Source: Houzz

Let’s talk ceilings. Even though, they’re often tagged “the fifth wall” in interior design, they are frequently ignored. If you think about it – because I mean who doesn’t sit and think about this all day? – our ceilings occupy just as much square footage as our floors do. So why don’t we give our ceilings the attention they desperately deserve?

Well I decided that I’m not just going to blog about it, I’m going to be about it. So right in the middle of my mini-makeover for my beloved dining room, I have decided that my ceiling needs some design love too.

So between coordinating my wallpaper installation, begging my photographer to snap some quick shots, making an emergency call to my painter, and choosing some luscious paint colors in a hurry, I turned to Pinterest and Houzz for some inspiration. I must admit that I almost went off the deep end after going into Pinterest land, but luckily I caught myself before I drowned. If you read last week’s blog, you know that budget is king so I had to conserve the dollars. Maybe when I hit the lottery, I can revisit some of my initial wish list items.

But for now I am leaving you with some ceiling inspiration. Here are 5 different tips to make your ceiling next level.

Tip #1: Inject some personality into your space with bold color.

Source: Houzz

Nothing says “I love to have fun,” like having a bold color on your ceiling. People will immediately know that you have a wild side and that you are not afraid to show it.

Tip #2: Create an interesting pattern with paint.

Source: Freshome.com

This nursery just got 100x more interesting and exciting by adding that funky pattern onto the ceiling. If you walked into this nursery – admit it – you would never forget it.

Tip #3: Add strapwork details.

Source: Pinterest

Many moons ago, strapwork was just the thing to do. All the period rooms at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City have strapwork because I guess it was another sign of wealth, just like puddling. Since you do have to have a mini fortune to contract an artisan to do this type of ceiling treatment, this is definitely more of a splurge.

Tip #4: Wallpaper that fifth wall.

Source: Pinterest

Is that wallpaper up there? By golly it is! Of course, it is no surprise that I love wallpaper so adding it to the ceiling is definitely a no-brainer. If you want to go for this look, I recommend adding a risky pattern to the ceiling but toning things down on the walls like the designer did in this particular room.

Tip #5: Reverse your ceiling and flooring.

Source: Pinterest

Flip the script by putting wood flooring on your ceiling instead of your floors. No one can resist looking at wood, much less if it’s above your head.

With so many options, ignoring the ceiling is definitely not an option. Allow this integral part of your home to shine bright like a diamond.

The post Interior Design: 5 Ways to Get An Enviable Ceiling appeared first on Superior Interiors by Karina Jones.

Source: Elle Decor

Do black walls make you cringe or sing? For some people, black walls embody sophistication and glamour. For others, black walls make them want to run for the hills. When it comes to design, neither group is right or wrong.

We all have preferences. Usually we are all very accepting of this truth, except when you have to live day in and day out with a person whose preferences do not align with yours. In my case, my husband prefers a darker color palette, while I prefer a lighter one. Unfortunately for me, I actually begin to feel sad and gloomy when I am in very dark spaces for an extended period of time.

Our previous home (which was void of a lot of artificial lighting) taught me that I don’t like being in dark spaces (except for the movie theater of course). In our current home, we have light colored gray walls, off white furniture and lots of recessed lighting in our home. Meanwhile, our kitchen cabinets are a dark espresso color because that is more in line with what my husband likes.

More often than not, couples do not singularly agree on design choices. As a designer, it is my job to ensure that both parties are happy in the end. After all, they both have to live there! Avoid a lover’s brawl by implementing my 5 design tips for making the best out of a dark vs. light tug of war.

Tip #1: Paint a Dark Accent Wall

Source: Pinterest

If you and your spouse are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to color, accent walls are a great opportunity to introduce dark colors in small doses. Navy, black, emerald green and dark gray are excellent colors to pair with lighter gray, greige or taupe hues. Even though one of you clearly lost the war, at least you won a battle.

Tip #2: Mix Dark and Light

Source: Har.com

Have to have dark blue walls? If dark walls resonate with you but not your other half, pair them with light colored flooring, rugs, furniture and drapery. In the room above, almost all of the furnishings are off white in color. Disclaimer: Be sure to use performance fabrics on any light colored upholstered furniture.

