Just as Pantone’s Greenery was considered a calming antidote to the chaos and distraction of modern life, Taubmans’ 2019 Colour of the Year has similar aspirations. Called Night Watch, it’s a deep luxe green that is the perfect way to bring the outside in. It’s also bang on trend with indoor plants, jungle motifs and green of almost every shade popular at present.
Taubmans 2019 Colour of the Year ‘Night Watch’
“Green is a colour we will be seeing so much more of in 2019, from forest to sea foam and all tints and shades in between. It makes perfect sense that we are seeking to bring the calmness and soothing power of Night Watch into our decor given the trend to bring the outdoors in,” says Taubmans colour consultant Grace Garrett.
And with apartment living on the rise, and the 2016 Australian Census revealing that people in developed countries are spending 90 per cent of their time indoors, it makes sense that we are longing to bring some greenery inside.
The dramatic green shade is also a highly adaptable one. “Night Watch uses a tone that can be adapted to an array of styles using a variety of furniture and accessories from the velvet and marble of Hollywood glamour to the raw, natural materials that belong to the eclectic and tribal trends. In terms of a colour palette, Night Watch’s versatility means it pairs well with a multitude of tones such as Taubmans Ionian, Dusky Taupe and Rusty Rail,” says Grace.
Taubmans ‘Night Watch’Complementary colours
Master renovator Cherie Barber recently used the colour to transform a small apartment. “I made over a small apartment using Taubmans Endure Interior in a matte finish to maximise the depth of colour. Creating a feature wall of Night Watch and using Taubmans Crisp White on the others means that you can bounce and regulate the light in the room. If you wanted to create a cosier feel, you could even use Night Watch on all of the walls,” says Cherie.
Cherie Barber used ‘Night Watch’ in this small apartment
The Taubmans Colour of the Year is the result of an annual workshop that the paint brand holds, bringing together over 20 global colour stylists from the automotive, consumer electronics, aerospace and home paint industries. Night Watch is just one of the 200 colours in the brand’s 2019 Global Colour Trends Forecast which looks to guide homeowners, designers and architects alike.
With so much focus on creating the perfect space, it can be extremely easy to overlook the entry points of a room. A door is the first hint of what lies beyond; a bare wood finish can put a “plain Jane” vibe on an otherwise contemporary interior. Likewise, a battered door covered in scratches and peeling paint is the equivalent of pairing a beautiful evening dress with house slippers.
Photo by Philipp Berndt on Unsplash
Choosing the right paint
Choosing the right type of paint and colour is a crucial an inviting entry to the rest of your space – the first thing to consider is the current look and feel of that space. If you are planning to makeover your entire room, it is a good idea to have all walls and ceilings painted first (for tips on painting walls and ceilings, take a look at our previous articles). That way, it will be easier to pick a door shade that complements the fresh look and colour of that space.
When you have chosen the perfect colour, go to Taubmans’ online calculator to help you determine the amount of paint you will need for your doors.
Prepare the doors
It can be tempting to leave doors hanging on their hinges. Although this may save you some time initially, you may find that the dripping paint will have you backtracking and spending extra (unnecessary) time and effort on painting. For best (and quicker) results, always remove the doors and lie them flat on a raised surface – this will guarantee the smoothest finish.
If removing a door is not an option, you can leave it hanging upright – just be sure to wedge the door in place so there is no movement while painting.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Protect and sand
Protecting surrounding surfaces from accidental paint drip is the key to a quick and pain-free DIY project. Lay down drop sheets on floors and use masking or painter’s tape to cover the hinges. If your doors are still attached to the wall, use tape to shield the door frames from any stray brush strokes.
Grab an electric sander (a sanding block or sandpaper will do just fine) and use it to remove any flaking paint or shiny surfaces. A well-sanded door will help paint stick and give you professional results.
Paint
Begin by giving your paint a good stir (this will ensure all the pigments are mixed through), then pour some paint into a paint tray. Use a brush to paint the hinged edges first, switching to a roller for the rest of the door. Roll the paint on in a ‘W’ or ‘M’ motion to ensure an even distribution and coating of paint.
Give the first coat about 10 minutes to dry before picking up the roller again for the second coat. If the first coat seems a bit bumpy, give it a light sand, then apply the second coat in the same way as the first. The type of paint will determine your final drying times; a water-based paint will need two hours to dry completely, whereas a water-based enamel paint will take four hours and an oil-based enamel will be the longest at 16 hours.
Re-attach the doors once the paint is completely dry – and enjoy your freshly painted entries!
–Naomi Findlay is Australia’s Rapid Renovation Expert and works with people around the country helping them create wealth and freedom using her Rapid Renovation Formula. She is the founder of the International Institute of Home Staging and author of ‘Ignite Your Property Mojo’ and ‘Selling Your Property for More Money’. In 2018, she created and launched the Rapid Reno Mate smartphone app, the first app that can manage your renovation budgets, timelines and trades all in one hub.
A rather divisive hue, purple is suddenly all the rage on the interior scene which is not surprising given Pantone named ‘Ultra Violet’ the colour of 2018. And while there are plenty of purple iterations doing the rounds (deep plum, royal purple, mauve and lavender to name a few), it’s lilac that we’re rather taken with.
