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CHOOSING THE COLORS FOR YOUR HOME OR REMODEL

Typically the next phase in home construction is your color choices. Most builders will require the majority of these decisions to be made as early as possible. The builder I worked with for many years, had the customers come in for a color session after their plans were nearly complete and before construction began. I believe this is a good policy, as it allows the builder and customer to resolve decisions and pricing issues at early stages. Dragging this process out over the course of construction, can result in bad color choices, availability problems, cost factors and constant worry over the next decision.

Most women are overwhelmed at the idea of choosing every finish and color necessary to build a home. There are a huge amount of color decisions to be made. I do understand how confusing and difficult this can be for many of you, especially if you are starting from scratch. I don’t want to put all women in this category as many of you do know your taste and have extreme confidence in your abilities to make color decisions. However, my experience has taught me that the first scenario is by far more common.

Women being faced with color choices and decorating for a new or existing home was my motive in developing the "Decorator Secrets System."

• Over the years, as I worked with clients decorating their homes, often many would come in for the color session having absolutely no idea of what color scheme or palette they wanted to decorate with.

• I had to find a way to help them with a color direction. Often customers would keep everything totally neutral, especially if resale was a concern, but usually it was due to the lack of confidence and not knowing what they wanted.

• I found that showing them the color boards used for model and client homes was very helpful. The color boards are a common tool used by decorators to visually show the customer recommended colors, products etc., but are not created for the client until the decorator has been hired and a payment policy arrived at.

• A color scheme board requires many design hours of research and digging through samples, and catalogs on the client’s behalf, and can be quite costly.

• My clients were always dazzled and impressed with the color boards. Especially if it was representative of a model home they had visited or purchased from. Seeing how I started the model and then seeing the finished model was an enlightening experience.

• I would then use the color boards to teach my client how we were going to proceed with their project. First, we would attempt to achieve their taste and style, secondly color, scale balance etc.

• This experience and customer reaction is what inspired me to create the 18 color scheme guides providing for you color scheme options and coordinated selections for an average of 6-8 rooms.

• If you are building or decorating and do not know where to begin, the Super Package (all 18 color scheme guides) is an ideal way for you to determine your families taste. They will provide for you a clear direction and path for all the future decisions necessary for your new home/remodel or decorating project.

As the time approaches for you to make color selections for your building project, endeavor to have a color palette in mind. Arriving at a color session, and not having a clue of what you want, will only create stress and frustration for you. Hopefully the builder has provided an interior decorator to help you, and I’m sure that he or she will give you good advise, but remember this is your home and should be a reflection of your taste and lifestyle. It should be their job to help you achieve your dreams and expectations for the new home. However, you must help them with a color scheme preference.

• Sometimes, builders will put time restraints on the availability of the interior decorator for your color selections. This is all the more reason to be prepared for your color selections.

• Decorators will then show you the standard choices for each phase of the color session, and at your leading will show you additional ideas and products that may be an upgrade.

• An average color session, covering the decisions I have listed below, will take approximately 6-8 hrs. Be prepared to spend as much time with the decorator as offered, and do your best to have children cared for in another location. Mothers, sisters and friends have often accompanied the customer to their color session. In some cases this is desirable, but honestly in most it just adds stress and confusion. Too many opinions make it difficult for you to make a decision, which is yours.

• The couple, as a rule, should go together for color choices, but if your husband has absolutely no interest, you will be just fine with the help of the decorator. If you feel uncomfortable and really want a family member or friend, then feel free to bring them. Decorators are used to working with extended family members and friends, along with their client.

• Usually during the course of construction, it will be necessary to meet with the decorator for personal changes as well as availability problems. Most of these needs can be handled in an hour or less.

• There will always be variations and different policies around the country, but as a general rule the above information, should prepare you for what to expect from the builder, staff, and decorator.

LIST OF COLOR DECISIONS NEEDED FOR PROJECT

I’m going to provide a list of the basic color decisions needed by the builder for the completion of your home or remodel project.

• As you review these components, consider your taste, style, color scheme, budget, and family needs. You will probably find that once the largest decisions are out of the way, it will become easier as you go. Each choice you make then narrows the field for the next decision, and so on. You will understand better once you get into it.

• If your builder does not have a form/color sheet or a decorator available, you may use these components to create your own. Having a completed color sheet available for the builder and sub-contractors at all times, will help in eliminating color mistakes. (We always included the completed color sheet as a page of the final set of blueprints, on the job at all times).

• You may find that during the construction process, some of your original choices may not be available in time for installation or you change your mind about a color choice. This is an example of when a change order will be necessary. Reselect, making sure it is documented for the builder to price and confirm availability. Once you have approved the cost, if applicable, both parties should sign the change order.

• It is then the superintendent’s responsibility to keep up with any changes that arise, to prevent mistakes happening in the field.

Please carefully consider the below components for your home construction color choices:

1. Interior walls (every room) – paint choice, texture, wallpaper etc.

2. Ceilings (every room) – texture and paint color

3. Trim / Interior doors and Moldings – color

4. Switchplates- style and color

5. Door hardware- style and color

6. Flooring (every room)- product choice (hardwood, carpet, tile etc.) then color choice including grout if applicable

7. Kitchen – choose cabinets, countertops, backsplash area (tile or wallpaper), appliances, sink color, hardware, walls (paint or wallpaper)

8. Bathrooms- (all baths-powder, hall, guest, pool and master etc.)- Choose vanity base cabinet, vanity countertops, plumbing fixtures (tub, toilet, lavs), towel bars and faucets, tiled surfaces including grout (tub surround, shower wall, shower, floor, main floor etc.) hardware, walls (paint or wallpaper)

9. Utility/Laundry Room – cabinets, countertops, flooring, hardware, walls (paint or wallpaper)

10. Fireplaces- choose body product (brick, stone, tile, other), mantle paint or stain color and additional choices your particular fireplace may require.

11. Built-ins – (Bookshelves, wet/dry bars) choose cabinets, countertops, tile, hardware, paint/stain colors

12. Outdoor Kitchen- choose cabinet base, countertops, hardware, appliances, sink color

13. Lighting fixtures/fans – choose fixtures where necessary (dining, breakfast, foyer etc.) and fan style and colors.

14. Specialty Items- (glass block, fountains etc.)

15. Exterior-
    wchoose roof style and color
    whouse body, soffit, fascia, garage door, front door, accent trim,
      shutters paint color
    wwindow frame color
    wbrick/stone colors
    wsiding color
    wawning color
    wwalkway, driveway product and color
    wentry flooring-product and color
    wlanai/deck product and color
    woutside light fixtures

16. Pool – pool surface, tile, coping, deck, spa items, and screen frame enclosure color

I’m sure by now you are beginning to understand the complexity and details necessary to complete a home or remodel project.  I sincerely hope that you will consider all the information I have provided for you in this article.  I do not profess to know everything about home building, contracts, banking etc.  However, my many years of personal and professional experience in this field of interior decorating has afforded me knowledge and wisdom which I hope will help you and prevent some common and costly mistakes.

Happy Decorating!!

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