Freshen Up Your Home with Pantone's Color of the Year
Every year, Pantone releases the “Color of the Year” – its chosen to capture the mood of the current time. Interior decorators often pay close attention to this news since it helps them choose color schemes for their designs. Fashion designers and other designers also incorporate the Pantone color into their work as well. How can you do the same?
First: This Year’s Color
For 2017, Pantone has selected the Color #15-0343, which is more commonly known as “Greenery.” It’s a shade of green that is reminiscent of the leaves that have a slight yellow overtone.
According to Forbes, Pantone says that its choice hearkens to the movement to “go green,” which it believed to have reached “a crescendo” at this time. The shade also speaks to new beginnings, regrowth, and the freshness of both spring and summer.
Green is a color that is easy to work into many decor styles, and this makes the year’s pick much more versatile than some in years past. Here are a few ways you can do this:
Add Accents and Pops of Color
This is the easiest way to bring a yearly color into your home. Put a lamp with a Greenery-colored base on an accent table, hang a picture that features the shade, or even paint a short stretch of wall in it. These methods will allow you to stay up on the ever-changing color trends without having to make a large investment of both time and money.
Paint an Entire Wall or Room
With Greenery, you can actually paint a whole wall, or a whole room, without overwhelming your space. Of course, if you do this, it’s important to consider how the new wall color will look with your current furniture and accessories.
If you decide that more changes will have to be made in order to achieve the most awesome results, try taking a look at Pantone’s other colors for the year. There’s a palette of 10 shades, including many brights and a couple of neutrals, so you can change up the room and still have plenty of variety.
If you’ve been thinking about getting new furniture, consider getting a few pieces in Greenery. They’ll be trendy now, but the color is nice enough that it’ll still look good a few years down the line.
Would you like to green up your furniture without actually replacing it? Try using throws and blankets to turn your sofas and chairs into trendy pieces. This makes it super-easy to change the look every year with the trends!
Use Pillows and Other Soft Accents
While an entire furniture piece done in Greenery will make a big impact, that isn’t always what produces the best look for your space. Sometimes, something smaller, such as a green throw pillow, is what will create the look you seek. Place one or more against a contrasting background to catch the eye.
Rugs are also good additions when seeking to bring a specific color into a room. A small one will invite people to investigate a particular area, while a big one will freshen up your entire floor.
Remember the Exterior
There are plenty of options for freshening up the outside of your house. Paint your door or trim for a trendy, but easily-changeable, update. Alternatively, consider choosing Greenery for part of a renovation project such as new windows. This color is great because it will be the “in thing” now, yet won’t look stale for years to come.
No matter how you’d like to use Pantone’s Greenery this year, visit our website today to schedule your visit from RWC. Our designers will be glad to create the perfect plans that make use of it. We are also happy to install and do any renovation-related updates in New Jersey.
Out With the Old: 6 Renovation Ideas to Improve Your Kitchen
“Out with the old” is a common saying for the new year, but it rings hollow if you find yourself looking at old appliances, floors, and countertops. Instead of trying to feel fresh with old things, how about you give your home something new that you will love? Renovate your kitchen by getting rid of your old things and replacing them with newer more efficient stuff:
1. Appliances
Most types of appliances have good durability, but that doesn’t mean that you really want to keep them forever. Their finishes get worn out, their styles can become dated, and sometimes, the ones you have just no longer suit your needs. If any of these things are true, it’s time to get rid of your old equipment.
The range/oven is a good start for replacement in many cases. Exposure to years of heat and grease can really destroy the look, and it is one of the most style-sensitive large appliances as well. Not only is the style important, but the size is an important factor to consider. If you have ever spent the holidays fighting to get a roast and all of the fixings to fit inside your oven, change it now so you won’t have to deal with that problem again.
2. Lighting
You don’t have to want fancy lighting to want a change from what you currently have. If your kitchen has shadowy spots or areas of glare, consider getting new fixtures to lighten up the area. Of course, once you decide to change the lighting, it is always good idea to check out your options on the upscale side. Lighting doesn’t have to be basic and you can make it unique to your home.
3. Countertops & Backsplashes
These two elements work together, so they should be considered at the same time. This helps to ensure that they look great as a unit.
Granite is still king when it comes to a good grade countertop. The rock itself is extremely durable, and the modern finishes are tough enough to stand up to actually being used. Some care is needed for the finish, but it’s nothing too onerous. However, the beauty of the granite is what makes people really love this material for countertops and tiles.
