paint – America's Color Consultants

March 19, 2024March 20, 2024

Meet Lynn Ishikawa our America’s Color Consultants -Ashburn, VA franchise owner

Lynn Ishikawa serves Loudoun county, Virginia including Leesburg, Ashburn and beyond. Contact her at 703-594-7868 (call or text), email: lynn@ashburncolorconsultants.com

Q: Tell us a little about your background:

A: I’ve worked in the Hospital and Healthcare IT industry for 20+ years but always had a penchant for helping friends & family pick colors for their homes and offices. So when the pandemic hit, I decided to venture into the world of paint color to see if I could possibly find a second career within the design industry. I’ve actually found my calling by helping clients discuss, explore, analyze and select the perfect paint colors for their homes!

Q: So you went from a stable and comfortable job and started a whole new career?

A: Yes, I took a leap of faith to launch this new (& very different!) business and to figure out what it takes to own my own franchise and be self-employed.

Q: What is the one thing you believe firmly in when it comes to color?

A: One should not make color decisions in isolation! I will always inquire about other elements in a project including flooring, cabinets, countertops, backsplashes, furniture, fabric, art, décor & lighting and then guide clients in a direction they’re comfortable with.

Q: What’s your most favorite part of the process?

A: There are so many… I enjoy facilitating the dialogue between a couple who may happen to disagree on what color to choose and educating clients on color pigments, pros & cons of different paint sheens, drying vs. curing etc. I love it when a client chooses their favorite color in a dramatic shade to use in their office or powder room. And I especially like it when they contact me afterwards to let me know the job is (finally) done and they send in pictures of the finished project.

Q: What kind of feedback have your clients given you?

A: I have the best clients! They’re so thankful and tell me how much they appreciate me helping them to feel confident in their decisions and that their new room colors inspire them to live & work authentically!

Q: Any advice for someone who isn’t sure about what colors to use?

A: Everyone deserves to be happy and enjoy the space they live and/or work in by using color! Build trust in yourself and the process! You can create the space you love by stepping through any fear of color you may have.

Q: Can you share a recent project with us?

A: Yes! This home in Sterling needed some TLC after having been rented out for 2 decades. The homeowners needed my help to transform the exterior colors to make it their own while at the same time still fit in with the surrounding neighborhood. They knew that they wanted a ‘green-brown-neutral’ overall color scheme to be in harmony with the mature trees on their property, and just needed help refining their choices and then deciding where to utilize each color. After a few iterations and plan options, this is what they ultimately decided on and are very happy with the results!

Paint colors used:

SW 7748 Green Earth: All siding, garage doors and foundation on the back and sides

SW 7738 Cargo Pants: Brick front

SW 7563 Restful White: All window trim & soffits

SW 7048 Urbane Bronze: All shutters, trim around garage doors, front & storm door

SW 3024 River Birch: Deck

Products used by Painting Contractor:

Sherwin-Williams Super Deck Solid Stain in SW 3024 River Birch
Trim/doors/shutters: Sherwin-Williams Duration in Gloss
Siding: Sherwin-Williams Emerald Rain Refresh in Satin
Brick: Sherwin-Williams Duration in Flat

February 27, 2024February 27, 2024

What’s Old is New Again: Return of the 70s

Designs of the 70s featured large, colorful graphics. Influenced by abstract and pop art – and even disco – there were bold stripes, waves, rainbows, sunbursts, and flowers. The patterns could be found on walls, posters, album covers and clothing. These designs would be created inexpensively with paint on walls as cheap art for young apartment dwellers and as bold statements in offices and on building exteriors.

Art is back. Todays artist are creating their own wall art inspired by the 70’s.

Like every aspect of design, with their distinct retro vibe, these design features are making a comeback in restaurants, hip office spaces and in the dwellings of the young and young at heart. They are showing up as wall murals and fabric for home and office use, and even as wall, floor and furniture stencils. The designs are available through specialty websites such as zazzle, spoonflower and Etsy.

There’s never been a better or easier time to relive the 70s or to discover its boldness for the first time.

October 12, 2023October 11, 2023

Make The Room Unique With Original Art

When purchasing original art it is rewarding to know your painting is the only one while supporting the arts. The quality of an original piece of art brings richness and personality to a home, rather than choosing a factory made print and poster just to fill space. An Original Painting can “make the room”. Original art is the perfect element to justify an accent wall.

Dwell Fine Art & Craft was established in 2018 by Hayley Sykes-Ludden and is Virginia Piedmont’s premier contemporary art gallery. Dwell exhibits work by international and regional artists of distinction working in a variety of media. They also provide fine art appraisal, estate planning and art consultative services to clients in Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland. Dwell hosts art exhibitions on a quarterly basis. Located in Hume, Virginia.

Check out Dwell’s Fall Exhibit of Artists – Now thru Thanksgiving – Vantage Point’- Landscapes, Still Life & Memories https://www.dwellfineart.com/

September 9, 2022September 7, 2022

Back To The Office or Something New?

