I am always happy when I open the latest edition of House Beautiful Magazine and see one of our C2 colors featured. In the February 2012 edition Ken Fulk, one of our most ardent supporters, called out C2-164 Primavera as a traditional color with a twist. I love the look of this room all done up in green from head-to-toe. I leave it to Ken to describe the beautiful effect of this color, no body can do it better. Visit www.kenfulk.com for more inspiration from this always clever designer.

Check out this link to a great interview with our very own Nan Kornfeld. Nan has had an interesting career path, and I am grateful that it lead her to us here at G&R Paint.

http://www.yourdecoratingresource.com/color-trends-and-tips/150-a-consultants-colorful-journey

The folks at Fine Paints of Europe never cease to amaze me in their ability to partner with the most unique and prestigious architectural landmarks. Their latest co-venture with the  Guggenheim Museum in Manhattan is a remarkable achievement. The two unique collections to emerge from this collaboration represent different but interconnected themes from The Guggenheim.

 http://www.guggenheimcolorbyfpe.com/store/pc/home.asp 

The Gallery Collection consists of 50 colors that have been used throughout the gallery walls of the Guggenheim during various exhibitions. The Guggenheim realizes that the perfect background wall color makes all the difference in how we perceive the art that is displayed on it. There are no details too small when it comes to executing great design, so each color has to be thoroughly researched and chosen for optimal synergy with the art it will support. The depth and subtleties of these colors will bring the same focus to any space you chose to use them in.

The Classical Collection is comprised of 150 colors that have been taken from actual paintings that have been displayed in the Guggenheim. This broader range of hues draws from some of the world’s most renown paintings. Now you can have a little Matisse, Van Gogh or Kandinsky for a fraction of the price!

The remarkable quality and unique pigment system employed by Fine Paints of Europe allows for the creation of two such exquisite collections. I knew the moment I saw these palettes that they represented some of the most beautiful colors I had seen in years. It is no accident that the Guggenheim chose Fine Paints of Europe to create these colors for them. A reputation as unique as theirs could only be guarded by a paint as good as Fine Paints of Europe. No other manufacturer can match the depth of colors or quality of finish offered by Fine Paints of Europe. Others may try to copy these colors, but none will succeed. Accept no substitutes when it comes to these amazing colors.

If you are local come by G&R Paint to see these collections first hand. If not, visit your nearest Fine Paints of Europe retailer or simply visit http://www.guggenheimcolorbyfpe.com/store/pc/home.asp for more details.

For more information on the Guggenheim Museum click on the link. http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york

Check out this beautiful use of PPC-BL7 Agua Verte in Apartment Therapy. This is a “perfect” use of this perennial favorite color. It’s spa like qualities give it a tranquility that is well suited to a bathroom such as this.  The use of PPC-G14 Dakon Gray on the bathtub, and PPC-GRN13 Parisian Green on the cabinet are perfect accents. Quite a transformation from the before shots featured on this web posting. Check out the post by following the link below.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/bathroom/before-after-andi-deans-master-bath-157131

Check out my short interview with the San Francisco Chronicle’s Lauren Reed-Guy on how to pick colors for your home. These are short, quick and to the point tips that can make a real difference.

 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/22/HORE1KERD9.DTL





I am pleased to announce that Nan Kornfeld has been invited to participate in The Home & Design Show being held in Ottawa, Ontario this September 30th-October 2nd. This 3-day event brings together an array of presentations on home design from industry suppliers. Our C2 partner Randall’s http://www.randallspaints.com/ will co-host Nan’s presentation which will focus on Nature’s influence on human response to color, creating moods with color, and the characteristics and effects of the major color hues.

Having worked with Nan for the past two years I can say unequivocally that her understanding of the effective use of architectural color is unsurpassed. I am delighted that my Canadian partners will get to experience the depth of her knowledge and experience. Visit Nan’s website at http://www.nankornfeld.com/ for more information on her services and projects. Don’t forget Nan is available in-store every Thurs-Sat from 12-4pm. Below is an exciting example of her use of vibrant color in an exterior setting. Enjoy!

