Quiet Home Paints | Flawlessly Crafted, Organic, Non-Toxic Paints

June 18, 2013

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a classic combo: blue and white

After twenty minutes I started to get nervous. The other bridesmaids had been trying to get me into my tailored at the last minute bridesmaid dress for twenty minutes and it was looking like it just wasn't going to happen. The zipper just wouldn't zip. We had tried everything we could think of including laying flat on the bed while they yanked on the zipper. I sucked in, twisted, bent, contorted and just when I thought it was useless, I heard the zipper move and the girls cheer. Whew.... I couldn't breathe. But it was on.

It was one of those moments that tests your self confidence and makes you thankful for dear friends who are willing to bruise their fingers while yanking on your dress the whole time saying "it isn't you, it's the zipper." Oh, how I love them. We all made it down the aisle in time and witnessed a truly beautiful moment. The wedding went on to be wonderful. The bride and groom were incredibly happy and goofy and fun.

And as soon as we were all dressed (ahem) I knew I wanted to do a post about the color scheme, because it was oh-so-classic. Blue and white. Touches of yellow here and there.

A tried and true combination, white and blue is perfectly chic and crisp.

While it has the tendency to look nautical, it also can be country classic like this space with the simple addition of a few natural elements.

this nursery is perfect with its bold blue walls and white accents... plus those touches of yellow!

A slightly brighter blue than the typical navy still works and makes this space feel cozy and comfortable.

And a little gold really glams up the space.

Check out our whites and blues that would work to create a classic space just like these:

whisper/cusp/ballgown/bolt

June 11, 2013

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home
nursery

a color journey.

The rain came down steadily last night and I lay awake listening to hit the leaves of the huge Oak outside my window. It lulled me and soothed me and before long transported me to another place. I dreamed I was in the rainforest, playing cards cross-legged on a mosquito net wrapped bed. I love that about sound and smell and color. Out of nowhere they can take you places you've never been or bring you back to places you've long left.

While last night it was sound, last week it was the smell of musty hay that had me reminiscing of my old cat who used to spend his days outside and then cuddle up with me at night smelling strongly of the hay that was stored in the large barn outside. But mostly it is color. A certain red brings me back to the theater a few towns over whose red walls I found so distracting. The lightest purple has me longing for the big lilac bush that lived outside my childhood bedroom window. And so it goes... Color is a powerful tool so today I wanted to share with you great rooms from around the web that use color as a way to transport:

This Manhattan apartment of Jeanine Lobell and Anthony Edwards seen on Elle Decor paired lime green cabinetry with a botanical wall covering and artwork to create a welcoming (and dare I say tropical?) space.

Try our colors Peep, Pool and Pond:

Ok, so this room actually is in Paris, but oh how Parisian! No reason you couldn't do something similar in your space and take a mini vacation a Paris each time you walk in the room. In this dining room from elle decor, minty walls with gold accents quite the statement.

Try Celadon:

So not many of us enjoying doing laundry... but with just a dose of this soothing, watery blue the experience could be much different - like taking a trip to beach each time you throw in a load of whites. (from a detailed house)

Try Pool:

Oh bright and dreamy orange. A favorite and in my opinion often overlooked color. This dining room brings me straight to miami... (even though the view out that window looks more like New Hampshire)... and that's what I love about color.

Try our color Jump with Whisper:

A dreamy warm white and soft pink space such as this makes me think of the California coast. Why? I'm not sure... where does this one take you?

Try Cuddle, Petal, and Slipper:

I love the boldness of this space with two tones of yellow that bring me right to the living room of a country farm house. I can practically hear the goats mewing outside. (from scribbler)

Try Buzz and Bee:

And finally, a soft blue-green on the walls make me think of a New England beach. (from house of turquoise)

Try Celadon or Seaglass:

But of course, color is so personal so while these rooms transport me to places near and far, they may take you in the opposite direction. What do you think?

May 22, 2013

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Top 5: updated bunks

We love bunk beds, bunk rooms, bunk houses. Today we are sharing with you our top five favorite bunks from around the web...

1. This custom built-in bunk is adorably cute, sweet and perfect for a little girl. And that "drawer" that pulls out to be a step - brilliant! Try our colors cuddle and touch to get this soft pink, dreamy look:

These built-in-bunks make the most of the available space and the bright white makes it perfect for a guest space... something about white speaks to cleanliness - always a plus with the guests. And that touch of turquoise on the top rail? Love! (from here)

Try our bright white whisper with a touch of torn skirt for this look:

I love this one. It's a new take on the classic boy's bedroom with hunter green great lighting. Try our color Minnow to get this look:

Oh stripes, how I love thee. The pop of yellow is perfect on these toe to toe bunks. (from here) Try perch, whisper, and buzz:

and finally, a pop of our favorite bold color: orange. (from here)

Try our color Jump to get this look:

May 16, 2013

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home
nursery

things are looking up.