With vaccinations widely available and social life back to pre pandemic, millions of Americans are reassessing leaving their home offices to return to their work spaces. The Washington Post reports there is growing evidence that a lot of people are “reassessing what they want to do and how they want to work.” Thousands of jobs remain work-from-home and will remain so even as businesses reopen their office space. Many have found they Iike working from home and don’t want to return to the office. Millions of people are quitting their jobs altogether.

America’s Color Consultants (ACC) is a business opportunity particularly suited for those creative/artistic types who have found that working from home has proven to be desirable, and for those whom the pandemic has taught that life is short. ACC consultants own their own business, and thus own their time – working part-time, full-time, even overtime if they want. They meet a wide variety of people and provide a valuable, efficient service in a growth industry, all the while exercising their creative muscles. And they operate their business from a home-based office.

There will be those who will happily return to their pre-pandemic work environments, but for those who seek something different, there are numerous opportunities for individuals to use their unique talents to both earn a living and satisfy their soul.

March 4, 2021March 4, 2021

The Four S’s of Paint Color

When working with clients to develop a color palette for their homes, I am often met with the sentiment “I don’t want my house to look like a clown house.” These clients fear color. As a trained artist and color expert, I use the four S’s to help them select what will be their ideal color solution.

Simplicity, Strength, Sizzle, Sophistication. These Four S’s have been used for decades as the foundation in graphic design, interior design, architecture and most creative fields. In each category the S’s might differ somewhat, but the general idea remains the same.

Simplicity – The simpler something is, the longer its life. When things are simple we do not tire of them as quickly. If you do not plan to paint for another 20 years, consider choosing this path. An example of this is a monochromatic color palette. Simple does not necessarily mean all white or beige.

Strength – This can mean something different for each person. For paint it means a bold, saturated paint color.

Sizzle – Some people just like things that are exciting – colors that create energy. Complementary and analogous colors can also create this color energy.

Sophistication – In the paint world this can also be defined as classy, refined or elegant.

Sophisticated color does not shout at you, and does not stand in opposition to its furnishings. These colors usually fall into the mid-range of intensity.

January 20, 2021January 20, 2021

America’s Color Consultants Collection of Real Life Paint Colors

From Left to right: Bohemian Lace (HGSW-4052); White Diamond (BM-OC-61); Pure White (SW-7005); Alabaster (SW 7008).

From Left to right: Mindful Gray (SW-7016); Revere Pewter (BM-HC-172); Classic Gray (BM-OC-23); Collingwood (BM-OC-28).

From Left to right: Antique Glass (BM-CSP-695); Sea Salt (SW 6204); Borrowed Light (Farrow & Ball); Aleutian (SW 624l).

From Left to right: Full Moon (SW 6679); Napery (SW 6388); Behr P270-2 September Morning; Kilim Beige (SW 6106).

From Left to right: Urbane Bronze (SW 7048); Grizzle Gray (SW-7068); Stargazer (SW-9635); Lichen (Farrow & Ball).

From Left to right: First Light (BM 2102-70); In Bloom (Magnolia), Dune Grass (BM 492); Behr RD-W14 Aria Ivory.

Sherwin-William paints are indicated as SW, and Benjamin-Moore as BM.

Happy New Year! It’s that time when all the new paint “colors of the year” have been revealed. And there is a hue for everyone! There are soft, muted colors, colors born in nature, bold colors, and dark, moody colors. You can easily Google “Paint Colors of the Year 2021” and find links (and lengthy tomes) from all the popular paint manufacturers. Some of these colors will prove to be trendy – lasting 4-8 years in popularity, and several will prove to be a fad – out of favor in just a year or two.

Many of the shades you see among the major players were developed in coordination with the home decor and furnishings industry several years ago. That’s why you find lots of items that “match” among those manufacturers in any given year. The past several years have seen the continuation of the neutrals trend with the current favorite, gray, now moving from the cooler shades toward the warmer ones being referred to as “greiges”.

America’s Color Consultants often work with people who have had their current furnishings from “a few” to “many” years and more often than not, want a refresh as opposed to a total home redo. Consequently, we are working with fabrics and colors that are not currently “on trend.”

When a client wants a more “modern” color (currently meaning gray) we see which of the beautiful neutrals on the market will work best with their rugs, drapes, furniture, light sources, etc. Because grays are actually black and white paints tinted with color, there is a gray shade of every color.

Over the past 15 years ACC has consulted hundreds of times with homeowners and small businesses and enjoyed the insights of national paint manufacturers and local paint stores, realtors and home owners. We have put together our first ACC Collection of Real Life Favorite Paint Colors (ours and our clients!). A few are personal favorites and colors we would love to spec for someone with bold ambitions; others have proven to be very popular for those planning to sell their properties in a few years; changing from a bright to a neutral; and several are those colors that have proven time again to be both popular and tried and true for clients on the east and west coasts.

Color is SO subjective and there are many factors that are considered when searching for a new paint color. We never push our own personal preferences, but when asked we certainly offer them! Our job, of course, is to educate our clients, guide the process, and assist in identifying the color that makes them say “YES – that’s it!” Experience, product knowledge and industry familiarity make us a valuable tool in your home improvement arsenal!

America’s Color Consultants Real Life Color of 2021 is Agreeable Gray (SW 7029).