Taubmans ‘Lavendula’ paint: Julia and Sasha used a gorgeous paint shade on the front door of their most recent renovation (pictured below). It’s a stunning pastel neon (an oxymoron I know!), it really pops agains the brass hardware.
Limoges Legle Parma teapot: Made in France since 1771, Limoges porcelain is in a league of its own – these teapots are not only handmade but they’re hand decorated with gold trim. $370.
I’ve long been a fan of a colourful front door. It’s always baffled me as to why most are painted in basic neutrals because, given the relatively small surface area, it’s a low-risk gambit. Plus, aside from being a cheap and easy home refresh, it’s also a great opportunity to embrace the latest colour trends.
This front door is painted in Taubmans Pink Dust, a lovely pastel tone.
It’s a view shared by ex-Blockheads Julia and Sasha who opted for a very punchy lilac colour on the front door of their latest renovation. “There’s something extra special about arriving at a property and to be greeted by an unexpected pop of colour. It gives an aura of Notting Hill by adding instant character to any home,” says Julia Treule.
Julia and Sasha’s fabulous front door is painted in Taubmans Lavendula
“We knew we wanted a variation of lilac from the get-go to reflect our love of pastels. Once we had swatched Lavendula, we fell in love straight away as it set the most wonderful tone for our home and we often find ourselves standing in the garden just to stare at it,” says Julia.
Taubmans Suddenly Sapphire is the feature paint on the door and porch of this heritage home
From orange to sapphire, emerald, aqua and pink, there there is a veritable kaleidoscope of colour to choose from. Plus, a signature front door colour is also a great way to introduce your home’s feature colour upon arrival. For instance, in my own home (below) I chose a bright yet muted/pastel blue (the husband vetoed pink!) which is a shade that runs throughout our house. It works well with the other colours on the outside of the home too – a crisp white and black.
My front door. It’s painted in Taubmans Kingston Aqua.
The white paint/bright door combination is another technique that Julia and Sasha employed to really harness the front door as a focal point, when it came to their lavender door. “Choosing the right white for your home is one of the most difficult decisions as there are so many around. We decided to go with Taubmans Crisp White to add a contemporary edge to our heritage abode. It’s striking in its simplicity and has passers-by desperate to see inside,” says Julia.
I LOVE this door painted in Taubmans Irish Stone – it really makes the brass knocker pop.
There’s no denying the appeal of neutral paint colours – simple, stylish and timeless, they also take some time to grow tired of. And while they do have a bit of a reputation for being dull, it needn’t be the case says interior design maven, The Block judge and Taubmans brand ambassador Shaynna Blaze. “There are plenty of ways to play with whites, greys, pastels and beiges to bring your home to life without overpowering it,” she says.
Avoid the comfort zone As I wrote recently, the coloured neutral has been having a moment of late and for good reason. Given the tremendous adaptability of neutrals, don’t feel as though you must play it safe with your colour choice – virtually any colour can act as a neutral in its diluted form.
“There is a clever new generation of shades which seemingly have a stylish foot in both the neutral and colour camps,” says Shaynna who cites Taubmans current colour of the year, Violet Verbena as a great example. “Whether in its quarter, half, or a striking full-strength formulation, this mutable ‘chameleon’ colour can appear as the palest dove-to-charcoal grey, or with a graduating blue-purple haze to it,” says Shaynna.
Nursery walls painted in Taubmans colour of the year, Violet Verbena
The new beige rules “The use of beige, all too often accented with deep browns, used to make many interiors look tired. However, teaming beige with soft greys and greenery really brings it to life,” says Shaynna who also recommends pairing beige with bolder hues for interest. “Try adding more bold touches of navy and black for a really dramatic take on colour schemes that used to send you to sleep. Some of Taubmans’ best beiges are Fossil Find, Taupe Stone, Tenacity and Portland Stone,” says Shaynna.
Walls painted in Taubmans Fossil Find
Grey remains It’s been an interiors favourite for years now and Shaynna assures us that grey isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. “Grey is a chameleon and will take on aspects of the colours around it, so work with grey as a ‘texture’ rather than a feature. Select a grey that has a warm undertone, such as Taubmans Stormy Shadow, and then add tones like Whisper White, then layer with oak timbers and softly accented accessories to bring a sense of calm to a room,” says Shaynna.
Wall painted in Taubmans Stormy Shadow
Keep it simple A fail-safe look, a simple neutral palette will never go out of style but make sure you layer up the space to avoid the boring factor. “Sharp whites and soft greys can be the perfect platform to create a simple yet stylish look. The secret to making this work is layering with marled texture in fabrics, roped patterns and aged grains in light timber,” says Shaynna who cites Taubmans Snow Drop, Cotton Sheets, Stormy Shadow and Oyster Bar as some of her favourite neutrals.
With urbanisation and smaller living spaces on the rise, clever interior design and decoration that creates the illusion of more space has never been so important. While a smaller space may have its challenges, there are many ways to fake space with colour, which will make your apartment feel like a castle.
The size of an apartment and the abundance or lack of natural light plays a major part in your colour palette selection. Likewise, the direction your apartment faces as well as the era your apartment reflects will all influence your options.
