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searching for electric blue paint

15 years ago

I would love a vibrant ultramarine paint to paint some outdoor furniture, but I'm having a hard time finding a real, true electric blue. I'm talking International Klein Blue! Such a happy color .... I'm recovering the cushions in a bright yellow and white broad stripe. I'm smiling thinking of these armchairs. (rather, how they'll be after I finish painting and sewing!)

Any tips?

Thank you for your blue cues!

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Comments (7)

kitchendetective
15 years ago
Look at the Ellen Kennon website very carefully. She has some intense blues that started out as custom colors. Also look at Farrow and Ball, Fine Paints of Europe (they'll mix anything), and C2. Check EK Sapphire, EK Cornflower (darker than it sounds), EK Mykonos Blue, and Benjamin Moore Blue (yes, just "Blue").
kitchendetective
15 years ago
One other thought:
Emmett at Fine Paints of Europe is great on the phone. If you tell him you want the International Blue, he can tell you if there already is a paint that color, or he'll mix one up for you. Considering that they have all the RAL colors and all the Pantones, there probably already is one.
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I think I might be a bit hesitant about the black and white flooring. I love that look, but it could be very limiting down the road. If the carpeting is still okay, and you want to keep it, I would tell her that an area rug would be an option - zebra, or use carpet tape to tape together black and white bath rugs for a checkerboard look if you can't find an area rug like that. As for convincing her, I think maybe that is backwards thinking, LOL. She needs to convince you. Have her draw a scaled drawing of a wall on graph paper (you can download that on line for free if you don't have any). Have her draw up and color the design she thinks would be best for the walls. Then tell her that you also want one done the way you would like it (perhaps the banding I suggested, or something else that you like). Pin 'em up on the wall in the room, envision what they might feel like IRL, and work to some kind of compromise. Also make sure she understands that NO work can start until everything is off the floor and cleaned up so that furniture can be moved, etc. Perhaps offer to help her, but make HER start it and show some progress before you join in. As for the ceiling, with 12 feet up there I still think the blue is the way to go. Be sure she has enough lighting at 'people height' - lamps on the dresser and vanity, a wall-mounted swing-arm up by the sleeping area of the loft bed, a lamp by a reading chair or desk if she has those in there.
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Ideefixe
15 years ago
Are you painting wood or metal or wicker or what? I think metal is always better done in auto body paints, at the shop.
rmkitchen
Original Author
15 years ago
kitchendetective -- my hero! Thank you for all those great tips; I appreciate it so much. I'll tell you, I have the two BM books (I never would have thought that two of my most-used books would be of color chips!) and none of them were electric enough, so I'll definitely check out EK and FPE.

In a previous house I painted our front door FPE red, and it was about the cheeriest thing I ever did see. It was my v. first painting project but that paint was amazing. Even though I didn't know enough to sand in between coats it still came out beautifully shiny, like a candied apple. I am so exciting about following your tips!

ideefixe -- I totally agree about the nature of the material and how best to paint it. This particular set (armchairs / ottoman / side table) is wood and I'm just tired of the wood look. I'm feeling vibrant!

I was planning on using an exterior paint, probably semi-gloss. Now that kitchendetective has suggested FPE, I may try to pursue that since I had such good luck with that paint on our front door.

Thank you both so v. much!
User
15 years ago
Krylon has a pretty bright blue in their paint for plastics
amysrq
15 years ago
I would also suggest C2 if you can get it out there -- specifically Electric and Windsor. Can't really get how intense IKB is on my laptop, but these two are pretty stunning!
bluekitobsessed
15 years ago
I used HD Behr Jazz Blue and/or Artesian Blue for a kid's room a few years ago -- they are both bright, bright royal blues and very pretty. Sometimes for the very bright colors I also look at the Disney colors carried at HD and similar kids' lines (grownup colors are tasteful and subdued, aka boring).

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