While the name of this shade may elicit a yawn, and suggests it is neutral to the point of non-existence, nothing could be further from the truth, in our opinion.

This versatile shade of greige is happy to play with everyone. A medium light shade, it has an Light Reflective Value of 60, so it reflects a fair amount of light, but won’t wash out, and looks great with white or natural wood trim. It works well in any room with any furniture style and loves complementary earth tones. It can stand up to bold accent colors, too. It can comfortably be used in one room or the entire house. It has been a popular choice for all these reasons for the past 10 years with our clients and shows no sign of slowing down any time soon.

December 8, 2020December 8, 2020

Accent Walls

With design trends that are more modern and neutrals maintaining their popularity, accent walls are a good way of accentuating artwork or a fireplace or just adding a surprising jolt of color. An accent wall is a wall painted in a different color than the rest of the room. Usually a contrast to the predominant room color, it could also be a similar color but with a different pattern. Wood, tiles or wall paper can provide that beautiful contrast. There are numerous products on the market now that can serve the purpose.

Random Lengths Butternut Brown Vintage Shiplap Planks

Be careful though – an improperly created accent wall could make the room feel smaller. It’s a safer bet to use accent walls primarily for living rooms or family rooms, rather than smaller rooms such as bedrooms. However, a properly done accent wall behind the headboard of the bed can work very well. An adventurous homeowner could even choose to have two accent walls: multiple accent walls create an accented space. But it would be best to make sure the colors work particularly well together: if the accent colors are fighting each other for attention, then the effect could range from odd to atrocious!

November 16, 2020November 16, 2020

Why are Porch Ceilings Painted Blue?

The legend of Haints Blue: In the south it was common to paint porch ceilings blue to protect the house from evil sprits. The Gullah people passed along this tradition. In the Gullah culture of the South , ceilings and sometimes doors and shutters were painted blue to symbolize water or sky. According to folklore evil spirits and haints, pronunced “haunts,” would be either be tricked by the sky or the blue symbolized water which they could not cross. Blue glass bottles were also hung in trees to trap haints.

In the past Haint Blue was mixed with milk paint formulas using lime and crushed indigo plant pigments. Today many people use pale or dusty hues but there is no standard color. The color ranges from light blues and blue greens to darker shades and gray blues.

October 14, 2020October 14, 2020

Interior Designer or Paint Color Consultant?

A few years ago, I received a call from a desperate homeowner. She told me she had hired an interior designer, and she just hated her new living room. She told me that the room was beautiful, but she just felt something was wrong.

When I arrived for the consultation, I looked at the room: it was beautiful. She had paid about $14,000 for the new furnishings and paint job. So why did she feel it was not right?

It was because she hated blue, and the entire room was decorated in shades of blue.

What is the difference between a paint color consultant and an interior designer?

Not all interior designers are experts in color or paint. They are experts on styles and products. Color is often just a single class in an interior designer’s degree program. Interior designers make their money on upselling products – buying at a significant professional discount and reselling to the client. The paint color of the room is often dictated by the available products for that year.

The Color Marketing Group works on forecasting future color trends which then defines product development and the colors that will be used that season. Interior designers often follow trends and buy those products for their clients.

Paint color consultants are experts on color. Their training is all about how paint is made, used, applied and perceived. Paint color consultants can improve the look of a room with color, at the same time using either existing furnishings or new. Understanding a client’s color perception and mutual communication is key. A good consultant will listen closely to the likes and dislikes of their clients, and will consider lighting, use and mood when helping select the perfect color for a specific space. Not everyone wants to change everything: nor can they afford to. A carefully selected paint color can go a long way to refresh any space.

So what did we do for the desperate homeowner? We could not do anything about the blue patterned rug and blue sofa and blue chairs. We DID change the color of the walls to a soft shade of white, removed some blue pillows, changed out the blue chairs with others we shopped from another room, and recommended the use of an analogous color (that we selected together) for accents to distract from the blue overuse.

Now she loves her new living room.

(BTW: We would never recommend blue if blue was strongly disliked.)

August 18, 2020August 18, 2020

Brick – To Paint or Not To Paint

The beauty of brick is that it is a maintance free building product. It is expensive and the life span of a brick house can be 100’s of years with little or no maintance. Then why paint it? Sometimes we are forced to paint a brick home. An addtion is added and matching brick cannot be found or it is too expensive to use additional brick for the addition. Sometimes after adding an addtion there is very little brick still exposed resulting in very little sense to keep the natural brick.

Lately we have seen a trend to paint brick. Like all trends this one will pass. In 10 years when the paint is peeling and the brick needs to be repainted, you will ask yourself – why did I paint this brick? Before deciding to paint brick ask yourself a few questions. Why am I painting the brick? Does it need to be painted? Is my property historical and will it effect the historical value of the house in the future? Am I OK with repainting it in 10 -20 years. If I am reselling will it be an improvement or not?

Once painted, you can only undo the paint by sand blasting. The cost will exceed the original paint job. An alternative to painting brick – dye it. https://www.dyebrick.com/product/colour-panels. This technique does not give you 1,000’s of color choices, but it does retain the maintance free quality fo brick.