Most people put off painting their house as they look at the whole picture and get overwhelmed before even starting. With an apartment, you can feel a sense of achievement quickly, as you only have to work with the interior, so the amount of time and money is significantly reduced. However, the same rules apply to apartments as they do houses – it is all about planning and preparation.
My seven commandments for apartment living:
1. Aesthetically speaking
The secret is to use rich colours to extend the visual width of a room. For example, a great way to get impact in a kitchen is to use a rich colour on the walls and use the same colour for the cabinets, creating a completely new personality. To achieve this, I like working with rich emeralds, aubergine and ink blues, and partnering them with metallic tones, granite or colours rich in earth tones, partnered with rustic timbers and exposed brickwork.
Paint colour: Taubmans Pleasant Hill
2. Tonal vs contrast
Smaller apartments call for simplicity but this doesn’t have to mean boring. Keep your palette for doors, trims, ceiling and cornices in the same colour family, and then select one main colour for the walls. When you get to the bedrooms you can be a bit more playful, but I recommend the same colour palette, with minimum contrast so it does not feel like a ‘jolt’ when you walk into the room.
Paint colour: Taubmans Rose Nude
3. Impactful over oppressive
Apartment living does not need to be about white and stark colour palettes, however too many contrasting colours and patterns can often take over a space. Make sure your colours have a white, grey or blue/green base as these colours reflect light and cool colours recede. Some of my favourite whites are Taubmans’ Crisp White, Akimbo and Cloudburst. Also, look at timbers that are either grey or lime washed or oak and pine to balance strong colours, as they add a natural warmth to the space.
Paint colour: Taubmans Violet Verbena
4. Making small look large
The trick is to connect the largest space in the room (walls) to the second largest impact space (the floor). To make the room feel larger, I like to connect similar colour palettes and make the skirting in that area the same colour as the wall, so that the eye travels from floor to ceiling, taking everything in as one big space.
5. Decorating approach for modern vs period inspired
The key here is to know what you are working with — modern apartment living requires minimal focus on trims, skirtings and ceilings and keeping the palette quite simple, with the addition of a couple of extra colours thrown in. On the other hand, interiors inspired by period styles often have many details, so in this case it is best to work out one main type of feature to highlight in colour so the room does not become visually overloaded. Decide which feature you want to draw your eye, for example feature panelling or cornicing, and go from there.
6. Decorating disasters not to be repeated
One of my pet hates is the common perception that apartment living needs to be treated as one big white box. Just adding a hint of colour to the walls can take the apartment from feeling clinical to full of life.
7. The three do’s
Formulate a plan, tackle painting in stages and focus on rooms as single projects.
–Shaynna Blaze appears on TV’s The Block, Selling Houses Australia and Deadline Design and is a brand ambassador for Taubmans.
While hugely popular, orange is a difficult shade to get right. Too much and it overwhelms and yet too little can look like an afterthought. It’s also a colour that demands that you dive right in. A fabulous winter pick-me-up for tired walls, a splash of orange can be just the antidote to the darker days and is gorgeous when layered back with winter-weight textiles. See below for some orange colour tips from Taubmans.
Test & Learn
Before you paint, make sure your new, bold orange palette will work with the existing features of the room like window treatments, carpet and floorboards, as well as your bigger furniture pieces, like couches, sideboards or your bedhead. When you’ve made the decision to go with a bold colour, paint one room first so you can better adjust to the change and gain the confidence to continue with a bolder colour scheme throughout the home. It’s best to choose a frequently used room to start with, like a hallway or bedroom, so that you see it often and grow accustomed to it.
Balance orange with white
A secondary colour, orange is a blend of two primaries – fiery red and sunny yellow. They’re bold parents, so it’s no surprise that orange is a daring colour to use in the home too. So restricting the other elements in the room, such as trims, doors, ceiling and bedding to a basic white is a sensible option. Alternatively, adding an orange feature wall, in an otherwise plain room, works well too.
Combine pastels with metallics
Orange doesn’t always mean citrus bright. Picking up from last winter, we’ll continue to see a shift towards muted, warm tones mixed with whites and greys in the home. Pastel orange tones like Taubmans Endure Rosette Royale and Sweet Peach, work particularly well with blonde timbers. This combination will create a modern look with an organic, slightly Scandinavian feel, adding a sense of warmth to a winter palette. Taking the lead from the trends of metallic colours like copper and bronze, hues of orange and salmon, such as Taubmans Crab Bisque, will emerge in winter palettes too.
A minimal pick-me-up
A restrained, natural palette can come alive with the introduction of a punchy orange accent. As more homeowners are turned on to the aesthetic of polished concrete floors and walls, some may experience a turn-off when they start to feel that their minimalist dream is becoming a chilly reality in winter. Orange is a great pick-me-up in these situations. The variety in shades, from autumnal warm to neon pastel, means there’s an option for every tasate. In this case, there’s the fashion-forward neon-tinged pastel of Taubmans Endure Blushed.
Like us, we’re sure many of you have experienced procrastination when it comes to a DIY home painting project – whether it’s choosing a colour or a lack of skills holding you back.
Today we’re talking to Shaynna Blaze, who shares her top tips for getting a paint job done in 8 weeks.
