Monday, February 25, 2013

Bold Bursts of Color to Brighten Your Home

Dashes of bold hues are an easy way to update your house and give it a colorful — and upbeat — personality.


Plenty of Upside

This demure dining area gets an unexpected lift from a fuchsia-colored ceiling that turns a conventional paint color scheme upside down. Painting ceilings a darker color than walls helps make spaces cozier — an especially good effect for rooms with tall ceilings.


Credit: Sara Story Design

Happy Face

Like a smiling sous chef, this retro-style refrigerator ($2,995 and up) brightens the kitchen with its sunshiney yellow face. The powder-coated finishes of this brand come in many colors including blue, orange, red, and pink. It also comes as an undercounter model if you’re looking to save space with tiny appliances for your small home.



Credit: Big Chill



Hitting the Right Notes

An all-white kitchen is the perfect playground for a splash of color (make that a backsplash of color). Textural 1-by-2-inch glass tiles ($20 per sq. ft.) create a mellow hue above black countertops made of recycled paper. Want more pop? A jazzy kitchen backsplash can add a dash of dazzle.

Credit: ChrDAUER Architects / Bruce Damonte Photography


Turn on the Brights!

Your kids won’t need any urging to brush their teeth when you put a neon-green pedestal sink in their bathroom. This Agape polyethylene sink ($1,075-$1,950) is perfect for small spaces, and the rounded shape is especially kid-friendly. Neutral white walls and dark brown tiles make this beauty really pop.


Credit: Melanie Morris Design / Alex Kotlik, photo


Color That Opens Doors (and Drawers)

A little touch of color adds a splash of panache. For an easy kitchen update, switch out your old cabinet hardware for fused glass knobs and pulls ($10-$20 each) that come in a world of playful hues.



Credit: Creating Joyful Spaces


DIY Carpet

No need for expensive, dust-catching carpets when a little elbow grease and a fun paint color gets you a beautiful floor show. This design was created with painter’s tape; for fancier designs, try reusable mylar stencils ($20-$60 for a 20-by-20-inch stencil). BTW, today’s flooring paints ($50-$60/gal.) are tough — you won’t need an acrylic topcoat in low-traffic areas.


Credit: Sunny Goode


Steps to Great Color

Often passed over — literally — as design elements, stairs offer terrific opportunities to add color to your interiors and brighten up any dark stairways. Durable floor paint ($50-$60/gal) holds up well, but for highly trafficked stairs apply a clear topcoat for maximum protection. Brightly painted stairs stand out — an added safety benefit.


Credit: Tamar Schechner


Finding Your Niche

Make recessed alcoves and window seats an architectural focal point by painting them a bold, contrasting color. Don’t forget to put the space underneath your window seat to good use by adding window seat storage.


Credit: Patterson Construction Corporation


Fiery Italian Beauty

No worries — you’ll still get cold water from this red-hot faucet. In a world of chrome and brushed nickel, this bright powder-coated faucet ($1,188) stands out. Want more way-cool faucet ideas? Check out our slideshow of high-tech kitchen faucets that’ll have you washing dishes by hand just for the fun of it.


Credit: Zucchetti Rubinetteria S.p.A./Pan collection design Ludovica+Roberto Palomba


Source:  HouseLogic

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