Summer 2009

Summer Color Favorites

Summer color combinations reflect the leisure activities we love to do during the season. Swimming, boating, fishing and gardening invoke images of crisp, clean colors. Whether painting your interior or the outdoor “summer rooms” (patios, decks, yard furniture) palettes are sometimes soothing and tranquil, and sometimes more playful and lively.

	Hale Navy HC-154 Dark blue Cool and comforting	Dark Royal Blue 2065-20 Deep oceanic blue Nautical, cool
	A favorite is the quintessential blue and white nautical palette. I love Ben Moore’s rich Hale Navy or Dark Royal Blue paired with Bright White.
Photo courtesy of Maine Cottage Furniture
	Heritage Red E-25 Deep, wet red Interesting, powerful, great accent
	For a lighthearted, festive and patriotic palette, try red, white and blue. Find a deep, wet red such as Ben Moore’s Heritage Red. Use the color judiciously so as not to overpower the space. If you decide to paint an accent wall red, select a wall with interesting features.
Be immediately transported to the coast with the beautiful, calm colors of beach glass. Fresh, classic bright white, and warm creamy white rooms are the perfect backdrop. Paint the inside of a bookshelf or nook in turquoise. Add throw pillows, vases, lamps and rugs in your favorite beach glass colors like Ben Moore’s Spectra Blue, Arctic Blue, Tropical Teal and Pratt and Lamberts Shoreline Green.
Photo courtesy of Maine Cottage Furniture	Spectra Blue 2049-50	Tropical Teal 734
	Arctic Blue 2050-60	Shoreline Green (Pratt & Lambert)
Photo courtesy of Maine Cottage Furniture	Blue and green are analogous colors (neighbors on the color wheel) making them perfect in countless combinations. Transform a room with freshness by painting casual wood furniture and accessories with eye-catching ocean and sea-glass accent colors. Or paint walls a refreshing blue, yellow-green or seafoam.
Photo courtesy of Maine Cottage Furniture
	Driftscape Tan 2106-50
	A classic neutral tone-on-tone palette of sand, cream and wood tones offers serenity and warmth. I like Ben Moore’s Driftscape Tan for walls. This informal and relaxed monochromatic scheme begs for variety in the form of textured rugs, fabrics and furnishings.

The Color Wheel:

The easiest way to create the perfect summer color scheme (or color scheme for any time of the year) is to select two or three neighboring colors from the color wheel. Colors from the same or neighboring families provide a unified look. If an accent or “punch” color is desired, select one from the opposite side of the wheel (i.e., if blue and green are the main colors, orange or red serve as the accent) and use the accent color sparingly. Find the scheme that’s right for you, be it warm, cool, deep, bright, or intense and bring your summer retreat to life.

Best Wishes,

--Bonnie