If your coin toss results in light colored walls (believe it or not I do know of couples who make major decisions with a coin toss and it works), pair those faint walls with darker furnishings and flooring. You’ll get the best of both worlds.

Tip #3: Add Molding to Dark Walls

Source: Czmcam.org

White molding like wainscoting or beadboard is a great way to offset the boldness of dark walls. Wainscoting is an architectural feature that adds charm, a touch of luxury and often appeals to future homebuyers. Beadboard tends to feel more casual or rustic in a space. To further, break up the dark paint, use crown molding to frame the walls at the top as well.

As we can see in the photo above, the dining room doesn’t seem so dark with the addition of beautiful wainscoting and crown molding.

Tip #4: Darken Your Ceiling 

Source: Pinterest

When all else fails, use your fifth wall – the ceiling – to bring in a dark color. A dark ceiling above lighter walls can help a room feel cozy. Ceilings are often neglected in design, but they are great ways to make a statement. In this photograph, the ceiling becomes the showstopper in an otherwise mostly neutral room.

Tip #5: Cook Up Some Visual Interest

Source: Pinterest

There is no rule that says that all of your kitchen cabinetry has to be the same color. In fact, some of the most amazing kitchens are made up of different colors. When we were building our home, I wanted white cabinets and my husband wanted dark cabinets. I ultimately lost that battle big time.

One resolution for this difference in opinion is to make the island a different color, such as white cabinets with a dark wood island. Or you can make all of the upper cabinets one color and the lower cabinets another color. If the thought of splitting colors freaks you out, have a 3-D modeling company render it for you. This way you will be able to see exactly what you’re getting in the end.

Final Thoughts

Theoretically lighter colors reflect light, which gives the illusion that the space is larger. Meanwhile, darker colors absorb light, giving the illusion that the space is smaller. No matter what you decide to do in the end, be sure to have adequate lighting in all of your spaces. If a room receives a lot of natural light, you may be even more inclined to pull the trigger on dark walls or dark cabinetry.

The post A House Divided: Light Colors vs. Dark Colors appeared first on Superior Interiors by Karina Jones.

The original paint color that was slated to go into this open concept living room was nixed even after the homeowner had purchased several gallons of it. She is much happier with this Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams option that we agreed upon. Photo Credit: Victor Daniel at Vicledan Photography

Flashback to 8 years ago – my husband and I decided to paint our master bedroom for the very first time. Since my husband agreed to a somewhat questionable striped comforter that I was using as my inspiration piece, I acquiesced when it was time to choose the final paint color. As he happily left The Home Depot with his lime green paint selection in hand, I was super worried. “That paint is a little on the bright side I thought”, but I didn’t want to shoot down his choice without giving it a chance.

That evening the paint color went on the wall and I was secretly praying, hoping, wishing that when the color dried on the wall, it would turn into the prettiest green color I had ever seen. Of course it didn’t and I was left looking at this bright green color every time I woke up and every night when I went to sleep.

Two weeks after this awful green paint color went on, I finally mustered up the courage to tell my husband, “I really hate this paint color.” And he responded with those dreaded words that NO wife wants to hear, “You paint it then.” Sigh. (Note to self: Tell your husband you hate the wall color before he finishes painting so that you won’t have to do it yourself.) In the end, I chose a different shade of green paint and painted that room all by myself! (Go me!)

While that lime green paint project was definitely an epic fail, we eventually went on to have some very successful paint color adventures in that home. We painted one room a beautiful dark yellow hue that transformed our guest room into an African inspired retreat. We repainted our master bedroom in a spa blue and chocolate combination separated by chair rail that I still miss to this day.  Since I have had a series of paint consultations lately, I am sharing some vital lessons I have learned from my personal failures and successes with paint.

The Do’s

Do keep an open mind!

Whether you are choosing a paint color on your own or working with a professional interior designer, it is important to keep an open mind. There is absolutely no reason to revert to using the same paint color over and over again. With the slew of paint color options that are readily available, you can really have fun with paint.

