Page 6 – Claire Jefford

Design Styles – Farmhouse

Welcome to the first post in my new Design Styles Series!

Having run my own interior decorating business for over 11 years I’ve learned that for many homeowners, identifying specific interior design styles can be tricky.

Heck, I’ve even seen in Facebook groups exclusively for interior designers where someone will post an image of a room and there will be various interpretations of what the specific design style is called.

If we interior design professionals have different names for the same design style, then it’s no wonder homeowners struggle with this as well.

Let me do my best to make it easy for you.

Through this Design Style series, I want to help you to identify specific décor and interior design elements that are indicative of certain interior design styles.

But First, A NEW QUIZ!

Kicking off this series also coincides with the launch of my new Design Style Colour Quiz.

Psst!! Even if you took my quiz before, it’s been totally revamped now with different Design Styles and NEW colour palettes. I just know you are going to love it.

Design Style Perfect Palettes

And because I am obsessed with simplifying your life when it comes to choosing the right paint colours for your home and have an addiction to creating fabulous paint colour combinations, I’m also excited to announce the release of my new Design Style Perfect Colour Palettes.

Immediate design inspiration is what you get with these digital downloads.

There are three different paint suppliers to choose from, depending on your preference: Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball.

Design Styles included (so far!) are Farmhouse, Coastal, Mid Century Modern and Boho Casual.

They all tie in with my new quiz and as Farmhouse seems to be the most loved design style currently, that’s our focus of today’s post.

Design Style – FARMHOUSE

Farmhouse design style is synonymous with relaxed and casual living with a touch of that rustic country feel.

You certainly do not have to live rural to enjoy a beautiful farmhouse style interior.

Modern farmhouse is hugely popular and is a common look you see in suburban and urban homes as well as in the rolling hills of the countryside.

Farmhouse Colours

As with any design style, Farmhouse has a range of distinct colours that help create this look.

Let me share three inspiring Farmhouse colours that will certainly give you a starting point if you are considering this design style for your own home.

Benjamin Moore – October Mist CC-550

This soft green was Benjamin Moore’s Colour of the Year for 2022 and suits the Farmhouse look so well.

October Mist

It evokes nature and open fields and looks amazing with the next two colours.

Sherwin Williams – Moroccan Spice SW 6060

Terracotta is a super trendy colour this year and Moroccan Spice is a perfect example of this earthy colour.

Moroccan Spice

Benjamin Moore – Pale Oak OC-20

Such a versatile colour, Pale Oak is the perfect neutral backdrop for a Farmhouse Design Style.

Pale Oak

It also works great in other interior styles. I’ve used it for a recent Burlington client project in a more modern and vibrant renovation.

An always popular neutral, Pale Oak, complements October Mist and Moroccan Spice to create a perfect Farmhouse Palette.

Farmhouse Colour Palette

Design Styles – Farmhouse

Design Details

What are some of the signature details of the Farmhouse and Modern Farmhouse look?

Character grade hardwood is a staple of the farmhouse aesthetic.

Natural character and whitewashed hardwood flooring.

Species such as maple and oak are great for whitewashing which adds lovely rustic appeal.

These woods also offer lots of natural characteristics such as visible grain, knots and other imperfections that add to the charm of the farmhouse expression.

Shiplap is a common design detail that is often seen in farmhouse interiors. This refers to the off white wood panelling you see behind the vignette below.

Shiplap wall – great design detail for Farmhouse look.

Apron sinks and farmhouse sinks are obvious choices for creating a rustic or modern farmhouse interior.

We incorporated a white apron sink in this Burlington project, which actually had more of a coastal vibe with the blue backsplash.

This is a good example of how the same interior design elements can be utilized within different design styles.

Gorgeous apron sink, an ideal farmhouse design feature

The final design detail we’ll touch on is skirted sofas. Casual and comfortable!

These comfy and practical pieces are an ideal addition to any interior where you are aiming for a farmhouse look and feel.

If you have an older sofa or loveseat but you no longer like the colour of its fabric, consider getting a cream or white slipcover if you want to tie it in with a new Farmhouse feel for your home.

Skirted sofa – adds rustic and cosy farmhouse appeal

Design Styles – Farmhouse

Fabrics & Textures

Let’s take a look at some of the best-known fabrics for achieving the farmhouse look.

Linen

Simple linen drapery, white and light is always in style

Jute

Organic and natural

Plaid and Striped Patterns

Cosy plaid pillows are a staple of farmhouse decor

Contrasting plaid pillows with gray plaid ottoman

And pillows that have an organic feel in neutral tones.

Slipcovers

In addition to the skirted sofa mentioned above in the Design Details section, don’t forget that you can also add slipcovers to chairs.

Slipcovered chair with plaid throw – two popular farmhouse features

Slipcovered Loveseat with natural wood flooring and other nature-inspired accents

Design Styles – Farmhouse

Decor

Wall Art Ideas

There are many fantastic décor items that really lend themselves to the farmhouse design style.

I can’t lie. Some of the wall art that is indicative of the farmhouse style has been overdone. The clock below is a prime example of this.

But, I can’t talk about farmhouse design and not mention the clocks!

Clocks in a wood and metal finish – farmhouse interior

A great example of a farmhouse living room

As you can see from these images below, some of the wall art ideas can lean towards being either more rustic, vintage or modern.

