Whats the new trend heading our way in home design color? White!

We've seen the neutral wall shades come and go, we've seen beige, taupe, and grays galore...some will be here for some time yet, like gray, but the new kid on the block is the oldest yet, and we're seeing it popping up everywhere in home design. White walls are the new fad and there's good reason, white is a classic and classic design has real staying power.
Now for those that are mystified by this, well don't be. Years ago, every new home built back "in the day" was done in flat white paint on every wall. Builders left paint colors up to the home owner and many either left them white or painted them in the colors popular for the time.
Going all white might seem simple but there are things to consider if you choose to go this route:
If you're going to follow this trend here's things to consider, both positive and negative:

Pros:

White floods out small imperfections and even stains/marks
White will bring your colorful accessories out from hiding and let them take center stage.
Works with almost every color scheme and allows you the freedom to change design schemes often with no real painting needed
Ideal for zen styles
Gives small collections and design elements more importance because white offers no visual competition
Brightens dark spaces-especially if you use semi or high gloss paint which lets light bounce around the space via reflection


Cons:

White highlights big flaws and marks
White and eccentric tastes in color can work against each other.  White makes everything that has a color stand out but too many conflicting colors can cause the eye to jump around the space and leave  disconcerted feeling.
White makes clutter more prominent
White makes less attractive things stand out as well as attractive
Many think white lacks warmth. This is not true nearly as much as what you pair white with in colorful accessories etc. Stark contrasts can create a colder feel than warm colors and interesting textures.

Happy home deocrating!!

Cold space blues, a few tips to warm up a cold space...

warm spaces (Photo credit: ▓▒░ TORLEY ░▒▓)

We allllll hate a cold space, its the space most wont hang out in or venture in. We have to ask ourselves what makes the space feel cold. Color, temperature, lack of visually appealing and or comforting items. If you address each of these problems, you'll soon find you can warm a space up in no time.

Temperature: Is the space really cold? A cold room will never feel warm no matter what you do it to it. If the space is poorly insulated you may want to consider purchasing insulated drapes in warm colors like browns, golds and reds for visual warmth and physical warmth. Electric fireplaces can be a wonderful focal point and also provide additional heat and have varied settings.

Visual appeal: Visual tools for warmth in a cool space can be utilized with candles, not just as décor but actually using them on a regular basis. Candle light emits a soft warm glow and will play off of the other accents in a warm to allow a little warm light to bounce off of any reflective accessories in the room. Reflective surfaces like metallic finishes, fabrics that have a sheen all can be mixed with matte finishes to create a balance of light and dark and warmth. Plants also have a welcoming, calming effect and where life will flourish, warmth can be felt.

Colors : Color matters in a space, and you can not make a cold space feel warm without color, however its not just color alone that works. Depending on the light in the room, the type of paint you choose is also important. Satin finish paints will let light reflect and lighten a dark space. Matte paint is soft and can give off the look of suede in candle light. A bright room that is stark and cold would do well with matte, while a room with limited natural light could make best use of the light with a satin or semi gloss finish to help the light source redistribute.

Other ideas: Sconces add decorative elegance and a nice soft light in dark spaces. Whether they are with candles or electric, they add to the atmosphere. They are decorative when not in use, take up little space and are purposeful when needed which makes them a great choice for lighting. Area rugs can also warm up a space where you have a lot of hard surfaces in a room. Always view your space top to bottom and side to side. Floors like hardwoods and tiles can sometimes use a little softening and warming up with area rugs and soft plush warm hues will do the trick nicely.

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Wallpaper: It's come a long way

If you're trying to update your homes look, especially if you're trying to sell, paint is not the only option for giving your home a nice new update. While you may have been hesitant to use wallpaper in the past or you've heard countless times how it is a turn off to a potential buyer the truth is, wallpaper is coming back in big way. What wallpaper can give you over paint is it can hide a multitude of imperfections in the wall.

Easy installation- For kitchen and bathrooms, there are great neutral choices that are easier to install like this example: Brewster 425-6004 Trends For Kitchen and Bath Paper Crackle Wallpaper. Why is this paper a great choice? Well it is neutral, and so will not offend most buyers since it will go with a wide array of styles and décor. It has a random non repeating pattern which means you won't have to line up patterns. This saves you a lot of money because there are no extra cuts needed. It's scrub able, peel-able and this is something you can pass on to the new buyer or homeowner.

Damaged walls- How about a wallpaper that will really cover damage? Here's a great solution and it's paint-able so you can make it as neutral as you like: Large Tile Flower Heavy Textured Paintable Wallpaper. This wallpaper gives you all the flexibility you need to customize it to your existing décor or make it an easy match for the next family if you're selling. This is an ideal wallpaper for walls that have a lot of minor damage, scrapes, scratches and shallow indentations. Here's another example: Graham and Brown 13194 Cordoury Wallpaper.

