Different Color Designs

by: Victor Epand

There is really no single source I could refer you to regarding decorating these room accents, but quite often Traditional Home Magazine will feature homes with dormers, particularly in their spring editions. While that doesn't help you now, let's talk about some basic things. Since you have dormers and traditional windows in the same room, you are right in saying the treatment needs to match.

But by "matching" we can "coordinate" which gives us a lot more latitude. If your regular windows are draped or curtained, consider using the same fabric and creating a faux window seat, a covered chain that suspends a crystal or other art object, or a tiny but oh so tailored valence for the dormer top.

As long as the fabric coordinates from one side of the room to the other, you'll be fine. If you purchase ready-made window treatments, buy one extra and use that to create your own dormer treatment. My one clue here is to use your imagination. Kirsch makes rods in an array of sizes, from 4 inches up. Give some thought to the possibilities, and enjoy the journey!

If you like Traditional styling, invest in a subscription to Traditional Home magazine. You'll find award winning designs, great tips and beautiful photography. There's no "one" decor book I could recommend but several good ones. Look for books by designers you know.

You do not have to have the same finish on fixtures. As a matter of fact, I would not recommend it. Go for the design and finish you like best. Counter tops and floors do not have to match either. Remember my number one rule is, if you "love it" and put it in your home, you're going to love the result.

Often, the photos shown in home magazines are neither "real" nor practical. Sometimes they are just promotional photos done by decorators showcasing new paint colors for a particular paint company. They are often done by "designers" that know nothing about color and how it affects people and the function of the rooms.

Designers do custom work, so this scheme was probably for a specific person's home, with specific taste and personality. Sometimes that doesn't translate well if you lift the same scheme and plop into a new room. Some of the worst color design I have ever seen has been shown in home magazines.

That said, it doesn't mean you can't fall in love with a color scheme in a magazine spread. What it means is that you have to tweak it and be practical. It needs to work in your space. If it dosen't work for you then go and see what color design dose work for you. You wouldn't want to get a color design that would just gloom the room for you and your guess.

The other thing all of you must realize: there are "no color formulas." Notice that when I give color advice I qualify the information with words such as "take a look at", "check out", "something like" and go one to describe colors and list many options.

Even when I list specific paint colors, I always give choices. I do this not to confound you and make it harder, but to help you realize every room and situation is different and that you must ultimately make your own color choices. You can always go with paint samples and try out the sample in the room you think it would go nice in and work from there.

Black, white and red are a classic color combination. Very nice in certain instances but possibly not practical in a huge room. I've never seen it done well, even with a 4th color such as sky blue added. Please consider tweaking this scheme and also consider picking the paint chips out in person at the home in question. The lighting will be different and the room size, everything.

And also consider a different paint brand! There are many wonderful brands in Europe that are excellent. Each romm is different, just like each person is different. Some room need a light color to make the room more homy then other rooms need to be a little darker.

So, for a white, black, red, sky blue scheme, the white is the most crucial. A stark white on a wall with a 15ft ceiling will likely be cold and overwhelming unless you know what you are doing. Every shade you mention can be tweaked and made to work with the light in your space to give a similar effect as the design you saw, but you'll need to do it in person.

If you need help with this scheme, I really recommend hiring a trained color consultant. Be sure when you do hire someone that you ask them to see some of there work so you know what the work looks like. Then you can decide if you want to hire them or not.