About the book Devine Color: When Color Sings by Gretchen Schauffler
10/16/2008 12:21 PM by Gretchen Schauffler
No pictures please! There is plenty of show and tell… before and after… and dos and don’ts in magazines and design books. Yet, after we’ve seen hundreds of color ideas, when it comes to our own walls, we can’t see the forest for the trees. Questions arise in the middle of the night. What color should I paint? Will red be too much? What will people think? Staring at swatches on a wall for hours only seems to confuse us even more. Devine Color: When Color Sings by Gretchen Schauffler is not a book about color theory, it is a book about color misconceptions. With chapters like: MYTH: That color will be too dark. TRUTH: Of course it will, unless you turn on the light, this book helps you overcome misconceptions about color and understand how wall color works, so you can paint without doubt or fear. Laced with insightful color quotes, and “Your Turn” sections where you get to explore your home, Schauffler will lead you through a color thought process. This journey will set you free from color apprehensions, fear, and confusion with tips on how to paint the right wall color throughout your rooms without looking like you’ve crazy-quilted your home. Find out how to avoid simple color mistakes. Learn how to change outdated decor with a single brush stroke. Learn to trust your own instincts. And most of all, learn to see color in a way you never thought you could: with your heart and mind.
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
SECTIONS:
The Truth behind what we experience.
Color is not about one person’s opinion; it’s about a shared experience.
Why I need colors to sing and so do you.
Chapters:
MYTH: There are too many colors…
TRUTH: There are only six!
MYTH: Neutral Colors are safe…
TRUTH: Neutrals are dangerous!
MYTH: I wanted Caramel, not Camel…
TRUTH: Colors are not things, things are colors!
MYTH: I have to have that color…
TRUTH: Not if you don’t know where to place it!
MYTH: I love that color…
TRUTH: You love “those” colors!
MYTH: I hate that color…
TRUTH: Yes you do!
MYTH: I don’t have a favorite color…
TRUTH: You DO have a favorite color!
MYTH: It’s just color…
TRUTH: It’s about a whole lot more!
MYTH: That color will work…
TRUTH: The real job is to look good!
MYTH: Everybody has to like it…
TRUTH: Everybody wants to understand it!
MYTH: I couldn’t see that color…
TRUTH: You didn’t want to see it!
MYTH: You can’t put those colors together…
TRUTH: They already are!
MYTH: I cant find the colors I’m looking for…
TRUTH: You are not really looking!
MYTH: I am afraid of color… TRUTH:
You are afraid of making the wrong decision!
SECTION: The Truth behind the Rainbow
ABOUT RED
ABOUT ORANGE
ABOUT YELLOW
ABOUT BLUE
ABOUT PURPLE
ABOUT WHITE
ABOUT BLACK
SECTION: Making the Rainbow work
SECTION: The Truth behind the Rainbow
READ ABOUT GRETCHEN SCHAUFFLER
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Hi Gretchen,
I recently finished my upstairs all in Devine Moss. Now to the downstairs. I have Devine Cool below chair rail but I am stuck on the top half. It is our family/game room and I want it to be warm and fun. Would Devine Ale or Encore be too much? Thanks again for all your help and great products.
— Lisa 10/21/2008 12:16 PM #
Hi Lisa:
I think that the the strong yellow/blue combination could be a stark change from the soft mossy Devine Moss. How about pairing up Devine Cool with Devine Spice, Devine Cafe, or devinegreen: Lion? They are warm and the red tones will make the green feel like it belongs too!
Glad you are happy with our company! We love to help and the paint loves to deliver a perfect color punch!
— gretchen Schauffler 10/21/2008 03:32 PM #
Gretchen!!!! No lo puedo creer!!! despues de tantos anos te encuentro en la computadora!! OMG!! Me muero por hablar contigo, ver fotos de tus hijas y saber de ti. Estoy en madrid pero regreso a casa la semana que viene. Ahora vivo en Miami, tengo una hija bella que se llama Nathalia Sofia—papa—Pepe Llama. Mi telefono es 305 321- 0208. para colmo soy fan de tus pinturas y con ese apellido no te reconoci hasta ahoraque vi tu foto!!!! Un beso, Vivi
— Vivi Tous 10/31/2008 06:12 PM #
Miss Gretchen,
Ugh!!! I keep getting stuck. I’m trying to paint all of the downstairs, for now, and all the rooms are open to one another – there are no real doorways. The living / dining room is long with windows on both ends. Beige carpet, oak trim. I keep looking at a brown through-out, like Sumatra, Filbert, or Medallion. I have a lot of art on the walls, kind of western/lodge. Lots of true reds, cool greens, and golds in that area but warmer reds and golds in the other. I’ve fallen for blush and maple in the kitchen and nook area but the brown will be the main color in the family room too (it’s all open). I think filbert would work but I like the idea of a richer color. Would one of the others go with the Maple and Blush? Also, I judged the whole of the area at about 60% light. The nook is mostly windows but with the rest of the area being darker would maple hold up? Maybe as the ceiling color with blush in the nook & kitchen and then a brown everywhere else? Thank You for your help,Aimee A
— Aimee Anderson 11/13/2008 02:59 PM #
Nice to see you use our Devine Color math :)
Ok so Devine Maple is beautiful, so is Devine Bush. devinegreen: Impala, Devine Cocoa, and Devine Tamarind would al work. Have you thought about going a little “khaki” like Devine Roast, Hazelnut or Pecan? How do these look with your things? Have you gone through our color process? If you haven’t, you have to read the comment left by Dorene, under How to Use Our Paint Palettes
I think you will relate. You are almost there, lets make sure you have the right “neutral” color….
