Page 12 – Claire Jefford

How to Choose a Paint Colour

I don’t like hearing this

An expression that I do not like to hear during an initial consultation meeting or when presenting plans to clients is the response, “That will do.”

No! That’ means something is not good enough and doesn’t excite you! And that does not sit well with me.

Whether you are working with an Interior Designer or doing a project on your own, never settle for something that is just ‘okay’ or that does not inspire you.

Living room design inspired by this gorgeous piece of art. Design by Claire Jefford Inc. Photo by Stephani Buchman.

(PSST – More to come soon on our recently photographed Oakville project shown above!)

I mean sure, there are times when you don’t necessarily have to love every single piece in a room if it works well with the overall design.

But for the majority of the finishes and furnishings, we want you to love the pieces you are investing in. Our goal is to find you the BEST paint colour. The BEST sofa style. The BEST fabric. The BEST wallpaper.

You see what I’m saying?

FREE Digital Download

Before we get dive in, make sure you have my Free Download with 5 tips to getting your paint colour right the first time. You’ll receive it instantly when you sign up here to get my Design and Paint Updates.

Three examples with paint colour

Watch my video below to see one of my biggest pet peeves when people are looking for a paint colour, and even interior designers are guilty of making this mistake!

Plus, I show you three examples of determining the BEST colour to pair with finishes.

Which was the BEST?

In the video I walk your through a few different examples of ‘good -better-best’ scenarios.

One example is which green paint colour by Benjamin Moore is the BEST for a sweet dotted fabric we used in this client’s home, for their guest bedroom window treatment.

You can see the 3 green options of my large painted Benjamin Moore boards that I paired with the fabric below.

Which one do you think that I chose as the BEST?

Option #1 -HC -120 Van Alen Green

Option #2 – 2147-40 Dill Pickle

Option #3 – 543 Woodland Hills Green

You will have to watch the video to see!

Just kidding. But you should watch it 😉

I chose Woodland Hills Green. The other two aren’t terribly wrong, but I always want to be choosing the BEST paint colour.

There are two other examples that I share with you in the video.

One is where I show you how I chose the BEST of the 3 gray paint colours by Benjamin Moore shown below to work with a Caesarstone counter that we used in my sister’s Bungalow renovation.

Classic Gray / Edgecomb Gray / November Rain

Did I choose Classic Gray – Edgecomb Gray or November Rain?

I also show you the best dark blue-green to use with the wallpaper shown in the image below.

To see those two examples, you will have to watch the video because I don’t have photos of them to share with you here on the blog!

You may also want to take a look at this past blog post with even more helpful tips for choosing paint colours.

Check out this past blog post for even more tips on how to choose paint colours

Pin for Easy Reference

Which Colour Palette BEST suits your style?

Take my Colour Quiz to find out.

Perfect Colour Palettes

Get even more colour Claire-ity when with my Perfect Colour Palettes.

See all colours here, including my brand new Collections here.

Paint Collections: The MOST Popular Colours

Benjamin Moore Whites and Neutrals – 10 colours

Benjamin Moore Grays and Blue-Greens -10 colours

The Ultimate Benjamin Moore Collection of all 20 colours

Real Client Project – The Bully and the Budget

TNT PODCAST: Episode #6

Click on the video below to watch the podcast where I talk about a Real Client Project.

Prefer to listen on the go? Click here to download this episode.

Running an Interior Design Business isn’t easy, but nothing worth having ever is.

One of the best ways to learn how to run a successful interior design business is to learn from others’ experiences. I’m sharing Real Client Projects on The Naked Truth podcast to help you do just that.

My ‘Real Client Project’ Episodes are all about sharing the details of my past projects. In other words, I will review how the client came to find me and what my fees were for the initial consultation as well as for the interior decorating services. You will hear the specific details of the project including presenting design plans and what happened during the process with the trades. I also discuss purchasing products and the overall working relationship between everyone involved.

In this Real Client Project episode, ‘The Bully and the Budget’, I share details of my very first custom decorating project! What went well? What did I charge the client? Why did the project go over budget? What didn’t the client like about the trades? How did I deal with the ‘Bully in the Room’? For Dynamite Claire-ity, take a listen to hear all the details. Cheers.

See all my podcast episodes here. New episodes published every other Friday!

Free Resources

Here is a fabulous FREE resource to help excel your interior design business.

Bungalow Home Renovation Part 3

The Walls Are Up!

Welcome to part three in my Bungalow Home Renovation series where I’m taking you on a “Behind the Scenes” tour of my sister’s main floor renovation.

