Simply Refocus: Color & Design Trends 2012

10/03/11 Sara McLean | specs+spaces Editor, Dunn-Edwards Corporation, Allied Member ASID, CMG

With 2011 almost behind us, we are looking forward to the upcoming new year to “Simply Refocus” on what’s new in color and design and we’re giving you a sneak peek. Come with us to explore the sentimental, refined, essential and revolutionary for 2012.

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Sara McLean says:

May 16, 2012 at 9:00 AM

Hi Christianna - this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. Here are some modern color choices to complement Birch White and highlight the bleached coastal look: For a creamier look without being too yellow, test out DE5358 Ivory Oats, DEC742 Cameo, and DE5449 Moonstruck. Or, test out these beach colors for a less creamy look: DE5498 Calla Lilly, DE5505 Natural Light, DE6171 Sand Dollar. One last trend is blue in the kitchen; try DE6296 Sculptural Silver. Beautiful with Birch White. Happy painting!

Christianna says:

May 14, 2012 at 11:06 PM

Painting interior soca coastal condo. I want an updated/modern beachy sun bleached look. I have cottage white kitchen cabinets. Floors and blinds are a cherry laminate. I opened up the kitchen, removing part of a wall and door, to the living room. I had orginally thought about painting the kitchen walls creamy yellow and the rest of the condo Birch White. My concern: yellow kitchen walls will pop too much into the living area. What are good kitchen wall colors for beachy look to match Birch?

Sara McLean says:

May 14, 2012 at 3:21 PM

Hi Andrea - this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. Flaxen will be a great addition. I've seen it in homes and it looks stunning. Two other choices that are warm but with less yellow are: DEC745 Chaparral and DE6157 Bisque Tan. A great test is to place fabric and wood samples on a painted surface to see how the palette ties together. See it outside and inside to gauge the color and light changes. This will provide extra help on getting the perfect shade for the home. Happy painting!

Sara McLean says:

May 14, 2012 at 3:06 PM

Hi Jelane - this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. Here are two colors very close to Crisp Muslin but with more gray: DE6226 Foggy Day and DEC774 Shady. Each is the same light saturation level as Crisp Muslin but no brown undertone. Happy painting!

Sara McLean says:

May 14, 2012 at 2:52 PM

Hi Lori - this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. I'm so happy we could help out. Tickled Crow is definitely a great color for bedrooms. It's been a designer favorite of ours for decades, so it has a professional thumbs-up. Happy painting!

Sara McLean says:

May 14, 2012 at 2:49 PM

Hi Patricia - this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. I would be happy to help with a ranch style exterior palette. Here are two color schemes to start testing: first, a traditional, nature-inspired scheme - DE6129 Rustic Taupe (body), DE6235 Northgate Green (trim), DE6355 Tarnished Silver (accent); second, a more contemporary scheme if you have modern landscape elements - DE6122 Dry Creek (body), DE6305 Galway Bay (trim), DE5152 Cedar Grove (accent). Happy painting!

Sara McLean says:

May 14, 2012 at 2:20 PM

Hi Renee - this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. We're so pleased we could help out. Enjoy your freshly painted home!

Andrea says:

May 13, 2012 at 11:51 PM

Your suggestions for paint colors have been so helpful. Thank you. I think I'm going to go with the color Flaxen for our main living areas and blues (Distant Haze) and greens (Pine Mist) for bedrooms and bathrooms. I tried Antique Lace (too light), melted wax (too yellow on certain walls), and flaxen (looked the best on all walls during different times of the day. Have you seen a whole area/room done in Flaxen? Does it scream yellow? Do you have any other DE paint colors you recommend?

Jelane Polson says:

May 13, 2012 at 3:15 PM

I have gotten several sample pots from numerous paint stores. I am trying to narrow it down between Crisp Muslin, with Whisper or Gardenia for the trim or Cornforth White from Farrow and Ball. Crisp Muslin being a warmer gray. What color near Crisp Muslin that would have more gray.

Lori says:

May 12, 2012 at 9:08 PM

Thank You Sara! I am excited to to start painting! I forgot to ask for a serene sage color for the bedroom. Would Tickled Crow be appropriate? Thanks again!

PAtricia Johnston says:

May 12, 2012 at 5:09 PM

Hi, I will be painting the exterior of a 1960's ranch style home this summer and really need some color palette suggestions.The neighborhood is georgous and I'd really like to elevate the looka bit since it's going on the market. The roof is a stone coated steel...warm in overall tone with chocolate browns and a bit of salmon color. Can you suggest the perfect trifecta for field, trim & accent? Thanks

renee says:

May 10, 2012 at 10:52 PM

Hi Sara! thanks for your advise for a warm, buttery color. I sampled your recommendations and went with flaxen for the entire interior of my new house. I couldn't be more pleased...it's just perfect. My husband and our pro painter both thought it was a great choice! thanks for your help! ps--the DE store professionals were pros too!

