Struggling to figure out what colors are best for your new
home or what are the best window coverings for a downtown
loft? Help is here. Interior designers and co-owners of the
design firm CM In The City, Cathi Marcoly and Mary Alice
Slattery are answering your design dilemma questions.
Lofty Color Ideas
Q: We recently bought a new loft in Burbank and would like
to add some color to our walls. Our loft is an open floor plan,
and we want our home to have a peaceful/calm feeling, but
we both love the color too. Could you help us with some
advice on how to go about picking the right colors that won’t
overwhelm your space? Jessica D.
A: Cathi Marcoly
Thank you for your question, Jessica. Mary Alice, I, live with
our husbands in lofts in Downtown Los Angeles. We love the
loft lifestyle and are sure you will too.
Choosing colors should be a fun process, not a daunting one.
Before we begin helping a client to pick colors, we do just as
you did in your letter: Assess the goals of your space. Know-
ing that you both want a calmer vibe, we would stay with the
softer colors. To choose a calmer color we start with a color
fan deck: This will allow you to find the perfect color and
coordinating colors in the same family. Any higher end paint
store will have a color fan deck that you can use to pick your
colors. Benjamin Moore is our favorite paint, and their web-
site is full of resources for choosing colors. Benjamin Moore
paints do cost a little more than brands sold at the big-box
stores, but the quality, colors and personal service make the
extra expense well worth it.
Paint stores are always willing to mix little pints so that you
can try them at home. We highly recommend doing this: It’s
your best insurance to know if you’ll like it in your space with-
out buying a whole gallon. Maybe pick a few colors to try.
You can also make color boards, so you don’t mess up your
walls.
Depending on the overall dimensions of your loft you might
want to consider a two-color strategy. For example, if you loft
is more oblong you might want to consider adding a richer
tone on the fa