Painting ABC's

Color Treatment: Interior designer Marion Philpotts Miller, of Philpotts & Associates Inc., painted one accent wall hot pink, while leaving the remaining walls white to balance out the pink's bright hue. Photo by David Duncan Livingston.

ANCIENT ATTRACTION

Experts claim that the human eye registers at least 7 million colors. A big box of Crayola crayons contains 256 shades. Long before palatial estates and high-rise condos, people lived in a colorful, natural environment, with blue skies, green valleys and orange sunsets.

"It is my firm belief that the need for color is hardwired into us," says Jill Morton, an interior designer and architectural color specialist who is also CEO of the color consultation service, Colorcom. "Color is a part of our existence."

Kids, especially, hunger for color, she explains. And, without cultural interpretations of color—red and green mean Christmas, for example—children instinctively choose colors that make them happy.

"Children have a strong need for colors that balance their personalities," Morton says. As her research suggests, complying with a child's request for a chartreuse or aquamarine bedroom can greatly improve his or her mood and productivity. So, hot pink it is.

But, a little bit of color goes a long way, Morton warns. She offers a few tips for incorporating vivid tones into children's rooms.

An entirely hot pink room can be overwhelming. Paint one end wall the bright shade, and the three remaining walls a muted, light pink or white, as in the example on previous page by interior designer Marion Philpotts Miller, of Philpotts and Associates Inc. Then, add accents, such as a bedspread or throw pillows, to incorporate more color without straining the eye.

Another tip for including intense colors is to create a wainscoting effect, says Morton. For example, she recommends painting bright green to waist-height, and then completing the upper portion with a light celadon.

To make a small nursery or play room look bigger, keep contrast to a minimum. "Let's say you have very light pine furniture. Choose a light shade of paint for the walls," Morton says. Lemon yellows or powder blues fulfill the desire for color without crowding the senses.

BEGINNING BASICS

When painting any room, City Mill's paint expert Elmer Pang suggests these steps to get started.

1. Choose the color. City Mill displays thousands of paint samples in its color station; or, paint experts can mix colors to match a sample, such as Superman ice cream flavor.

McCloskey glazes, rag roller, dragging brush and sponge turn ordinary, single-tone walls into interesting, textured walls. To learn more about the tools and techniques, pick up McCloskey's informative brochures at City Mill.

2. Decide on the paint quality. "If you are going to live in a house for 50 years, why use a cheap paint?" asks Pang. The paint quality generally increases with the price, he explains, which means more expensive brands will last longer, resist fading and chip less than more economical options. But, if walls will change colors after just a few years, a cheaper brand of paint is in order.

3. Choose the finish. According to Pang, many homeowners prefer a flat or matte finish to a gloss, semigloss or satin finish, because flat finishes create smooth, rich surfaces. But, flat finishes are difficult to clean and the paint may even rub off with repeated scrubbing. Especially on walls in a kitchen or child's play area, use resilient semigloss paints, he says.

Pang recommends City Mill's Royal Islander semigloss enamel paint by The Sherwin-Williams Co. The semigloss finish is durable and easy to clean. And, this paint is formulated with a high level of mildewcide, specifically for Hawaii's damp climate.

4. Prepare the surface. Although paint quality is important, Pang also stresses proper preparation for long-lasting results. When painting over an existing color, begin by cleaning the walls. Trisodium phosphate, or TSP, quickly de-glosses shiny surfaces and removes fingerprints and smudges.

After cleaning, apply a primer. City Mill's All-Surface primer is great for wood and drywall. Its Grip-It primer can be applied without prior cleaning or de-glossing, and it creates a strong bond between the paint and the wall. Primer can also be tinted so that dark paint shades need fewer coats.

5. Have fun. Once the walls are properly prepped, a single paint color may just be the beginning. City Mill's McCloskey paints, glazes, finishes and tools create unique patterns and textures. Sponges, rag-rollers and paintbrushes can turn a single-tone wall into a masterpiece. For example, apply a coat of Taupe Glaze with the dragging brush on top of a Pomegranate base coat for instant stripes.

"You can do anything with these supplies, and a child could help. It could be a family project," says Pang.

CLEAN-PLATE CLUB

Inevitably, one of those 256 Crayola colors will make its way onto a child's bedroom wall; and, tiny handprints will appear around the door frame. The old standard stain-fighter, Scotchguardâ,,˘ Protector, has teamed up with Ace Hardware's Ace Sensations paint to make removing those telltale signs of kids easy.

Ace Sensations flat finish paint with Scotchguardâ,,˘ Protector. photo courtesy of Ace Hardware.

"If you have children, you will love this. Ace Sensations is a scrubbable, flat finish," says Larry Lanning, of Hardware Hawaii, one of Oahu's premier Ace suppliers.

Soap and water remove stains from crayons and grape juice, just like from a semi-gloss finish, he says. In an independent test, conducted by DL Laboratories, Ace Sensations far outperformed other popular brands. While those brands required a minimum of 46 washing cycles to remove coffee stains, Ace paint came clean in just two.

And, Ace Sensations' durability doesn't limit the rainbow of colors available. Fourteen hundred paint-chip colors gleam on Hardware Hawaii's color rack, along with examples of coordinating shades.

Another option is Hardware Hawaii's specialized color-reader software, which scans samples and precisely translates them into matching paint colors. So, if Crayola's Salmon Pink frequently makes its way onto the wall, Hardware Hawaii can match paint shades to crayon color.

DECORATIVE DETAILS

What if drawing on the walls were encouraged? Thanks to Benjamin Moore's Studio Finishesâ,,˘ Chalkboard paint, it can be. "Use wherever a chalkboard finish is desired," boasts the Web site for the durable, latex paint. Easily cleaned with soap and water, chalkboard walls are transforming works of art.

Benjamin Moore Metallic Glaze Studio Finish. photo courtesy of Benjamin Moore.

The fun doesn't end there. HPM Building Supply offers the full line of Benjamin Moore's Studio Finishes.â,,˘ Some of the finishes for kids include sparkly Glitter Effect, the gritty Latex Texture-Sand and the Glow in the Dark Effect. Benjamin Moore suggests trying its Glow in the Dark Effect Studio Finish to stamp an entire galaxy, complete with constellations, planets and an asteroid belt, onto the ceiling and walls. After five minutes of exposure to bright light, the night sky will illuminate a darkened room.

Other interesting glazes include a shimmering Latex Glaze and Metallic Glazes in gold, copper, silver and bronze. Try using tools, such as sponges and rag rollers or dragging techniques to create a wide array of effects with the finishes.

The washable finishes can be applied directly on top of Benjamin Moore's notoriously wide variety of colors, adding a visual or tactile detail to a child's room. Plus, they're formulated to minimize lingering paint odors.

"Beyond the 1,000 published colors, Benjamin Moore can literally be mixed to any shade," says HPM's Lee Wilson. He suggests picking up Benjamin Moore's '06 Color magazine from any Benjamin Moore retailer or major bookstore. In its second edition, the magazine offers a taste of Benjamin Moore's newest consumer trend palette, such as Amber Waves, Pumpkin Patch and Palisades Park, on 18 large, tear-out swatches. It also includes tips from professionals and inspirational photos on ways to decorate rooms with color.

Since our hunting and gathering days, our need for vibrant surroundings hasn't faded, Morton says. In the 21st century, however, the opportunities for color reach far beyond grass green and sky blue. With 7 million visual possibilities, 256 crayons are just the beginning.