Sara McLean says:

May 10, 2012 at 3:37 PM

Hi Lori - this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. Mocha is a great, complex shade of brown with many undertones. Here are 3 light variations to test out that don't contain peach or yellow undertones: DE6066 Desert Rock (mocha with cream!), DE6059 Chocolate Milk (mocha with chocolate sauce); and DE6073 New Wool (mocha with cinnamon). Happy painting!

Sara McLean says:

May 10, 2012 at 3:24 PM

Hi Rosie - this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. Three great light, warm neutrals to test out with Meadowood are DEC761 Cochise, DEC737 Jakarta, and DE6150 Gourmet Honey. Happy painting!

Sara McLean says:

May 10, 2012 at 3:04 PM

Hi Andrea - this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. Flaxen and other colors like this look great with Pine Mist and Distant Haze. A great way to think of these colors is through nature: Pine Mist is the green grass, Distant Haze is the sky and Flaxen is the flower. You can't go wrong with nature as inspiration. Happy painting!

Lori says:

May 10, 2012 at 9:28 AM

Hi, I am looking for a warm light mocha color to paint in my new house. Trying to avoid anything that might have peachy or yellow undertones. Any suggestions? Thank you!

Rosie says:

May 09, 2012 at 10:45 PM

Im looking for a complimentary color to meadow dec777, something warm but we don't have a ton of nature light so it can't be to dark.

Andrea says:

May 09, 2012 at 2:53 PM

Thanks for getting backs to me. Do you think flaxen or colors like that would work well with distant haze and pine mist ? thanks.

Sara McLean says:

May 09, 2012 at 2:36 PM

Hi Andrea - this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. I'm so glad the colors are working for you. For the main color, test these two designer favorite warm neutrals as they both look great with Pine Mist and Distant Haze: DE6178 Boutique Beige and DE6192 Nomadic Taupe. And cottage style calls out for white trim. Two favorites are DEW340 Whisper and DEW344 Frosting Cream. Cabinets can either be painted white or a color; try DE6284 Graceful Green, the darker version of Distant Haze. Happy painting!

Andrea says:

May 08, 2012 at 10:54 PM

Hello. Thanks for your help with my hunt for cottage colored paint colors. I got samples of Pine Mist and Distant Haze today. I love them. I also tried Celtic Linen and Antique Lace on the walls. I'm not crazy about them - too white for me. I think I'm searching for the perfect warm neutral with a hint of yellow in it, but not too much yellow that people think my walls are yellow. Any suggestions? Also, what do you suggest for the trim color and kitchen cabinets. Thanks so much.

Sara McLean says:

May 08, 2012 at 8:03 AM

Hi Andrea - this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. I think you've been some great choices for a cottage-style color scheme. For the warm ivory color, one other suggested choice to review is DEC744 Celtic Linen, a gorgeous cream for the walls. For the bedroom, if you want less yellow undertone, I suggest testing DE5534 Pine Mist or DEC782 Belize Green. Distant Haze is perfect for the hallway transition.The house will flow beautifully. Happy painting!

Andrea says:

May 07, 2012 at 10:40 PM

Hi. I am looking for a warm neutral, ivory color that will complement golden knotty pine furniture. I have tried cream washed. I was thinking of maybe getting a sample of Antique Lace. This color would be used in my living area and kitchen. For my bedroom I got a sample of Lazy Caterpillar, but it looks very yellow to me. I am looking at Distant Haze for our hall bathroom. What do you think of those colors for a cottage style decorating scheme? Pleas advise. Thanks so much.

Sara McLean says:

May 05, 2012 at 3:12 PM

Hi Joan - this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. Prescott is a beautiful place! To blend in with the pine trees surrounding you, I chose 3 darker green hues to test out: DEC777 Meadowood, DE6256 Turtle Trail and DE6270 Antique Coin. Happy painting!

Sara McLean says:

May 05, 2012 at 3:04 PM

Hi Renee - this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. Three great warm, buttery color choices to test are DEC735 Flaxen, DE6163 Melted Wax and DE5365 Burnished Cream. Happy painting!