One of the best ways to ensure that the backsplash will look as good as the counter is to have the backsplash made of the same material. This maintains the overall look and feel of the area and allows it to match perfectly.
4. Sinks
Kitchen sinks are typically placed within the countertop, but they’re not limited to this position. They can also go in kitchen islands, bar counters, and other such places. The sink itself can be the popular stainless steel, which won’t discolor when used to soak dishes and can also stand up to scouring and disinfecting. What you really need to pay attention to is the faucet, this fixture often makes the difference between a basic sink and one that is very impressive.
5. Cabinets
Most people first decide to get new cabinets when their old ones look worn. However, this isn’t the only reason to replace them. Say “out with the old” to cabinets that are too small, have poor shelving design, and ones that otherwise don’t fit your needs.
When choosing cabinets, remember that there is a wide variety of placement options for them. They can go up on the wall, under the counter, or even within kitchen islands. Some of these places, especially the islands, may look better with a different style of cabinets than the ones that are used for the rest of the room.
6. Flooring
The floor is one of the kitchen’s most prominent areas, and as such, it should be treated as a true design element. Choose a pattern that looks great, is waterproof, and that won’t be dated next year. Then you’ll be able to enjoy it for years to come.
Renovate With RWC
Whether you want to bring in a single new element, update a few, or do a complete renovation, our designers can create the perfect plan for your kitchen. Just contact us here at RWC in West Caldwell, NJ, for that new design or for installation of your choices.
7 Opportunities To Make Your Bathroom New For The New Year
The start of a new year is a great time to finally get those bathroom renovations you’ve been wanting done. It will refresh your home while providing the added benefits of a new better bathroom. Here are some excellent places to start:
1. Toilet
Toilets are pretty basic, so they tend to only be replaced when they fail. A failing toilet involves either the cracking of the tank and bowl, or a collection of mineral staining that is no longer tolerable.
Although toilets are basic in function, there are many design variations for this standard fixture. If you do need a new toilet, it’s worth putting some extra attention into it. Retro designs have become popular, these typically involve sides that are shaped as if a curved pipe is just below the surface. If retro is not your style maybe a more modern look with a smooth-sided commode is right up your alley.
2. Shower
Standalone showers are currently in, but for some bathrooms, the standard tub/shower combo still makes the best use of the space. Either way, they can be made in ways ranging from extra-basic all the way to luxuriously fancy. Note that the impressiveness of a shower usually has little to do with the shower fixture itself. Instead, it’s all about the walls, floor, and door. For a more upscale look go for some beautiful stone walls with a clear door. If minimizing maintenance is what you are after, ceramic tile walls with a shower curtain should do the trick.
3. Sink
There is a surprising array of bathroom sinks to choose from. You can stick with a basic porcelain one, or you can be adventurous and get a coated copper basin, a counter with a sunken granite sink, or any number of other versions. The main thing to keep in mind for your sink is the functionality and its usability. Be sure that the faucet position, basin size, and other attributes will work for how you intend to use it.
4. Backsplashes
The functional purpose of backsplashes is to keep splashed water from ruining the wall behind your sink. They can also be an important aspect for the all around design of the bathroom as well. You can have a new backsplash put in to go with a new vanity or countertop you installed. For modern bathrooms granite and ceramic tile are the most popular choices for backsplashes.
5. Vanities
Some decor styles work better with vanities than the traditional counter tops. A vanity can stand on its own and may or may not include a sink. Providing enough room for cosmetics and other sundries. Vanities can also have a cabinet or two beneath its top surface. These are especially popular in retro bathroom designs, but modern style bathrooms use them too.
6. Walls
Bathroom walls are usually painted, but there’s no need to stick with this style. You can have your bathroom walls tiled for a new fresh look. Bathroom wall tiles are typically smaller than ones used elsewhere, but there’s no need to stick with this style. Large stone wall tiles can work just as well and can provide a more upscale look.
7. Floor
This is one of the easiest areas to forget about, but it’s actually one of the most important. It’s very visible unless covered by rugs, so it’s a good idea to put some serious thought into it. Make sure to use sealed tiles like glazed ceramic in this room to avoid staining. Since this is for the bathroom it is best to go for a material that has a non-slip texture as well.
These are just some of the many ways you can upgrade your bathroom in the new year. For more ideas, professional designs, or installation, contact us here at RWC in New Jersey. We’ll be glad to come out and discuss your plans, give you a quote, and then get started on freshening up one of your home’s most important rooms today.