Warm weather, sunny skies, weekends full of fun and weeks full of, well, paint have my spirits high. This time of year always gives me a renewed sense of purpose. Why I live in a part of the country that really only has weather worthy of t-shirts for three months I'll never know. Why I love it here, I'll also never fully understand... but perhaps it has something to do with the fact that after long months of shivering, the first hint of warm weather puts everyone in a good mood. Things sure feel like they are looking up on this warm day... and so with that in mind, today we share with you some beautiful color in high places so you, too, can look up.

What a beauty. Am I right? The creamy-white cabinets, the warm wood floor, the marble and oh yeah.. that ceiling. I would happily spend my mornings, afternoons and nights in this kitchen. (via decorpad)

Try:

Whisper and Cusp for a similar look.

Another kitchen. Another color. What I love about this space is how happy it feels. The yellow on the ceilings just shines down cheeriness on the space. (from escapade)

Try:

Cuddle and Bee for a similar look.

Talk about a fun room for a little girl. Stripes on the ceiling is a great way to make a space feel fun. (found on indulgy)

Try:

bloom, pout, and sprig for a similar look.

If you are a real color lover, this is great trick for you. Pick your wall color and then punch it up a notch by using one or two shades darker on the ceiling. It will envelope you in color. (via houseofturquoise)

Try:

pool and torn skirt for a similar feel.

This dining room is stunning. Using black on the ceiling defines the space and make it feel just a little glamorous. (source unknown sadly)

Try:

vintage tux and cuddle

And finally, let's end on a sweet note. This room feels soft and lovely with the pale grey-blue ceiling. (via decorpad)

Try:

Whisper and Breathe for the look....

And that's it folks. What do you think? Color of the ceiling - yes or no?

May 07, 2013

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Good Homes India Shoot: Paint it Pretty

We have a special treat for you today: a shoot featured in Good Homes, India all about our paint and how you can use it to make even the most challenging space shine.

Good Homes is a wonderful magazine out of India! We worked with them to create a few spaces featuring our paint in transformational ways...

Like this attic. The angled walls of this guest room made it impossible to use traditional headboards. Instead, we used paint to create bold blue versions which follow the angle of the ceiling line and really spruce up the room.

Here is a before/after shot:

Those painted headboards make a big difference against a fresh coat of Whisper. The blue is our color Ballgown (AND we used chalkboard paint!). That lamp is also a Quiet Home Paints color: Pool.

I just love this room now.

Good Homes also published this "window treatment" we did to show that there are no limits to what you can achieve with a simple coat of paint:

Here our color Pond was used to create this unique window. It couldn't have been easier...

What do you think? Something you would consider in place of the traditional?

And finally: a geometric, city-inspired wall:

Here we used our color Torn Skirt on top of Truss to create the city-scape.

It's as simple as taping out the design (a series of vertical and horizontal lines) and then filling in with paint.

What you do think? I encourage you to check out the whole article (here's a link to the PDF)... and the rest of the magazine for that matter. We may be biased, but we think they feature some really spectacular stuff! Special thanks to Good Homes for doing such a beautiful job featuring our paints!

April 30, 2013

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walk on the wild side

Today we have some very daring wall treatments to show with you that really express a wild side: animal print.

(found here)

Now, it is not something that I would think to do in my home immediately, but there are always ways to take something bold and dramatic and make it more understated by choosing the right colors. Many of the photos we will share with you today are wallpaper. And while we love wallpaper, we wanted to show you that you can totally get this look (with a lot more freedom on color and style) with paint. So today, we will share with you some inspiration for wild walls and tomorrow: the tutorial. (I wonder what the boy will think when he comes home to animal print on our walls tonight).

First stripes, then spots:

Here, a beautiful, bold zebra print in navy blue. I love the bold choice of navy and white and how they kept that color scheme going in the graphic art choices. What a great, modern space. But you can do animal print without being quite so bold... (from here)

This room uses the same inspiration of zebra stripes, but manages to feel understated and elegant by using a soft, taupey gray with a warm white. (from here)

If you like something in between the two, try stripes on the softer side played up with a bold color in an accent area (like these awesome green chairs). (from here)

Moving on to the spotted:

Talk about drama. These leopard spots look like the real deal. (from here)

But these are slightly less dramatic (although still quite the statement). I love the simplified look of this wall compared to the previous one. (from here)

And again, these spots make a great backdrop for something bright and fun. (from here)

Stay tuned for the tutorial on how to get these looks without wallpaper in your home tomorrow. We will share color tips, painting ideas, and show photos of the whole process. How wild are you??

See you then!

April 22, 2013

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6 Great DIY Paint Projects to try.

Happy Monday. Today we have some great projects to share with you from creative people all over the web to get you inspired and painting.

1. Painted Piano

Isn't she a beauty? I love the creamy white color chosen, but if you are a color lover, there is no reason you couldn't choose a brighter hue.

2. A Painted Runner:

Spruce up your stairs with a painted runner. The color options are endless... in fact, I think I'll do a little tutorial on this Wednesday. Stay tuned!

