The 2022 Color of the Year Round-Up

Around this time, all the major paint brands and color pros choose a shade that sets the mood for the year to come. Influenced by what’s happening in the world around us as well as trends in fashion, design, and pop culture, the “Color of the Year” is chosen to give people inspiration for how to design and decorate their home for the year to come. While each major brand goes its own way, there are sometimes overlaps or themes that really set the tone for the upcoming season. Here is a sneak peek of what we will soon see in living rooms across social media, according to the big names in color. 

October Mist by Benjamin Moore

Announced on Wednesday, Benjamin Moore chose October Mist 1455, a quiet sage green that offers an anchor to a collection of 14 earthy, neutral tones. According to Andrea Magno, Benjamin Moore Director of Color Marketing & Development, "October Mist 1495 and the corresponding Color Trends 2022 palette reflects an effortless harmony of colors while inspiring unique combinations for any paint project."

Evergreen Fog by Sherwin-Williams

Soothing and subtle, Evergreen Fog SW 9130 is described as a versatile and calming green/gray that offers lived-in comfort with earthy warmth. Great for kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms, it’s a nice, sophisticated color that will age well in any type of home, making it a smart choice for someone who is interested in following trends but doesn’t want to be trapped in a “here today, gone tomorrow” design choice. Think of it like a walk in the woods on a misty autumn morning. 

Aleutian by HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams

All the creature comforts of home come to mind with HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ 2022 pick, Aleutian HGSW3355. Like a well-worn pair of your favorite jeans, this relaxed blue sits comfortably between warm and cool tones, making it easy to pair with other soft neutrals. After a hectic 2020 and 2021, the idea behind Aleutian was to create a sense of calm with color. HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams went a step further, developing a palette of complementary tones called the Softened Refuge Collection, with Aleutian as its foundation color. 

Breezeway by Behr

If you like the feeling of the beach but don’t want to get washed out in all blue, Behr’s 2022 Color of the Year might be for you. Called Breezeway MQ3-21, the soft green shade feels like sea glass but can easily pair with richer, warm hues for an autumn feel. Fans of more simple colorways will love the way it looks with white, gray, and natural or lighter shade wood tones. Behr, calls Breezeway "a color that welcomes a hopeful sense of renewal, restoration, and healing." However you style it, the color is fresh, relaxed, and inviting. 

With so much happening in the world today, it’s clear that interiors will look to evoke a sense of serenity that’s here to stay. What’s your favorite hue for 2022? I would love to hear from you. Message me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/odonnellbros

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Make Your Lawn the Envy of the Neighborhood

A gorgeous green lawn is what homeowners dream about and with plenty of rain these past few weeks, we are in for a great head start. So how do you make the most of this weather and get a jump on fantastic grass for the whole season? Here are six smart steps you can take.

First, perform a soil test. Grass can be finicky and the pH level of your soil will help you to better understand how to treat it all season long. Experts suggest that the pH level should be between 6.0 and 7.0 and your reading will help you to figure out what nutrients your lawn needs. A soil test is always a smart first step so you don’t go out and buy fertilizer and seed that isn’t the right match. A soil test can be done by a professional landscaper or you can purchase a test kit at any hardware store.

Next, it’s time for clean-up. Start by removing any winter debris such as sticks, leaves, stones. Then give your yard a good rake, even if it’s free of debris. This is called dethatching because it picks out the dead matter that collects on the bottom of the grass blades, closest to the ground. During the winter, thatch is good because it acts as a layer of warmth and protectant. But as the temperature rises, it can block new grass from coming up. 

Once the lawn has been dethatched, it’s time for aeration. An aerator is a bit like a push lawn mower but instead of cutting the grass, it pokes holes in the ground. Aeration is important because all grass needs sun, air, and water to grow. By aerating the lawn, it allows for better air and water flow and lets nutrients get to the roots of the grass more easily. Most people skip this step but I think it’s essential. 

Now I like to treat my lawn with a pre-emergent to help contain weeds. As I mentioned before, grass can be very temperamental, but weeds are strong and will grow in pretty much any condition. If left untreated, they will pop up all over your lawn and compete with grass for sunlight and water. Plus, they multiply and spread very easily. Depending on your soil test and the kind of law you have, a pre-emergent will help to keep those weeds at bay which will help your lawn to flourish.

Once your weeds have been treated, it’s time to reseed any bare spots. Thinning is normal with mature lawns, so you may want to reseed the entire lawn or just portions of it. The type of seed you use will depend on your lawn and your soil, so make sure you consult with the expert at your local hardware store before you buy your grass seed. A spreader makes this job quick and easy but the key is to keep the ground moist to allow the seeds to germinate. 

Finally, it’s time for fertilizer. You’ve worked this hard so make sure to give your grass the best possible chance to survive and thrive. Again, fertilizer is not a one size fits all product and what’s right for your lawn depends on a number of factors. The key is to make sure the fertilizer you select has the nutrients your lawn needs to grow lush and beautiful. 

With all these tips comes one warning. While you might be tempted to get the mower out, it’s better to start slowly and let the grass grow a bit longer in the early season. If you follow the steps above and give the lawn a good clean-up before mowing, you’ll have longer, thicker, healthier grass all season long. Happy grass growing!

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Beautify Your Yard with These Alternative Landscaping Trends

While beautiful grass is often considered to be a homeowners pride and joy, today we’re seeing lots of alternatives in landscape design that offer more dimension, better mixed-use opportunities, and less maintenance than the traditional green that we’ve come to know and love. With so many planting options and warmer weather stretching well into the later months of the year, now might be a great time to start planning a few refurbishments to give you a new look and better use of your outdoor space. Here are some ideas:

No More Mowing: For people who love the look of grass but can’t stand the maintenance, no mow “smart lawns” have begun cropping up as an option for residential spaces. Products such as Eco Lawn and No Mow Lawn Mix offer fast establishing grass that then grows slow, requiring only a few mows per year if any at all. Many of these products also thrive with minimal water and their deep seeded roots are able to grab nutrients, meaning less fertilization and chemical treatments.

Play Space: The rec room has always been a popular option for young families, but why not designate a place in the yard for fun too? For people who don’t like weeding, creating a designated area to enjoy games is a great way to entertain guests and keep kids occupied for hours. Popular choices include long sand or stone pits which can be used for horseshoes or cornhole, or paved areas that can double as a croquet or bocce court.

“Hygge” Time: One of the big trends of the year is creating a space dedicated to comfort, coziness, and mindfulness. “Hygge” (pronounced hue-gah) is a Scandinavian term that’s used to describe the feeling of comfort and coziness, which has become popular indoors in the form of meditation rooms and dedicated reading nooks. That concept is now making its way outside, with homeowners embracing the longer seasons of comfortable weather by building cozy fire pits and stone wall enclosed zen gardens for quiet contemplation.

Contained Gardens: Everyone loves the idea of homegrown fruits, vegetables, and herbs, but few of us have the time to prepare and look after a large garden. For a lower maintenance approach, try potting your favorites in large planters that you can place closer to the house. Tomatoes, herbs, peppers, and beans are all space savers that can survive and thrive in smaller containers.

Outdoor Living: Probably the biggest - and most expensive - ongoing trend is creating an additional living space outside of the house. From synthetic decking to full blown outdoor kitchens, more and more people want to come home and relax outside after a long day in the office. Pizza ovens, barbecue courtyards, and the ever famous outdoor bar are just some of the options that homeowners are continuing to invest in to enjoy now and add value potential to their home when it comes time to sell.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only