Sara McLean says:

May 05, 2012 at 2:58 PM

Hi Kathryn - this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. One of my favorite blues for interiors is DE6304 Blustery Wind. I actually have it in my dining room at the moment! if you're looking for a truer blue, another great blue is DE5799 Snow Lodge. Happy painting!

Joan Knipe says:

May 03, 2012 at 8:48 PM

We want to paint the exterior of our house in Prescott, Az. It a contemporary home with wood siding, a flat roof and we have pine trees around the house. There isn’t much trim. We love the pine trees and think of them as the highlight of our home and yard. We’d like to paint the house and trim so they blend in with the pine trees. Any ideas?

renee says:

May 02, 2012 at 11:11 PM

Hi- I am planning to paint the interior of my new hom monochromatically...high ceilings...lots of natural light. my painter said to pick a Dunn Edwards paint. I want a warm, creamy (maybe even buttery?) neutral, but not too bright or yellow. of course, want to stay away from grays and tans. thoughts? thanks!

Kathryn says:

May 02, 2012 at 10:54 PM

Looking for perfect blue for interior home

Sara McLean says:

May 02, 2012 at 8:38 AM

Hi Rae, this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards Paints. Here are 3 great designer-favorite greens to complement High Noon and Summerville: DE6234 Serene Thought, a softened gray-green that looks great in any light; DE6262 Glass Tile, a cleaner light green to brighten up a space; and DEC780 Tickled Crow, a designer favorite of ours for decades. Happy painting!

rae says:

May 01, 2012 at 10:46 PM

need a green color to complement my high noon walls in bedroom as well as summerville brown complements high noon in kitchen. please help! Swiss coffee is trim color.

Sara McLean says:

April 19, 2012 at 4:15 PM

Hi Adrienne, this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. Crisp Muslin is a great choice to bring subtle definition to the walls. You will still see this subtle change between walls and trim though it is about 30% lighter than Fine Grain. Consider Fine Grain down hallways and nooks for varied definition. A great white trim color for these warm grays are DEW340 Whisper. Happy painting!

Sara McLean says:

April 19, 2012 at 4:04 PM

Hi Jason, this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. A great contemporary color combination for the stucco body and trim of the housing: DE6221 Flintstone for the exterior body and DE6224 Treasure Chest for the trim. If you want to add a pop of color to doors or other architectural features, I would suggest orange, blue or red such as DEA107 Hot Jazz. Happy painting!

Adrienne says:

April 18, 2012 at 4:31 PM

I am trying to tone down the orange in my dark maple floors and am considering Fine Grain and Crisp Muslin with a white trim. After painting samples on the wall, I'm afraid Fine Grain is too dark, especially since my house does not get a lot of natural light, so I think I like Crisp Muslin better. Will Crisp Muslin be too light to give a contrast with white trim? Also, what white trim color do you recommend with Crisp Muslin or Fine Grain?

Jason says:

April 18, 2012 at 8:50 AM

I am looking for one exterior primary and one exterior secondary color for a stucco multi-family building that compliment a large weathered cor-ten steel architectural element. Does anyone have any good recommendations for me? thank you in advance.

Sara McLean says:

April 18, 2012 at 8:31 AM

Hi Nancy, this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. Bring your quart back to the same store you purchase it from and the tinter can add the remaining formula into the same quart to get the 100% you're seeking. Happy painting!

Sara McLean says:

April 17, 2012 at 8:04 AM

Hi Joy – This is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. Pebble Walk and Shaggy Barked are both great color choices. Depending on the architecture of your home, here are some great trim color choices for either traditional or contemporary homes to complement your house color choice: DE6280 English Forest, DE6076 Wandering Road, DEA156 Cherry Cola, DE6167 Antique Honey and DE5747 Stone Bridge. Happy painting!

Joy Gian says:

April 16, 2012 at 10:43 AM

We have a small house lacking exterior features. We are in the process of painting it but can't decide what colors. We want to pick something that helps to make it more interesting. I like Dunn-Edwards pebble walk, or shaggy barked. The windows are white,(like cool December). I wasn't sure what color trim to do. Do you have any suggestions.

jim says:

April 15, 2012 at 11:11 AM

great job

Nancy says:

April 14, 2012 at 6:08 PM

I just bought a quart of Spiced Berry DEA149. Thinking it would be too dark I had it made 50%. I only used a tiny amount to test the color in the guest bath. Can I return and have it make 100%?

Sara McLean says:

April 13, 2012 at 4:11 PM

Hi Kelly, this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. To not overpower the room in red, here are 3 great options of light colors that will complement your floors and provide great contrast to cinnamon: DE6303 Sky Glass, DE6247 Garden Pebble, DE6213 Fine Grain. These colors are light, yet sophisticated and provide the extra layering in the room for your furnishings and art. Happy painting!