Rustic Farmhouse

Vintage farmhouse gallery wall

This weathered barn wall art is a perfect piece for a Modern farmhouse design

Other decorative elements such as vintage jugs and vases with fresh or dried flowers are also great accessories to style your home in if you want the farmhouse look.

Fresh flowers in vintage milk can

Rustic decor with milk jug and lavender

Farmhouse Perfect Colour Palettes

Look no further than my Farmhouse Perfect Colour Palettes to give you all the colours you need to pull off a gorgeous Farmhouse interior.

Benjamin Moore Farmhouse palette

10 Farmhouse colours by Benjamin Moore

Sherwin Williams Farmhouse palette

Sherwin Williams Farmhouse Perfect Colour Palette – 10 colours

Farrow & Ball Farmhouse palette

10 complimentary Farmhouse Colour by Farrow & Ball

October Mist

Pale Oak

Design Style Colour Quiz

Don’t forget to take my revamped colour quiz to find the Perfect Colour Palette for your favourite Design Style!

Perfect for Pinning

The Perfect Interior Design Client Questionnaire

Interior design questionnaire: Get the answers you need from clients.

Why is an interior design client questionnaire important?

What questions should you ask to better understand your interior design clients’ needs & their wish list for their project?

Here in my latest video, you’ll learn my reasons for sending out a client questionnaire & what types of questions I ask to ensure I get the answers I need.

If you have been thinking about using a client questionnaire, or you already use one in your client on-boarding process but your clients don’t always complete it, then by the end of the video you’ll know how to effectively get the answers you need before your initial consultation appointment.

I can confidently say this because I have successfully been using my client questionnaire since the very beginning of my career and 95% of clients complete it before we meet at the initial consultation meeting.

#1 The Client Questionnaire is an Important Part of Your On-boarding Process

One of your first points of contacts with a new interior design client is on the discovery call.

It’s here where you will ask specific questions in order to get a feel for what your potential clients’ needs are. Then once they book an initial consultation meeting with you, you’ll need to find out more about your new clients before you meet.

Plus, it’s important for them to consider different aspects of a project that they may not have thought about already, but that your questionnaire prompts them to think about ahead of time.

The client questionnaire allows you to get to know more about your new clients and to dig deeper into their reasons for wanting a change.

Although they may have been dreaming about renovating or decorating their home for some time, they probably haven’t considered some key questions. This is where I find the client questionnaire to be extremely helpful.

#2 The Types of Questions You Should Ask

Now let’s look at what type of questions you should ask in your client questionnaire. Here’s one question that I like to ask first:

I start by requesting each family member’s name and their age. I want to know how many people live in the home and how old they are.

This is important to keep in mind not only as you are creating their design and selecting finishes and furnishings, but I also like to know this for when I first walk in the door.

Maybe I’ll be greeted by the entire family and if so I can say to the kids “Hey, you must be Toby and Angela.” This shows clients that you are detail-oriented and cared enough to take the time to review their responses.

Getting personal and showing you care is important.

#3 Getting Clients to Complete and Return the Questionnaire

Lastly, how do you get clients to complete and return your questionnaire before you meet?

This is what I say on the discovery call:

“In order to be best prepared for our meeting, we send you a questionnaire ahead of time and ask that you complete it and send it back to us 48 hours prior to the date of our appointment.

Two hours may seem like a long time together, but it goes by pretty quick and I want to be as efficient as I can be with the time that we have, making sure we address your biggest pain points and top priorities.”

Who doesn’t love hearing that we want to make the most efficient use of our time together?

To actually see me on a discovery call and in a consultation meeting, check out the incredible offer below!

Need a Questionnaire & 15+ More Template Downloads?

To learn more and buy now, click here.

Get my ‘already done for you’ interior design client questionnaire along with many more templates, checklists, and email drafts so you can be super organized and confident with your clients.

All of this and so much more is included as part of my ROCK the Initial Consultation Processes package.

To see what other helpful interior design business resources I have for you to succeed in your interior design business, click here.

As an Interior Design Business Coach, my passion is to share what I’ve learned and help you achieve great success as well. I can help you transform your business with bigger projects, better clients, and higher profits.

Do you use a client questionnaire?

Comment below and share your experience with having clients complete your questionnaire.

Kitchen Trends 2022

What a few days it was at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show!

It’s been nearly 2 years since I last travelled for work and KBIS 2022 did not disappoint.

Seeing the exquisite displays on the showroom floor and also getting an invitation to the New American Home, was just what I needed to refuel my inspiration for upcoming interior design projects.

In this post, I share some of the best new products and displays from the show, plus, stick around to the end of the post where I show you THE MOST RIDICULOUS DESIGN DETAIL that I saw.

What was popular at KBIS 2022

Black and White

Black cabinetry, black toilets, black and white wallpaper, as well as bold contrasting patterns in tiles and fabrics were all on show at both KBIS and in the New American Home.

A mod living space in the New American Home.

A funky and functional laundry room in the New American Home.

If you love black and white wallpaper, and lots of pattern, don’t miss the living room we designed for our clients in this exciting interior design project we had photographed last year.

A shiny black toilet by Kohler.

Could you do a black toilet? This was just one of the many Kohler displays.

We have a black sink in our main floor bathroom, but I don’t think that I could do a black toilet!

Kitchen display by Cafe, Distinct by Design

This black and white wallpaper adds a ton of interest to this kitchen. But for this to function properly, you need to have a solid piece of stone or glass on part of the back wall to avoid spilling water down the back of the cabinetry.