Gray is the new beige- Don't forget, gray is the new beige in neutrals and it is extremely popular today. Gray has found a new following in the décor industry. It pairs well with bright white trim, and dark woods that are popular in many furnishings today. Try using updated modern wallpaper to create a focal point or a feature wall in your home, like this style: Brewster 176-65522 Beacon House Dynasty Foils Petals Wallpaper.

Lightening up a dark room

Up lights can do a lot for a dark space

If you are like most homeowners you have at least one “problem” room in your home. Dark spaces can feel dank, depressing and usually wont be used as much. To brighten up these dark rooms there are a few tricks that can be utilized to maximize low light areas.

1. Paint the ceiling in a semi gloss paint- If it is popcorn, you may want to consider scraping it. Before you do, read: Popcorn ceiling removal.
   
2. Paint walls in a semi gloss- Keep in mind that your walls need to be in pretty good shape as with all reflective paints, they will also highlight marks, dings, and scrapes that a matte paint can conceal.
   
3. Use “up lights”- Up-lights are cylindrical lightening fixtures that sit on the floor and cast a light upwards into the room. When you paint your ceiling in a semi gloss paint, the ceiling will reflect off of the up lights and back down into the room creating more light overall.
   
4. Place mirrors strategically- Mirrors do well to reflect any light source in the room provided you place them where they can reflect the most light. That means trying out different spots in the room, and in some cases placing a mirror opposite of a window, light or doorway.
   
5. Use a monochromatic design scheme- While a monochromatic design scheme can't place light into the room, lighter neutral shades give the room a lighter feel and can keep the room from feeling darker.
   
6. Use fabrics with a sheen- There are a lot of fabrics out there that cast a sheen, they usually make for great pillow covers,drapes and furniture covers. When it comes to a dark room you have to seize all ideas available to brighten the space up.
   
7. Windows- Adding a window to a room can do a lot to brighten it up, however, if you don't have that in your budget, simply use a faux mirror window like the one shown in the Amazon link below.
8. Metallics- Metallics have a reflective surface and here again, will aid in having light bounce around a space. Using metallic lamp bases, picture frames, vases, and other accessories will all help in chasing darkness from a room. When using metallics in conjunction with the other suggestions listed here, you will increase the light in a dark space dramatically. Reflective wall art done in chromes and silvers can do so much to add more light where there was none, give it a try.
   
   
   

Why color matters

color wheel (Photo credit: unleashingmephotography)We all have a color pallet we love, and for some of us, well, we're the quintessential color "junkie" loving all colors. While we may have many passions on the color wheel, it is important when it comes to our home to be careful in our selections. Choosing colors you love is the easy part, knowing where and how to use them is another story.
While many  designers may advise you to explore all sorts of colors, and encourage you to try them in your home, it is incumbent upon them to also help guide you in the process.
Trying wild colors such as oranges, purples and reds are a great way to display your creative side, you may have to do a little self analyzing to figure out if these color additions should be long term or short term choices.

Here area few questions to ask yourself prior to making bold statements in color for your home:

1. Do I change my mind frequently?
If you tend to change your mind a lot and find yourself changing up your rooms furniture placement, etc. you may want to add bold colors in simple ways rather than to commit to large surface area colors that are often difficult to change without a lot of coats of paint. Bold paint colors that go on large surface areas can change a room in many ways and be costly to correct, often requiring primers and more paint.

2. Do I tend to follow current trends?
If you are a die hard trend follower with design, then you no doubt are aware that about every 5- 10 years you will have to switch it out. This can in some cases translate into some serious money depending on how far you go. If the trend is just about color, try adding some color into the room via decor and seeing how you "live" with it, prior to making a bold move into a bold color choice.

3. Do I mind putting in a lot of work for a temporary trend?
As stated, trends come and go, and when you go all out to create a home based on trends, there will be a time and place when the winds of change come about.  The work to undo a trendy idea can be huge.  Remember when everyone was crazy for Country blue? Well many do, and as soon as the 90's came around there were people assembling en masse at the local hardware store looking for ways to strip the colors off of their kitchen cabinets, and cover it up on the walls.

4. Will I be moving in the next five years?
If you're planning on moving in the next five years, it is a good idea to pass on the wild paint schemes. Studies have shown that homes that have wild color pallets sit on the market, translate to more work for the potential buyer and don't sell as fast. In a struggling housing market, this could be a bad idea if you plan on changing locations within the next five years.


5. Am I sure I want large surfaces filled with this color?
You know, what seems bedazzling and lovely on a paint card/chip at the paint store may be a disaster when seen in your home on a large wall. There are many software programs,(see *link below) available that can help you see your room with the color you select in advance before you commit to buy. For those who are not computer savvy, take home a small can of paint and try a small patch of wall. Take note of which walls you paint, how light effects the color during the day and how the paint color works with the rest of the design scheme in the room.

