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About Rebecca Bushner
Expertise
Specifying paint/coating colors or materials for interior or exterior of buildings including residential and commercial spaces. I also do graphic design & color marketing. I'm the current immediate-past-president of the International Association of Color Consultants/Designers North America (IACC-NA), a former Color Marketing Group chairholder, and an award-winning fine artist.

Experience
I've been officially a color consultant for 7 years, a designer and researcher (tableware design) for about 10 years. I have my own color consulting/graphic design business in Arizona.

Organizations
IACC-NA: International Association of Color Consultants/Designers, North America.

Publications
NAFEM (North American Association of Food Eguipment Manufacturers, Ceramics organizations.

Education/Credentials
BA in fine art, MBA, and have taken the full International Association of Color Consultants/Designers seminar course and oral exam.

Awards and Honors
Past-President of the IACC-NA

You are here: Experts > Style > Interior Decorating > Painting & Wallpapering > paint, furniture, flooring

Painting & Wallpapering - paint, furniture, flooring

Expert: Rebecca Bushner - 11/2/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have decided to go with a oak hardwood floor (lighter not dark) I have 2 pieces of oak furniture. I want to paint one wall a light blue. Don't know if I should keep the other 3 walls white. (Give suggestions here) Bow window has molding and the floor does what color will go best (I think white not sure) Ceiling is white should i change this to what color? Buying wicker furniture should I go with white or light brown? Give with color combinations with both colors. Can I go with a little black furniture? That is a black fireplace or a oak one? I am not good with color so thats why I asking for some suggestions. I can use all different kind of pads for the furniture and will be using area rugs with light pink, blue, green in the area rug. Give some combinations so that i can have an idea what will go with what.

ANSWER: Hi Ann
You have many questions and most require more info than you are giving. A photo would really help here, especially if you are not good with color.
I have been giving this same suggestion for months....any you apparently are already ahead: you have area rugs with different colors in them already. This is perfect inspiration for you blue wall/ ceiling colors, etc.

SO....to answer the rest of the questions, remember: color combinations do not exist in a vacuum. There are ALWAYS things most people don't mention. This is what I need in order to help:
1. Room dimensions
2. Lighting- natural,. artificial, and window exposure.
3. Your geographic location. Specific city is best.
4. Amount of foliage blocking your windows.
5. Your decor style: transitional, traditional, contemporary, southwest, Tuscan, mid-century?
6. Pick a brand of paint from this list: Pittsburgh Paints, ICI Dulux, Dunn Edwards, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin WIlliams, Pratt & Lambert.

Get back to me and I will be more than happy to give you some paint color suggestions.
Cheers,
reb

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I don't have the rug was going to buy oriental with soft colors of white, rose, green. In the dining room the rug will be round and in the living room square. The room size is 18' by 26' that is dining room plus living room. Living room has bow window with molding all around 4 panes and some wall. Dining room has deck door (white) with molding all around. Fixture has 8 light candle bulbs. Living room will have lamps. The entire flooring in both living room and dining room will be salem oak. No foilage. I like country and modern. Now these are the things i will need to know.
1. color of molding?
2. ceiling white, cream etc? but goes best with the rest picked?
3. Molding at floor all around and around bow and all around deck door? Deck doors are white can't change this.
4. wicker honey or white? Or can i choose either?
5. Fireplace, black or oak?
I like Behr paint from Lowe's but will check out Sherwin Williams and get one close to what you choose. Deck door has some wall area around it.
I have two pieces of furniture that are oak. 2 are curios. Area I live Berlin, NJ its a rancher home.
6. Color to make one wall to the right and to the left. So there are 2 walls. Front door is white next to bow window. Please forward any other questions. I can buy different chair pads for the wicker to go with what you suggest. Can i use any place pieces of furniture to mix in with it? It will be like a desk or small table. I have no idea what color to do the right side of wall and left side the ceiling and baseboards and moldings. I don't know which wall to make a light or deeper blue but not too dark. I prefer lighter shades over deeper ones. The floor will be Pergo. I have never been good which choice of color so this is what I need alot of help. If you really need a pic please let me know.

Answer
Hello again Ann
BTW: I do not know what a "Deck door" is. Besides, I have yet to see a door (Or surface) that cannot be painted, so if you do not want them to be white, they can be changed.
BTW: I do not specify Behr paints.

1. Color of molding depends on the wall color...or your decor. White tends to look traditional or transitional no matter what color you put with it. Colored molding (Lighter or deeper than wall) tends to look more contemporary.
2. Ceiling color again depends on the wall color. Lighter is usually best: LRV of 70+ works great for ceilings. Doesn't have to be white or cream though. It will depend on your color scheme.
3. Molding at flooring usually matches the other molding in the room.
4. Wicker: either
5. Fireplace: either

Since you still have still more questions and some which I do not quite understand ("Color to make one wall to the right and to the left. So there are 2 walls.") and no photos, I will strongly suggest you hire someone such as a color consultant or decorator to help you. I do not want to discourage you but you need to keep two things in mind: You need something to start the ball rolling with a color scheme: the rug, art, something patterned, etc. Look at home/lifestyle magazines for ideas. Once you have an actual color scheme, then your questions will seem much easier and you can answer them yourself.

I will give you an example, using your inspiration "oriental with soft colors of white, rose, green."..
.. for EXAMPLE: add in a few more colors to the rug: tan, light gold, chocolate brown. Check this gorgeous rug out: http://images.hayneedle.com/mgen/master:NOR149.jpg
Now you have something to work with! So try espresso brown fireplace instead of black, Honey-colored wicker, soft warm creamy rose ceiling, golden beige walls, tan (Or off-white, or cream) trim, deep sage, sage, dark olive, rose, and chocolate textiles; brass, matte gold, and bronze metallic items like lamps and mirror frames...you get the idea. Keep looking at magazine for inspiration.
So concentrate on finding that inspiration item and then picking large items to work with it. Don't to to match everything exactly to this item, it's ok to be "in the ballpark" and not exact.
I hope this gives you some more inspiration!
Good luck,
rebecca

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