If you haven’t already decided on your style, it can be hard to know where to start. I recommend looking everywhere for inspiration – your friends’ homes, social media sites like Pinterest, the great outdoors, your favourite fashion and interiors magazines and even shop window displays. Look all around for style inspiration and scrapbook on and offline to gather your ideas together.
Once you start looking for inspiration your creative juices will start flowing and that’s great! But you’ll need to stay organised, focussed and not get distracted by too many ideas. I recommend that you start editing and selecting your three favourite pictures from your scrapbook collection and using them as the basis for your colour choices
For lots of people, choosing the colour is the scary bit because it feels like a big decision. But colour should be fun.
I always start my paint choice with the mood I want the room to have; do I want light and bright or moody and dramatic. For light and bright go for cool colours and cool based neutrals and for dramatic look at warm colours to add excitement to the room.
After you have decided on the mood look at the colours of the furnishings you are keeping, like your couch, rugs, artworks and work them in together. The less money you have to spend on big ticket items means you can put some money into a few new accessories for a huge change.
When it comes to painting it’s all about the P’s: Planning, Preparation and Precision! After all, there is nothing worse than getting ready to paint and realising that you’ve forgotten an important tool. Make sure you use the Taubmans Paint Planner tool, it does all the thinking for you to ensure your shopping list covers everything you need.
Getting the space ready to paint might not seem like the most fun part of prepping but it can be! Recruit friends and family to help you move things into the middle of the room and cover everything with old sheets, put on some music and even have a little dance-off in between.
Depending on the size of your paint project, you may be able to get the prep and paint done in a day or weekend but remember, you will need to allow for adequate drying time too. Prepping any paint surface ready for painting may seem tedious but it will make painting faster and easier and will ensure your paint job lasts longer. For loads of tips and advice on prepping and painting, click here for a range of how-to videos.
Paint in 8 by Taubmans is an eight week program that is designed to help Australian DIYers overcome painting procrastination. Each week a new module will take participants through tasks from colour selection to choosing the right equipment for the painting task at hand.
Like us, we’re sure many of you have experienced procrastination when it comes to a DIY home painting project. Akin to a fitness challenge for home renovators, Taubmans has partnered with interior design authority Shaynna Blaze to encourage Australians to get back to the paint pots.
Walls in Taubmans Bristol Harbour Mist
While many people cite a lack of painting skills as a reason for their procrastination, others have difficulty even choosing a colour as they can’t imagine the final result. The ‘Paint in 8’ program, starting on Tuesday (9 February) is designed to remedy this by giving people the confidence to paint, all in eight weeks.
“Many Australians feel their homes should be a reflection of themselves, but they often come unstuck as to how to turn their goals into reality. Paint in 8 keeps people on track by making sure the process is comprehensive and stress-free over an eight-week period,” says Shaynna Blaze.
Walls in Taubmans Abstract Quarter and Blue Fog
The step-by-step program is designed to motivate and mentor would-be painters. From style advice to colour selection, the buying of tools and practical advice on painting, the program is ideal for those that want to undertake a painting project but just can’t get started.
Walls in Taubmans Surprise Party
“Our research found that while people procrastinate and fear the painting task at hand, half actually love the social element of painting alongside family and friends,” says Nadine Miller-Vachon, Marketing Director of Architectural Coatings ANZ.
As we transition into the warmer months we have the opportunity to embrace the seasonal changes around us and use them as inspiration for updates we can make inside our homes. Everything from the brighter light of ever-present sunshine and the warmth in the air to the fragrant and colourful bursts of blooming flowers can be used as cues to transform your interiors.
This summer, take the time to clean and cleanse your space physically, visually and emotionally by utilising my top tips for injecting a fresh style into your home, inspired by the climbing temperatures.
Refresh with a splash of colour
A fresh new colour palette is a great way to inject freshness into a room. And the best thing about the Taubmans spring/summer trend colours is that you can incorporate them easily into your home, through paint, furnishings and accessories, or all three!
BeforeAfter
For instant impact, paint your walls in one of my favourite trending hues. Cool colours, such as Taubmans Swordfish and Dancing Waters (pictured above), give energy to a room, which will help you invigorate your space. If you prefer a warmer palette, then use a pink, like Taubmans Really Rose or Pink Clay Pot. Pink is surprisingly versatile as a wall colour as it works well in combination with a range of other colour palettes.
[contextly_sidebar id=”QCJjM7kGaWbhldb3soyXHZU1f2rqF0Vm”]Another great, subtle way to introduce these colours into your home is to paint a piece of furniture, like a side table in your bedroom, in one of these colours. To create a cohesive look, ensure your bedding and cushions feature hints of the colour you choose. You can also add a surprising pop of colour in your dining room by painting the legs of a timber dining table and chairs.
Make an impact with all-important accessories
This year’s trend shades make for great feature colours in accessories. Small, simple updates like changing your cushions or swapping artwork can make a huge difference in a room and transform the feel of your home without undertaking a major project.
