"On trips to Mexico , I found myself drawn to the colors and to the warm light that the sun casts on everything. Later, when I was choosing colors for my house, I found myself once again imagining these colors. Jana helped me translate my "color memories" into a workable palette for a 1920’s bungalow in North Carolina ." - Chloe W., West Asheville, NC

Any experience with integrated color - through travel in other cultures or time spent in an environment that uses color well- imprints on our senses the possibility of this refined relationship with light.

The first part of the process is determining the colors we resonate with and want to live with. Many people deny themselves the experience of paint color because of the daunting process of translating paint chips in a store to livable color on their walls, preferring to experiment with color in the "safer’ areas of furniture and accent pieces.

Each environment is unique and must be explored to determine its light qualities.

• North, south, east, west room orientation
• Available light: filtered, direct, artificial
• Time of day each room is most occupied
• Geographic location considering relative humidity and strength of sun light

Paint itself has qualities and chemistry that influence color.

• Warm or cool undertone
• Color bias. Is it a mocha brown that looks “fleshy” when applied, or an earthy brown that turns olive green after sunset?

These are the questions we will answer as well as how to move color through the environment, segueing from room to room.