Lobster Red

Dear long time blog reader Lauren,

In response to my former post entitled, "Lobster, Lobster, Everywhere" you asked about shades of red that are similar to the orange red shade of a cooked lobster that I so dearly love. Considering that I just wrote that post a few days ago, I didn't have time to get to a store and view actual paint swatches (which I'm still considering doing tomorrow); but I wanted to do much better than simply give you a hexadecimal color. So after doing a little research online, I found some interesting shades for you to possibly consider in terms of repainting a dresser for your sons nursery. WARNING! I have not actually seen these colors in person so I cannot vouch for their vividness, orangey-ness, or lack there of in each. You will have to check them out in person to decide if they're the right shade of lobster red. On that note, here they are:

Probably your cheapest option would be to use Rust-oleum spray paint. I found this spray painted outside light fixture on CreateLoveGrow in Rust-oleum Apple Red which I think improved the look and value of the light fixture one hundred fold!


Here is another Rustoleum success story found on CraftBite. I'm unsure if it's the same shade of red as the previous light fixture; it looks as though there is a slightly more blue undertone in it; however, that could just be because of the type of bulb she has in it as well as the white balance of her camera.


If you would rather paint the old fashioned way with a bristle brush, your most expensive route would be by using Farrow and Ball. Granted, these might be a little less bright and bold than you would hope for. They tend to be more traditional or historic in color. Two shades of theirs to consider are

Incarnadine


or Blazer.


I like this Ralph Lauren Lattice Red paint color.


Benjamin Moore has some great shades of Red as well. They usually run about $40 a gallon - at least in New York they do.

Let's start with Benjamin Moore's Red. I found a great post on a before and after adirondack repainted chair at JPM Designs. Here's a look at the final chair. That's a wow red! Actually just Red according to Mr. Moore himself.


Bull's Eye Red


Salsa


Heritage Red


Redstone (I just had to put this photo up!)


Poppy (might be too pink)


If you want a more toned down red, try Benjamin Moore's Currant Red as found on the Life in Grace blog.


Your best solution is to go to Sherwin Williams, Janovic, Home Depot, or where ever your closest paint store is, grab a couple of swatches and BRING THEM BACK HOME to test the lighting against the swatch in your house first. Paint swatches always look different in those fancy lit stores. Better yet, if you have an object you love, take it with you to the paint store and match the color to it exactly. It could be your favorite yellow pencil, red scarf, or even a photo in a magazine. I have been known to do all three! Really, finding the right shade of red these days will be much easier than coming up with a name for that baby boy of yours!

Lobster, Lobster, Everywhere!

If you know me, you know I love Maine. If you really know me, you know I love Maine Lobstah! As you can see from a previous post of mine entitled Mare Nostrum by Nymphenburg, I have developed a small obsession for all things lobster related. Much of it stems from the fond memories I have of visiting my in-laws in Maine and the times I've spent with my husband who is from there. However, much of it stems from that wonderful orange red hue that can only be found in freshly steamed Maine lobster. There's no other color like it in my book - especially for the summer months. But the great thing about this color is that it can easily transition into the winter months so seamlessly. Not very many colors have that year round staying power and yet this is one that can be fresh and light for the summer yet provide warmth in the long, cold, winter months. It can be used scarcely to add pops of color on a shelf, in a painting, or in a pillow as I have done in my apartment.


Unfortunately when I purchased this lobster pillow made of wool, there was no company name or tag listed anywhere on it (or even inside the zipper - trust me, I checked as thoroughly as an OB-GYN would). I bought it in a small gift shop in Ogunquit, Maine, just before you start walking on the Marginal Way trail if that helps you find it should you too want a lobster pillow.


This lobster napkin is another purchase of mine that as soon as I saw it in the Nantucket Whaling Museum, I knew I had to have at least ten of them. Well, maybe only one since they cost $18 individually...gulp. They're made by Statements Table Linens and distributed by C & W Imports. They are the hand towels with a single stitched lobster on each one. The packaging states it comes with two pieces; however, mine only came with one. It only takes one, though, to put in a little silver frame - which I plan on doing in the future.

This lobster red shade is so wonderful and universal that it can even encompass an entire sofa or chair as in the one I've longed to own for about eight years now, Anthropologie's Astrid Chair in Naive Tropical. But seriously, who hasn't had a crush on this chair by now? It's like the Johnny Depp of chairs.


Come on, how can you not love that face...I mean chair. Notice I even found a photo of him with a red background? Not coincidental.

Alls I'm sayin' about lobsters and design is that inspiration can be found anywhere and if you're trying to figure out what colors to use in your home, think about the color of the things your drawn too, whether it's the food on your plate, the plate your food is on, or Johnny Depp's soft, wavy, chocolate brown hair. I know the following photo is redundant, but it would have been criminal to leave it out. I simply don't want to get in trouble with the law. Heh, heh.