Kelly says:

April 11, 2012 at 9:54 AM

I have maple floors and oak trim. They both have that cinnamon tone and I want to brighten the walls. Not much daylight. In room either.

Sara McLean says:

April 10, 2012 at 11:12 AM

Hi Vanessa, this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. DEC792 Cape Cod Blue is a great choice for blue exteriors. Here are 3 other blue choices to consider: DEC787 Mythical Blue, DEC796 Irogon Blue and DE6333 Hamilton Blue. Happy painting!

Vanessa Maynard says:

April 10, 2012 at 11:00 AM

I am getting ready to have my house painted. I was going to go with a blue on the shingled area in the front part of the house. I also would like to use a white on the side and back of the house that is in stucco. My painter has recommended Cape Cod blue. I saw a house in my neighborhood that is also blue. Do you have any suggestions?

Sara McLean says:

April 09, 2012 at 8:48 AM

Hi Bella, this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. Here are 3 great olive/red combos for your Craftsmen-style home: DE6235 Northgate Green +DEA156 Cherry Cola; DE6285 Linden Spear+DE6028 Dark Ruby; and DEC776 Courtyard Green+DEA155 Arabian Red. Happy painting!

Sara McLean says:

April 09, 2012 at 8:16 AM

Hi Kris, this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. Grays are a beautiful color for properties and very trendy now. One of our most popular grays is DE6220 Porous Stone. Others to consider are DE6214 Pigeon Gray, DE6228 Calico Rock, DE6277 Pebble Walk and DEC751 Ash Gray. Happy painting!

bella says:

April 05, 2012 at 4:38 PM

Hello; I have a craftsman style home and was wondering what is a good dark/olive green for the stucco and what is a good accent red for the doors and post. Thanks bella

Kris King says:

April 04, 2012 at 9:24 PM

looking for a grey color for my horse property! Thick Stucco! What color is your most popular color?

Sara McLean says:

April 04, 2012 at 7:20 AM

Hi Grace, this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards Paints. Three beautiful shades of subtle yellow that I love for exteriors are DEC728 Madera, DE6164 Canary Island, and DE5366 Midland Tan. Happy painting!

Grace Douglass says:

April 03, 2012 at 10:45 AM

I have a cottage home and would like to paint it a suttle creamy yellow the roof is gingerbread brown what do you recommend?

Sara McLean says:

April 02, 2012 at 1:42 PM

Hi Vlad, this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. Gray is a great way to go for home painting. Here are some great Perfect Palette grays that don't have the blue- or purple- undertones: DEC750 Bison Beige, DEC786 Miner's Dust, DEC770 Drifting, DE6227 Muslin and DEC751 Ash Gray. Happy painting!

Sara McLean says:

April 02, 2012 at 1:22 PM

Hi Sarah, this is Sara McLean from Dunn-Edwards. It sounds like you're looking for creamy, warm colors for your kitchen. Here are 4 great colors that provide that sugar cookie warmth: DE5435 Cookie Dough, DE5428 Silent Ivory, DEC735 Flaxen, and DEC742 Cameo. Happy painting!

Vlad says:

April 01, 2012 at 6:15 PM

Hello, we are in the process of painting our new home and we would like to paint a grey color. What we have found so far was purpleish grey or blueish grey and we would like something that is just grey :) I found a color at Farrow & Ball and I was wondering if you could help me with that. The color is named "Cornforth White" and for a contrast we like something like Charleston Grey. Is there any way you could help us out? We would really appreciate it. Thanks

sarah says:

March 30, 2012 at 9:36 PM

need paint ideas for kitchen. Possibly looking out cookie dough or sugar cookie paint colors

Jill says:

March 21, 2012 at 11:05 AM

Painting interior of new home room by room. Slowly finding the right palette.

Sara McLean says:

February 29, 2012 at 3:02 PM

Hi Shelly - This is Sara McLean from specs+spaces. Thanks for your patience - we were able to track down this color. It is DE6032 Hazelnut. Happy painting!

Sara McLean says:

February 16, 2012 at 10:20 AM

Hi Sharyn - This is Sara from Dunn-Edwards. Although we don't sell paint on the East Coast, our friends at California Paints license our color system and can be found in distributor locations all along the East Coast. www.californiapaints.com

sharyn fireman says:

February 14, 2012 at 1:15 PM

I do not have any place to see or purchase this paint in the Boston area. I have used your paint in homes on the west coast. What do yo suggest?

