The Decorologist | Paint Color Consultant | Home Staging
Home Staging and Paint Color Expert Kristie Barnett, draws on her background in psychology and education to provide design and color advice to residential projects.
Did you think you couldn’t have high style in a small bedroom? Sometimes less is more, as you will see in this mini-makeover of a client’s small bedroom. Technically, we are not finished – no art is hung and we need an accent pillow to finish this off, but I couldn’t resist sharing a sneak peak at this fun bedroom and the difference a pair of mirrors can make!
One of the perks of getting a press pass to a Designer Show House is getting the full paint schedule for the whole shebang. As a paint color consultant, I always love seeing what paint colors other designers use and the effects that are achieved with their choices. Let’s start with one of my favorite rooms in the house, why don’t we? The master bath:
Design by K Evers Interiors [Read more...]
I’ve been running mad this week following last week’s beach vacation, and I’m headed out this morning for a Speed Staging. I thought I’d share an email I received last week along with some “after” photos that came from an online client who consulted with me long distance on a virtual kitchen design.
Readers frequently ask me to tell them the names of the paint colors in various rooms of my home. I decided to share them all in one place in case you were wondering, too! So settle in for the grand tour and all the coordinating paint color names. All the photos in this post were taken by Melanie G Photography.
Benjamin Moore's Prescott Green HC-140
Benjamin Moore Prescott Green HC-140 is the color that runs through many of the rooms on the main level of our home. [Read more...]
Benjamin Moore‘s 2013 Color of the Year is Lemon Sorbet 2019-60.
Fresh off the heels of 2012′s top pick, Wythe Blue, Lemon Sorbet is a fresh optimistic color that works well with other popular clean colors. Notice this is not the yellow-gold popular in the late 90′s and early 2000′s – it’s a crisp, clear pastel yellow. Here’s an example of the color in a child’s room:
“It’s the perfect partner for the emerging palette of freshened, polished pastels that promise to be favorites in the coming year. Additionally, it’s the ideal transition color as we move from the more vibrant spectrum and mid-to-deep tone hues that we’ve been experiencing in home furnishings and fashions.” explains Sonu Mathew, Color Chats writer and Benjamin Moore’s senior interior designer. Click here to read the entire Color Chats article.
I think it pairs well with watery blues and greens, like the updated surf-and-sand palette I posted the other day on The Decorologist Facebook page:
Benjamin Moore 2013 Color Trends
So does this mean you slather this exact yellow color on your walls? The Decorologist would advise against it – this clear color will read lighter and brighter once up all over your walls. It’s a bit too clear, almost fluorescent to use as a wall color in a living or dining room. Instead, check out Windham Cream HC-6, Weston Flax HC-5, or Philadelphia Cream HC-30 as more livable alternatives.
The Decorologist’s Weston Flax Dining Room – Photo by Melanie G Photography
I’m dying to know what YOU think about Benjamin Moore’s 2013 Color of the Year!
Have you ever had a lamp or other accessory that was the right shape and size, but not the right color for the space you want to put it in? I’m here to tell you that paint covers over a multitude of sins! Case in point: my recent client bought a pair of lamps because she loved the shape, lampshades, and the color of ONE of the two. She couldn’t find a matching pair, but she bought them anyway!
Original Condition of Lamps Purchased from TJ Maxx
She asked me, “Can you help me make this work?” I said, “Well, of course I can – I’m The Decorologist!” No, I didn’t really say that, but my mind started churning, trying to figure out how to solve this First-World problem. Since she liked the greeny-blue one on the right, I decided to try to re-create it. Knowing that would be impossible, I decided to shoot for getting close – and both lamps looking like a pair. I could do that. First I painted them both Benjamin Moore’s Spirit in the Sky. Who wouldn’t love a color named that???
Benjamin Moore’s Spirit in the Sky
When that dried, I took some old walnut wood stain and began applying in with a sponge brush. I pretty much let it run down through the cracks over the paint.
Applying Wood Stain
After waiting a few moments, I buffed off the stain with a soft cloth. I left the cracks with more of it, so that the details of the lamp would be highlighted.
Just a little more paint and little more wood stain, and both the lamps look as though they belong together at last:
“Aged” Lamp Bases
So here they are now, in there places – creating a balanced effect in this soothing coastal living room.
