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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!

Exterior Before

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
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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.

Wallpaper available at Spoonflower.com

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

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Artisan Tiles

All artisan tiles are handcrafted by skilled craftsmen and there is a slight difference among all the tiles because they are handmade. Artisan tiles can be described as offering something timeless and utterly sophisticated. However, because they are unique, if you are someone who needs the exact same pattern and design on every tile, you may want to choose a machine-made product.


All the hard work, effort and skill of the artisan comes at a premium price. Artisan tiles are more expensive than machine made, mass-produced products. Because artisan tiles are made to order, make sure to buy 10% more than your actual estimate. If any damage occurs to one or more tiles, you can replace them. Otherwise, you may not be able to find the exact same design and shade color if needed in the future. 


Here are some colorful ideas:
Tiles shown above by https://www.maplejude.com/tiles

There are several artisan tile producers in Southern California, including Malibu Ceramic Works and Tierra y Fuego. They make custom handcrafted tile in the style of historic, iconic California tiles, such as Malibu Tile, Catalina Pottery tile, Batchelder tile and Hispano Moresque, among others. The tiles are recognizable due to their combination of raised and flat glazes and matte and shiny finishes. The same techniques used by the legendary Malibu and Catalina Potteries of the 1920’s are used by their artisans today, hand applying the glazes to outlined designs.

Yohen and Yuki border tiles are Japanese tiles recognizable for their long, thin design which are evenly stacked either horizontally or vertically. The first time the Yohen Border was commercially produced was for Frank Lloyd Wright for his famous Imperial Hotel in Tokyo in 1924. INAX Tile has been developing the Yohen Borders since 2000. The innovative designs and fantastic designs of these artisan tiles make it an excellent choice for a modern home or mid-century renovation.

The Yuki border is also created by INAX and is differentiated from the Yohen border by its gentle curve, which is obtained naturally by using a split bamboo

Quadri Tiles are italian artisan tiles are created from porcelain, a material which is impervious to moisture and humidity. Therefore, they are long-lasting and can retain excellent color. Porcelain requires minimal care and can be cleaned quite easily. Since these porcelain tiles come in geometric shapes, you can easily align them and make them look completely uniform. Quadri Artisan Tiles create a geometry of vertical and horizontal planes with their tile that effect a weave with the tile. Tile designer Sebastian Herkner creates innovative and fascinating new tactile experiences with tile.

Plummage tiles are made into depressions or elevations that mostly resemble bird’s feathers. Many of these tiles are handcrafted in Italy, and the hand painting makes each tile have the very slight imperfections that create a unique environment in one’s space.

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2022 Paint Color Trends -Green

Green Is In!  While the color green in its many shades is always a perennial favorite among ACC’s clients, this year the majority of paint manufacturers have selected a green as their Color of the Year.  As green represents renewal and growth and positively affects our physical health, we celebrate their selections:

Benjamin Moore – Make room for creativity with October Mist 1495, the Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2022. This gently shaded sage quietly anchors a space, while encouraging individual expression through color.

Sherwin Williams – Evergreen Fog SW 9130, Soothing, subtle and a perfect shade to freshen up any space.

McCormick Paints – It’s time to Chillax. Our 2022 Color of the Year has an airy, soothing tone that is comfortable in a rustic, modern, or traditional space. This white has no boundaries, a timeless classic.

PPG – Olive Sprig PPG 1125-4 After a year of stay-at-home orders and too few IRL (in-real-life) moments in 2020 and 2021, homeowners, designers, architects and facility managers are craving authenticity, nature and meaningful human interaction after living in a mostly digital world.

Behr – Breeseway MQ3-21 – evokes feelings of coolness and peace while representing a desire to move forward and discover newfound passions.