AboutCyndie Stefanik Expertise Co-Developer/author of the patent pending "Color with No Regrets" Selection System. Conducts 2 day seminars for decorating professionals in various cities in the United States.
Experience I began as a decorative painter/artist 13 years ago. My work has appeared in magazines and I have participated in award winning designer show houses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Most recently I have spent the last 3 years creating,developing and patenting a numerical color selection system that takes the subjective nature out of color. Since it is numerically based, color can be chosen quickly and accurately. For the past year, I have been teaching the "Color with No Regrets" System to decorating professionals around the United States. My background in decorative painting/art, has given me real life experience of how color works but more importantly why it works based on sound color principles. I am also an authorized Aqua Finishing Solutions Distributor and a certified training instructor for the Society of Decorating Professionals.
Organizations The Society of Decorating Professionals
Publications My writing has not appeared in any publications but my decorative finishes have. I have been interviewd and featured on the cover of an annual local publication "Today's Home". I am a regular guest on Good Morning Erie, WJET-TV, an ABC affliate as the Princess of Paint, where I provided decorating and painting techniques for viewers.
Question QUESTION: Hi Cyndie,
I have a room that has light yellow walls, red paint brick fireplace, and dark wood trim. The white ceiling is quite low. My husband has put up white crown molding, but I think it would look better if it matched our dark wood trim or one of the other paint colors in the room. Do you have any advice for improving this room? Thanks very much!
Judy
ANSWER: Hi Judy,
Sorry it took so long to answer, my internet has been out and was just repaired today.
In regards to your question, I wouldn't go the dark wood route as there is too much contrast between the wood color and the wall color. If you want to have your molding stand out a little, paint your ceiling a light version of your walls, then paint the molding a creamy white. If you can tell me the name of your wall color and manufacturer, I can be more specific.
If you keep the crown molding white and your ceiling is white...it will blend right in. You could make both the crown and ceiling a creamy white and it would feel more like an extension of your walls.
I guess the key is whether or not you want the crown to be noticed. I would think that's the direction you'll go, especially since its alot of time and money to install.
Let me know if I can help you any further. Thanks for asking and again I apologize it took me so long to answer.
Cyndie Stefanik
Coping with Color.com
Co-Founder/Developer
Color with No Regrets
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Cyndie,
Thanks so much for the reply. No problem about the wait--I appreciate the free advice. My follow-up question is this: I don't know if I want the crown molding to stand out because the ceiling is only 7'9" high. Is leaving it white or painting it creamy white the only option? Would it be too odd to paint the molding yellow at the top of the (yellow) walls and red at the top of the (red) fireplace?
Thanks again,
Judy
Answer Hi Judy,
I am still answering questions, and just got your follow-up. Generally speaking all of the crown molding should be the same. I can see what your trying to accomplish by painting the crown the same color as what is directly below it, and that does work. Contrast is what shrinks a space, by painting it the same as the walls it eliminates the contrast issue all together. So I would still recommend (1) color lighter than the wall color for the crown and ceiling.
If your brick has a front and 2 sides that extend from the wall, you could probably get away with the brick red color. It will create the illusion that the brick goes all the way up if you paint it the brick color. I can even tell you how to paint the trim to look even more like brick.
Let me know what you think. Thanks for getting back to me.