— gretchen Schauffler 11/14/2008 08:49 AM #
Hi Gretchen, I made a trip to Oahu from the Big Island hoping to get a sample of a color of yours I saw in a magazine. The color is earthy lavender- French Casino, Laissez-Faire. There are quite a few colors in the picture and I’m not sure which one is the real one or which name is correct. I’ve been searching for that color for a while it’s fabulous! Can do? Let me know and I’ll send my address. Thanks
Zoe
— Zoe Thorne 12/10/2008 12:36 PM #
Zoe:
Laissez-Faire is a beautiful lavender. I will send you an email with a picture of it. The color tools are available to audition the color in your home in our Estore. So happy you found us!
— gretchen Schauffler 12/11/2008 08:25 AM #
in a great room, to remain neutral but offer warmth, could you do an accent wall of Sumatra from the great room into the kitchen and the remaining walls Siamese? Would that provide warmth but color too? Entry way in a Hazelnut, roast or sumatra again? One wall is like a Toucan color where the fireplace and stone is already in the great room. Looking to keep neutral for resale
— Colleen Greenen 12/30/2008 02:07 PM #
Colleen:
Siamese, Sumatra and Toucan are beautiful together. If you mix too many different neutral colors together that have the same depth it can get muddy. To introduce another neutral to the trio above, make sure there is contrast… so look at Bison and Lion as examples. Devine Roast is great but could turn cool next to the red warm neutrals you are thinking about. Read About our Neutrals.
Please send us pictures for our gallery. Everyone loves to be inspired!
— gretchen Schauffler 12/31/2008 02:27 PM #
Gretchen,
My husband and I have an open floor plan and we recently painted the entry way and living room a color very similar to Cream or Cashew. We are now left to decide what color to paint the kitchen and archway b/w the living room and kitchen. We also need to decide on ceiling colors. I floor is a teracotta tile style and the cabinets are oak. Any suggestions? I was thinking a darker and rich brown but can’t decide. I am not sure if that is too bold? We have a lot of accent pieces in blue and our furniture is all dark brown in the living room. Please help! Any advice would be great. :)
Amber
— Amber 01/20/2009 09:29 PM #
Hi Gretchen,
Wow! what a book. I had no idea your book on color would have such an impact on me, but at every turn of the page, your words allowed me to take myself off the color hook and unlock the rainbow in my soul. Sound overly serious? Maybe. But I’m telling you – I needed to hear what you had to say. I love your book!
I’ll take the time to share more of my story later, right now I’m immersed in taking this house and making it our home and I ‘d like to ask a couple of questions to help me along in the process:
1. Our hardwood floor is the orange you spoke of in your book, It’s a pre-finished oak whose color mix echoes your Divine Spice and Teak. I am deciding on “our perfect neutral,” would you please explain to me what will happen to the orange with warm colors vs. cool colors? I’ve been looking at colors like Devine Sand, Feather, Honey, Custard -there are so many beautiful colors, they’re all great! I have no carpets, drapes or furniture in the foyer/living combo where the flooring is most visible. What are your recommendations?
2. We have lived many of the stories in your book, one of those being “buying the non-color neutral carpet – that’s full of color!” Our entire upstairs, and lower level dining room has this off-white, ivory colored carpet, trying to get a wall color to make the carpet look it’s best has been a struggle. I did the test of laying many colors down to see how they effect this “non-color, colorful carpet,” and I don’t know for sure what the carpet was saying with some of the colors. What I do know is, that some yellow colors tend to make it look dirty, also blues. Can you explain to me the process of what is happening? I really want to understand.
Thanks Gretchen for your philosophy, your book…and your paints!
Jengi
— Jengi 01/21/2009 07:52 PM #
Jengi:
Thanks do much for your personal endorment of my personal insights and the book! Never in a million years did I think of myself as a writer…I couldn’t help it. I had seen so many (still do) reasons why there are struggles choosing wall colors and I had to start that conversation!
Would LOVE to hear your story!!!!
Here is the deal: I want you to look at the wood (as you describe) “orange”, the carpet (as you describe) “off-white”, and ask yourself…what kind of “skin” would look good between these 2 outfits. For example, Devine Pecan would be lighter than the wood, darker than the carpet, and the green would make the space cooler than say Devine Filbert or Devine Sand. Both of those also great options. On the other hand, Devine Feather would be slightly darker than the carpet but too light for the wood! That seem a little anemic, so I would go “tanner”--lol-- pick a skin color that balances out between the lightest/light colors and darker/dark colors in your home. In this case, try picking out the skin’s “tan” level first, then choose you direction of color…green, yellow, orange, purple, ect…You know what the book says, look for the colors within neutrals that deceive you.