This week, the walls are up, the electrical rough-ins have been done and prep work has begun in the bathroom shower!

Join me for the latest instalment in my exciting series documenting this incredible Burlington bungalow renovation.

Fabulous Finishes

Throughout the project, both Karen and Jason have been great in following my advice for interior design and decor.

One of my favourite parts of any decorating project is pulling together the fabrics and colours for the space. Custom finishes are not inexpensive, but they make all the difference in taking a home from ‘fine’ to ‘fabulous’!

You don’t see this in the video, but I wanted to give you a sneak peek at some of the fabrics and Benjamin Moore Paint Colours that we are using for this project.

Hale Navy and Classic Gray

You may have seen this colour combination before when I used it in a very different style of interior design project here. But in this interior design, we are adding a bit more colour and fun with the Robert Allen Drapery fabric which will be a stunning ripplefold treatment.

Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore is the island colour and lower cabinetry on the main kitchen wall, while Classic Gray is the wall colour throughout the main areas of the home.

Robert Allen Drapery Fabric for the kitchen and open area of the home

Kendall Charcoal and Gray Owl

In the bathroom, check out his pretty floral pattern that we are using for the custom roman blind window treatment. Isn’t it the sweetest?!

The walls in this room are painted Benjamin Moore Gray Owl while the custom vanity is one of my favourite gray paint colours, Kendall Charcoal. (To see a coastal-inspired design where we used Gray Owl, check out this project in our portfolio.)

Bathroom fabric for the Custom Roman Blind

Revere Pewter and Wrought Iron

For the master bedroom, I found this funky fabric for the floor to ceiling ripplefold drapery which have a ‘black out’ lining. This means that no sun can peek through on those weekend mornings when Karen and Jason want to sleep in.

I chose the classic Benjamin Moore colour of Revere Pewter for the bedroom walls and a dramatic dark, Wrought Iron for the ceiling.

Funky and fun ripplefold drapery fabric for the master bedroom

We used Revere Pewter in another client’s master bedroom project and also installed custom ripplefold drapery. The difference is that in my sister’s bedroom the drapery will be ceiling mounted.

The Infamous ‘Girly Room’

This room is quickly becoming the envy of all the people out there who adore their wardrobe and are obsessed with fashion.

My sister’s ‘Girly Room’ is dedicated to housing all of her clothes, shoes, purses and other fashion accessories.

Below is the wallpaper and drapery fabric we landed on for this sweet, yet sophisticated room.

More to come!

I hope you will continue to follow along with my sister and her husband’s Bungalow renovation series.

Now that the walls are up, the real fun begins!

Pin it for easy reference!

Psst! Love Colour? Take my new colour quiz to determine which colour palette suits you best!

Convenience at your fingertips

Choosing Paint Colours

If you struggle with choosing paint colours, be sure to check out my Perfect Colour Palettes.

I now have 40 individual guides to help inspire you.

I also offer collections that showcase a group of 10 similar colours from Benjamin Moore,

My Benjamin Moore Whites & Neutrals Collection

Farrow & Ball

10 Classic Farrow & Ball Colours

and my newest addition, Sherwin Williams.

Sherwin Williams Collection of 10 popular neutrals

Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!

Real Conversation with Contractors and Trades

TNT PODCAST: Episode #5

Click on the video below to watch the podcast where I have an open conversation with my contractor and cabinet maker.

Prefer to listen on the go? Click here to download this episode.

In the 3rd episode of the TNT podcast I had a roundtable discussion with Walter and Shane, two of the trades I work with. We talked about how we can improve the relationship between Interior Design Professionals and Trades.

This episode is a continuation from that conversation. Basically, we were having such a good time and exchanging great stories, we didn’t want it to end! Hence, another episode here with Walter and Shane.

From Left to Right: Walter Ferreria, Claire Jefford and Shane Ritcey

This time the guys share experiences they have had or continue to have working with designers. It’s fascinating stuff and hearing stories from the other side was incredibly eye opening for myself. I learned a lot. I believe more candid conversations like this can only help both of our industries.

Guest Bio’s

Watler Ferreria @summitdevelopmentgroup

Walter Ferreira is the founder of Summit Development Group. He is a general contractor whose company has been servicing southern Ontario for over 27 yrs. They facilitate all aspects of a project, whether it be for residential or commercial renovation, remodelling, custom builds and even outdoor landscaping projects. Walter’s team combines quality workmanship and knowledge that provide clients with unmatched service.

I invite you to check out his company’s website and his Instagram account to see some of his fantastic work.

