AboutCyndie Stefanik Expertise Co-Developer/author of the patent pending "Color with No Regrets" Selection System. Just recently her Color Program was featured in Faux Effects World Magazine and a separate featured article for her virtual consultations in House Trends Magazine. Her Color with No Regrets online video Color Class is the first to earn IACET Certification with the Society of Decorating Professionals. Her specialty is the $199 whole house virtual consultation which is especially popular for new construction and remodeling projects all over the country. As a retired award winning decorative artist, she now donates her services on a regular basis to the Make a Wish Foundation.
Experience I began as a decorative painter/artist 15 years ago. My work has appeared in magazines from award winning designer show houses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and Architectural Digest. 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 conducted training seminars for 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 Recent articles and showcase projects appear in Faux Effects World Magazine, House Trends Magazine, WJET-TV for decorative painting set design, as well as local publications in Western Pennsylvania such as Today's Home. I am a regular guest on Good Morning Erie, WJET-TV, an ABC affliate as the Princess of Paint, where I provide decorating, painting techniques and problem solving for viewers.
Question I am so color handicapped. I just purchased a home that is 10 years old. The prior owners painted the walls and trim all neutral colors. The carpet is a beige neutral color. I need to bring color into the house. However, it is a very open floorplan. When you enter the front door, the dining room is open and to the left, the family room #1 is open and to the right, when you walk forward family room #2 is open and to the right, still moving forward and to the left is the breakfast nook and moving forward past the breakfast nook is the hallway leading to the guest bedrooms. Since I have so many open rooms that are seen when you first walk into the house - should I use one color for the entrance and hallway? Then different colors from the same color scale for the two family rooms? Since the dining room and kitchen are on the left sides - can I use different colors for each room? Thank you.
Answer Hi Tammy,
With an open floor plan it is very important to not necessarily match using the same color, but more importantly have colors that blend. Each color has a quality and undertone that must have similarities throughout the space. I'll give you an idea of this by showing you 3 colors that work together. Take a look at Sherwin Williams Reddened Earth, Basket Beige and Halcyon Green.
Without getting too technical (because it's way more than you probably want to read about or know), these honor the most important attributes of color which are hue, saturation and value. For your open floor plan you'll need to keep the brightness (saturation), value (light and darkness) and finally hue (left and right progression of the color wheel) similar to avoid any abrupt changes.
Once the colors get worked out, you can use different colors in different rooms if you'd like, just make the change on an inside corner or ending wall. Even though the colors are different, they will seamlessly go from room to room. Also, you're accessories will help to continue the flow of colors. And, a general rule of thumb is 3 walls the same, 1 different or all four walls 1 color.
I don't know if you're interested, but I can be hired for online color consult ($199) for your entire house. I have done this all over the country with great success. I would provide you with a custom color palette that you can mix and match throughout your house. Custom because I spend the time to find out what your likes and dislikes are. Look at pictures and gather any fabrics you many be working with. This would be especially helpful for you since you're just starting out in this home. Color is NEVER about just one color. It's how that color blends with everything else around it and from one room to the next.
Call or email for more details. 814-490-5590
I hope this helps you. Let me know if you have any other questions.