Deeper grey shades – like Taubmans Snow Goose (above) or Metal Glow – on the walls work well as the perfect backdrop for pops of pinks, greens and teals. Accessories like vases and cushions are a great way to affordably update your look, and in these vibrant hues they will leap out against grey walls and give a renewed energy to your room. An alternative high-impact option is to introduce colour in the fabric of a wing chair, which will make an impressive style statement against a grey, white or neutral wall.
Fill the air with fresh fragrances
The summer months are also associated with the sweet floral fragrances that fill the air. Bring a little of the outdoors into your home by accenting your room with a vase of fresh flowers, such as sweet peas, tulips or lilies. As well as looking effortlessly stylish, they smell amazing.
I also love to introduce some scented candles in invigorating fragrances like gardenia and jasmine. Not only will you feel fresher but you’ll also bring a revitalised energy to your whole home.
— Shaynna Blaze is Taubmans’ brand ambassador and colour creative director, host of Selling Houses Australia and judge on The Block.
If you liked last week’s exposed brick look in Whitney and Andy’s guest bedroom on The Block, you might be inspired to do something similar in your home. Taubmans’ technical customer service officer Wayne Heaver tells us how…
Painting the walls in your home is an effective and inexpensive way to refresh and update any room, no matter what the surface of your walls may be. If you have an exposed brick wall in your home, don’t let that stop you from adding some colour and transforming the room to the look and style you want. Here are my top three tips for painting exposed brick walls in your home.
Preparation is key
A wise man once said ‘preparation is the key to success’ and I couldn’t agree more – especially when painting your home! Your walls act as the canvas for your artistic vision of the room you’d like to create in your home. A properly prepared wall will ensure you make your job easier and help you to achieve a vibrant, long-lasting finish.
Start by thoroughly washing your brick wall with a mild soap solution of household detergent and water to remove all dust, dirt and other contaminants. Once it’s clean, give it a rinse and ensure it’s completely dry before you continue.
Prime before you paint
When painting exposed brick, it’s important to prime your surface first. Use a high performance primer, like Taubmans 3-in-1 on the bricks and leave to dry thoroughly before painting. If you’re looking to dramatically change the colour of the bricks from dark to light, I’d suggest a second coat of primer to reduce how much of the dark brick will show through your lighter paint colour.
Add an extra coat
Typically homeowners who are looking to paint over exposed brick walls are doing so to give their room a lighter colour scheme. To ensure you get the best finish from your paint job, it’s important to do a minimum of two to three coats, allowing the walls to thoroughly dry between coats, so you can assess the colour adhesion.
When painting any rough surface, especially bricks that can be quite porous, you’ll need to use more paint than you would on an ordinary wall to ensure you cover all the nooks and crannies. It’s important to take this into account when calculating how much paint you’ll need for the job. I’d suggested adding an extra litre or two to be safe.
Keep in mind that you can only paint over conventional, masonry house bricks and not glazed or glass bricks.
To help Australians breathe new life into their interiors this spring, Taubmans — in collaboration with Colour Creative Director and Brand Ambassador, Shaynna Blaze — have unveiled the Taubmans Transformation Tools. The suite of clever digital tools will help DIYers with every step of their painting journey, from picking a colour, choosing the best product and preparing, to painting, cleaning up and styling the finished look.
Spring is the perfect time to shake off the winter cobwebs, embrace a positive transformation and create a fresh new look in the home. However, a national survey* of over 1,500 Australians uncovered that nearly half (47%) of people feel that they lack the skills to accomplish a painting task as well as they’d like, and 37% say that when it comes to painting and decorating, they need all the help they can get.
Taubmans has come to the rescue and created the Transformation Tools to give consumers extra help to get started with their paint and decorating projects. One inclusion is the Paint Planner, an innovative, industry-first tool that takes the pain out of planning, and provides users with bespoke, step-by-step plans for their painting project, from start to finish.
The research also found that over 70% of respondents don’t like paying people to do things they can do themselves. Taubmans Transformation Tools aim to give much-needed confidence and inspiration to Australians embarking on an interior or exterior overhaul so they can relish in the accomplishment of doing it themselves.
With hours of hands-on painting experience on hit renovation TV shows, Shaynna Blaze understands the need to educate and motivate Australia to tackle their projects in the home, and says that spring is the perfect time to make a change. “Everyone is familiar with the traditional notion of spring cleaning, but the start of the new season can also be the perfect time to give your home a fresh new look to leave you feeling invigorated and energised. However, not everyone has the know-how to take on an interior or exterior transformation. That’s why I’ve worked with Taubmans to create expert guidance for DIYers of all levels – from first-timers to experienced painters.”
The suite of Taubmans Transformation Tools has been launched on the newly refurbished Taubmans website and includes:
• Paint Planner – a step-by-step plan to help users plan their painting projects, with a tailored timeline and shopping list to set them up for success
• ‘How To’ videos starring Shaynna Blaze – 12 videos that provide all the information, tricks and tips needed at every step of the painting journey, like how to select paint colours, how to prep a room for painting and how to paint
• Paint Your Own Room Tool – an easy way to visualise a colour in a space by uploading an image of a room and then digitally re-colouring the walls to compare potential options “With Taubmans new tools and inspiration, Australians can feel confident in their abilities to pick up a paintbrush and tackle projects to create a fresh, new feeling in their home,” says Shaynna.
