1. How to add color to a rental apartment with white walls or exposed brick?
If you are living in a rental apartment or house, always speak with your landlord before making any design changes. Once you receive the blessing, go for it.If allowed, you can paint one wall, maybe it's the brick one, and it can serve as an accent in the room. Spend time in the room at all hours of the day to see when it gets light and where the light hits. This will determine which wall to paint and what color to choose (dark or light).
Test a series of 5-7 variations on the hue you choose by painting a swatch of each on the wall and live with it for a while. Also note any reflections from outside. For example, if you have a large tree in front of a window, you may get green reflecting in and that will affect the paint color on the wall.
For dark walls, I love Martha Stewart Living Wrought Iron (MSL168 ) or Griddle (MSL 194), both available from the Home Depot. For a light look, try Martha Stewart Living Tailor's Chalk (MSL001) or Frost (MSL143).
Think about art work, too. A great way to add color is to paint large pieces of canvas and hang them. Have fun and pick the colors you love.
2. How to pick a neutral color for a nursery when you don't know if the child is a boy or a girl?
Classic yellows, bright and happy, and greens, fresh and clean, will always work. Pair them with a crisp white for a modern look or a creamy taupe for a more traditional feel. Martha Stewart Living Custard (MSL068) and Lamb (MSL225) make a great combination as does Feldspar (MSL131) and Natural Twine (MSL217). All of these colors are found at the Home Depot.Don't be afraid of using gray, too, for a really contemporary take on a nursery. Try Martha Stewart Living Sharkey Gray (MSL240) with yellow for a complimentary mix. Just keep in mind that a child's room should feel happy but also restful and peaceful. Find colors that make you happy, too, as you'll be spending a lot of time in the room that first year.
3. How do add color to the exterior of your house?
All Martha Stewart Living paint colors from Home Depot are offered as exterior paint, whether you decide to just paint your front door a deep, rich saturated hue like Francesca (MSL279), or shutters Okra (MSL104). Not willing to invest in a big paint job? Add color to the mailbox (or even the little flag) or paint house numbers on a planter in a great color that matches your home's exterior.In my own apartment, I chose Martha Stewart Living Heath (MSL212) to paint the entire space. However, I did my homework. I chose about 7 variations of the hue, painted large-scale swatches in various rooms and lived with them for weeks before making a decision. Check out my blog, Home Design With Kevin Sharkey, for an overview of the process. Also, check out my posts on uses of other colors throughout the house, including a palette of neutrals and brights as well as orange accents.
Kevin Sharkey Bio
Kevin Sharkey is Senior Vice President and Executive Editorial Director, Decorating, and Executive Creative Director, Merchandising for Martha Stewart Living Omninedia, Inc. (MSLO). A designer and all-around creative expert, he plays a vital role in shaping MSLO’s editorial content and product designs. Mr. Sharkey came to MSLO in 1995 from Parish-Hadley, a venerable New York City interior design firm. Over the years, Mr. Sharkey has collaborated with Martha Stewart on the decoration of all her homes. He has also worked with her daughter, Alexis Stewart, as well as numerous MSLO executives and senior designers, to decorate their respective residences.He believes that a truly beautiful room is one that hasn't been "decorated" at all, but rather "considered." "It's not about dictating a set of rules," he says, "but about disseminating information so that people can apply the techniques we teach in the magazine and on the radio and television, and then do it in their own way to create something they truly love and are proud of. There are no absolutes. You just have to be inspired, passionate and informed. Then you take it and make it your own. That’s really where beauty comes from." For him, the biggest compliment comes when a reader says, "I learned this from the magazine, but I did it my way." Mr. Sharkey has a degree in architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design.