Coastal Living Room Design by The Decorologist
Before buying new, always re-think what you already have. If you like the size and shape, can it be painted to work into your design? What have you painted to make something unexpected work in your own space?
One thing I really love to do is to figure out the essence of a client’s style and make it happen for them in their space. It’s so much fun for me to help create different atmospheres that express who the homeowner is or who they hope to become. So I was happy to help this young Nashville recording artist design a contemporary bachelor pad that reflects his love of music and gives him a place to entertain friends.
photo by Melanie G. Photography
After conversing with his mother, a reader of The Decorologist in South Carolina, we scheduled a time to meet at the newly-purchased condo in arty Hillsboro Village of Nashville. I think I’ll save the “before” photos of the 650 square foot space until a bit later. I just can’t wait to show you around.
Design by Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist / Photo by Melanie G. Photography
The client’s needs included creating a main room that would be both multi-functional and stylish, where he could lounge, watch television, entertain, dine with friends, study, and work on the computer. All in the same room!
Photo by Melanie G. Photography
This called for some flexible space-planning solutions. During our first meeting, I came up with a floorplan and dimensions of what was needed to meet the needs of the client and the space. We agreed on this West Elm sofa and pair of Expedit bookcases from IKEA to flank it. On the opposite side of the room, we needed a table that could do triple-duty. It needed to provide space for dining, computer work, and for television components and lamps. This slender model worked great, and also has room beneath for extra seating in the form of these CB2 ottomans.
Photo by Melanie G. Photography
Accessories were easy – the client’s own musical instruments, speakers, and other musician stuff. It’s all easily accessible and looks really cool, to boot!
Melanie G. Photography
I loved hanging his collection of iconic albums in a smart grid above the sofa. It’s the perfect focal point for a musician’s home, don’t you agree?
Record Album Art / Photo by Melanie G. Photography
I hung my client’s own framed CDs in his bedroom above the printer and one of his many guitars.
Melanie G. Photography
Maybe you should see some “befores” now. The walls were a dreary pinky-beige throughout, and the ceilings were popcorn-textured. And of course, the dreaded ceiling fan – ugh.
Living Room Before
We had the popcorn removed and wrapped the choices of paint colors on the wall and ceiling to make the small space feel larger. The color in this room is Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter. Following the transformation, complete with new lighting from Lowes and a new rug from West Elm:
Design by Kristie Barnett / Photo by Melanie G. Photography
This was the previous condition of the bedroom:
Bedroom Before
We made the bed the focal point, and lightened and brightened the whole room with a light gray-blue for walls and ceilings. His mother didn’t think he’d like the color I chose, but he loved it! Never met a man who didn’t like Benjamin Moore’s Gray Wisp.
Bedroom Design by The Decorologist / Photo by Melanie G. Photography
Just a quick “before” of the bathroom:
Bathroom Before
New paint, lighting, hardware, a framed mirror, and a base cabinet painted Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal made for a modern, masculine update.
Bathroom After / Melanie G. Photography
The kitchen is super-small and the short cabinets didn’t help the storage situation. But new cabinetry wasn’t in the budget.
Kitchen Before
Fresh paint, white subway tile, new appliances, a granite-look laminate countertop, and new hardware took this basic kitchenette from sad to happy. Notice that we added crown moulding to the cabinets to make them look higher-end.
Kitchen After / Melanie G. Photography
We furnished this entire condo with great bargains from retailers like Lowe’s, West Elm, IKEA, CB2, and Target. Good style doesn’t have to be expensive, nor does it have to be the least bit feminine. This dude’s gotta save his money for guitars and amps and such.
Photo by Melanie G. Photography
And for wooing the ladies who visit his cool condo, of course.
Recording Artist Sheldon Clark in his Nashville condo / Photo by Melanie G. Photography
What do you think of this contemporary style make-over? If you need help finding your own unique decorating style, contact The Decorologist for a design intervention!
I'm so excited to finally reveal the "befores and afters" of this amazing project that I hope will positively impact a community for many years to come.
Mt Hope Cemetery House Before Renovation
The results are the culmination of the many volunteers who gave of themselves to benefit a low-income neighborhood and to honor the memory of a young man who was an example of serving others when he saw a need. Ty Osman, Jr.'s family organized volunteers and donations for the entire effort. The house was built in the 1890's, and was home to the cemetery caretakers for the better part of a century. For years the house sat vacant and falling apart, but now it has a new life. "It's come back to life in a new way, so that's what we're looking forward to with our son, as we know we're going to see him again," said Ty Osman, Sr.