Nadine Miller-Vachon, Marketing Director, Taubmans explains: “Our research has highlighted the need for functional and fun tools to arm Australians with the knowledge and confidence to get their paint projects started this spring. “With the constant evolution of online and social media sites, we know that people are looking to the web more and more for inspiration, tips and tools to help them complete their DIY dreams. That’s why it was important for us to develop a suite of digital tools on the Taubmans site that consumers can rely on for support throughout their painting journey.”
To try the new Taubmans Transformation Tools and get more expert decorating tips and tricks from Shaynna, visit www.taubmans.com.au
*Research completed in April 2015. A national online survey was conducted with 1,679 respondents. Participants were a representative sample of Australian residents, aged 18 or older and who have conducted a home painting project in the past two years.
Colour always packs a punch and by simply painting your splashback to be bright and bold you can instantly transform dated tiles into a modern feature wall. In this kitchen, I also changed the beige cabinet doors to a rich dark grey shade, and it added great contrast to that amazing green splashback. Here’s how you can do it yourself:
1. Prepare the splashback
Before painting, move as much as you can including shelves and door handles and cover the bench to protect from spillages. Wipe the surface down with cleaner to remove all grease and other contaminants, then apply one coat of primer with a micro fibre roller, following label directions.
While it can be tempting, don’t skip the prep! It is needed to help the paint adhere to give you a great finish. I like using a small roller as it’s easy to manoeuvre into the grout lines.
BeforeAfter
2. Paint the tiles
The key to this kitchen makeover is tile paint, our White Knight Tile Paint is formulated to protect against mould and mildew and can be tinted in thousands of different Taubmans shades. It’s easy to use too. All you need to do is apply two coats with a quality micro fibre roller following label directions. The paint goes on thick and smooth and if colour palette is high on your radar, this on-trend shade called Taubmans Jester Green, is the one for you.
Be brave but not brash with your choice of colour and have some Taubmans colours made up into test pots. Apply them to large pieces of cardboard to hold against the wall. Once you’ve found your favourite shade have it tinted into the tile paint.
3. Finishing the wall
Redoing the grout lines using a grout pen, like our White Knight Grout Pen, adds a subtle graphic element that’s crisp and professional. Use a straight edge like a long steel ruler to help guide your hand, working from the top down. Don’t add the white lines until the wall is totally dry, leaving it at least a day to be sure. Use a damp cloth to immediately wipe away any wobbly bits as the pen marks dry fast.
4. Transform the cabinets
Remove the cabinet doors if you can, then prepare them using the same cleaner and primer as the tiles, following the label instructions.
Our White Knight Laminate Paint, like the tile paint, can also be tinted to almost any shade. Apply two coats following label instructions. This Taubmans colour called Black Forest is a great contrast to the bright green tiles. I love how it’s dark and rich but doesn’t suck up the light like a true black would, and applying it with a roller gives a professional finish.
Decide if you’re going to change the handles before you paint so you can check the screw holes. If the new handles are positioned differently use a timber filler to smooth over them before priming. Now you’re done!
Dissatisfied with the quality of paints available, Sydney sign writer George Henry Taubman decided to establish his own paint business. That was in 1890! And since then George’s business, otherwise known as Taubmans, has become a household name.
Tj’s art
So to pay tribute to this rich history and the revival of traditional trades, Taubmams has launched a new campaign Off Canvas, which is all about blurring the lines between art and trade to celebrate the creatives of today.
Engaging a handful of artists, though many more will be profiled in the near future, Taubmans introduced the Off Canvas program at DEN Furniture + Design Fair. With the Taubmans stand at the fair designed to resemble a traditional sign writer’s workshop, Melbourne sign painter TJ Guzzardi was commissioned to paint signs throughout the event. Creating signs of the old and new Taubmans paint colours such as Mojo and Acid Rock, he paid homage to George Henry Taubman while reviving this old style of art.
In conjunction to this, to celebrate the launch of the new Colour Galaxy Fandeck, Taubmans commissioned muralist Stephen Baker to create the artwork for the fandeck bag, which will be available to design professionals. The artwork has been created exclusively for Taubmans and was once again inspired by George Henry Taubman and his sign writing trade.
Recently I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit Milan Design Week 2015 and I had the most incredible time! There are so many events you can attend; you’d need a team of five scouts to even come close to covering the whole week. So while I didn’t get to see it all, I did get to see some amazing displays and products, which proved why Milan is the go-to city for design inspiration.
Shaynna
Some of the world’s best designers from around the world showcased their works, but standouts for me were Tacchini, Louis Vuitton and Moooi. It was a very inspiring experience to be able to see all the furniture, lighting, accessories and colour on display, which got me thinking of ways we can incorporate these trends into our lives here in Australia. So below are my top five tips for incorporating Milan Design Week’s trends into your home.
1. Keep it cosy with an autumnal colour scheme
Tacchini display from Milan Design Week 2015
I wandered through a field of autumnal colours at the Tacchini display. Pale peaches, bold oranges, deep yellows and a spectrum of muted greens. The boldly coloured furniture was softened with the low lighting of the floral-printed drum shades.