Shelly says:

February 07, 2012 at 10:56 AM

Here is the link to the bathroom paint that i would like to have that i found on pinterest! http://pinterest.com/pin/186617978278651180/

Sara McLean says:

February 02, 2012 at 2:02 PM

Hi Shelly, we are not sure what bathroom photo you are referring to. If you can send a link, we could help you find a Dunn-Edwards color match.

Shelly says:

January 31, 2012 at 10:33 AM

I love love the color of this bathroom, please help what color is this? It is on Pinterest with a purplish wall with a chandelier and a hige black fancy mirror.

Sara McLean says:

January 31, 2012 at 10:19 AM

Hi Brenda This is Sara McLean from specs+spaces, “Simply Refocus: Color & Design Trends 2012" is only available online. Click the following link to read: http://www.specsspaces.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=sk2HjdoZQlc%3d&tabid=98 Thank you for your interest. Enjoy!

Brenda Suarez says:

January 31, 2012 at 1:58 AM

Please send me a copy

Sara McLean says:

January 19, 2012 at 3:32 PM

Hi Laura, this is Sara McLean from specs+spaces - one great tip is to choose a color within the painting and match that color to the walls. Also, here are some great, trendy colors for complementing the gold frame: DE5832 Navy Teal, DE5055 Merlot, and DE5907 Twilight Twinkle.

Laura says:

January 19, 2012 at 9:59 AM

need help picking a color for the dining room wall to showcase a magnificent painting with a gold frame

Sara McLean says:

January 18, 2012 at 2:48 PM

Hi Berta, this is Sara McLean from specs+spaces - a great range of hues to try with adobe tan and other tans is within the greens and blues. Here are some interior color favorites of mine: DE5492 Silver Fern, DE6234 Serene Thought, DE5744 Seaport, and DE6303 Sky Glass. Happy painting!

Sara McLean says:

January 18, 2012 at 8:57 AM

Hi Sheila – This is Sara McLean from specs+spaces, we have a great range of yellows. One of my favorites for the outside is DEC728 Madera. It’s yellow without being loud. Happy and chic!

sheila johnson says:

January 13, 2012 at 1:07 PM

changing paint on house from dark brown to a nice, not too loud, yellow...any recommendations on a yellow color?

Catherine A. Rodrigue says:

January 13, 2012 at 12:42 PM

Love the 2012 colors. Can't wait to repaint my home.

berta tallabas says:

January 03, 2012 at 12:02 PM

I need help finding a color that works with adobe tan

Sara McLean, Dunn-Edwards' specs+spaces says:

November 23, 2011 at 2:53 PM

Hi ltnugget! Here are a few warm whites to consider for your next project from our Perfect Palette collection: DEW309 Ajo Lily, DEW312 Total Recall, DEW314 Desert Star, DEW317 Day Lily, DEW320 Pinch of Pearl, DEW322 Magnolia, DEW323 Ivory Charm, DEW343 Pearl Necklace, and DEW348 Glamour White.

Sara McLean, Dunn-Edwards' specs+spaces says:

November 23, 2011 at 1:58 PM

Hi Jennifer, here are a few tips when looking at changing house colors: 1. Look around the neighborhood to see what home colors might work well. 2. Look at the architecture of your home. 3. Research the color cards at our Dunn-Edwards stores to see a range of exterior color palette combinations. Also, keep coming back to specs+spaces as we will be writing an in-depth series on exterior color combinations for architectural styles in the upcoming months!

Sara McLean, Dunn-Edwards' specs+spaces says:

November 23, 2011 at 1:51 PM

Hi Dwayne! Dunn-Edwards has a great range of sage greens for your enjoyment. Here are a few to try: DEC777 Meadowood; DEC780 Tickled Crow; DE6249 Trinity Islands; DE6250 Fairbank Green; and DE5526 Dill Grass. Hope that helps!

Sara McLean says:

November 22, 2011 at 4:05 PM

Hi Sandy - in regard to your color request: Today’s trends in interiors colors reflect everything from the natural environment to the high tech world. Our 2012 Trends report (http://www.specsspaces.com/BlogEntry.aspx?entryID=112) showcases the latest in color trends for today’s home owners. We hope you find it helpful.

jennifer says:

November 20, 2011 at 6:43 PM

looking for house colors

Dwayne says:

November 19, 2011 at 9:10 PM

I'm interested in your Sage Green colors

Sandy Pister says:

November 19, 2011 at 5:29 AM

remodeling a 30 yr old house. Looking for new, fresh colors

ltnugget says:

November 06, 2011 at 10:05 AM

Searching for warm whites.