Blog | Rugh Design

August 16, 2018 by: Laura Rugh

Color Wheel Update: Black Fox

I’ve been highlighting more light/soft colors lately, so I felt like it was time for a darker shade to take center stage! This week I am focusing on Black Fox, a dark gray that is the darkest shade on the same fan deck paint swatch as Repose Gray, Mindful Gray, Dorian Gray, Acier, Dovetail and Gauntlet Gray. Can you tell I love this entire paint swatch? I think I have actually highlighted almost every color in this color family. Black Fox is a dark charcoal gray, that is almost categorized as a soft black (hence the name). Since it’s more saturated, I see it most on doors, trim…

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August 9, 2018 by: Laura Rugh

Color Wheel Update: Silver Strand

This week I am highlighting Silver Strand a color that I often recommend for bedrooms, bathrooms and laundry rooms. I am not exclusive to those spaces, but I do love this soft blue-green color in these areas best. Silver Strand is a cooler color that creates a spa-like and soothing atmosphere, especially in spaces that I mentioned above. If you like Sea Salt, Silver Strand is very similar in color, but with a bit more gray to it. So, if you are searching for a serene color that won’t get too pastel, Silver Strand could be the one that you are looking for!

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August 2, 2018 by: Laura Rugh

Color Wheel Update: Eider White

This week I wanted to focus on a color that I am particularly fond of for a soft white all-over color, Eider White. I categorized Eider White as a cool white when I wrote “The Best White Paint Colors: Undertones Explained” post and I stand by it. Even though it can be hard to categorize as cool or warm definitively, Eider White is one shade lighter than Repose Gray. I consider Repose Gray as a color that can still look like a warm gray, but in my experience has a slight blue undertone that comes out often. So, I kept Eider White in the cool white category.

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July 26, 2018 by: Laura Rugh

Color Wheel Update: Rainwashed

I’m super excited about this week’s color! If you have read my posts, you know that I love blues and greens (cooler colors). I also love the beach, so my love for these two colors makes perfect sense and is why I’m going ga-ga over the feature color for this week, Rainwashed. Rainwashed pretty much lives up to its name as a soothing and soft blue-green color. It is very similar to Sea Salt, but has less gray to it and is thus more vibrant. Keep reading for my fav places to use this spa-worthy color!

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July 19, 2018 by: Laura Rugh

Color Wheel Update: Gauntlet Gray

Gauntlet Gray is a perfect moody accent color for bedrooms, living rooms, bathrooms and cabinets for interiors. Not to mention, it’s an ideal main body color for exteriors! I admit that I can be conservative when it comes to more saturated colors, but lately I have been more daring in specifying darker colors for not just accent walls, but all walls especially in places like bedrooms and bathrooms. What is nice about Gauntlet Gray, is that the cool of the blue undertones helps to keep the room from not feeling too much like a cave. Cool colors help to keep…

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July 11, 2018 by: Laura Rugh

Color Wheel Update: Passive

Passive is a soft blue-gray with a hint of green to it’s undertone and when used in the right lighting is so pretty! Cityscape is four shades darker than Passive and I have found myself using this color more often lately in spaces like bathrooms, offices, laundry rooms and for accent walls and kitchen islands. I felt like the timing was perfect to focus in on Passive, the lightest shade on the same paint swatch as Cityscape. Like I mentioned, Passive is a soft blue-gray that has a hint of green to it. Since I am a huge fan of the cooler colors, I love Passive as a…

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July 6, 2018 by: Laura Rugh

Color Wheel Update: Extra White

Extra White is a favorite white of mine for several reasons. First, it is Sherwin-Williams’ “true white.” This means that it doesn’t have any warm or cool undertones. It’s just bright white. Since it is a true white, it is the base (or starting point) for which I categorized the warm and cool whites from Sherwin-Williams. You can read all about it in my post: The Best White Paint Colors: Undertones Explained. My second (but not last) reason for loving Extra White, is how clean and fresh it is. I personally have Extra White in my own home for my trim…

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July 3, 2018 by: Laura Rugh

The Best Wall Colors To Update Stained Cabinets

I have had several clients that have existing stained cabinets and are at a loss with how to pick a wall color to pair with the stained cabinets. This month, I am focusing on the best paint colors to compliment and update stained cabinets. In order to find the right wall color, it’s important to know what type of stained cabinets you have: dark (espresso), medium (walnut), cherry (red toned) and light (yellow or orange toned oak/maple). Each stain has an undertone of it’s own, just like paint colors. I have noted the undertone color…

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June 29, 2018 by: Laura Rugh

Color Wheel Update: Lazy Gray

I picked Lazy Gray to highlight this week because I just love blue-grays. Plain and simple. Depending on the lighting, Lazy Gray can look more blue or more gray. If you are looking for more of a true gray, steer clear of Lazy Gray because it definitely has a blue undertone, which I personally love! I like that Lazy Gray is a bump up from the lightest shade on the paint swatch (Olympus White) for a bit more saturation and depth of color. Lazy Gray is a cooler color, but doesn’t appear too cold and sterile. It is a great color to open up spaces that…

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June 21, 2018 by: Laura Rugh

Color Wheel Update: Anew Gray

Anew Gray has a warm feel to it and goes well in schemes with warm gray/greige/taupe selections (tile, backsplash, countertops, etc.). I tend to specify Anew Gray in homes that have higher ceilings and/or more natural light since it is a step up from the lightest shade on the paint swatch (like I just mentioned: Agreeable Gray). Anew Gray is one of my top neutral paint colors used in my Color Consultations because it really is a perfect transition color. If you are going away from the golden beige colors, but don’t want to go full gray either, Anew Gray is an ideal choice!

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