If you decide to hire a professional interior designer or a color consultant, he or she will often recommend paint colors or patterns with paint that you may have never thought of. Be willing to consider a color or intensity level that you haven’t tried before. It can always be changed if you decide you cannot live with it. (Disclaimer: Know thyself; since I have painted my bedroom green twice, I now know that I eventually get tired of green on the wall.  Green is more of an accessorizing color for me these days.)

Do use inspirational pieces to pull your paint color!

The wallpaper in this master bedroom was the inspiration when it came time to choose the paint color for the other walls. Photo Credit: Victor Daniel at Vicledan Photography

Ok so maybe my striped comforter wasn’t my best inspiration piece to date, but I have successfully used artwork, sculptures, rugs, and pillows to choose a paint color for a space. In fact, a pair of African masks that my husband owned inspired the dark yellow hue in our former guest bedroom.

These super cool African masks inspired me to paint a former guest bedroom in a great looking dark yellow paint color by Ralph Lauren.

Do test multiple color options before committing to a final color!

I have Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams throughout my home and it looks unbelievably different in different rooms. Because the living room gets a lot of natural light, the wall color appears lighter than in the guest bedroom which has blackout curtains.

The artificial and natural light in a room, as well as, the time of day have a huge impact on how a particular paint color looks in one room versus another room. For instance, Balanced Beige by Sherwin Williams is a great neutral color that sometimes appears very dark in spaces because of dim or low lighting. This is why it is so important to test multiple options before painting the final color on the wall. I often test 5 or 6, sometimes even 7 different colors before I make my final recommendation. I would rather have my clients invest $50 testing paint samples than for them to be dissatisfied with the final color because I didn’t do my due diligence.

Here I have everything I need to test my potential wall color – my inspiration piece (a teal pillow), my trusty fan deck, some paint swatches (I went with the lighter teal color), 2 paint sample jars, a plastic drop cloth to prevent accidents, 2 medium size foam brushes (they fit perfectly in the jar), painter’s tape and poster board.

When testing paint color samples, I always apply them directly onto the wall with a foam brush. However, one of my friends uses poster board to test all of her paint samples. I especially love this idea for testing dark colors. If you decide not to go with the darker hue, you won’t have to worry about possibly priming the wall before you start painting your final color choice.

If you’re still on the fence about a color, allow the color to marinate. Keep those paint swatches on the wall for a few days and observe them at different times of the day. Quite often, the first color that jumped out at you is not the one you end up choosing in the end.

The Don’ts

Don’t forget to consider adjacent rooms!

Painting adjacent rooms by using a few options on the same fan deck strip is a simple way to ensure that all of the spaces work cohesively.

With the popularity of open concept floor plans, gone are the days in which you could simply paint one space and totally ignore the other. When choosing paint colors, find complementary or similar colors for adjoining rooms. One simple way to manage this is to choose paint colors that appear on the same strip in a fan deck. This will create a look of cohesion and make your paint color choices look intentional.

Don’t be afraid to use dark colors in tiny spaces!

I am sure that you have heard that age-old adage that dark colors make spaces appear smaller. I am not claiming that this saying isn’t true; I am simply suggesting that you don’t allow that to limit you! Tiny spaces like bathrooms, dens or guest bedrooms are perfect places to test darker colors because the commitment is minimal. As long as the space is well lit or receives a good amount of natural light, you can totally get away with a darker color.

Don’t pick a paint color because it is trending!

Pantone’s dual colors of the year may not be your cup of tea.

This year for the first time ever, Pantone has chosen two colors of the year – Rose Quartz and Serenity. I personally love pinks and blues so I would actually consider these colors for my home. But if you know you don’t like blues per say, don’t waste your time or money on this award winning hue. When it comes to your abode, choose colors that make you happy. Otherwise, no matter how beautiful the color looks to other people, once it goes out of style you will end up regretting that color choice.

The right paint color can completely transform a room, but picking paint can be a tricky process. While you shouldn’t limit yourself when it comes to paint color options, it is important that you know what appeals to you and what doesn’t.  Considering adjacent rooms, testing multiple color options, and using inspirational pieces should give you the confidence to do it right the first time.

Written by Karina Jones

– Superior Interiors by Karina Jones

The post Picking Paint: The Do’s and Don’ts appeared first on Superior Interiors by Karina Jones.