ask a designer

they can’t match my paint color!
Q.  I had a color plan all picked out for my house, and I was really excited, but now it is falling apart. One color I want is half way between two shades on the chart, but the paint store says they can’t mix it. I’ve seen a million commercials on TV saying they can color-match anything.

What is going on? The other one was a color match to a reddish brown leather I have. The color is good, but it looks streaked and thick on my trim. I stopped the painter until I could find out what to do. Can you help?—C.S.

A.  Mixing paint is much different that mixing light. In paint you have a base of liquid and added colorants. Today, most colorants are derived from chemicals that are controlled, but some are actually pigments from the earth. Each pigment has a different tinting strength. Some pigments require triple the quantity to tint the paint. The problem with a color that is midway between chips is that the two colors are likely mixed in different bases. Pastel colors are in milky white bases. Deep colors are in translucent bases. Some companies have five bases which makes your request easier to fulfill.

Sometimes the paint colors on chips jump unevenly. The company may have determined that other tones couldn’t live up to the overall expectations of the paint for coverage and ease of application. Too little pigment makes the paint translucent. Too much will look dull and lifeless. As a rule, don’t expect to move more than 25% away from a chip. Your best bet is to search paint companies until you find a chip that is close to what you want. Paint companies each have their own bases and colorants to achieve their particular look.

If you see a line of paint that has an all over haze of some sort, you can bet that it is achieved with the base. Historical palettes and designer lines are this way. The reddish brown paint is suffering from some of the same issues. The base is translucent. So much colorant was added that the paint is thick and sticky. Talk with your paint store about a colored primer and an agent that both increases viscosity and slows drying such as Flotrol (don’t add water). Here again, your best paint finish and performance will come from a paint that has no additives and works well when it is right off the chart.

Another hint: paint chips are printed INK not paint at all. Typically, the actual paint will be lighter than the chip. Oh, and commercials are commercials.

improvements that hold their value

Q.  We were planning on building our dream home last year but didn’t because we didn’t qualify for the loan we wanted. We have decided to live in our current house another 3 to 4 years. It is 3,200 square feet with tall ceilings and an open basement. The plush carpet is the first thing we are planning to replace. What kinds of things can we do that will be enjoyable to us and resell well later?—B.F.

A.  The best resale items are those that are uniquely attractive while valuable to the main stream population. Replace anything nondescript. Beautiful trim work and built-in cabinets will bring substantial value and personality to the space.

Ceiling work is very much in vogue. Coffered ceilings work in most any room over 9 feet tall. Beams and trim on vaults will please you, too! Check out the kitchen with an honest eye. You may want to overhaul it. Statistically, bathroom and kitchen remodels bring the best return on investment.

Turn the open basement into a casual game area and a separate theater room. Once a house has two rooms with a sofa and chairs, always make the third room have a unique function.  These days, everybody wants a theater room even if they have only one living area!

Definitely replace carpet with more impressive flooring. In areas you want to retain carpet, consider dense loops in patterns that are easy-going and flow from room to room. These are relatively new and will remain fresh looking for some time. Consider carpet in colors like sage, adobe, fog, and slate all of which add personality while remaining fairly neutral.

Wood floors are everyone’s favorite as they are inviting and substantial at the same time. Hot trends are hand hewn boards, hickory (with lots of pattern), and chamfered edges (making a v-groove). Natural stone, slate, and ceramic tile that looks natural are the favorites among most home owners choosing tile. If you like glass tile, work it together with stone for a designer look. Choose the largest size tile that makes sense for the area. Go for simple, classic design and impressive materials rather than a highly stylized design to appeal to the maximum number of potential buyers!

arranging awkward bonus room

Q.  I would like your advice on an awkward bonus room 20-ft. x 22-ft. we have in the basement. The biggest problem we have is a pole almost in the middle of the space. It is boxed in to look attractive, but it is in the way! We want to fit into the room some comfortable seating, a large TV, a game table, and an exercise machine. The lighting is very good. We have three windows and recessed lighting on dimmers. I like the trim which is a pretty off- white. I would be interested in your ideas for a layout, color, fabrics, and drapery. I’m thinking of using a solid fabric with print pillows.—J.G.

A.  Wow! I was surprised to see these pieces working around the pole without huge sacrifice. We want to place the most important furniture so that it is seen when you enter the room, so I placed the sofa opposite the door and angled it toward the television. The diagonally placed area rug runs parallel to the sofa and reaches into the other side of the room for balance.

A tropical tree behind the sofa fills the gap and adds flavor. Another plant goes on the front side of the pole. I placed a shelf unit between the doors for game storage and to have something on that side of the room. The exercise machine faces the television, and there is room for a game table in the corner!  Since your room is an all-purpose basement one, I would not go with dark theater room colors or bright sunny day colors. I would choose medium tones that are easy going with a little zip (remember you want to exercise there).

Here are a few trios of colors for fabrics from which to choose (paint should be something lighter that coordinates). 1. Avocado, Chestnut, and Raisin (The two browns create drama. The green is easy on the soul.)  2. Turquoise, Brick Red, and Chocolate (Trendy with urban vibe.) 3. Evergreen, Cantaloupe, and Mocha (Coffee shop colors perfected to be designer chic).

Rather than a solid sofa,  look for something that has an interesting weave but “reads” as a solid. It will be more durable and give you subtleties to tie in other elements of the room. A floor length window treatment is best to keep weight on the right side of the room where one window stands alone. A simple casual style is best. It can be just side panels from a pole. I like this color blocked style particularly in linen fabrics. A tropical leaf pattern on drapery would be stunning, too.

As you make purchases, choose things which are casual with some energy since the room will be used for a variety of activities.

Editor’s Note:
We welcome all questions related to home design—ask us about color, room arrangement, planning for a new home, selecting furnishings, lighting, flooring, and more. Questions are answered by Tanna Miller, allied member ASID, a well respected designer who has operated her award winning interior design practice Trends & Traditions in Nashville for 18 years. Contact Tanna at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 615-399-0661. For more information visit www.designnashville.com. Send questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .