Have problems picking color - take this quiz. It got me spot on!

I get a lot of requests from readers trying to discover "their style" when it comes to interior decorating. There could literally be, and probably are, books written on the subject, so this post will only cover one part of "style." That part is a paramount one however - color.

Color can create the mood of a room like no other decorating element, which is why it's such a matter of anxiety for homeowners and decorators alike. Well, I think I've found a quiz that is exceptionally thorough and thoughtful in determining your color style - it was amazingly accurate in it's choice of mine! The quiz is from PPG Pittsburgh Paint’s Voice of Color, and called the "Color Sense Game." It's good to nail down your true color style because undoubtedly trends will come along that might tempt you, but in the long run it might be more cost/time efficient to choose a palette that you will always like.

Here are just a few of the questions -
Choosing your ideal image of "home"
Choose your fav decorating accessory

Choose words that are inspiring

Your color affinities

Your desires from a space

There are even song clips you listen to and choose the one that you like best - it's pretty cool.

Can anyone guess the palette the quiz choose for me? If you guessed white, you're right! Through and through I am drawn to white interiors. Here is there description of the "white" environment.
"Pure, clean white is ideal in a room with great light and lots of windows. Suitable for southern climates and ocean views, it is often cool or blue-white, and it has the most reflective power."

Some of my favorite white spaces:


via Kitchen Details and Design

via Ochs Design

via Fjeldborg

They also give you a secondary palette, which for me was also spot-on - "Water Beads." Which is comprised of blues. There description is, "The soothing colors of the Water Beads Harmony Collection suit any room where creating calm is essential. In the bathroom, the ocean hues suggest a fresh morning breeze; in layered pastels, they bathe generations of newborns in a soft, protective shell. Because of the serenity it creates, try blue in a screened-in porch, solarium or even your home office. Pair it with stimulating yellows or oranges to balance the relaxing effect."
Some of my favorite blue inspirations -
via House Beautiful

via Elle Decor

via LivingEtc.

I'm always trying to achieve ultimate serenity and relaxation in my space, so the quiz's results were very accurate. Give it a try at the Voice of Color site. Leave a comment and let me know what your results were!

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Reader question - Help source a paint color

Kimberly took a liking to this photo below, which I posted awhile back. She wanted to know the cabinet color.

After checking at the original source - this gallery in House and Home, I believe the cabinets are custom, so I thought I'd find some close options, and open up the question for you guys incase someone had some better ideas, or is even able to source the color!


Benjamin Moore had a lot of lovely options close to the cabinets - sweet daphne is fairly close.

2 chips above found on Benjamin Moore's virtual paint deck


Glidden's "Celery Sticks" is also close.
via Glidden

The below from Sherwin Williams are also good matches. Sherwin Williams, by the way, has a really great "virtual room" section on their website which lets you test colors on their photos or yours. I found their virtual room site better than many other paint company's.

6418- Rural Green

6417 - Tulepo Tree

6416 - Sassy Green

0014 - Sheraton Sage

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Battle of the Paints! - and help my mom choose a color for the dining room!

I had a fun little project this weekend which was to compare Glidden's new paint formula with a higher end paint. In this case they sent me Benjamin Moore to compare with their paint and both were a white eggshell base. I applied the paint directly on a wall in the dining room which is currently undergoing a little renovation, so it's going to be painted over soon anyway.


The package and it's contents that Glidden sent me. The papers with the black stripe though the middle were special testing sheets, which I didn't end up using since I had a wall available.

Each can upon opening. This was the only place I saw a difference, was that with Glidden there was a layer of medium (a translucent layer) of liquid at the top, which I stirred in.

This is the Benjamin Moore swatch. It went on really well and with good coverage. It was a little thicker than Glidden and didn't splatter.

I used a fresh brush and applied the Glidden swatch. It had a slightly thinner consistency and didn't splatter either.

Glidden on the left, Benjamin Moore on the right.

All in all, and days after, I really cannot detect any difference between the swatches. I was really impressed with the one coat coverage that both paints provided. As far as wear over time I won't beable to comment, but as of right now I can honestly say that I think performance is equal.

Now, for the really fun part! Like I mentioned the dining room is going through a little renovation, and will need to be painted. Below you will find the fabric my mom wants to use to make valances and curtains for the room.

There's been some questions about the house so here's some clarification: This is my parent's house. It is a 65 acre farm in MD. The house is very country. The ceilings have salvaged beams, some of the walls have dark wood paneling, and there are wood burning fireplaces throughout. The fabric wouldn't be appropriate in modern houses I agree, but it fits my mother (this is a lady who spends weekends baking bread!), as well as the country feel of her rancher.


I've tried to get the true color as close as possible. She wants to use the fabric as a jumping off point, and mom is leaning toward painting the room a warm, brickish red without too much pink in it, as seen on some of the flowers in the print. However, she is very open to some other suggestions too!

Here are the glidden swatches:
I've randomly assigned each one a letter and I also randomly rolled over one of the colors on the Glidden site to get the color name. Here is the link if you'd like to give me a color's name. Or, you could just say something like, Palette C., 3rd row, second column - the pale tanish color. (just fyi, rows are horizontal, or across, and columns are vertical)

I really look forward to hearing your suggestions and I hope you'll respond!

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

G.

H.

I.

J.

K.

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