Are on-line paint consultations worth the $$?

2 years ago

My kitchen refresh is nearing completion, and it's time to start thinking about paint. I actually don't need the kitchen area painted (it's all tile except the ceiling), but I have a semi-open concept and need the adjacent large eating area, hallways, and foyer painted. I'm usually confident in my paint choices -- I'm a PITA fuss-budget but I usually do get it right LOL! But, I've not had to paint a space this large and open to other rooms before, so I'm thinking it might be a good idea to at least get some objective input to set me down the right path.

These consultations aren't cheap, though -- so wondering if any of you who had an on-line consultation done, if it was worth the money and if you were happy with both the communication and the result. I'm thinking about Maria Killam's service, in particular. I don't know if Lori Sawaya does them anymore or just fully booked - does anyone know?

Featured Answer

Jennifer Hogan

2 years ago

I have used and have had mixed experience with color consulting.

I had a white on white home and at some time tired of the all white and wanted to do the then popular beige and white. I couldn't find a beige that didn't look like dirty pancake makeup on my walls and I didn't know what was wrong.

The first color consultant I hired was an interior designer. Charged $300.00 to come to my home and pick a wall color and give me some general tips. ( 1 hours consult).

She took out her fan deck and looked at several colors and told me what color I should get for my walls. I was so excited, ran out immediately and bought a gallon of paint in the color she suggested.

It looked just like the other colors I had tested. I called her and she told me it was the perfect color for my walls and the problem was my tile flooring and that I needed to replace 1700 sf of tile to another color that worked with the paint color she specified. I demanded a refund.

Second consult was with an online consultant who explained that I had pink undertones in my tile and if I didn't want to replace either my flooring or my maple cabinets I would need to stay with white walls.

Then I posted a question to Gretchen Schauffler who was the founder of Devine Color paint.

She led me down a path of understanding color and assisted me with finding a taupe that was perfect (At that time no one was painting walls taupe, everything was beige).

I learned so much from Gretchen over the years that she owned Devine Color (prior to being bought out by Sherwin Williams). She taught me how to sample colors and how to develop a personal color palette instead of just following trends. It became a passion for me and now I often help friends, family, and new home owners in my area pick colors.

She offers color consults with her new paint line (DIP). An hour of her time literally changed my life. She made me think beyond what I was seeing in magazines and encouraged me to explore the colors I love and how to bring them into my space.

https://dipcolor.com/products/dip-one-hour-color-plan

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Comments (15)

anj_p
2 years ago
You could get a free one from Sherwin Williams.
mxk3 z5b_MI
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
"You could get a free one from Sherwin Williams."

I would use either BM or SW paint, so it is an option. Are they any good, though? Or is it a crapshoot? I'm fine with paying someone for a service if it's worth it -- so it's not really about the $$, it's about the quality of service. Free is good too, but not if it results in a very costly mistake.

ETA: Costly in that I have to hire a painter, this will not be a DIY job. It's not the paint, it's the labor that's pricey.
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Oh, wow, I came to update, and was surprised any of you were interested. I'm still in a dither, this time afraid I should have gotten a white sofa, and not able to decide on fabrics for the rest of the upholstered furniture. The Ellen Kennon paint colors are: Living Room: Tulip Leaves, Peridot or Spring Green. Kitchen and Dining Room: Citrine, Sunshine, Buttercup, or Buttercream. I ordered a Bradington-Young Yorba sofa in a light tan (Surreal Masson). I was going to switch to an off-white leather this morning, but they finished cutting the leather right before I called. My leather is a shade or two lighter than this, but the color of what I bought is nothing like the swatch I have: The loveseat, chair, and ottoman I ordered are these (Jessica Charles): I chose the chair because it is big enough to fit my husband. He wanted the H&M Austin High Back Tilt Back w/ottoman -- but it looked like a huge squatting toad. I haven't selected fabric for the Jessica Charles furniture yet. There are two I like, but I think they'd look better with a white sofa *and* I don't think they'd look good with the green wall colors the consultant advised me to try. If I painted the living room Citrine, it might work. OTOH, maybe the fabric would look awful with the sofa. I am going this weekend to visit my mother for 10 days, so I had a couple dozen more fabric samples sent to her house. I'm bringing my set of Ellen Kennon paint chips and all the fabric samples I have, plus my leather swatch. My biggest problem, besides fearing I made a big mistake in not getting an off-white sofa, is that I like two color schemes equally well and cannot decide what to do: #1 is spring green and soft yellow, with blue accents #2 is a medium mossy green and off-white, with soft yellow accents. I think I made a big mistake when I chose the sofa color. Now I have to figure out what to do about it. It looks fine with the Ellen Kennon paint colors the consultant suggested, though. Hopefully, I'll make a fabric decision very soon, because I've already spent 4 months dithering about this. Green (except for dark green) is my favorite color, so it has to stay in the mix. ...
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chispa
2 years ago
If you have been confident and happy with your paint choices in the past, then I would keep doing it on your own. Yes, certain colors should never go together, but color is very subjective and I don't let a stranger pick what colors I should live with!

Years ago I hired an in person designer to help coordinate colors for a large house we had just bought. I hated the whole color scheme he came up with. Threw out his list and spent a few weeks figuring it out myself. Have never asked someone to try to pick color for me since!
anj_p
2 years ago
It sounds like you typically feel comfortable with your color choices. If you do a SW consult and you don't like what the consultant came up with, don't do it. You're out nothing except 30 minutes of your time.

I can't speak to the consultations you would pay for but you can always pay for one after you get a free one.
mxk3 z5b_MI
Original Author
2 years ago
"I can't speak to the consultations you would pay for but you can always pay for one after you get a free one."

Yea, that's true -- I guess I didn't think of it that way.
Yayagal
2 years ago
There is good information on the site below along with photos, it may help you decide. https://www.hellolovelystudio.com/2021/05/7-gorgeous-warm-white-paint-colors-for-home-decor.html
mxk3 z5b_MI
Original Author
2 years ago
Anyone else want to weigh in?
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
2 years ago
You can do renderings to see how you like colors in your spaces.
chispa
2 years ago
I think most of us are on the Houzz forums because we like making our own decorating choices and talking to others who do the same, so I don't think you are going to get that many people telling you to pay a color consultant.
Nancy Cranmer
2 years ago
Laurel Bern uses mostly Benjamin Moore colors. I have hardwood floors with stained trim in my entire house. Looking through her blogs led me to some very insightful ideas and finally a color that I love. I will be doing the same thing soon as you.. one wall leads to another.. and where do my colors meet and end and match and complement?!?!
mxk3 z5b_MI
Original Author
2 years ago
HAHA, you're probably right, chispa!
dawndecor02
2 years ago
HI Mxk....I did many color consultants. I did SW online, which was free. I paid $250 for someone on line. The SW was better than the one I paid for. For the paid one, I felt that this person had a template of colors they suggest for houses. I never felt he really had a feel for what I was looking for, and what he sent was not helpful. The SW was actually better, and they let me sign up twice to spend more time. In the end....the on- line is difficult because the color is never the same when you look on a computer. I tried to match window trim colors...and the one that "looked" good via the computer was a different looking color when I brought a sample home. In the end, I did hire a color consultant to come to my home, in person. She took some time to get a feel for what I was looking for, and that was really helpful. I would try the free SW on line again....but I would never pay for an on-line consultation again. Good luck!
mdefree
2 years ago
Before you hire a paint consultant, why not let us give you some feedback on paint colors. I would love to help you for free!
mxk3 z5b_MI
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks, all!

Are on-line paint consultations worth the $$?

Jennifer Hogan

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chispa

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