Warm Terracottas

You know that warm tones are back right? Well, here in one of the Kohler bathroom vignettes is a backdrop of the popular shiplap in a terracotta tone.

A trending terracotta-coloured bathroom

If you remember in my Colour Trends 2022 post published at the end of last year, my good friend Maria Killam predicted Foxy Brown by Benjamin Moore to be a trending colour in 2022.

Although Foxy Brown is more pink than a terracotta or Cavern Clay by Sherwin Williams, these warmer colours are indeed back!

Thompson Traders sinks are always on trend!

Notice the gorgeous hammered sink in the kitchen display above?

This is an beautiful sink designed by the fabulous Thompson Traders.

You can catch a glimpse of my Thompson Traders copper sink in the 3D drawing of my new kitchen design shown in this post about my new dishwasher.

And, a quick detour here while I’m mentioning Thompson Traders. I wanted to include a photo of their show-stopping, larger than life, tortoise inspired hood and sink in a brass finish.

Thompson Traders: Fab products & a wonderful family-owned company

Forgive me, my photo does not do this justice!

Green With Envy

The colour of the year for Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams was green.

Perhaps the most breathtaking display at the entire show was this monochromatic green kitchen design in the Monogram booth.

Monogram kitchen display, Kitchen & Bath Industry Show 2022

Dark green cabinets, green and black backsplash, ombre stone hood in shades of greens and the addition of green plants to add even more life to this display.

Is it too much for you or could you be this bold?

That gas stovetop is impressive and I especially love the copper knobs.

I adore green which is why I painted my basement walls and laundry room cabinets Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball but I think even for me, this kitchen is a bit too much.

Love the drama though and it definitely got people talking!

Purple clawfoot tub by Kholer

Me in the purple clawfoot tub! It’s my favourite colour, how could I not hop in?!

More inspiration from KBIS 2022

Fluted Millwork

This is a nice design detail that we’ve been seeing a lot over the last few years, but a bugger to dust and keep clean. We saw lots of this type of millwork in the 2020 Princess Margaret Lottery Home.

Archways

Archways are super popular at the moment, we see Studio McGee using these often in doorways for their Modern Farmhouse designs.

Statement Lighting

The lighting fixtures and details in the New American Home were indeed out of this world. Here are just a couple of examples that I especially loved.

The Most Ridiculous Design Detail

Lastly, I wanted to share this dishwasher design detail shown in the Monogram booth.

While this type of natural-toned caning is definitely trending, as it is shown here, it is completely impractical.

Could you imagine the drips down the front and trying to get out any bits of food that will inevitably get stuck in there?

Sorry, but at some point, you really have to think about what looks good and what is good design.

Anything surprise you from what I shared here today?

Share your thoughts below, kitchens and baths are always a hot topic.

Speaking of hot topics…have you taken my colour quiz yet?

Take my Quiz and find your perfect colour palette with décor inspiration for your next interior design or decorating project.

Perfect Colour Palettes

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!

Convenience at your fingertips

I have created Paint Colour Palettes for some of the most popular colours from three of the leading paint companies, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball.

Our Perfect Colour Palettes help you confidently select the best colour for your home, and see which trim, ceiling, and accent colours pair well with your selected colour.

Perfect for Pinning!

Benjamin Moore – Glass Slipper

Glass Slipper 1632 by Benjamin Moore

Blue, still on-trend and when paired with white, is as popular a design style as ever. This combo is hot and I really think sticking around for a long while yet.

Glass Slipper is a soft pale blue that can be used in so many areas of your home.

If you are familiar with my blog and have seen my other colour reviews, you’ll know that in the colour review video of Glass Slipper by Benjamin Moore, I share:

The undertone
Colour comparisons in order to easily see the different colour tone(s)
Best white paint colours for the trim and ceilings
Beautiful colour combinations to inspire you for your next decorating project

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 Glass Slipper by Benjamin Moore, take a look at my new Perfect Colour Palette.

A must-have for any colour enthusiast or interior designer!

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

I want to give you the confidence to make educated decisions about your own paint choices. Let’s do this!

Glass Slipper Colour Review Video

Undertone: soft blue

A gorgeous soft blue, Glass Slipper may look different in your space depending on the lighting and what other decorative elements you pair with it in your interior decorating project.

Colour Comparisons

By comparing Glass Slipper to other similar colours, we can more clearly see the true tone.

Gray Sky 2131-70 & Smoky Green CC-700

Definitely not as green as Smoky Green, but I would actually say Gray Sky is more of a baby blue than Glass Slipper when you put them side by side.

Best Whites To Pair With Glass Slipper

Cloud White CC-40 By Benjamin Moore

White Dove OC-17 By Benjamin Moore

White Dove is undoubtedly one of the most popular white paints from Benjamin Moore. You can see my colour review of this gorgeous off-white here.

Decorator’s White CC-20 By Benjamin Moore

I 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! If you need some guidance, grab my 5 Steps on how to choose the right paint colour the first time.

Fabulous Colour Combinations

Glass Slipper with Collingwood, Gray Owl & Wind’s Breath

Collingwood OC-28 By Benjamin Moore

Below is an image of one of our latest projects where we used Collingwood on the walls with blue and gray accents. Isn’t this a lovely colour?! So pretty.

See the full project here including a stunning home office design.