Shane Ritcey @ritceycustomcabinetry

Shane Ritcey is a small business owner who has been in operation since 2008. A business built around customer relations and quality work. Ritcey Custom Cabinetry prides itself on rising to any design challenge.

I encourage you to visit Shane’s website, it shows some of his stunning craftmanship as does his Instagram account.

See all my podcast episodes here. New episodes are published every other Friday!

Free Resources

A fabulous FREE resource to help excel your interior design business.

Benjamin Moore – Edgecomb Gray

Edgecomb Gray HC-173 by Benjamin Moore

A timeless and popular neutral, this go-to greige can be used in both modern and classic room designs.

In this colour review video of Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore, I share:

The undertone of my featured colour
Colour comparisons in order to easily see the different colour tones
Best white paint colours for the trim and ceilings
Beautiful colour combinations to inspire you for your decorating project

After you watch the video, if you would like all this information conveniently laid out for you in one place and have even more paint colour combinations to use with Edgecomb Gray, take a look at my new Perfect Colour Palette. A must-have for any colour enthusiast or design professional.

As a Certified True Colour Expert and an award-winning interior design professional, I’ve worked with many homeowners on various residential design projects.

Before we take a close look at Edgecomb Gray, check out the mood boards below that we created for a client condo project.

Our design concepts included this popular Benjamin Moore colour for the walls in the main living space and Pashmina for the bedroom.

Various fabrics and finishes for the project, including Edgecomb Gray as the main wall colour

Below is the complete colour palette we created for this space.

Isn’t it a gorgeous colour combination?!

Alright, now I want to give you the confidence to make educated decisions about your own home decorating projects and paint choices. Let’s do this!

Watch the video below of my Colour Review

Undertones: Green

This greige paint colour may appear more gray or beige in colour depending on the lighting and what other decorative elements you pair with it in your interior decorating project.

Looking at the colour comparisons below will help give you a better idea of where Edgecomb Gray fits.

Colour Comparisons

Gray Owl OC-52 & Revere Pewter HC-172

Best Whites To Pair With Edgecomb Gray

Cloud White CC-40 by Benjamin Moore

Simply White OC-117 by Benjamin Moore

Oxford White CC-30 by Benjamin Moore

I tend to have around 10 white paint colours that are my best whites for trim and ceilings. You don’t need all of the thousands of whites available to you to get the right one and you definitely don’t need to mix two different whites or use only a certain percentage of paint colour to get the right one for you.

I can assure you that the best colour for your project already exists, you just need to know the 5 Steps on how to choose the right paint colour the first time.

Fabulous Colour Combinations

Edgecomb Gray with Gray Cashmere, Pashmina & Rockport Gray

Gray Cashmere 2138-60 by Benjamin Moore

Pashmina AF-100 by Benjamin Moore

Pashmina is another gorgeous neutral that I have used on several design projects. Pashmina works wonderfully well in a monochromatic colour palette as demonstrated in this elegant dining room. You can read more about this project and see a colour review video on one of my all-time favourites here.

Rockport Gray HC-105 by Benjamin Moore

Convenience At Your Fingertips

All of the colour combinations shown above are included in my Perfect Colour Palette for Edgecomb Gray

Edgecomb Gray is also part of my Benjamin Moore Whites & Neutrals Collection showcasing all 10 of my Benjamin Moore white and neutral Perfect Colour Palettes.

Click here to see all of my newly updated Perfect Colour Palettes.

If you want to get all my Benjamin Moore colour guides in one place, look no further than my Benjamin Moore Ultimate Collection. All 20 of my Benjamin Moore guides are in one handy collection.

Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!

Perfect For Pinning

Take my Colour Quiz to see which Perfect Colour Palette best suits your style.

Feature room image by Benjamin Moore colour viewer.

Bungalow Home Renovation Part 2

Framing is Underway!

Welcome to the second part in my Bungalow Home Renovation series where I’m taking you on a ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour of my sister’s main floor renovation.

This week, we are on-site with my contractors to review specific details about spatial planning and all the custom cabinetry.

My fabulous team, Walter from Summit Development Group and Shane from Ritcey Cabinetry.

If you follow along with my Podcast for Designers, TNT: The Naked Truth, you may have heard my interview with two of my fabulous trades, Walter and Shane.

They both spoke openly about their experiences in working with Interior Designers and it was so eye-opening to see things from their perspective.

You can check out the podcast episode titled ‘Improving Relationships with Your Trades’ here.

