2023 Living Well Newsletter

Dear Friends,

June 21st was the 22nd Anniversary of Full Spectrum Paints and a year since my last newsletter. I want to thank you for being such wonderful and loyal clients. I wouldn’t still be here without you.

I can’t tell you how much I enjoy helping clients transform their surroundings with color. Color is light and energy, the simplest tool to enhance positive emotions and increase well-being. Since spending time in nature is also healing, nature inspires most of the colors in my palette.

The Magical Gems palette was also created 22 years ago with the intention that these colors be used as color therapy tools in small jewel box spaces. However, thanks to artist Hunt Slonem, who was the first to use them in large expansive spaces including museum exhibits, I’ve created quite a few bright, saturated colors. I love creating colors so much that I have reduced my custom color fee to the cost of the gallon of paint we use to create the color. So although we have 70 stock colors, there are many other colors available–just email me letting me know what you’re looking for. I am also in the process of creating a blog post with a list of custom colors along with their description and the products they’re available in. 

In addition to color consulting and creating colors, I’m still taking on design projects and recently visited Kirkland and James Crosby to snap a few photos of their newly finished project. This was especially fun to work on because they gave me free reign to completely transform a newly purchased furnished condo. As you can see in the “before” photos, it was bright white with lots of chrome and mirrored furnishings–definitely not nature-inspired.

“Before” photo of the Crosby condo

As lovely as this condominium complex is, the views outside the 4th floor windows were mostly of other buildings and the current wall color and furnishings were cold and not very inviting. They wanted a dramatic entry to showcase their wall of family photos and memorabilia so we used “Moutarde” on the foyer walls, “Clay” on all millwork and Alexandra Blue on all the ceilings.

“After” photo – Moutarde on walls with Clay trim and Alexandra Blue ceilings

We had Memory Cherish restore the family photos and Joe Savell at Backwoods Gallery in St. Francisville matte and frame the photos and memorabilia. The console table is from Phillips Collection.

We kept the existing natural linen window treatments but replaced the furniture and lighting. The antique dining sideboard came from one of my favorite Instagram sources, Lily’s Vintage Finds. I highly recommend following her as she does all the leg work sourcing from estate sales and flea markets including the south of France. The antique dining table came from Birds of a Feather in St. Francisville, another great source for antiques and consignent furnishings. The chandelier and foyer lantern are by Visual Comfort. Below is another “before” photo of the living area.

“Before” photo of living room

“Clay” walls and millwork with Alexandra Blue ceiling

We had RTE Millworks create the built-in TV cabinet and the upholstered furniture is all custom-made from the same company I have been using for well over twenty years and I’m happy to report the lead times are back to normal. All fabrics are pet-friendly performance fabrics–including the sofa fabric which looks like velvet! The white armoire was refinished and repurposed for the master bedroom. Like most projects, I had a budget to work with so we used Wayfair for rugs and the sofa table. I have to say, I’ve become quite the Wayfair fan because in addition to great prices, orders usually arrive within a week.

I love working with other designers and recently consulted with local interior designer Laura Roland of Fireside Antiques in Baton Rouge on one of her first design projects that she recently posted on her website. Talk about talent! Besides the fabulous furnishings, I love the earthy color palette she put together on this project: Laura’s New Roads Project. 

In my last newsletter I mentioned giving a talk on using the energy of color and nature to create healing environments. Since then, I’ve given several so I put together a little 24 page booklet that’s essentially the “cliff notes”. I have extras available that you can order here: Using the Energy of Color & Nature to Create Healing Environments

Full Spectrum Paints are luxurious, premium performance paints that envelop a space in softness. Our hand painted color tools make choosing color easy. If I can help you transform your space, email me at ellenkennon@gmail.com. Color consultations are included when your purchase our paints!

20th Year Anniversary

Today marks the 20th anniversary of my Full Spectrum Paints line! The first “Nature’s Palette” and “Magical Gems” paint colors have since expanded to an edited palette of 70 tried and true full spectrum colors that have been used successfully in every area of the United States. I have loved creating hundreds of custom colors over the last two decades, and it’s been such a joy making friends with so many interesting and talented folks during my telephone color consultations. I am so very grateful for every single one of you. Several of you have even been to visit me here in Saint Francisville! Thank you! Despite a pandemic, both my paint and design businesses have thrived and not a day goes by that I’m not filled with gratitude that I’m able to work from home doing what I love. So what better way to celebrate than to offer a 20% discount through the end of June on all paint products. When you order online, at check out enter “20YEARS!” in the box that says “discount code”. Don’t forget that color consultations are included in the cost of my paints. Knowing how daunting selecting paint colors is to most, I offered this service from the very beginning and have helped clients put together color palettes for homes and businesses all over the country.  I also owe many, many thanks to the writers, editors and friends who are responsible for all of the publicity I’ve received in so many publications. I’ve never advertised so without you and the wonderful reviews from clients on the GardenWeb (now Houzz) website, I doubt I’d still be in business. Thank you!!! During Covid, like many folks, I did some redecorating and made quite a few home improvements. I was thrilled when Elise Saloom of InRegister Magazine contacted me about bedroom paint colors for her article “Color expert Ellen Kennon explains how your bedroom’s paint color can impact your mood“as I had just redecorated my own bedroom and hallway-vanity area as you’ll see in the photos below.