Mt. Hope Cemetery House Living Room Before
The video you're going to see below is set to the song by Sidewalk Prophets that was played at the dedication ceremony at the end of a work day where 400 volunteers showed up to complete the renovation of what will now be home to the Hard Bargain Community Center. Although my video highlights the color transformation of the home, there's so much more to this story and the people behind this project that I can even begin to share here on a design blog.
Exterior of new Hard Bargain Community Center after
The new interior and exterior colors were chosen with respect to the age of the house and the history of the surrounding neighborhood. Interior colors: Benjamin Moore's Hawthorne Yellow, Buxton Blue, and Cloud White. Exterior Colors: Sherwood Green, Avon Green, Buxton Blue, and White Dove.
Click on the image below to see my video. Hope you enjoy!
It was an honor and a blessing to be involved in a wonderful project like this one. If you'd like to see a beautiful video that covers a wider scope of the Ty2 Foundation's project, click here to see Michael Fox's tribute.
Recently I had the privilege to choose the interior and exterior paint colors, as well as many of the interior fixtures and finishes, on a really special project. This is the “before” state of a house that will soon become the home to a non-profit community center in the low-income neighborhood of Hard Bargain in Franklin, TN.
Future Home of the Hard Bargain Community Center
This 100+ year old house sits on the property of a local cemetery and was previously the home of cemetery caretakers over the years. The paint colors I chose are from Benjamin Moore’s Historic Collection which I hope will give new life to this place while respecting the historic significance of the house and the surrounding neighborhood.
This Saturday, 200+ volunteers will transform this house into a beautiful community center that will provide classes, meeting space, and community- building activities for the surrounding neighborhood.
A Godly family is sponsoring the rehabilitation project in honor of their teen-aged son who died in a tragic accident earlier this year while coming to the aid of a complete stranger. I was touched and honored when they asked me to help with the planning of this amazing tribute to their son that will bless the lives of so many. Here’s a lvideo if you’d like to find out more about this project and how you can help:
You can also take a peek at the Pinterest board I put together for the Hard Bargain Project. Of course, I will share the outcome of this wonderful project next week!
How are you guys doing this week? I’ve been go-go-going like crazy lately, so I thought I’d catch you up on some fun stuff in decorology land! I sometimes forget that the tidbits I share on my Facebook page never get to my readers on the blog. Maybe you need to be following me on Facebook here! Over the weekend, my “Front Porch Makeover” was featured in a 1 1/2 page spread in The Tennessean.
The Decorologist’s Front Porch Makeover!
Good thing my kids were in the East Tennessee mountains running from bears and bungee jumping (who has grandparents that cool???) so that I could focus on making over a front porch in record time and 105 degree weather (yes, after 2 hours of styling a porch in the boiling heat I posed for a photo that ended up in the Style section of The Tennessean).
My firstborn and my neice about to take the plunge
In spite of my being a hot mess (literally), the fabulous Shopping Diva, Cathi Aycock, made my week by telling me she had a total girl-crush on me. That’s a compliment I’ll take!
The Tennessean’s Shopping Diva, Cathi Aycock
Last Tuesday evening, I spent the evening with about 30 of my newest friends to share 2 hours chocked-full of color advice at my first “How to Choose Just the Right Paint Color” class at Kirkland’s Floor to Ceiling here in the Greater Nashville area.
The Decorologist’s Color Class - photo by Matt Barker
I had sooo much fun and am pretty sure my students did, too! I hope to do another class like this sometime in the fall.
Benjamin Moore Color Class presented at Kirkland’s Floor to Ceiling – photo by Matt Barker
As you may know, I’ve been writing for the premier design and remodeling website, Houzz.com, for the last couple of months. Check out my latest article on how to create an awesome hallway with pattern here.
In addition to all these exciting things, I have continued to meet with both new and ongoing clients working up new color palettes for their homes, better furniture and art arrangements, and shopping for just the right items to finish out their design plans. Of course, I hope to share some of those results with you here soon. I’m totally exhausted just thinking about the last couple of weeks. Maybe I need a vacation???
