Long distance design

A reader contacted me the other day to ask if I'd be willing to work with him and his wife on a house they're building. They are in another part of Florida entirely and there is no budget to pay for me to do any of the work on site. Instead, we're doing all of this over the Internet. It's amazing what can be done with a .pdf of a set of building plans and some digital photos of the site. Such times are these!

This is not the first remote job I've done and I like working this way. The people I work with benefit from a reduced fee schedule and I benefit for obvious reasons. It's a win win.

So if you're a reader, even one blown in by the winds of a Google search, and you've thought to yourself "Gee, I wish I could hire this guy," the answer is yes you can. Thank you Dustin and Robyn and I'm psyched to get started.

Sherwin-Williams' color forecast for 2010, part four --the last day

Sherwin-Williams' final predictive palette for 2010 is what they're calling Refreshed. It's playful and bright and is an opposite direction reaction to the current mood of doom and gloom that will swallow you whole if you let it. It's a welcome diversion and every time I look at this I'm reminded of Kelly James from Design Ties. I don't think anything could get that woman down. Right Kelly? From Sherwin-Williams' website:

Refreshed

exuberant, fresh, optimism

Tropical blooms. Sunny days. Playful exploration. It's time to take a vacation and let our cares melt away. Happy spaces are here again, bringing fresh florals, bright juicy colors and exuberant combinations. It's the kaleidoscopic sprit of the '60s married to the jewel tones of the '80s, with a global twist. Cultural influences and motifs mingle freely, creating a bohemian mosiac that sings in perfect harmony.

Animated Coral SW 6878

Pickle SW 6725

Fun Yellow SW 6908

Sapphire SW 6963

Summer Day SW 6662

Verve Violet SW 6979

So what's this one do for you? On the whole, how on do you think Sherwin-Williams is with this whole series of palettes? I find these kinds of predictions to be captivating. Despite how it may appear on the surface, these things have a huge amount of thought and research behind them. If you could predict a couple of colors to sum up what we'll find next year, what would they be and why?

Sherwin-Williams' color forecast for 2010, part three

The third palette in Sherwin-Williams' forecast is Treasured and is an outgrowth of an impulse to resist the disposable nature of western culture. It conjures a renewed appreciation for handmade, quality goods bought for the long term. It's an impulse I welcome. From Sherwin-Williams' website:

Treasured

aging, layers, artisan

A throwaway society? That's so yesterday. We're now making savvy, resourceful use of what we have, discovering untold stories in exposed, painted layers. From flea-market finds to artisan-made pieces, imperfections can lend rich character to our environments. The palette reflects the beauty of natural aging, mellowing and weathering, evoking quality materials that have stood the test of time and become heirlooms.

Smoky Blue SW 7604

Sequin SW 6394

Caribbean Coral SW 2854

Interactive Cream SW 6113

Gallery Green SW 0015

Sturdy Brown SW 6097

Do you recognize any of these colors or this sentiment? I get it that this is coming from a paint company, but these palettes are much bigger than mere paint. Discuss.

Sherwin-William's forecast for 2010, part two

The second palette in Sherwin-Williams' 2010 color forecast is what they're calling Simplified. In an homage to three women I admire a great deal, I propose that we call it the Joni Webb, Gina Milne and Brooke Gianetti palette. These muted, luxurious colors always remind me of them. Look through all three of their blogs and you'll see what I mean. They espouse a simple elegance that these colors really capture. I'm calling this palette a spot on prediction. From Sherwin-Williams' website:

Simplified
translucent, structure, sophisticated

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." That timeless wisdom from Leonardo da Vinci is now a modern mantra. Less is clearly the new more. But the aesthetic is artful rather than austere, with well-tailored lines and sheer, translucent materials that reveal shape and structure. Clarity and integrity are critical. We need to know and trust what we're bringing into our environments. The hues are calm, subtle and nuanced, with undertones that shift according to their surroundings, for easy versatility.

How now do you think these are? How lasting do you think this palette will be?

Magnetic Gray SW 7058

Moderate White SW 6140

Enigma SW 6018

Whitetail SW 7103

Serious Gray SW 6256

Butter Up SW 6681

Again, no sale!

The blogosphere's abuzz today with the latest ruling handed down by the FTC concerning paid endorsements in new media. I am with them 100% and I want to state once again that my opinion is not for sale. If I like something I say so and if I don't like something I say so.

Anybody can buy an ad here and bless those who have. But an ad doesn't constitute an endorsement by me nor is it any kind of a guarantee that I will say nice things about a sponsor. I am approached routinely by marketers and PR people who want me to say nice things about whatever it is they're selling. Again, being approached or wooed or sent samples isn't a quid pro quo, whether explicit or implicit.

I am an independent voice and my opinions are mine.