Paint Trends with Celeb Designer Stephen Saint-Onge

Stephen Saint-Onge had a wealth of knowledge to share, addressing all of our home design curiosities. We picked his designer brain for quite some time, and trends were high on our priority list. One new trend is happening in the world of paint.

Stephen's philosophy on paint is that it is a quick, easy and empowering way to get you excited about your home again. A bold new color (coupled with de-cluttering your space and selecting classic, key pieces to furnish your room) can be that breath of fresh air that we all look for when we feel stuck in that proverbial rut. It can help you take a big step towards getting that stylish, big-budget look, without the big-budget price tag. Re-painting a room is affordable and something you can easily do yourself. Whatever your decisions, Stephen firmly believes in sticking to what inspires you because, "What inspires you is what's exciting."


One trend in paint right now is to choose trendy colors. Stephen says, "chocolate is great!" In fact, he chose the room in the picture above as a prime example (this room is designed by Betsy Isackson, with whom we also spoke -- more on her tips for design later). The paint is by Benjamin Moore and is part of the "never needs more than a second coat" Aura line, which is $56.99 for a gallon or $19.99 for a quart.

A second trend involves how to paint. Stephen mentions the three top methods. Of course there's the always-popular trend of painting your entire room in one color. Another is to paint the room with bands. Bands give a space the illusion of added length. Finally, painter's tape is being used along with the paint to create a frame around certain elements and details in a room. Voila! Framed-art focal points!

The biggest trend is saved for last -- and it's really a sign of how much we've changed our priorities. People are now looking for low VOC in their move towards a non toxic approach. We are wanting kid-friendly and eco-friendly products. Stephen agrees that we are investing in a wise choice. A brand he highly recommends is Mythic Paint for its non-toxicity, ultra-low odor and low VOC. A quart of Mystic Paint is $19.49, a gallon is $53.99 and five gallons goes for $267.95. I should also mention that the Benjamin Moore Aura line is similarly low in VOC and odor.

As a dad, Stephen also appreciates a paint with a washable surface, which you can get with sheen finishes. Flat finishes look nice, but are harder to keep looking nice. It seems especially true with active little ones running around.

If you're curious about Stephen's other designer preferences and insights, Stephen's personal blog can answer your wonderfully-amusing musings like:

What is Stephen's favorite color combination?
What else Stephen suggests would add life and color to a room?
What are some creative spots Stephen uses paint and color to makeover a room? (Watch the video!)

More from Stephen to come.


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