper and cooler grays on this wood exterior. Her interior grays are also warm in tone and it made their new front door in a deep iron gray really pop out as a focal point.

Continue reading to see the “after” photos & new door …

Many times we’re faced with decorating a room that is new or bland (or both). There is no design concept in play, no direction from which to begin. Where is a good place to start? Chance you are you’ve been holding onto something – an heirloom, an antique store find, a new purchase from an art show. Think about it…is there something you’ve had tucked away because you loved it and it’s significant to you for whatever reason and you’ve just not had the opportunity to use it. It could just be the kick-off to a great new design!

If there are several people cohabitating in your household, be sure to address the needs of each person while paying homage to your inspiration. If your inspiration is the color red and your partner can’t stand the color, then perhaps red is located in a space that is personal to you – a home office, dressing room or kitchen.  Your love of red could express itself in the form of one perfectly formed, fabulous vase or lamp, piece of art or hand painted piece of furniture.

Whatever your inspiration, don’t be afraid to take risks and think outside the box. Allow yourself to be creative and personal with your home…it is YOURS after all!

Pamela
Pamela Sandall Interior Designs

1. Pick up an aisle or two. Use them in bookshelves, table tops and china cabinets to display plates, a favorite book or artwork. I like the black iron aisles from Pier One Imports that come in small, medium and large. They go with almost any room.

2. Lean a mirror on the floor, or on a table rather than hanging it. Make sure it reflects something beautiful. Here is an example, courteosy of Ballard Designs.

3. Every room needs a critter: leopard, sheepskin, zebra, cow hide… Add a pillow, a throw or an ottoman in animal print. They come in all colors and can match any style.

4. Matching tables or lamps on each side of the sofa? Separate them. The element of surprise is fabulous in design. Exchange one of your bedroom end tables in the living room, buy a floor lamp for the sofa and place your paired lamp in the hallway or powder room.

5. Have a chandelier that needs updating? If it has good lines paint it white or black or (if you feel daring) a bright accent color. My girlfriend found a chandelier at a garage sale and after taping off the electrical, we painted it bright hot dazzling pink. It looked similar to this high end designer chandelier.

6. Open your favorite coffee table book wide to a page that inspires you.

7. Mismatched photo frames? Pull the photos out and paint the frames all one color. Wow!

8. Pull your sofa off the wall and put a table, desk or chest behind it.

9. Count your accessories. Are you arranging in odd numbers? If not, pull something.

10. Consider mismatching your dining room table chairs with a bench, upholstery and/or wood chairs.