Gray Owl OC-52 By Benjamin Moore

Below is a project where we used Gray Owl on the walls in a coastal-inspired project. See the entire room here in our portfolio.

Gray Owl walls in Coastal Inspired design

Wind’s Breath OC-24 By Benjamin Moore

I used my Perfect Colour Palette for Glass Slipper to put together this lovely, calm palette you see below. Then I paired it with a couple of fabrics and a gorgeous flooring sample I had.

Calming Colour Palette for Glass Slipper

The idea here is to use the palette to put together a beautiful aesthetic for an entire room or floor of a house.

It’s not to say all colours need to be used in paint form but can be incorporated into tile, flooring, fabric and other hard furnishings and accents. My goal is to inspire you for your next interior decorating project!

Convenience At Your Fingertips

All of the colour combinations shown above (and more!) are included in my Perfect Colour Palette for Glass Slipper.

My Perfect Colour Palette library is expanding and I now have 50 paint colours to select from. Click here to see all of my newly updated Perfect Colour Palettes.

Glass Slipper is also included in my Benjamin Moore Grays & Blue-Greens Collection. A collection of 10 of Benjamin Moore’s most popular Grays and Blue-Greens!

I’ve also created a Benjamin Moore collection showcasing Whites & Neutrals.

And for those who love to have everything all in one place, there’s the Benjamin Moore Ultimate Collection. That is where you will find all 20 of my Benjamin Moore Perfect Colour Palettes in one convenient place.

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

Farrow & Ball Green Smoke

Green Smoke No.47 by Farrow & Ball

A deep blue-green by Farrow & Ball, Green Smoke is stunning whether used on the exterior of a home or inside.

I absolutely love the colour green and in particular Green Smoke.

I love it so much that I used this rich paint colour in my basement renovation – not once but twice! I’m sharing some of those photos here on the blog with you today.

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

In this colour review video of Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball, 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

Walls are Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball in my basement living area.

You might be wondering where I used Green Smoke in my basement reno. You can see in the photo above we painted the wall in the family room area, Green Smoke.

The second place where I used this colour will be revealed a bit further along.

Farrow & Balls’ Green Smoke

After you watch the video if you would like all the information I discuss in one convenient place look no further than my new Perfect Colour Palette for Green Smoke.

My Perfect Colour Palette also includes 10 colours that go beautifully with Green Smoke, plus a 2-page step by step How-To for choosing a cohesive colour palette in your own home.

A must-have for any colour enthusiast or interior design professional!

Available for immediate download here

Green Smoke Colour Review Video

Undertone: blue

Farrow & Ball describe this colour as a Smoky Green Blue

This smoky green blue brings a real calmness to any interior space.

Colour Comparisons

As you can see below, it’s when we start to look at comparisons to other colours, that things become very interesting.

Inchyra Blue No.289 & Bancha No.298

Colour Comparisons with similar Farrow & Ball paints

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

Farrow & Bal Green Smoke

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 clear as to which colour will work best.

Best Whites To Pair With Green Smoke

White Tie No.2002 By Farrow & Ball

Green Smoke walls and (possibly) White Tie trim

Pointing No.2003 By Farrow & Ball

All White No.2005 By Farrow & Ball

Green Smoke door, casing and outer trim

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

Green Smoke with Ball Green, Mouse’s Back & Stiffkey Blue

A beautiful palette bringing lovely colours from nature together. The crossbill wallpaper from A-Street Prints worked so well with these four colours.

I used part of this colour palette in the second space in my basement where we used Green Smoke – our laundry room.

We chose Green Smoke for the cabinetry this time and a dark blue for the walls. The bird and branch wallpaper incorporate the other two nature-inspired colours from the palette.

You can see how well the wallpaper looks behind the cabinetry.

Ball Green No.75 By Farrow & Ball

Mouse’s Back No.40 By Farrow & Ball

Green Smoke cabinetry

Flooring can also be a part of how you use the colour palette, as you can see in my laundry room above. It is not intended that all the colours in the palette be painted.

Stiffkey Blue No.281 By Farrow & Ball

Photo from Farrow & Ball

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 Green Smoke.

Green Smoke is also included in my Farrow & Ball Classic Collection along with 9 other gorgeous F&B colours.

Farrow & Ball’s Collection of 10 Classic paint colours

If you prefer Sherwin Williams paint, check out my newest Collection that showcases 10 beautiful neutrals from Sherwin Wiliams.

10 of the most popular Sherwin Williams’ Neutrals in one collection

My Perfect Colour Palette library is expanding and I now have over 50 palettes to select from! Click here to see all of them.

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 find out what your Perfect Colour Palette is.

And if you love greens, make sure you check out the Colour of the Year by Benjamin Moore and all the Colour Trends for 2022.

Perfect For Pinning

Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer

WWWOW!

What We’re Working on Wednesday

The most important appliance in the kitchen, certainly the hardest working, what would you say it is?

I’m 100% sure it is the mighty dishwasher and I am sure my kids would agree with me!

I’m thrilled to share another episode of my WWWOW video series.

What We’re Working on Wednesday is my way of bringing you behind the scenes on our interior design and decorating projects, in a way that I hope you will find helpful and entertaining.

My family and I are gearing up to start our own major renovation.

New Year = New Kitchen.

It’s finally my turn, this has been long overdue. It’s been nearly 16 years since we last renovated our kitchen.

See a sneak peek of my colourful kitchen design below. This is our 3D rendering. Pretty spectacular, right?!