One of the things I didn’t change was the “Alexandra Blue” paint color I used on both walls and ceiling. It is such a soothing color! The “Ashen Green” trim helps bring the outdoors in and the new hallway wallpaper also gives the feeling of being outdoors. Nature is a tonic so I try and recreate its healing energy indoors whenever I can.

I didn’t plan to start my business on the Summer Solstice. It wasn’t until I was walking out the door of ICI Dulux Paints (now PPG Paints) with my first newly created paint colors that I realized it was June 21st–a time to celebrate new beginnings and the day we are closest to the warmth and energy of the sun. How fitting since the sun plays such a role in Full Spectrum Paints. Thank you again for contributing so much to the last 20 years of my life! Happy Summer Solstice!

Catching up!

Now that I’ve finished posting about each of my Full Spectrum Paint colors, I’m working on getting my newsletters linked to this blog. I sent out my Winter Living Well this past Monday so if you’re not one of my subscribers, here’s a link to it: Winter 2019 Living Well.

The newsletter features two projects by talented designers Cecile Thompson and Peggie Rhodes of Timpson Creek Gallery in Clayton, Georgia. There were so many fabulous photos, I had a hard time figuring out which ones to include. Since I posted it, Peggie found some even more wonderful photos that I’ll share here.

I wish I would have had this photo for my newsletter since it really shows the “Adirondack-style” of the Highlands, NC home (or should I say Lodge?) we featured.

Almost all ceilings in the Highlands house are painted “Christine’s Cloud” which has become a favorite ceiling color of many clients both inside and on porches.

One of many hallways in this home. The clients are quite the art collectors. Timpson Creek Gallery has over 10,000 square feet of art, antiques and furnishings.

I created a custom color, “Teal”, for this guest bedroom. If you’re interested in this color, my “Albania Teal” is mighty close. All trim is “Pearl”.

Many of the walls are painted “Buttercream” like in this kitchen and the bathroom below. The kitchen ceiling is one of many painted “Christine’s Cloud”.

This chest is just one example of the furnishings you can get at Timpson Creek. The attention to detail in this home is incredible. You see it everywhere: furniture, cabinetry, hardware…even the lamp shades are like little works of art, like the one below from the Lamp Shoppe in Atlanta

This charming window seat reminds me of the Dutch beds I had built into my own home. The perfect place to curl up and read a book like my daughter’s first book “Classic Restaurants of New Orleans”!

Yes, I’m way too excited about Alexandra’s book and am plugging it every chance I get! It came out Monday, November 4th and the first printing sold out before the publish date! Having a forward by Walter Isaacson certainly helps but I have to say, it’s an incredibly interesting book. Here are links to the first couple of articles since it’s been out: Country Roads Magazine and New Orleans’ Gambit. There are many book signings planned so if you’re in the area, I hope to see you at one!

If you’d like a sample of any of my full spectrum paints colors, visit my online store where you can get free hand-painted samples in addition to a variety of samples, paint and even my “Classic Restaurants of New Orleans”!

ellenkennon.com
ellen@ellenkennon.com
877-877-7628

Antique Bronze

“Antique Bronze” is that brownish black that is such a popular finish for faucets and hardware. I like it because it’s not as harsh as black but still dramatic. I initially created it because a client building a home in Natchez had antique bronze metal windows installed and we wanted the doors to match them.

The Natchez home with antique bronze windows and my “Antique Bronze” painted doors to match.

“Antique Bronze” shutters and doors with “White Opal” siding on the exterior of this newly constructed chiropractor’s office.

A close-up of “Antique Bronze” shows the deep brown qualities of this color.

If you’d like samples of any of my full spectrum paint colors, visit my Online Store where you can order a variety of samples including free hand-painted 1″x 4″ cuttings.

Ash and Spanish Moss

“Ash” and “Spanish Moss” are both lighter versions of the retired color “Thunder Cloud” which was created for Amy Churgin, former V.P. of Architectural Digest who wanted a full spectrum version of Benjamin Moore’s “Chelsea Grey”. Although “Thunder Cloud” has been retired, I have a formula for it. “Spanish Moss” is half of the “Thunder Cloud” formula and “Ash” is half of the “Spanish Moss” formula. Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos of these two colors so until I get some, below you’ll see a photo of samples of the two colors. If you’d like hand-painted samples of any of my full spectrum paint colors, visit my Online Store where you can order a variety of samples including free hand-painted cuttings (1″x4″).

“Ash” on the left, “Spanish Moss” on the right. I have used both of these colors in the Break-Through paint on exterior porch floors. It’s a much prettier gray than the typical battleship gray you usually see.

One more post on my 70 stock colors to go! After my post about “Antique Bronze” I’ll put together a post on all of the retired and custom colors that are also available to order.