3: Painted Kitchen Cart

I recognize this cart. It's from IKEA. But look at how great it looks with a fresh coat of paint! (found here)

4. Painted Rug

I always have a hard time finding the right rug. So why not create my own? Check out this DIY Rug... and try it for yourself!

5. Painted Dresser Makeover:

This makeover shows just how big a difference a coat of paint can make... (from here)

6. Painted French Doors:

And finally, a little color to separate your spaces... an easy DIY that will be a real crowd pleaser. (from here)

Check out our range of non-toxic, VOC Free Paints here and get painting! Free samples available!

April 17, 2013

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home
nursery

bright & cheery

How about something bright and cheerful today? I feel like I need it - maybe you do to...

cheerful kitchens are a must in my book. Love these cabinets painted in a lovely yellow. Cool white walls behind the yellow make them pop.

Oh this lovely mudroom/laundry room combination. The color of the walls, the white built ins, and never forget fresh flowers - they cheer up any space.

yellow always does the job of cheering up a space with ease. I love the border at the top - how easy would that be to add a dose of color to your space?

lightest grays, warm whites, and pops of spring green - just lovely.

I love this children's bathroom. That pop of orange on the ceiling is just glorious.

As someone who has an office very similar in shape to this, I so appreciate the success of this space.

White walls. Blue accents. Perfect.

Warm whites, neutrals, and yellows make this play space oh so cheerful.

So there you have it, a little cheer for this day. The sun is shining here in the Boston area... hopefully it is your neighborhood too!

March 28, 2013

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help me pick a color to paint my closet

So, I have a problem when it comes to keeping my closet organized. When I first moved into this house, I was in love with my new closet. It has two levels for hanging cloths and lots of built-in storage compartments - a big step up from the boy and I sharing a tiny closet in our various apartments. I thought keeping my closet organized would be a breeze. That lasted about a month and now its back to disheveled. While Lisa and I were staging our last project we painting the inside of a closet as an afterthought. We had our color ACK with us and hadn't used it anywhere else, so we thought why not?

Turns out - I LOVE painted closets. Think about how much more inspired you would be to keep your closet clean and tidy so you could see the beautiful color behind the cloths, shoes, etc.

Turns out a lot of other folks think this is a great idea, too:

How adorable is this space in a little boy's nursery from decor pad? (and don't get me started on that crib - you know how much I love painted cribs!)...

Try Emma for a similar look:

If you are lucky enough to have built-ins like this don't stop at just the back wall - why not add color (in this case a rich black) to the built-ins themselves? (from prettypinktulips)

Try our black: Vintage Tux

Pretty, soft pink makes this closet unique. (pinterest)

Try one of our pinks in your space:

touch / petal / slipper

Love how bold this is with the bright yellow paired with white and black. (from Project Nursery)

Try Buzz:

A turquoise-ish blue. (wild and living)

And finally, you can always paint the doors instead. We love the idea of painting the doors in chalkboard in a nursery or playroom. Don't feel limited to black. With our non-toxic chalkboard paint you can pick any color for your space!

So, I bet you can guess what my next weekend painting project will be... my closets! Help me pick a color?

fedora / slipper / celadon / bee / pool / nest

What's your vote?

March 19, 2013

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spring eternal

Good Morning. So here we are, a day away from Spring and it is snowing. A lot. Many are complaining, even cursing the poor old ground hog who predicted an early spring, but I don't mind it. I've always been of the mindset that if it is going to be cold, it might as well be snowing. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm not ready for spring... We had a really mild weekend a few weeks ago and I awoke to the birds chirping, a sound that immediately makes me think of spring. It was such a welcome sound and got me really looking forward to warmer weather. But like I said... as long as it is this cold, let it snow.

Today, I wanted to share with you some simple ideas to bring spring into your home, whether it has really arrived or you are just hopeful it isn't far off:

To me, spring is all about color. The world once again becomes full of it and so should your rooms. The yellow of the walls alone is enough to remind me of spring, but add light and airy drapes, flowers and fruit and you have a room that is perfectly spring. (housetohome)

Of course, if you don't feel like painting your entire room there are smaller projects that will make a big difference.

You know I will paint anything. An easy project that speaks to spring is painting a few framed mirrors or photos in a bold spring color and layering them. Not only is it simple, but it can easily be changed with the season or your mood. This pink is perfect for spring. And of course, always include some beautiful flowers. (ciaonewportbeach)

Don't toss out those drawers when it is time for a dresser upgrade. Add some paint and hang them on the wall for some unique, spring-like storage. (shelterness)

My new favorite project: paint those stones you collect while walking on the beach and display them throughout your home. Check out the full post for more beautiful ways to display these beautiful stones.

If your child is eagerly awaiting spring, why not surprise them while they are out at school by painting their bedframe in a beautiful, bold color. Add some fun pillows and have it all made up for when they get home. I'm telling you, they will love it (and you!).