Most of my clients, both commercial and residential, ask me to specify paint colors, but I frequently encourage my clients to incorporate wallpaper, especially in powder rooms (not bathrooms where moisture can be an issue), dining rooms, and bedrooms. Wallpaper in powder rooms can create many different wonderful effects: drama and sophistication, whimsey, an outdoor/garden feeling, a cabana effect, an architecturally detailed/moulded effect, and more. Powder room ceilings are often papered to complete the look.
Dining rooms are part of the home where a bit of formality can prevail, and wallpaper can add formality much better than paint is able to. Crisp stripes, subtle damasks and beautiful florals are time tested and relevant wallpaper styles that allow significant room for creativity and provide a formal backdrop for dining room furniture, area rugs and window treatments. For more casual dining areas, wallpaper can still provide a lot of charm through color and pattern.
Bedrooms can be wonderful spaces to personalize with wall coverings. Without getting locked in to something too cute, kids' rooms allow for many different fun and colorful patterns. I generally encourage clients to choose something that seems a bit grown up - kids seem to really love it, and the selection then lasts many years. Master bedrooms, often viewed as private oases, allow for favorite colors in wallpaper or paint. Wallpaper contributes to a specific look or feeling, be it garden-like, tailored, or posh and elegant.
For commercial use, wallpaper can contribute in a big way to a customized, finished look. I've used wallpaper on numerous office projects in bathrooms, hallways, waiting rooms, and lounge areas. It adds a layer of visual interest and keeps things from being too bland. There are many commercial grade wallcovers available in terrific colors and patterns.
Although many clients are somehow under the impression that wallpaper is "out" - not sure where that comes from - I encourage using it in many projects! Here are some of my favorite vendors:
And here are a couple photos from the Thibaut website:
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With spring approaching, home and business owners often begin to contemplate restoration and renovation ideas for their homes and work spaces. Paint, of course, is a great way to quickly and economically achieve a sense of renewal. Environmentally friendly paints are becoming the standard rather than the exception, both as the result of recent state and federal regulatory changes and because of consumer demand.
Paints generally contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are organic compounds that are unstable. These compounds are off-gassed (gradually dispersed) into the air as paint dries, which means that fairly hazardous chemicals are typically dispersed into our indoor and outdoor environments.
Most paint manufacturers now feature less toxic "Low VOC" or "No VOC" paints, with their designation determined by the amount of VOCs per liter of paint. Unless paints are designated "natural" and contain only natural, raw ingredients, they will still contain chemical colorants, and possibly fungicides, biocides, or very low levels of heavy metals or formaldehyde. Note that "No VOC" (sometimes referred to as "Zero VOC") paints may still contain up to 5 grams of VOCs per liter of paint.
Natural paints have come a long way, and are rewarding to use from both an environmental and a color selection standpoint. The Real Milk Paint Company, for example, offers a very wide array of color possibilities.
For a great guide on natural, Low VOC and No VOC paints, check out EarthEasy.com's page about non-toxic paints.
And here's a New York Times article by Stephen Treffinger where the author tested 10 different brands of various vendors' self-proclaimed environmentally friendly indoor paints.
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 Recently, Pantone® announced 14-0848 Mimosa as 2009's Color of the Year. Mimosa is described as a warm, engaging yellow that expresses hope and reassurance during the current world wide economic slowdown.
Pantone is widely considered the world-renowned authority on color and a provider of color systems and leading technology for the selection and accurate communication of color for numerous design and manufacturing industries.
"The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance," explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation."
According to the Pantone Press Release, the 2009 Color of the Year is best illustrated by the abundant flowers of the Mimosa tree and the sparkle of the brilliantly hued cocktail that goes by the same name. "Mimosa is a versatile shade that coordinates with any other color, has appeal for men and women, and translates to both fashion and interiors."
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