My Dad taught me how to tape and paint walls before I was a teenager. I have learned to paint without
the use of tape. Painting walls is pretty therapeutic for me. My Mom was always the one to pick the
paint colors as she was the original Decorator in our family.
When I told my Dad I was going to become an Interior Decorator over 16 years ago he laughed at the
idea. You see, I LOVE bold colors & have always wanted to live in a rainbow. I told him that I was more
than capable of designing the homes of other people with more subdued colors than what I would put in
my own home.
I enjoy selecting paint colors for my clients as it is natural and quite effortless. The challenge I have
always faced is selecting the right paint colors for MY home. (I know other Designers that have this same
problem.) Years ago, I struggled with finding the right neutral for my home. I looked for months for the
right cream and there it was the whole time, sitting on my desk…”Manilla Folder”. My Dad & I laughed
at the absurdity & simplicity of this perfect color. It was LITERALLY a manilla folder…on my DESK!
Over the years I proved to my Dad I was not just good at interior decorating, but I became a successful
Interior Designer. He celebrated me passing Decorating Den’s challenging DDCD exam. I am though, a
successful Interior Designer who is still challenged by finding just the right color for headboard wall in
her own bedroom.
I have been taking a Feng Shui Master class with a second-generation Feng Shui
Master. I knew my primary bedroom needed blue but not just any blue. It needed purple undertones.
The Gary Love rock photograph above my headboard was my inspiration. Searching for over a year for
the right color, not finding what I wanted with Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, Behr, Valspar or any
other paint company, I finally resolved to scanning the yarn of the blanket I was making.
Not a fan of Home Depot, but I had an in-store credit to use, I went in and asked the young girl to scan
and color match the yarn
When I returned to the paint counter, it was obvious to her and I that the color was not exact to the color of the yarn. She said “If it’s not right, I can lighten it up”. Nope, that wasn’t it. This color had a tiny bit more purple to it. I heard the little voice of my Dad say “Go with it…trust me”. Alrighty! So home I went and even though I hadn’t planned on painting for another week, I was too excited to wait. I didn’t even test it up against the inspiration art. I started cutting in with the brush and began giggling. It’s going to be PERFECT! I was trusting my Dad’s guidance and going for it!
For decades Dad was an over the road Owner-Operator and moved people cross country for Atlas Van
Lines. He, along with many other people, have said “wouldn’t it be FUN to have the job of picking names
for these paint colors?” As I put the paint back out in the garage, I heard my Dad’s voice say “You’re
gonna love this.”…(not the color, but his inspiration for the color). “Wait for it” he said. As I placed the
paint can down, there it was, wrapped around an end table I’ll be delivering to a client… I laughed so
hard I cried! One of my Dad’s new jobs in Heaven, IS picking the names for paint colors. Ladies and
Gentlemen, I present to you …“Packing Mat Blue”!
Contact Us Today – Decorate BEAUTIFULLY with Erika Lee (and her Dad in Heaven)!
