Are you embarking on a bathroom or kitchen renovation? Ridding yourself of hideous wallpaper? Repainting your red dining room? Then beware of cast-off color.
Note: This bathroom renovation and write-up with photos was actually done 7-8 years ago, but I’m including the post here as it contains valuable information. (Don’t they all? :))
For several years now I’ve been trying to talk my husband into moving. He’s coming around, but it’s definitely a slow process. In the meantime, I began updating our home a couple of years ago. (Yes, Atlanta home stagers and decorators end up in the same trap as our clients — we get caught in a time warp.) To illustrate a point relating to the title of this blog post, take a look at a few “before” shots of our master bathroom.
Master Bath – Before
Master Bath – Before
Aaaaahhhhh!!!!!!!! What was I thinking?????!!!!!! Yes, that lovely red wallpaper with white flowers and birds-of-paradise was actually considered attractive at one time, but who can remember back that far?
Okay, as soon as the shock wears off, please take a look at the floor tiles in the above photo. Once I decided which tile I wanted to use, I spent a good bit of time checking undertones making sure I had the right color. Since I am a professional color consultant, I knew what to look for — or so I thought. The tile I chose was a beige neutral — not yellowish or greenish, but with a bit of a red undertone. Knowing I had diligently checked undertones to know exactly how it would read once installed, imagine my SHOCK when the tiles displayed a very strong PINK cast! What on earth happened? For about half a day I was beating myself to death wondering how I could’ve made such a mistake.
Then it dawned on me.
The pink I was seeing was actually “cast-off color” from the red wallpaper. Of course! Why didn’t I think of that? I held my breath until the red wallpaper was gone, replaced by Sherwin-Williams Latte SW6108. Sure enough, the pink glow slowly evaporated before my eyes and I was left with the nice neutral I thought I had selected to begin with. Whew!
Here are a few “after” shots:
Master Bath – After
Master Bath – After
Master Bath – After
So the moral of the story is this: beware of cast-off color. Until your existing color is removed or covered, the new colors will not read true. Always remember you must commit to your new color and see it through. Never make a judgment on your new hues and undertones until the existing color has been covered.
“If you think hiring a professional is expensive, try hiring an amateur.”
Patsy Overton Interiors… where color never sleeps.