Cabinetry colour Kensington Blue. Island paint colour is Stratton Blue. Both are from Benjamin Moore.

And here are the finishes I’ve selected for paint colours, countertops, backsplash, wallpaper and my hardwood floor.

The smaller paint chips in the foreground were colour matched to my vintage Spode decorative plates that you can see on the wall in the drawing near the end of the blog. To see the portfolio of my main floor, head here.

In today’s episode of WWWOW, come inside my local appliance store where we will be taking a closer look at my new dishwasher – or should I say DishDrawers!

Join me as I go over some of the fantastic features of these DishDrawers and why I chose this appliance to be a major part of our new kitchen design.

Video Transcript & Photos

Traditional Dishwasher vs Fisher & Paykel DishDrawers

What is the one item you use every single day in your kitchen and if it’s not just right and you don’t love it, and it doesn’t work properly, it’s going to drive you crazy?

It’s your dishwasher.

Today I am at Best Brand Appliances in Oakville, Ontario. So, if you’re near me make sure you come and check it out here. Ask for Rebecca and tell her I sent you!

We are in the Fisher & Paykel room and we are looking at a dishwasher for my own kitchen.

Great idea when testing out dishwashers – bring dishes!

I’ve brought some dishes because I want to make sure that I can load up the dishwasher to see how things actually fit in.

Have a look at this here, the top drawer is bigger. What I love about this is that you can adjust the prongs to get larger spacing between your plates.

Fisher & Paykel top drawer of the double DishDrawer

And you also have these removable baskets for your cutlery which can be extended to add even more utensils.

Cutlery Basket Features – Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer

The other thing that can get really frustrating with a dishwasher is not being able to fit your pots and pans.

What I love about this Fisher & Paykel dishwasher is that the prongs can also be moved to completely collapse and make room for pots, pans and other larger baking dishes.

One of many different configurations for the DishDrawer

There are also holders for your wine glass stems – and let me tell you, I love my wine. But hand washing all my wine glasses? Not so much.

Fully loaded top drawer

If I need more room, then I’ve got a whole other drawer below. It appears to be identical in the design, just smaller.

Two of the many double DishDrawer dishwashers available at Fisher & Paykel

There’s nothing worse than having something that you use daily that doesn’t work very well, right?

In my current dishwasher, I can’t get some of my glasses in, those that are larger at the ends. I know it sounds like such a small problem, but when you’re dealing with an appliance like your dishwasher every single day, it’s important to have something that functions well.

The Fisher & Paykel DishDrawers- Love it!

There you have it, that is my new dishwasher we will be getting in the spring when our renovations come to an end. I am very excited and appreciate all the support from my friends over at Best Brand Appliances in Oakville, Ontario.

I am Claire Jefford. This has been another episode of WWWOW – What We’re Working on Wednesday.

As promised, here’s a view of my new kitchen design from the living room. Eeeek, I can’t wait!

DishDrawers will be on the far end wall, to the right of the sink.

I hope you enjoyed that. Comment below and let me know if you have invested in a decent dishwasher.

Or do you have you crappy dishwasher like my old one and you can feel my pain?

Cheers!

Find Colour Claire-ity Here

Do you know my 5 Steps on how to choose the right paint colour the first time?

GET MY FREE DOWNLOADS HERE

Convenience At Your Finger tips

I have created Paint Colour Palettes for some of the most popular colours from three of the leading paint companies, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Farrow & Ball.

Currently, there are forty to choose from. I have also grouped them into collections to make them more convenient.

Benjamin Moore Whites & Neutrals

Benjamin Moore Grays & Blue-Greens

Or get my entire collection of all 20 Benjamin Moore colour guides here in the Ultimate Collection.

Benjamin Moore Ultimate Collection

Farrow & Ball Classic Collection

And my most recently created Collection:

Sherwin Williams Neutral 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!

1. White Dove by Benjamin Moore

With nearly 75k pageviews, White Dove is my most popular paint colour review blog post.

Despite this post being over three years old, Benjamin Moore’s White Dove is still one of our favourite whites for interior design projects. What about you?

Read the post and watch my video review here

White Dove Perfect Colour Palette

2. Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams

I don’t specify Sherwin Williams paint as much as Benjamin Moore, but Sea Salt is a beauty. It’s similar in tone to Palladian Blue by Benjamin Moore and comes in second place.

Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams Colour Review

Perfect Colour Palette Sea Salt Sherwin Williams

3. Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore

Ah, this colour has never steered us wrong! It’s a dark, moody classic that will never go out of style.

Read the post with lots of images from various design projects we’ve done

The best colours to use with Hale Navy

4. Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore

This paint was in the top 3 of my paint colour predictions for 2022.

Pale Oak is also one of my top-selling Perfect Colour Palettes of 2021. This is a popular neutral that will be around for a while.

Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore paint colour review

The only colour palette you need with Pale Oak

5. Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore

I used this beautiful Blue-Green Gray in my very first commercial job. The transformation from the forest green walls was incredible.

You’ll have to read the post to see which type of office we used Gray Owl in!

Gray Owl colour review

Still a widely popular paint colour. See the full colour palette

6. Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore

We used this for a client’s main floor more than 4 years ago, but can you believe that we’ve never had it photographed! Doh! Maybe this year will be the year we finally do because I know you would love it.

