The holidays are behind us and a new year has begun. I know a lot of you have been staring at your four walls since the winter weather rolled in and that’s when we start to become aware of what we want to change. If a renovation is out of the question you might be wondering how much you can change your space through paint. The answer is a lot. There’s nothing quite as transformative as a new paint colour. 

We’ve all heard the expression “it’s only paint” to convince you to jump in and pick a colour. Yes it’s only paint but if you’ve ever felt the disappointment of picking a colour only to hate it once it’s been applied, you’ll know how careless this sentiment can feel. 

Selecting paint colours is hard. The undertones of the colours you’re selecting along with the undertones of the fixed materials in your space needs to work together to create a cohesive palette. When it doesn’t you’ll see that something isn’t quite right although you may never be able to put your finger on what went wrong. If you’d like to learn more about undertones you can read this post and this post. 

If  you feel like you don’t want to tackle this alone you may be considering a colour consultation. There’s often some uncertainty about what’s involved in a colour consultation so I’d like to break down what happens and what you can expect.

WHAT IS A COLOUR CONSULTATION?

Many interior designers offer colour consultations as a service in their business. This most commonly includes in-person consults although in the last decade we’ve seen online consultations appear for long distance clients.

During a colour consultation I will visit your home to review your space and specify the best paint colours based on your current surroundings. My colour consultations last for 1.5 hours and the cost is $299 CAD plus tax. This fee is the same whether you’re interested in interior or exterior selections. If your consultation goes beyond the 1.5 hours we can extend and the  additional time will be billed in 1/2 hour increments at $105/hr+ GST.

HOW DO WE BEGIN?

I like to start all my design work by having a quick 15-minute complementary phone call. We can discuss your home and what you’re hoping to achieve. Yes, it’s a very short call but I can determine everything I need to proceed in just those few short minutes. 

If you decide after the call to proceed, we’ll book a date that’s convenient for you. Once the total is paid you’ll receive a confirmation email and all you have to do is wait for the date to arrive.

Payment must be made in full no later than 24 hours prior to the consultation date. Any payment still unpaid at that time will need to be rescheduled.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM A COLOUR CONSULTATION?

Whether you need new paint colours for the interior or exterior of your home, I can help you. This service is designed to work for new builds, renovations or anyone that needs a fresh colour in their current home.

The only caution I will give is that I don’t recommend making paint selections in a new build or renovation until the fixed materials like tile, flooring and countertops have been selected. The paint colours should always be the last selection you make.

Whether you are hiring a painter or a DIY lover who will tackle the painting alone, the process of making selections is exactly the same. 

HOW ARE THE COLOURS SELECTED?

Colours selected during my colour consultations are always chosen to work with the fixed materials in the room or rooms we’re working on. For instance, if I’m selecting colours for a kitchen I’ll examine the countertop material, backsplash tile, flooring, cabinetry colour and any other materials in the room that will have an impact on the colour I select.

I will never advise a client to select a colour just because it’s trending or because it’s a personal preference of mine. It has to work with your space. 

If you’re repainting an entire floor or entire home we only need to consider the fixed elements and then I’m ready to make selections. When it’s a single room or just a couple of rooms I also need to consider any room that is attached to the room we’re working on. This could include hallways or rooms directly attached. I want to ensure that there is a seamless flow between the new paint and the existing paint colours.

WHAT IS INCLUDED WITH YOUR SELECTIONS?

We always start with wall colour but depending on your needs and our time there may be time to select ceiling colour and trim colour for baseboards, windows and door casings.

I can also help you to understand the difference between the type of paint finishes and which works best for each application. 

TOOLS I BRING TO HELP WITH A COLOUR CONSULTATION

On the scheduled date I’ll arrive at your home with hundreds of large 11"x 14" painted color boards. I think it’s impossible to select the perfect colour based on the tiny squares of a typical colour deck. That’s why I’ve invested in my own collection of extra large samples. These large boards make it easy for you to visualize the perfect color I am proposing for your home.

WHAT IF I DON’T LIKE THE COLOUR YOU SELECT?

Before we begin I’ll start by examining all the fixed materials as well as any furniture, artwork and decor that will be in the room. My selections are a reflection of the surroundings and those are the elements that create the surrounding environment.

As we go through the process I’ll explain why I’m selecting the colours so that you have a thorough understanding of how and why these colours work. 

If there are any colours that you are adamantly opposed to we can find a replacement colour for you. My goal is that we select not just the right colour for your space but also colour that you love in your space. 

DO YOU DO COLOUR CONSULTATIONS VIA ZOOM?

Although there are some designers who offer consultations via zoom I prefer to always be present in the space. There are so many factors that involve lighting and will impact the selections I make. If my screen doesn’t accurately represent the colours present it makes it hard for me to confidently select the correct colours for your space. 

A second factor is the undertones of the existing materials. Again, I can’t always confidently assess the undertones and this can impact the end result. 

WHICH PAINT BRANDS WILL YOU SPECIFY?

Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams carry the best selection of colours and their products are tried and tested. All paint is not manufactured equally. I’ve tried just about every brand on the market and I can confidently say that I prefer Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams over all the others. I will specify one of these for you depending on the colours that are right for your home.

*NOTE - I know you can save money by colour matching at your favourite budget paint manufacturer but I don’t ever recommend this. The results will never be the same. They may look close in a paint can but the paint formula will be inferior, it will not cover in the same way and the results will be disappointing. I’ve seen too many people try this and end up having to repaint using the proper paint recommendation. Save yourself the time, money and aggravation by just splurging on the right paint the first time. 

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE CONSULTATION?

Once the consultation is complete I’ll put together a detailed list of paint colours for each room. This document will include everything you need to get going including the paint code and colour, the type of paint I recommend as well as the sheen level that will work best. A copy of this document will be emailed to you as well as your paint contractor so everyone is on the same page.

If you feel like you’re ready to proceed with booking your own colour consultation you can pay and book directly here. If you would like to learn a bit more about the process you can book a complimentary consultation with me here. 

Warm regards,

Adrienne