Autumnal colours are perfect for making a room feel cosy as they draw the space inward creating an intimate scene. To prevent an autumnal palette from feeling too heavy, I would keep your accent timbers to a light oak as opposed to a dark brown or black colour, and dress with off white bed linen to give the perfect contrast. If you want to be a little more subtle, but still want that warmth, go for a stone colour on the walls like Taubmans Endure Portland Stone, and pull the deeper autumn tones through the room via a rug or artwork. This way you won’t overwhelm the room too much.
2. Go green!
Louis Vuitton display from Milan Design Week 2015
Amongst all the warm hues there were constant pops of dark green, like at the Louis Vuitton display, which showcased their Objets Nomades collection. Set amongst the backdrop of the magnificent nineteenth century Palazzo Bocconi, the cream and gilded walls with hints of pale duck egg blue were an incredible contrast to the dark greens of the display, which were inspired by Ernest Hemmingway’s travels.
The key to making any shade of green work in your home is to mix it with elements of white and light coloured timbers so it feels fresh. Avoid using dark colours in your accessories and furniture as it can often make green feel dated and old-fashioned.
3. Dark walls and mood lighting
Moooi’s display from Milan Design Week 2015
Most of the displays I saw featured backdrops of stark white, charcoal or black to accentuate each designer’s products. This also drew focus towards the feature lighting of many displays – another popular trend from Milan Design Week. Moooi’s display’s had a very dramatic, moody, yet playful feel to it with its dark walls, which showed off the unique feature lighting.
Dark colours have a tendency to enclose a room making it feel much smaller than it really is. To make a dark room feel more spacious, reflect the wall colour in your flooring or use a rug with a similar tone. This makes the room feel like one, big open space. Walls in a dark charcoal or black like Taubmans Chasm or Black Fox should also be mixed with plenty of white and light grey furniture and accessories, along with statement pendant lighting for the ultimate moody yet sophisticated look.
4. Bold and beautiful
Moooi’s display from Milan Design Week 2015
Moooi was definitely one of my favourites from Milan Design Week 2015. The large-scale prints on their new carpet range served as dramatic floor canvases in bold statement colours, which along with extravagant wall hangings offset the elegant furniture and unique feature lighting. A palette of red with accents of raspberry and purple was one dramatic combination I saw and loved at Moooi. They cleverly used strategic lighting to mute the intensity of the tones.
When incorporating into your own home, the key to using bold colours like these is to layer different variances of similar hues but keep the lighting soft around the walls. Use brighter lights on the furniture areas to balance the room.
5. Layers and layers
Milan Design Week 2015 was bold, playful and quirky with nothing pared back, especially when it came to colour. The same warm tonal colours caught my eyes at nearly every display. Shades of gold, brass, yellow, peach, tangerine and deep oranges layered upon each other were a common theme. Dark greens and blues often also popped up alongside the warm hues.
The trends we continue to see today are multi-layered looks, which means they appeal to many different personalities and markets providing something for everyone. Milan was a great example of a place that offers endless inspiration and unique ways to adapt colour and interior trends – from the exhibition into your home.
— Shaynna Blaze is Taubmans’ brand ambassador and colour creative director, host of Selling Houses Australia and judge on The Block.
Walls in Taubmans Endure Orchid Child. Photo credit: Freedom
By Shaynna Blaze
Keeping an eye on new colour trends is a great way to spark inspiration and give your interiors a fresh, modern update. The key to using trend colours is just to have fun with them! Don’t be afraid to put a personal spin on a trend and embrace it in your home.
For first timer painters, you should try using trend colours in a smaller or more personal space like an entryway, hallway or bedroom. For more experienced painters or daring decorators, you can make a real statement in your lounge or open plan living area with a trend colour. Here are my top tips for incorporating five different colour trends into your home this winter.
Pastels are one of my favourite trends this year. The softness of the hues allows you to mix and match opposing colours on the one wall without creating an eyesore. They also work really well with white, blonde or light coloured timber furniture.
To re-create this look, use painter’s tape to divide your wall and paint one side in a pale blue, like Taubmans Castaway Isle, and the other in a soft pink, like Taubmans Hedonist. For those wanting to create an edgier look, paint two-thirds of your wall in one colour and the remaining third in the second colour rather than an even half and half. Complete the look with artworks predominately featuring brighter or darker shades of blues and pinks as they’ll really pop against the pastel wall.
Peachy keen
This winter we’ll begin to see a shift towards muted, warm tones mixed with whites and greys in our homes. Taking the lead from the trends of metallic colours like copper and bronze, hues of orange and salmon will also emerge into our winter palettes. Pastel orange tones like Taubmans Rosette Royale and Sweet Peach, work well with blonde timbers. Try this combination to create a modern look with an organic feel, which also adds a sense of warmth to a winter palette.
Darker days
Walls in Taubmans Endure Black Forest. Photo credit: Freedom
I love using dark colours to create a winter palette. Charcoal greys, navy blues and deep-sea greens can make any room feel cosy with a hint of sophistication. These colours work well as a backdrop for bolder coloured accessories in reds, oranges and yellows. The trick for this look is to use a simple palette of up to only four colours so as not to overwhelm the eye with too many shades. For example, a dark blue, like Taubmans Endure Black Forest, works well with grey, red and white. Ensure there is an even balance of your chosen colours in your bed linen, carpets and other room accessories. The combination of blue, red and white gives a gender-neutral, slightly nautical look without feeling kitschy.
