wellness

Living Well – SuperPaint by Sherwin Williams

/ Heather Helms

To say the global pandemic has affected our everyday lives would be an understatement. Chances are you have made updates to your residence or are considering home improvement projects to support the activities that are now taking place inside the home. The interior design industry is paying attention and products are being introduced to support our new normal. In this series, Living Well, we will feature products and materials that support our lifestyles, health and well-being.

Today we introduce the aptly titled Living Well Collection of paint from Sherwin Williams. A special thank you to our Designer Account Executive – Katie Moses and Sherwin Williams for the use of their images and slides in this post!

Living Well Collection by Sherwin Williams

The Living Well collection is comprised of 540 neutral to mid-tone colors. If that is too many options for you, 132 inspiring hues have been curated into 11 color palettes to invite a sense of comfort and well-being in your home.

Living Well Collection by Sherwin Williams

The Living Well Collection is offered as part of their SuperPaint product line featuring 2 different technology options – Sanitizing Technology and Air Purifying Technology.

SuperPaint with Sanitizing Technology

This interior latex microbicidal paint is the first EPA-registered microbicidal and proven to kill 99.9% of E. coli, MRSA, and Staph on painted surfaces within two hours of exposure. If that wasn’t impressive enough, it continues to kill 90% of bacteria for up to four years, even after repeated contamination.

Interior latex paint with sanitizing technology

SuperPaint with Air Purifying Technology

This interior acrylic, zero VOC formula, contributes to better indoor air quality. Thanks to its innovative technology SuperPaint with Air Purifying Technology can actually reduce the VOC levels from other interior materials such as carpeting, cabinetry and fabrics. Want more good news? It is even effective on unwanted household odors!

Interior acrylic paint with air purification

As interior designers, we know the immediate impact a fresh coat of paint can make. The fact that it can now make a positive impact on our health and well-being is truly innovative!

Fall Prevention Tips for Interiors

/ Heather Helms

Falls can happen at any age and for any number of reasons. Loss of balance can occur from trip hazards, unexpected changes in elevation and compromised depth perception. I happen to come from a long line of “fallers” that can (and will!) fall without warning or provocation. So in honor of Fall Prevention Month we are sharing designer tips to minimize the fall risks in your interiors.

ORGANIZATION

Keep yourself organized. We live an extremely fast-paced life. Many times we are running in the house only to turn around a few minutes later and head right back out. This does not leave a lot of time to make sure everything you just brought in the house with you finds its way to the appropriate place. Take the time to get yourself organized and make the commitment to stay organized.

family entry lockers home organization

TIP: Keep entryways and walkways clear of clutter. Create built-in storage opportunities to keep items off the floor and ensure everything has its place.

LIGHTING

A thoughtfully considered lighting plan is key to any well-designed interior.  With our constant connection to technology our eyes are working harder than ever! Layer the levels of lighting (ambient, task and accent) within your space to create the ideal ambiance throughout the day and night.  Check out our blog post A Well Lit Interior for more on layering your lighting and inspiring applications.

led lighting on stairs

TIP: Keep hallways and stairways well lit.  The use of indirect lighting provides an all over glow that helps reduce glare and shadows that can affect your depth perception.

FLOORING

Consistency in material and/or material thickness will be the most beneficial considerations for this selection. Every flooring type has its pros and cons. It really is about using the materials you prefer and working with your designer and installer to determine the best product and application for your situation.

wood to tile threshold types

A raised and a flush transition.

TIP: The use of a single flooring materials throughout an entire residence is not necessarily realistic making transitions necessary to bridge the gap between the different materials thicknesses. Flush transitions are definitely preferred to a raised transition and tend to be more easily achievable in new construction than in a remodel.

TIP: When selecting a carpet the pile should be under 1/2 inch and a firm pad should be specified. Area rugs should always be secured to the floor tightly around the entire perimeter.

TIP: No tile can be entirely slip-proof there are industry tests and standards that determine the slip resistance of tiles. Next time you are in the market for tile consider a slip-resistant tile.

FALL FACTS – FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

  • Falls are the second leading cause of accidental or unintentional injury deaths worldwide.
  • Each year an estimated 646,000 individuals die from falls globally.
  • Adults older than 65 years of age suffer the greatest number of fatal falls.
  • 37.3 million falls that are severe enough to require medical attention occur each year.