I had the pleasure of doing a lot of painting over the past few days. Yes, that is correct, I really did say pleasure. Given my passion for painting this should come as no surprise. However this painting session was extra special for one simple reason…
At Seven’s we help people all the time with tips and tricks to make painting easier. Here is a list of things we recommend “not” to do when undertaking a painting project…
Pinebrook Green 490
Need a little color in your life? Check out these inspirational rooms painted with Benjamin Moore paints…
I have a new color crush and Blue, it’s you.
For years I have put you at the bottom of my color repertoire. Why? I’m not really sure. Maybe it had to do with your ‘countrified’ version which lasted way too long. Just thinking about you and all that mauve gives me the chills…
Every year as a designer, I wait with eager anticipation for Benjamin Moore’s Color Pulse–color forecast. I love knowing what colors and design elements will be popular over the next year. The color professionals at Benjamin Moore spend a lot of time and effort pulling together the elements of their forecast and it is always so interesting to watch for their predictions to become reality. Traveling to all areas of the world, they pay very close attention to the social, cultural and economic influences in those areas and in ours. This spring and throughout the year 2011, their color predictions are based on 4 main themes, that of Farm, Order, Escape and Tribe.
courtesy of flickr creative commons
It can be a challenge to know what to do with a foyer. Stairways, railings and high ceilings make them very difficult to contend with. Most people will hire a professional painting contractor to do the work which makes the pressure to find a great color even more important.
I have always felt a foyer or entry should give a welcoming feel and set the stage for the rest of the home. No matter what your style there is a wall color that will work for you…
When many of us were growing up did we ever think we would be parents — let alone parents of pre – teens? Yikes! I know I never pictured it for myself that’s for sure.
My mother’s words have often come back to haunt me, “You just wait! Someday your kids will act the same way.”
Some days life is like a field full of land mines. You never know what you may say that will send off the fireworks. It is great for everyone if the pre-teen in the family has a neutral corner or bedroom to retreat to.
I remember enjoying the Chronicles of Narnia when I was younger and I think it is great how those books have stood the test of time. My own kids have read them and loved the cinematic interpretations too.
If your pre-teen is like mine, why not give them a room that reflects their interests (fleeting as they may be) ?
courtesy of photobucket
It seems a lot of my design customers are getting ready to re do their kitchens and bathrooms. Many of them have concerns about mold and mildew from excess moisture and concerns about the durability of the paint itself– the ability to withstand repeated washings.
Durability is very important especially if there are kids who can’t keep the toothpaste in the sink or keep the water off the walls after washing their hands. (I know my kids aren’t the only ones who do this:)
Or if they have their very own Emeril who occasionally gets crazy with the pasta sauce. (My husband + cooking = mess on a nuclear fallout level!!)
Instead of installing a sink in the garage for teeth brushing and hiding all the pots and pans, it may be best to look into a more durable paint finish for these areas.
Color of the Year 2011
WOW! This color fantastic!! Rich and luscious yet soft and velvety Vintage Wine could be used in any space!
Even these wine bottle corks are the color of the year!
What a great gift!
Twelve days of painting? Are you kidding me?
Just to put your mind at ease, your painting project should not take 12 days.
Mine however is a different story. Instead of the usual holiday song, I made up my own version sung to the tune of, you guessed it …
Have someone who loves to do home improvement projects? Have a new homeowner on your gift list? Put Seven’s on your list of places to Christmas shop this season.
We sell empty paint cans which make great gift baskets! Place your gifts inside the can, add a couple pieces of tissue paper and Viola’, a personalized gift with it’s own easy to carry handle!
With so many paint + primer products out there these days how do you know which one is the best? Is it really true that you can skip the primer? Do they really work?
First, here is a little information on both. Primers typically have better adhesive properties and are made to bind and seal the surface you are getting ready to paint. Paints have more solids and are made to go on more thickly and give you color and better performance.
When I first started at Seven’s I really had not done any real painting. Decorative painting or faux finishing did not require me to be skilled in the areas of cutting in or rolling. Yes, you have to roll glaze on some areas but you don’t have to be fussy because you are usually manipulating the wet glaze with some sort of tool so roller marks are not an issue. You can use masking tape to help with edging to get your tool in close enough to the ceilings and trim work.
So I happily went along without really knowing what it takes to paint. Until I had to paint the first room in my first house. The nursery.
I’m pretty sure in a recent blog post I was complaining about the heat. Hmmm…what a change! As usual in Michigan you blink and the temperature drops 30 degrees!
I went on a paint color search for hues that help give a feeling of warmth and comfort with names that made me feel toasty.
In just a few short weeks the holiday craziness will begin. I have a rather long list of things to get done before company comes and hope I have enough time to get everything accomplished! I am counting on some help from family members so we will see how far I get. (Hint, hint, family members who may be reading this…)
It has been recent tradition to have Thanksgiving at our house. We used to go to a restaurant for feasting but when I married my darling husband, it all changed. “You do what for Thanksgiving? Why? How can you live without leftover turkey sandwiches? What about the football games?” So we finally volunteered to host it at our house.
