Picking out paint colors is probably one of the harder tasks (for me), but also one of the most important when decorating your home. Is this white too stark? Is this gray too blue? Is this pink too, well, pink? Paint is not only the backdrop for your interiors, it’s also one of the easiest ways to change up the look of a house. So, I was thrilled to talk to today’s guest. Dana Lockett, CEO of Texas Paint and Wallpaper. stopped by the blog today to answer five questions, a series we started on the blog last week.
In this month’s D Home, you can see the pretty results from the Texas Paint & Wallpaper-sponsored Life in Color contest. We asked local designers to submit photos of their favorite colorful projects. A panel of judges chose five winners in different categories. See the results here.
Picking out a white paint color is important. What are some of your favorite white colors?
My favorite go-to white is Benjamin Moore White Dove (OC-17). I love this color because it has equal red and blue undertones which allow it to compliment any color you put next to it without appearing too stark. I also love using the half formula of Benjamin Moore Linen White (912). It has a creamy yellow undertone which is the perfect shade when cut in half.
For more Q&A with Danna, follow us after the jump!
Can we “peek” inside your house? What colors are your walls?
Although I tend to change my paint colors every few years, if you peeked inside my home you would see a lot of grays, “greige” and gray-greens. I am of fan of keeping the paint color neutral and making design statements with fabrics and furniture. My favorite paint colors right now are Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (HC-172), Rockport Gray (HC-105), Sag Harbor Gray (HC-95), and anything from the new Benjamin Moore Williamsburg fan deck.
I know you recently had a baby girl. Congrats! Do you have any must-have design items you included in her nursery that you’d like to share?
Design in our nursery comes down to function. I have a little girl, so I selected items that were classic and traditional in design with the idea that it can transition with her as she grows older without going out of style. I couldn’t resist the urge to paint her room pink, but I picked a very faint pink that will last until she is much older. I tend to be sentimental, so I added elements from my own childhood like my first pair of ballet shoes and a dresser that I painted to give her room a personal touch. Lighting is so important in a nursery. I selected a 6-arm chandelier and had it installed with a dimmer, so at night I could gently raise the light to change and feed her.
When you are working with clients, what questions do you ask them to help you find the perfect options for them?
When I first meet a client, I want to understand the look and feel they want to achieve in their home. Do they tend to make more bold color choices or are they happier with softer tones? I start by asking what fabrics and furniture they have in their space and move into what type of lighting. Then I am able to direct them to a palette that compliments their furnishings. I always encourage my clients to select a few paint options and test them on a large piece of foam board. I want them to live with it for three days before making a final choice. This allows them to see the color at different times of day in the space they want to paint without painting samples on their walls.
What are you loving right now?
My favorite indulgence is an off-the-menu dessert at Cane Rosso in Deep Ellum. They make a Nutella mascarpone pizza that makes angels cry.