Walter is my main GC -General Contractor -whom I have worked with for over 5 years. Shane works with Walter and does amazing custom cabinetry work. Together, we are taking care of my sister’s bungalow renovation project.

It’s all in the Details

Karen and Jason have allowed me to design their home with all custom cabinetry. This is the best way to get everything you need out of a design.

Lack of storage has always been an issue in their little 3 bedroom (now 2 bedroom!) bungalow, but that will no longer be the case with the new design.

If you missed Part 1 of my series, you may want to hop on over the first vlog here and then come back so you are up to speed on where we left off.

Okay, are you ready for Part 2?

Come take a look at ‘Behind the Design’ with me as we talk with my contractors on-site, just after the demo got underway.

Finishes -Sneak Peek!

Okay, these aren’t shown in the video, but I wanted to give you a sneak peek at some of the finishes we are using in Karen and Jason’s home.

Oopsy Daisy

Initially, this was an accent tile that I showed Karen and that we wanted to add as a feature on the main shower wall.

My sister loves daisy’s but it wasn’t meant to be.

Unfortunately, we did not end up going with the soft gray, silver and white glass daisy tiles. Budget always plays a role, folks! Instead, we are keeping the back wall simple with the large, white vertical subway tiles.

In the 3D drawing above you can see where I put in the pretty accent tile to the left in the shower.

NOTE: Don’t get too caught up in my drawings looking exactly like the final product though. When I originally create 3D main floor designs for clients, I am focusing on the overall concept for space planning purposes and am not necessarily making recommendations for the finishes, furniture or colour.

Plus, as you can already tell, it is not uncommon for details to change once a renovation gets underway.

The sinks will be undermount in style, the hardware is not gold and instead of a ledge above the bench in the shower, there is going to be a niche.

Bold Backsplash

My sister and her husband Jason (Jayman, as we fondly refer to him) like to have fun. They are not shy when it comes to colour which is why we landed on this funky glass tile for the kitchen backsplash.

Funky glass backsplash tiles

It has 2 shades of blue, as well as a gray tone. Remember, you don’t have to go classic if you find something YOU LOVE. If a house is not being renovated to flip and you fall in love with something that speaks to you, then GO FOR IT!

Below you can see all the main kitchen finishes together. (Except the blue will be Hale Navy as opposed to Van Deusen Blue.)

I hope you will follow along with my sister and her husband’s Bungalow renovation series, there is more to come as we continue to make progress with the renovations.

Pin it for easy reference!

Psst! Love Colour? Take my new colour quiz to determine which colour palette suits you best!

Convenience at your fingertips

Choosing Paint Colours

If you struggle with choosing paint colours, be sure to check out my Perfect Colour Palettes.

I now have 40 individual guides to help inspire you.

Collections

I also offer collections that showcase a group of 10 similar colours from Benjamin Moore,

My Benjamin Moore Whites & Neutrals Collection

Farrow & Ball

10 Classic Farrow & Ball Colours

and my newest addition, Sherwin Williams.

Sherwin Williams Collection of 10 popular neutrals

Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!

TNT PODCAST: Episode #4

Dress for Success, Rude Behaviour, Video Marketing and More

Click on the video below to watch the podcast where I talk about the Top 5 posts from my private Facebook Group – Interior Design Business Strategies.

Prefer to listen on the go? Click here to download this episode.

In this solo episode, I review the Top 5 posts from my private Facebook group for interior designers, Interior Design Business Strategies. These are the hottest topics and the 5 posts that received the most engagement from the group in one month.

Topics include; A showroom designer who was treated badly by a client, Charging for the initial consultation fee, How to dress for the initial consultation meeting, Contractors who don’t like fancy design elements and Using video to market your business.

Join me and let’s do this!

See all my podcast episodes here. New Episodes are published every other Friday!

Free Resources

Here is a fabulous FREE resource to help excel your interior design business.

Improving Relationships with Your Trades

TNT PODCAST: Episode #3

Click on the video below to watch the podcast interview with my GC and cabinet maker.

Prefer to listen on the go? Click here to download this episode.

Show Notes

Building solid relationships with our trades is essential for running a successful Interior Design business. Improving the relationship between designer and contractor is the focus of this episode of the TNT podcast.

Unfortunately, Interior designers generally have a reputation of either being too demanding and controlling or uneducated and inexperienced – sometimes both!

Conversely, as Design Professionals, we feel that contractors and trades typically do not welcome us onto a project nor our creative ideas for design. It can also be a concern for a designer that if they are not overseeing every step of the project, then original design plans may be altered and sometimes trades may even try to squeeze the designer out of the project completely.