I also love using less traditional winter colours like deep charcoals and indigos in my interiors. If you go with this trend, make sure you layer your tones from the dark wall colour through to a soft grey or white in your trims and accessories. Utilizing five or six hues ranging from dark blue, to grey blue to white, will create the perfect moody look this winter. My favourite combination is Taubmans Gypsy Rose, Dusty Violet, Snow Goose and Ice Princess.
Teal burst
Walls in Taubmans Endure Orchid Child. Photo credit: Freedom
If you’re a first time painter who doesn’t feel confident enough to paint with bright colour or a homeowner who’s fond of neutrals, you can still incorporate trend colours in your room design with statement artworks, soft furnishings and quirky room accessories.
When adding colour to a predominately neutral room it’s best to select three to four different colours making one dominant over the rest. Vibrant teals are becoming increasingly popular this year and can add a playful burst of energy to any neutral interior palette. The incorporation of bright teal in the artwork of this room creates a focal point on the wall without overwhelming it with colour. Various shades of teal also appear in the cushion and table accessories alongside subtle hints of yellow, red and blue.
Shades of grey
For an unexpected winter palette, try a nice shade of grey. Taupe greys on your walls give a warm base palette for crisp coloured bed linen and black accents, such as bedside lamps. Slightly reflective materials like silky timbers for bedside tables and copper flecks in details of cushions and bedside candles will bring the room to life.
— Shaynna Blaze is Taubmans’ brand ambassador and colour creative director, host of Selling Houses Australia and judge on The Block.
Giving your walls a fresh coat of paint can instantly transform your home, but let’s be honest, there’s a lot more fun ways to spend your time! That being said, if you had some pals to help you out, it’d be whole lot more enjoyable and a whole lot quicker, but how to rope them in?! Taubmans believe they have the answer, having put together a Paint Party Planning 101 how-to-guide. Featuring playful and fun tips, they believe this Easter weekend is the time to invite your friends round, harness their creative spirit, pump up the tunes and make painting fun.
Stuck on colour? Get inspired by design guru, Shaynna Blaze on Taubmans’ website or digitally colour your room with any Taubmans hue using their Paint Your Own Room tool before you paint for real.
Get creative and dial-up the fun by requesting guests come in fancy dress. Their suggestion? Bunny onesies of course. Not a fan of a theme? White tees will do the trick – free reign to get messy.
Photobooth your house. Set up a camera tripod and capture the transformation as it unfolds, thrills, spills and all!
As Taubmans colour creative director and brand ambassador, Shaynna has long been a believer of using a colourful lick of paint to inject personality into a room. “While painting can be seen as a daunting task to some, it is actually one of the easiest, most affordable and, most importantly, fun ways to update a room in your home. Coating your room with a beautiful new hue is not only a great way to make a change to your space, it’s also the perfect excuse to get together with your friends and get the job that you’ve been putting off, done and dusted for good.”
And of course it helps if you feed them chocolate (eggs) and provide alcohol too…
Everyone wants to make sure their home looks the best on the street. To ensure you give your home kerb appeal, there are some considerations to take into account before picking up a paintbrush.
When painting your exterior, you need to determine what the hero feature of your home is. This could be its architectural style, any unique structural features or even the materials your home is made from. You can then create a colour scheme which highlights or compliments your home’s best feature.
If your house has a modern architectural design with angular rooflines, choose a colour scheme that highlights these eye-catching features. Accentuate this detail by choosing a palette of light and shade. Use a mid-grey charcoal such as Taubmans Hi Ho Silver on the eaves and fascia of the roofline, and a lighter colour like Taubmans Metal Low on the exterior walls.
Similarly, this technique can be used for a period home such as a Victorian. Highlight the decorative latticework by painting it in Taubmans Snow Ballet contrasted with cream walls in Taubmans Torte.
The location of your home can have a significant impact on the style of your home and therefore your exterior colour scheme. For example, Queenslander type houses will have a very different exterior look than a sandstone home you might find in New South Wales.
The Queenslander is one of Australia’s most iconic architectural designs. Their wide expansive balconies are perfect for lounging during the warm summer days. The cool colour scheme in this image works as visual relief from the extreme heat and enhances the home’s natural surrounds. Contrasting the dark roof with lighter walls in Taubmans Sea Command, and even lighter trims in Taubmans Blue Strike, gives the exterior an airy feel.
If your home has no distinct architectural feature, use colour to add some personality. A bold colour on your front door creates an inviting entrance and is an easy way to change the look of your home with on trend colours. A deep purple such as Taubmans Magic Magenta or a bright red like Taubmans Poinciana Red on your door creates a focal point and will give your home a strong street presence.
Once you’ve decided on a colour scheme that best suits your home’s exterior it’s important to choose an exterior paint which will not only look good, but also gives your home UV protection like Taubmans Sunproof Exterior. This paint has been specially formulated to withstand the sun’s punishing UV rays.
—Shaynna Blaze is Taubmans’ brand ambassador and colour creative director, host of Selling Houses Australia and judge on The Block.
