Summer 2020 Living Well

The Summer Solstice this year marked the 19th anniversary of my first full spectrum “Nature’s Palette” paint colors. So many of you have been loyal paint customers for most of these years and thanks to you, I’m able to continue working remotely from home as always. I’m so fortunate that business has been steady even during this pandemic. Thank you, thank you, thank you!  

Adapting my business to these stay at home restrictions has been easy since paint is ordered either online or by phone, and now when you go to your nearest PPG Paints store to pick up your order, you just call from your car when you arrive and they’ll bring your paint directly to your vehicle. 

I’ve really enjoyed Zoom happy hours with friends, so I thought it might be fun to do some Zoom question and answer sessions on color and design. If you’re interested in joining in, send me an email so I can send you an invitation. Sidney Coffee of The Guru in Baton Rouge is planning a series of Zoom events and I’ll be featured as one of her guest presenters, along with others on a variety of subjects including astrology, interior design, and help with relationships during these challenging times. 

Speaking of challenging times, I confess to having more than a few anxious and sleepless nights and have found great comfort in listening to creative visualization tapes by Jeanne-Marie Taylor/Muse via YouTube. I’ve always been a big fan of creative visualization, especially since that’s how I created my little sanctuary in the woods here in Saint Francisville (read that story here). I found instant relief from her “Channeled Message from Gaia” and there are many others, so I highly recommend subscribing to her YouTube channel. 

Besides escaping with visualization tapes, virtual happy hours and lots of TV series and movies, I really enjoyed reading Beth Arnold‘s  Jours of Our Lives: On the Road in France and Beyond. It’s no wonder I felt like I was along on the journey with Beth – she captures the colors, cuisine and countryside so beautifully, you will be transported! 

I give thanks every single day that I’m able to live on this magical little piece of earth surrounded by 100′ tall trees in a home I designed. My daughter Alex and her partner Dominic Rivera who normally live in New Orleans have been here since early March, so I’ve had the pleasure of their company and fabulous cuisine most evenings. Alex has become quite the gourmet cook since writing her book Classic Restaurants of New Orleans. Dom, who was working on movies before the pandemic, was kind enough to make a video of me giving a tour of my home that I named “Mon Soleil”. I hope you enjoy it as much as I’ve been enjoying virtual glimpses into other’s homes. Click on the photo of my home to take the tour!

(In the video, I neglected to introduce my little YorkiePoo Winson who you’ll see following me everywhere I go!)

I hope to see you sometime soon for a Zoom Q&A event. Be sure to email me for an invitation. Please take care and stay safe!

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.

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

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.

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

Rain

“Rain” is a very light neutral grey. It’s neither too warm, too cold, too blue, violet, green, etc. I went to great lengths to create a true light grey. As you’ll see in the photos below, it adapts to a variety of spaces and styles creating a soothing atmosphere.

“Rain” creates an oasis of calm in this contemporary bedroom.

“Rain” walls with “White Opal” trim and ceiling in this cottage on Audubon Park in New Orleans

This client used “Rain” on all the walls throughout this Baton Rouge home renovated by Amelia Fine Construction. All ceilings are “Silvery Blue”, “White Opal” trim and kitchen cabinets .

Kitchen cabinetry and all trim throughout the house is “White Opal”. Ceilings are all “Silvery Blue”

If you’d like to see a hand-painted sample of any of my full spectrum paint colors, visit my Online Store!

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