Swiss Coffee Benjamin Moore colour review

See the Design Palettes we created to show how to use Swiss Coffee in your own home

I actually had a local friend reach out to hire me after she saw my design palette video using Swiss Coffee. She wanted to have that exact floral fabric for her custom draperies we installed and she also ordered the grasscloth wallpaper from us to be a backdrop in her mudroom!

Let our Perfect Colour Palettes inspire your next project!

7. Elephant’s Breath Farrow & Ball

Finally, a Farrow & Ball paint colour review in my top 10! And despite its peculiar name, isn’t this one a beauty?

Elephant’s Breath by Farrow & Ball comes in at #7 on my top 10 list

If you love pinks and warm colours, you’ll love this palette.

8. Classic Gray by Benjamin Moore

On my Instagram stories this week, someone asked my opinion on the most perfect gray paint colour. Classic Gray was my answer.

Of course, one gray is not going to be perfect for every interior design project, but this is currently my favourite, and one that we still regularly specify.

Classic Gray is a classic indeed. Read my colour review here.

This may just be my favourite Perfect Colour Palette too.

9. Wickham Gray by Benjamin Moore

Even though the colour gray as a popular neutral has officially come and gone, seeing us move more towards warmer beiges once more, many of you still love the blue-green grays.

Wickham Gray is still a winner in my book that looks lovely with many of the top quartz and other stone tiles.

Wickham Gray HC 171 by Benjamin Moore

Perfect Colour Palette Wickham Gray by Benjamin Moore

10. Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball

Another Farrow & Ball paint colour squeaks into the Top 10 paint colours of 2021, this time a deep, moody blue. Blue is always on-trend and Hague Blue has a richness like no other.

While I have yet to use this colour, I’d love to use it on some custom cabinetry in a future décor project.

Hague Blue Colour Review

This fun palette reminds me of a Mid Century Modern design style.

Can’t get enough colour? Take my Quiz and find your perfect design style palette!

Perfect for Pinning!

Colour Trends 2022

Prior to the holidays, I held an online event with some of THE BEST KNOWN colour experts in the interior design industry. Did you miss it?

Don’t worry, I’ve got the recording ready for you.

WELCOME!

But first, if you are new here allow me a moment to say “WELCOME!”

I’m Claire Jefford, Certified Interior Decorator and True Colour Expert. We don’t shy away from colour here.

From paint colour reviews to pulling back the curtain to reveal behind the scenes details of our interior decorating projects and sharing countless colour palettes to inspire your home décor, that is what you can expect from our Colour & Design Claire-ity blog. 🙂

I hope to see more of you in the year ahead!

Me at my new custom bar in Preference Red by Farrow & Ball

Colour Trends & 2022 Predictions

Join THE True Colour Expert Maria Killam, the Queen of Colour Rachel Moriarty and the brilliant photographer and influencer Susan Brinson and me as we share colour inspiration and details of our 2021 interior design projects.

Also, we reveal our predictions for the Top Colour Trends to come in 2022. The palette we created between us with our selections is absolutely gorgeous!

The video is just below and I’ve also included some time stamps in the blog post with images from the presentation of our live event.

Comment on this post to tell me at least one colour you will be using in your home this coming year.

Meet Your Colour Experts

Video Timestamp 0:00 – 2:30

Rachel Moriarty Interiors

Video Timestamp 4:00 – 11:18

You will be hard-pressed to find another designer who injects as much vibrancy and colour into their projects as Rachel Moriarty does.

This first image is a client project of a Vintage Airstream Argosy (a trailer in case you are not familiar with the term) that now lives permanently in her client’s backyard.

The look they were going for was a ‘Genie out of the bottle’, Moroccan style and I’m pretty sure Rachel NAILED IT!

See more of Rachel’s incredible interior designs here on her website.

Moroccan inspired style with a vibrant palette of deep jewel tones

Rachel swears by a dark blue being a great neutral and I loved hearing this. It’s like black right? And black is a neutral.

Two of my favourite dark blue colours are Hale Navy and Van Deusen Blue by Benjamin Moore.

Learn more about these 2 colourful projects below in the video replay above.

Flamingo Mural Teals and Coral colour palette

Custom mural, roller skates and multicoloured taffeta skirt

And this project is one that you won’t see in the video, but I felt it was soooo worthy of being shared here on the blog. This is another one of Rachel’s one of a kind projects that is absolutely out of this world!

Susan Brinson – House of Brinson

Video Timestamp 11:18 – 22:32

I had the pleasure of meeting Susan on a Designhounds trip in LA about 4 years ago. Shortly after I was planning a trip to attend Maria Killam’s colour course in Long Island, New York.

When she heard the news that I would be coming to her neck of the woods, Susan and Will invited Chris and me to stay for a night on our way home. Their hospitality was second to none!

It was wonderful to see in person their old Stony Ford Mansion that they have been thoughtfully renovating in remarkable detail.

You can follow along and see more of the incredible transformation on their House of Brinson website. I absolutely love Susan’s passion for design and her ability to not only capture the beauty of her work through her photography but also the considerable thought process that she puts into every element of a room’s design.

Below are two rooms that they have renovated and decorated in deep, moody colour tones, including a first-floor washroom painted head to toe in Anchor Grey by Benjamin Moore.

This exquisite vanity is original to the home

This floor tile is classic and striking

I love the charming look with the gold accents and wood toilet seat

The Queen of May guest bedroom shown below is painted Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ball. Gorgeous, right?! The walls, the ceiling, the medallion, the trim – all of it. LOVE.