These are valid concerns for both parties and today I sit down with two of my contractors to discuss The Naked Truth about this extremely important topic. Working collaboratively and having a mutually respectful working relationship is mandatory for everyone to show solidarity and work as a team.

From left to right: Walter Ferreria, Claire Jefford and Shane Ritcey

Guest Bio’s

Watler Ferreria @summitdevelopmentgroup

I invite you to check out his company’s website and his Instagram account to see some of his fantastic work.

Shane Ritcey @ritceycustomcabinetry

I encourage you to visit Shane’s website, it shows some of his stunning craftmanship, as does his Instagram account.

See all my podcast episodes here. New episodes are published every other Friday!

Free Resources

A fabulous FREE resource to help excel your interior design business.

Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue

Palladian Blue HC-144 by Benjamin Moore

This is such a pretty colour, isn’t it?

If you’re new here, welcome! Below you will see what I cover in every colour review post.

In this colour review video of Palladian Blue by Benjamin Moore, I share:

The undertone of my featured colour
Colour comparisons in order to easily see the different colour tones
Best white paint colours for the trim and ceilings
Beautiful colour combinations to inspire you for your decorating project

After you watch the video, if you would like all this information conveniently laid out for you in one place and have even more paint colour combinations to use with Palladian Blue, take a look at my new Perfect Colour Guide.

A must-have for any colour enthusiast or design professional.

While I love this colour, I’ve not actually used it yet. Where I would love to specify Palladian Blue for a project would be in a washroom, laundry room or bedroom. This tone is so fresh and serene, you could use it in any room of your home.

Palladian Blue Colour Review Video

Undertones: Blue/Green

This blue-green paint colour may appear more one colour than the other, depending on the lighting and what other decorative elements you pair with it in your interior decorating project.

As you can see below, it’s when we start to look at comparisons to other colours, that it becomes very eye-opening.

Colour Comparisons

Soft Fern 2144-40 & Gossamer Blue 2123-40

It’s only when we compare colours that we can truly understand the tones and whether they lean more one way or another on the colour spectrum.

When I do Colour Consultations in a client’s home, I am always comparing colours so they too can easily see the differences.

When I hold my large paint boards up to a decorative element such as fabrics, wallpaper or subway tile and then swap out one board with another board, it becomes clearer as to which colour will work best.

Best Whites To Pair With Palladian Blue

White Dove OC-17 by Benjamin Moore

You may recall that White Dove is one of my all-time favourite Benjamin Moore paint colours. It was one of the first Colour Reviews I did – read all about it and watch the video here.

If you are interested to learn more about the most popular white paint colour check out the White Dove Perfect Colour Guide.

As one of my go-to colours, I have used White Dove in various design projects. Here it is in a stunning dining room design project.

Oxford White CC-30 by Benjamin Moore

Oxford White is not as creamy as White Dove. It’s a little on the cooler side, but not as cool as the next white we recommend, White Diamond. We used Oxford White in our Burlington client’s kitchen here for their cabinetry colour. Because it’s a cooler white it worked wonderfully with the gorgeous Carrara marble herringbone backsplash.

White Diamond OC-61 by Benjamin Moore

White Diamond is the coolest of these three whites, it sparkles with a hint of blue.

I tend to have around 10 white paint colours that are my best whites for trim and ceilings. You don’t need to see all of the thousands of whites available to you to get the right one. You also do not need to mix two different whites or use only a certain percentage of paint colour to get the one best for you.

I can assure you that the best colour for your project already exists, you just need to know the 5 Steps on how to choose the right paint colour the first time.

Fabulous Colour Combinations

Palladian Blue with Horizon, Tweed Coat & Flint

Horizon OC-53 by Benjamin Moore

Tweed Coat CSP-85 by Benjamin Moore

Flint AF-560 by Benjamin Moore

Convenience At Your Fingertips

All of the colour combinations shown above plus more options for you to choose from are included in my Perfect Colour Palette of Palladian Blue.

Palladian Blue is now part of my Benjamin Moore Grays and Blue-Green Collection showcasing all 10 of my Benjamin Moore grays and blue-green Perfect Colour Palettes.

My Perfect Colour Palette library is expanding with even more colours from three of the top paint companies. Click here to see all of them.

If you want to get all my Benjamin Moore colour guides in one place, look no further than my Benjamin Moore Ultimate Collection. All 20 of my Benjamin Moore guides are in one handy collection.

Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!

Perfect For Pinning

Take my Colour Quiz to discover your Perfect Colour Palette.