Color is a language all human beings intuitively understand. Paint color, on the other hand, presents unique challenges. In this hands-on workshop Philip Reno and Nan  Kornfeld discuss the on-going development of C2 color: how its unique blend of art and science creates a color palette that actually reintegrates nature and humanity into architectural paint, and in so doing, makes it the perfect tool for painters, designers, and DIY’ers. Activities include pigment-mixing, human response to color, and humane design principles. Approximate running time is 90 minutes. Please contact G&R Paint Company at 415-292-7982, or email me at philip@gandrpaint.com, to reserve a spot at this must attend event being held at G&R Paint 1238 Sutter Street in San Francisco, on Thursday August 25th from 1:30pm-3:00pm.

We at G&R Paint Company are proud to announce that we are now selling Olivetti Organic finishes. These traditional European finishes are given a uniquely modern touch by local manufacturer Olivier Garnier. From his user friendly lime paint to the more sophisticated Venetian plasters, Olivetti Organic finishes manufactures a full line of products to achieve old world wall affects that range from the subtle to the spectacular. Olivetti Organic finishes also has its own Prep-Coat and acrylic sealer to create a complete system for these decorative products.

Please join us on Thursday August 4th from 11am to 1pm when Olivier will personally demonstrate all of the products in his line. Light refreshments will be served compliments of Olivetti Organic finishes. For more information about Olivetti Organic finishes, visit their new website at www.olivettiorganicfinishes.com.

Please call G&R Paint Company at 415-292-7982 to sign up for this free demo class.

I am happy to report that yet another Ann Hall Color Design color has been called out by a designer for publication in the prestigious color section of the July/August 2011 edition of House Beautiful magazine. Every month this must read column asks designers from all over the U.S. for their favorite colors picks around a given criteria. This month’s theme is quiet and  calm. Melanie Coddington,  www.coddingtondesign.com  a  local San Francisco designer is the one we have to thank for being such an Ann Hall enthusiast and letting the world know about our favorite San Francisco secret, the Ann Hall Color Design Collection. For those unfamiliar with Ann’s work please visit the site we have created for her at www.annhallcolordesign.com. Here you can read Ann’s bio and see more of her exquisite palette.  At G&R Paint Company we are extremely proud to be the curator of this legacy color collection. Ann Hall colors are unsurpassed in their richness and subtlety. Her use of the full spectrum color mixing technique mirrors my own Philip’s Perfect Color palette, but with a touch of artistry all her own. This technique makes these colors unmatchable by standard paint store computers. There is no substitute for a great eye when it comes to color, and Ann certainly had one. If you haven’t been in to see her collection I invite you to come by.  We are offering 15% off on all Ann Hall Color Design paint and samples for the month of July only. This is a great opportunity to indulge yourself in the color artistry of one of the most talented colorists I have ever know. A big salute to Ann, I know she is smiling somewhere about this one.

I recently shot a short video for my Facebook and website that talks about the amazing light that is in the G&R Paint Company physical space.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B32k8LmL4qc  Here I would like to elaborate a bit on lighting and why it is so critical to the final perception of any color in any space. Many times I have had clients tell me that they’ve tried a color that they saw at one of their friend’s home, only to find out that they didn’t like it in their own. First off, light is the means by which we see color at all, hence the title above. If that is the case it is logical to conclude that the individual lighting conditions of any space will ultimately determine our perception of any particular color. So the same green can appear bluer in a space with more natural light, and yellower in a space with more artificial incandescent light. The dominant direction that a room faces (ie. north, south, etc), will also have a large affect on the color. This is why it is so critical to sample colors in the space that they are to be used in.

The other equally important factor is the actual space itself. The dimensions of a room can determine the way a color “feels” relative to that space. Darker colors don’t always make a room feel smaller. In fact by disquising odd shapes and corners, darker colors can sometimes give the illusion of a much bigger space.  Conversely, lighter colors don’t always make a room seem bigger. It is the critical balance of light and space that dictate the outcome. There is a good reason why choosing colors is such a daunting task for professionals and homeowners alike. Individual preferences combined with the inherent characteristics of any given room, create unique challenges each and every time.

While there is no such thing as a fool-proof color, full spectrum colors such as those in my Philip’s Perfect Colors palette, are more elastic to the intricacies of individual spaces. The multitude of different pigments allows these colors to harmonize with the light/space requirements of any room and the other accessories contained within it. Regardless of the lighting in your home it is still easier to compare colors and get a good start by viewing color samples in a store that has an abundance of natural light. I invite you to visit G&R Paint Company if you haven’t already, and experience the light!