I used Inchyra Blue as a comparison colour in my colour review of Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball.

Queen of May guest bedroom in a deep, forest green with a hint of teal

The mural wallpaper is by Gracie and just look at that art deco blue velvet bench!

Loving the muted oranges, warm wood tones and the strong contrast of the trim

Susan often paints with Farrow & Ball Colours. I too have found their paints to be beautifully saturated tones.

We used F&B Pitch Black on my custom vanity in my bathroom makeover project.

Claire Jefford -The Tale of 2 Projects

Video Timestamp 22:32 – 29:40

I chose to share two very different interior decorating projects that we very recently photographed.

We had the pleasure of working with some wonderful clients in 2021 for our Custom Design & Project Management Services.

Those who trust our interior design process and hand over the reins to us to lead and oversee their project, tend to be the clients who benefit the most from our services.

The result is turnkey with very little effort or time required by the client, other than our initial discovery and research to best identify their design/colour preferences and lifestyle.

See the entire project, including a stunning home office here in our portfolio.

This cosy custom living room is painted Collingwood by BM with calming blue & gray accents

Styled bookcase with ombre wallpaper in the same tones. Photography by Stephani Buchman

And for a burst of colour, these lovely Burlington client’s also hired us for our elite Custom Design Service for their main floor project.

We started with artwork that had personal meaning to our client and pulled together our entire colour palette and design from that one ‘jumping off point’.

From there, we selected these fun fabrics, repeating the tones in the chairs, area rugs and other accessories throughout the home. The full project can be seen here.

See behind the scenes at our install day here

Wall Colour is Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore

Maria Killam -THE True Colour Expert

Video Timestamp 29:40- 38:44

If you know me, (and if you are familiar in any way with Maria) it’s no surprise that I asked her to be a part of this event.

Not only have I learned everything I know about colour and undertones from this amazing woman through her workshops, ebooks and popular blog, we’ve also become very good friends over the years and I adore our friendship.

If you aren’t already familiar with THE True Colour Expert, you can find out more by visiting Maria’s website.

During our live Colour Trends presentation, Maria shared behind the design details of her own living room redecorating project with an interior design mood board, shown below.

Maria’s yellow sofa remained, but most other furnishings are new.

You’ll also see a peek of the back wall as she waits patiently for the final furnishings to arrive (like many of us have had to do this past year!) before having the space professionally photographed.

The wall colour is Navajo White OC-95 by Benjamin Moore.

Notice the painted ceiling that is the similar mauve tone that you can see in the artwork? So subtle and so pretty!

Did you ever see my exclusive interview with Maria Killam in New York a few years back? If you have ever thought about taking her colour course, you really ought to watch it.

Below is Maria’s fabulous updated outdoor studio space. The custom millwork is perfect for propping up her large colour boards, with Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore as the backdrop.

Maria’s updated colour and design studio

A styled bookcase with white accents and warm wood tones

Colour Predictions 2022

Now the big moment that you’ve been waiting for in terms of colour trend predictions for 2022.

Let’s do this. (Oh and if you like the rendering below, THAT is going to be my new kitchen. Eeek!)

Video Timestamp 38:48 – 56:15

From Sherwin Williams, Rachel’s colour choices are Henna Shade, Thistle and Pewter Green.

Susan likes Benjamin Moore’s Richmond Gold and Clear Spring Green. And from Farrow & Ball, the beautiful Brassica.

Maria Killam predicts Navajo White, Tate Olive and Foxy Brown from Benjamin Moore.

My selections are all from Benjamin Moore and include Kensington Blue, Stratton Blue and Pale Oak.

Colour Trends 2022 Palette

How sweet is this colour palette when we put them all together? I’m in love!

Which colour is your favourite from all of our predictions for 2022 colour trends, or do you have another you wish to add?

Comment below and share your top paint colour choice.

Don’t miss my Colour Trends blog post from Highpoint market with many inspirational room paint palettes derived from the spectacular vignettes.

Looking for your Perfect Colour Palette?

Take my Quiz and find just that plus décor inspiration for your next interior design or decorating project.

Perfect for Pinning!

Colour Trends from High Point

What colours are trending in furniture design? Do they fall in line with the 2022 Colour Trends recently announced by Benjamin Moore?

Spoiler alert!

The answer is YES, and I’ve put together some inspiring colour palettes for you in this blog post.

Sadly, I was unable to attend October’s fall Highpoint Market. But, I had a very good friend and fellow interior designer on the inside!

The lovely Linda Holt, Interior Designer from Boston

I want to thank Linda Holt for sharing these photos with me from her recent trip to Highpoint in North Carolina.

Connect with Linda here on her Instagram. This wonderful woman used to be a photographer, and she loves colour just as much as I do, so you’ll definitely be inspired by her posts.

I’ve also created colour palettes to complement some of these vignettes to further inspire you for your next interior decorating project.

Let’s dive in!

The MOST POPULAR Colour at Market

Does the colour of this curved console look familiar to you?

Linda tells me that this colour was in almost every showroom at High Point, whether it was furniture, fabric, artwork or accessories.

This colour tone is very similar to that of Benjamin Moore’s Wild Flower which was included in their 2022 Colour Trends Palette lineup announced last month.

Wild Flower from Benjamin Moore 2022 Colour Trends

Living Room Colour Palette

In the living room below we see the same colour again, but in this space, it is more muted in the accent pillow on the leather sofa.