You are right, there are many beautiful ways to go on this. There are several perfect for you! Once that “skin” is nailed, then you can add the rest of the colors like you would filling-in your “closet’
— gretchen Schauffler 01/23/2009 11:22 AM #
Gretchen, I love the “skin” analogy – a two step process, find the tan level first – then the color, so easy! I’m Curious, what do you think about Devine Olive as a neutral?
— Jengi 01/24/2009 09:23 AM #
Jengi:
Yes! Our entire line of color collections is meant to work this way! Soooo…. Devine Olive as your “skin” would be stunning with other Devine colors like Devine Hazelnut, Roast, Ginger or Spice, Storm or Rain, Macadamia or Cocoa and the list goes on and on…find the perfect “skin” (main color that looks great sandwiched between your non-negotiable hard surface colors and the colors in fabrics and accessories), then the “jackets” (other wall colors that you wear in different rooms) for your “outfits” (hard-surfaces, wood, stone, fabrics, art, accessories…! :)
— gretchen Schauffler 01/26/2009 12:20 PM #
Help Please. My house is very small. We had a house fire and I NEED help in selecting paint colors. Open floor plan due to size. At this point, I’m just wanting electrical, plumbing services and looking forward to painting!all floor covering are gone along with furnishings.tend towards warm colors but open to any suggestions
— Deb 03/27/2009 08:22 PM #
Deb:
we have so many amazingly great colors I can suggest 20 right off the start…so first why don’t you do this, look at our gallery pictures and see what strikes you and use our Trend-Proof Color Palette the way I suggest. The Trend-Proof Color Palette will show you several color directions you will feel confident to follow. Once you have several ideas, (like you like yellows, colors like Devine Hazelnut look good with your trim) I can certainly help you narrow it down or expand on your choices.
— gretchen Schauffler 03/28/2009 09:56 AM #
Gretchen,
I’m looking to paint my kitchen/family room area and seem lost as to a new color… please help! My cabinets are a medium cherry, the floor is a yellow/red oak, ceilings and trim are Swiss Coffee, Family room is dark woods with some browns, greens, blues. A friend has her kitchen in Devine Moss and it’s great but wondering if it will look good with my colors or would something else be better??
Kelley
— Kelley 06/21/2009 11:07 PM #
Kelly:
Also see our Room Colorizations...might be worth it for you!You are smart about not rushing and getting the color your friend has because it might not be right for your things! I know it’s hard to describe what kind of greens, blues, and browns you have because there are so many… I can try to be general. DId you think of reds to extend the warm colors of the room and “pop” the greens’ and blues? What kind a red you ask? We have several that are perfect with the “kind” of greens and blues you have and the only way to find out is to get our Trend-Proof Palette and do the Process. I can suggest tons of great color combinations but its a little like taking a stab in the dark. I rather you try our approach and see what combinations appear before your eyes and then I can make suggestions based on your narrowed selections! Get our Trend-Proof Palette, follow our PROCESS, and then narrow down choices. The context of this color collection is that all the colors have to coordinate the past, present, and future of color trends. They are truly Trend-proof so that if you have a sofa from the 90’s with 200 year-old rug and a 2 week old kitchen remodel, you will find not just one color but all the colors that can coordinate everything and make it look “meant to be”.
— gretchen Schauffler 06/22/2009 09:24 AM #
Hi Gretchen,
I’m in Oregon and just moved homes. The new place is 4yrs old and double the space of our last so for now many of the rooms are sparse. Focus right now is kitchen/living/dining. Dark hardwoods, white trim, cabinets are medium cherry with brown/black/gold fleck granite counters. Furniture is dark wood with light tan fabric. I’d like the space to be warm and inviting, but not cave like during the abundant gray northwest days. Several color samples later and I’m being teased for having no texture left on the walls. I would be so grateful for your input.
— Renee 10/30/2009 12:08 AM #
Renee:
I can certainly give you a ton of suggestions that may, or may not, strike your fancy. I want you to make that home, your home. When you go through our Process, with our Trend-Proof Color Collection, at home, you work with the colors—”at home”—and follow them like a roadmap. Seeing the entire Trend-proof Color Collection among your own things, in your space, and interacting with each other, will allow you to see colors that are perfect with your natural surfaces, like the medium cabinets, dark granites, neutral fabrics. The Process guides you there. You will understand how many color combinations are possible and pick the direction you love the most. If you need further assistance, (SO WORTH IT!) we have Virtual Colorization’s. We take over and give you visual color advice (See examples). Either way, we are here to HELP! But first, empower yourself with Devine Color’s smart Trend-proof Color Collection, and go through our wise Process. I can then help you narrow down the many great choices you have at your finger tips.
— Gretchen Schauffler 11/01/2009 11:58 AM #