Most of our hearts go a flutter when we see a butterfly, and happily...butterfly season is upon us. We can’t help but stop and appreciate their delicate energy and beauty.  Their colored wings dance through the landscape and enhance it.

I had the joy of visiting the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory recently, and it was such a treat. Viewing a multitude of species inside the conservatory felt like a sweet game of hide and seek.  Some butterflies brushed passed and others seemed to silently wait for our eyes to lay upon them.

Some of the papillion have bright and dynamic color combinations and others have subtle quiet combinations.  Each one is intoxicatingly beautiful.  The air dancers don’t have to say anything to draw our interest or attention- their colors speak for them.  Butterflies are associated with love and loved ones symbolically.  The Chinese feel  that butterflies are a symbol of long life or a young man in love.  

The Japanese culture says that they symbolize a young maiden in love or a blissful marriage.  The greeks feel that butterflies carry the soul of those passed away.  The Russian and Greek words for butterfly mean ‘soul’.

What kind of butterfly are you? A flashy Peacock or Monarch or a gently camouflaged Malachite?  Here are some palettes I have developed to showcase the beauty of the butterfly wing.

First, one of my favorites...lovely Malachite.

And next, the traditionally fantastic Monarch.

Also, if you are considering pattern in your home remember that beautiful Monarch isn’t afraid to wear black and white polka-dots with stripes!

Summer is in full swing, and as these days of relaxation are treasured by everyone, it can also be a time for change! Bite into this week’s delectable Color of the Week – Tangerine – and attempt to keep that leisurely feeling with you, even when the warm days are long gone and crisp September arrives. Try this color with hints of Almond Whip and accessorize it with inspirations of Pensive Plum.

Irises are in full bloom in my neighborhood, and on my morning walk I took a few pictures of the blooms that I love so much with my cell phone. I like taking really close ups pictures as it shows the splendor of nature’s mastery at combining colors and textures. It is always a source of inspiration for me and here I combined my pictures and room ideas with color chips.

Hint of Cherry
1004-1B

Honeymilk
7003-4

Ambrosia Mist
6003-5A

Red is all the rage on the runways for fall, but we’re getting an early start with the fiery color and switching it up a bit for summer. Pink is the new red – for your walls – and Hint of Cherry is our Color of the Week. Splash it on your foyer wall along with accents of sweet Honeymilk or fresh Ambrosia Mist and we guarantee that you will be “tickled pink” for years to come!

 I recently visited amazing Niagara Falls.  The colors I found there are not what I would have expected! Warm browns and teals with springtime's bold yellows!  Here are some palettes I developed from these surprisingly bold and beautiful colors!

Are you crazy about The Twilight Saga?  We certainly are!  To celebrate the premiere of the third movie, Eclipse, check out Valspar’s “Twilight-Inspired” color palette.

Obsessed with Bella’s bedroom?  The pairing of the green-blue accent wall and purple bedding are perfect complements.  Try Salamander 6001-8B on your wall in any well-lit room for the same modern look straight from the series. 

If you’re Team Edward, try this color combination:

If Team Jacob is more your style, warm it up with these:

Blue Burst
4008-10B

Rising Tide
4008-3A

Anthem White
7006-24

Feeling the intense heat of summer? Cool off by using this week’s color choice, Blue Burst, to transform your bathroom into the ultimate Mediterranean escape. This refreshing blue tone is perfect for those seeking something a bit different. Try this color with accents of cool-grey Rising Tide, or if you want to go nautical, a crisp Anthem White horizontal stripe splashed along the vanity wall will do the trick.

If you love this summer hue and want to carry it out into the rest of your home décor, consider brightly colored accessories such as lamps, vases, and candles. Check out these pieces below for inspiration:

Bell Grove Light
Amber 3006-8B

Canyon Earth
1007-9C

Spansh Tile
1010-5

Almost Charcoal
4008-2B

Dear Beehive,
I have a large open concept kitchen and family room and it has a lot of white walls. I would like to paint the walls in the "kitchen" area so I can define the space and break up the white.

As for my furniture, I have a black kitchen table and black leather couch in the room.

There are two pieces of art in the room: one that is brown and green and another that has a Cherry Wood finish.  (You can see it here.)
I would appreciate any advice.  Thank you!

Chris L., Charlotte, NC

Dear Chris,
Your kitchen looks like it's ready for some color.   It will be a cinch since you don't have to deal with much wall space.

The art work is great - thanks for sharing.  I take it you love these rich toasty colors. 

Here are four color suggestions:

To keep up with the warm neutrals you can try a color like Bell Grove Light Amber.

To amp it up a bit take a look at Toasted Honey or Canyon Earth.

If you really want to go bold, take a look at Spanish Tile.

For a deep color that will also work as a neutral, take a look at: Almost Charcoal.  This color will accentuate the toasty colors in your woodwork and also bring in some of the colors in your stonework.

Keep us posted and if you need more color direction, let us know.

Happy Painting!
Ann

I have worked in the business of making houses beautiful for nearly 15 years now and painting has always been this magic transforming moment. There is nothing like a fresh coat of paint, a new color or a new application technique, to dramatically change a room. My best ally for that has always been my kit. After all these years I have narrowed down the few essentials needed for beautiful walls. So for this Friday Project, how about building your own kit? 

I found that assembling all my painting gear in a bucket like this one and adding a specially designed tool belt is the most space-saving and practical solution to carry everything from room to room.

Here is what to put inside:

• Set of assorted sizes brushes: 3'', 4'', and 1"
  • They don't have to be expensive; a couple of really good quality ones (4" and 2") and assorted sizes of artists brushes, which are great for touch ups
• Set of assorted roller handles and rollers 
  

• Blue tape: a few rolls in assorted sizes
• Bag of rags
• Plastic drop cloth
  

• Plastic container with handle to pour paint in
  

• A few aluminum disposable 9'' pie pans- I use them as paint trays for a lot of different finishes; they are easy to carry
• A few empty plastic containers with lids; recycled quart-size yogurt containers are great
• Assorted sizes of spatulas and French knives
  

• Small can of wood putty and of water-based wall spackle
  

• Assorted sizes of sand paper: a very fine one, a medium and a coarse, and a couple of sanding blocks, which look like sponges
• A few dust masks for the sanding
• A zip lock bag that contains the small, but very needful stuff: a couple of pencils, a calculator, an eraser, a few tubes of acrylic artist paint – black, white, raw umber, burnt umber – a used credit card (I use it to press on the blue tape to keep paint from bleeding), a paint can opener, a screw driver to take electrical plates off, a paint scraper razor blade, an exactor knife
• A couple of magic sponges (they are the absolute best to erase pencil marks and little oops)
  

• Baby wipes, great for cleaning small paint drops on floor
• A hammer to close paint cans
• A yard sticks with a level
• Stirring sticks – ask for them when you buy paint, they are free