Small hints can also be seen in the book on the upholstered ottoman that doubles as a coffee table, as well as in the artwork above the sofa which is layered on top of the backdrop of the neutral grasscloth wallpaper.

The palette combination I created from this image further below, shows off different Benjamin Moore paint colours.

Wild Flower, Collector’s Item, Morning Dew and Natural Linen colour palette

Bedroom Colour Palette

Texture was a big interior design trend at High Point, but really, it always has been in my opinion.

Rattan specifically has made a huge comeback, shown here in this headboard frame.

Similar textures are repeated in the basket light pendants, main ceiling fixture and decorative hats.

Wild Flower, Steam, Venetian Portico and Mysterious – All from the 2022 Benjamin Moore Colour Trends palette.

Moody Living Room Colour Palette

I love me some contrast, so this dark gray wall behind the Venetian Portico coloured sofa with accent pillows and florals in the same deep coral tone as Wild Flower, really excites me!

Wild Flower, High Park, Venetian Portico, Morning Dew with a backdrop similar to Wrought Iron by BM

Muted But Still Marvelous!

Blue colour combinations are always on-trend. This blue sofa with the single sofa cushion looks lovely with the coral pillow.

Blue and orange are opposite on the colour wheel, which means that they are complementary colours.

You will see more orange and blue tones worked into interior design vignettes below but in a much different way. Keep reading my friend!

How cute is this ‘moment’ shown here in the bedroom display below?

I love seeing the plates used as wall décor, as well as the upholstered curved headboard in a muted blush tone on the backdrop of the blue walls.

Did you notice the animal legs on the 2 small bench seats at the foot of the bed? Very whimsical!

Love It Or Leave It?

This room reminds me of my Grandma’s apartment when I was younger.

The peachy tones and furniture style seem dated to me. I’m not a fan of this particular setting nor the monochromatic look, it feels uninspiring.

What do you think?

Navy Blue and Cognac

A more traditional interior design style can be seen below in this bedroom vignette.

The book covers repeat the cognac and blue tones of the furnishings shown in the foreground which is essential for creating continuity and flow in a space.

This is also a very classic colour combination that never goes out of style when done correctly.

Take a look at the next image where this same palette can be seen in a more modern style of design.

Psst! Insiders Tip: The woolly-looking fabric on this chair with the wooden frame is called boucle.

It was such a HUGE trend at High Point Market this fall that the hashtag #boucleallday was apparently derived from this year’s event.

You’ll see more of this boucle on white sofas in more neutral living room settings a little later in the post.

How cute is that lamp base? There’s that texture again.

These darker blues are all reminiscent of the only blue included in Benjamin Moore’s 2022 Colour Trends, Mysterious.

Mysterious is quite a bit darker and moodier than my favourite navy paint colour, Hale Navy.

Mysterious by Benjamin Moore

Blue and Green Colour Palettes

The combination of blues and greens never goes out of style.

But boy, these tones sure can vary which makes them super fun for creating different colour palettes as inspiration for any room in your home.

Below you can see the perfect colour palette I created from this vignette which takes on a slightly ‘cooler’ vibe with the backdrop that I would say is similar to Oxford White by Benjamin Moore.

Oxford White has a blue undertone and we specified that colour for cabinetry in this client’s kitchen.

Mysterious, Fernwood Green, Pale Moon and Morning Dew colour palette

A dark green sage sofa is shown here below with a single bench seat and sweet little round bolster cushions to match at each end.

Mysterious, High Park, Venetian Portico, Natural Linen with a backdrop similar to Quiet Moments (AKA Smoky Green)

Again with a backdrop similar to Quiet Moments / Smoky Green, this office set up shown below brings colour in via the playful artwork and exquisite fabrics.

Mysterious, Pale Moon, Gloucester Sage, Wild Flower colour palette

If you love blue and green colour combinations, check out this Toronto project and one of our Oakville projects here where you’ll see two very different décor styles for living and dining rooms we designed.

Both are bold and beautiful – at least, we think so!

Neutral Curves

If all of those vignettes and colour palettes are too colourful for you, maybe these showroom images will be more your taste. These show a lot of neutral tones that include grays and white colours.

Here is an off-white sofa (there’s the boucle again) and a round gray, cement-looking coffee table with black accents on top.

Similar to the setup above, this showroom features a more elegant look that includes round marble top coffee tables with brass accents.

Did you notice the boucle AGAIN?!

In the photo below we see another monochromatic display that reminds me of the popular light taupe paint colour Pale Oak.

Oh AND DID YOU NOTICE THE BOUCLE AGAIN??!!

Just For Fun

Let’s end on a colourful note that I hope makes you happy.

Even if you don’t like this chair or the bright yellow, hopefully, it will make you smile!

Which colour combinations do you like best?

Blues and greens?

The ones with the hit of the trending orange tone of Wild Flower?

Or, maybe you like your home less ‘wild’ and more neutral with the whites, creams and beiges?

Take my Quiz and find your perfect colour palette with décor inspiration for your next interior design or decorating project.

Cheers again to my friend and fellow designer Linda Holt of Linda Holt Creative who was kind enough to share her best pictures from High Point Market.

I truly appreciate you, my friend!

Perfect for Pinning!

Pin these graphics to your Pinterest Boards for easy reference when you want to see this post for future interior decorating inspiration!