Designer and color consultant, Wendy Broadhead, has been working in the home decor field for over 25 years, so she has a lot to offer on this topic. According to Wendy:
"Selecting your main home color can be daunting, but getting the right color makes everything else just fall into place. Whites and Off-Whites are so versatile, looking elegant and classic or rustic and relaxed."
(Swiss Coffee from Benjamin Moore -- photo from Benjamin Moore)
Choosing the right colors
Before you take on any large scale painting projects, Wendy recommends choosing your main color first. Some of her favorite colors include Benjamin Moore colors Simply White (OC-117, soft, slightly creamy), Swiss Coffee (OC-45, a touch of warm gray), and Chantilly Lace (OC-65, clear & bright).
To warm things up a little bit, Pale Oak (OC-20, warm medium light grey-beige), Classic Gray (1548, very light warm gray), and Wind’s Breath (OC-24, warm, sandy gray) are all good options.
Choosing accents
Once you select your main color, Wendy recommends choosing your accents. According to Wendy, navy blues and darker charcoals remain popular. Hale Navy (HC-154, dark navy with a touch of black) and Mysterious (AF-565, smokey navy) are elegant blues. Kendall Charcoal (HC-166, smokey brown charcoal) and Anchor Gray (2126-30, charcoal with a touch of blue) provide excellent choices, too.
(Hale Navy from Benjamin Moore -- photo from Benjamin Moore)
Wendy's remodeling tips
Wendy advises to always do all of your planning up-front:
"When you are about to tackle a home remodeling project (big or small), the key first step is to have a plan. Many people just jump right in and start a project without one. This can lead to missing the final look you were after. And it will surely add to your stress level. Take the time to make your selections early in the planning process: paint, flooring, woodwork, tile, countertops, and wallpaper. It will make the whole project go more smoothly. You’ll have finished rooms you love and take pride in."
A little more about Wendy Broadhead in her own words
"I grew up in Verona and have always lived in the Madison area. My husband of 34 years and I live a little south of Madison. We have three married kids and two beautiful grandkids. I earned an Interior Design degree from MATC (Madison College). I have worked in Benjamin Moore stores for over twenty-five years. I also have broad experience from working at a furniture store and a flooring store."
"I have always loved color and have made that my focus. I really enjoy working with people in selecting the right colors for their homes. I’m happy to help with interior and/or exterior color selection. Exterior color selection can be tricky, but I love the challenge of that, too."
Contact Wendy to get started with your own color consultation:
Thank you Wendy for sharing your expertise with our clients and our team! We appreciate your generosity and your work!