See your home painted before you go to the paint store:

*Colorjive

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Do you suffer from color phobia?

Image via Wikipedia

For some slapping a coat of paint on a wall is a funky adventure and an expression of style and color.

For others, paint colors, types and choices are a terrifying commitment to change that they are just not willing to undertake. These are lovingly referred to as the “color phobes.” There are also those that take their phobia to the extremes, no color on the walls and certainly very little color in the overall décor. As an Interior decorator, I am always shocked at how little people are willing to do to break away from their comfort zone.

So how do we correct this condition? Taking the mystery out of paint is key to at least getting a color phobe out of their shell and to tap into their creative side. Paints basically come in a few finishes, glossy, semi gloss, satin, and flat/matte. Which should be used for what? Glossy is durable and can stand up to moisture, can be washed, has a longer drying time and is great for cabinets and furniture. Semi gloss is seen often in kitchens and bathrooms for resistance to moisture and easy to wipe clean. Satin has a sheen as well and is also seen in kitchens, kids rooms and bathrooms. Flat and matte, great for walls that have imperfections. Due to the low reflective quality of flat paint, marred and damages walls will not be highlighted with flat paint. Now that dealt with the different finishes, in part so we have taken some of the mystery out of paint finishes at least, right?

The other problem is society screams that one should not dare paint any wall a color other than beige. Daring not to be neutral is scary, but can it be done? Should it be done and when should you do it? All good questions a color phobe may be pondering. When should you try a color that is on the wild side? Well that is up to you, if you aren't planning on selling your home there are a few risk free places to give color a go. Closet interiors, children's rooms and hall ways come to mind. Look around your home for some inspiration. Breaking free from color phobias requires baby steps, so try small spaces first.

Should bold colors be done at all in your home? Well again, if you aren't planning on selling, why not? Worse case scenario, you have to repaint, but at least you gave it a go, and that is important when you are afraid to take color risks. Perhaps your phobia should be toned down to colors in décor first. Bold sofa pillows, drapes or an area rug may help coax you out of your fears of using color. It may also tap into a creat at is in your home and just address the colors in or on it. Use that as your inspiration. Sometimes you discover your artistic side and that starts off a chain of events that frees up your mind, and your heart. Removable décor that has bold color statements are easy ways to break out of dull lifeless schemes and a safe way to address the problem.

Painting is only a cosmetic change, it's not a life time commitment. No more than changing your hair color is, which to some is equally daunting. Truth is, it's only color people. If painting is too scary, try the other suggestions mentioned here and see if there's a sleeping artist inside, chances are there is.

Project: Sunroom Addition

Is it worth it?
Definition: A Sun room, also known as Florida room, and in some cases, a 3 season room is defined as a structure which is constructed onto the side of a house, usually, to allow enjoyment of the surrounding landscape while being sheltered from adverse weather conditions such as rain and wind. However, today Sun rooms are so much more than a mere structure to enjoy the exterior landscaping. Many are also all purpose rooms, family rooms and double as a place to entertain or house overnight guests if it is properly heated and cooled. Sun rooms are seen primarily in southern regions of the United States, but they are starting to emerge elsewhere too. Many of the origins associated with sun rooms, began in Europe.
Adding a sun room on to an existing home, especially if using an existing enclosed porch is a great way to expand square footage and add much needed space. With the addition of heating and cooling capabilities a sun room can often add value to a home. How much value differs depending on what area of the country you live in, and also to what extent your addition is made livable. Sun rooms that are not heated or cooled are often called 3 season rooms and in most cases must have the ability to be closed off during certain times of the year when temperatures are too hot, or too cold to enjoy the room. Adding electric fireplaces, or window unit air conditioning may be an option to get the most use out of a sun room, provided it is well insulated and built to code.

If you are willing to do most of the work yourself, with the proper building permits obtained, enclosing a porch and making it into a sun room can be done relatively inexpensively. Do not skimp on the materials however, if you plan on this being a year around addition, as you will only add to your heating and cooling costs in the long run. If you are considering a three season room, make sure to have the ability to fully close the room off when not in use. Do not expect to receive the same return on your investment for a 3 season room. In some states, the added square footage is not included in the homes appraisal, and this could affect your ability to recoup any costs associated with it. In some states, a sun room yields far less of a return on the home value than a family room addition, so consider carefully  the definition of both before adding it on. Building inspectors and appraisers have different criteria involved for both and knowing this in advance may make a difference in what you label your room.

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Removing "popcorn" ceilings

If you watch interior design shows, home hunting shows, etc. one thing you will see time and time again is homeowners and buyers with a strong aversion to the dreaded, "popcorn" ceiling. Popcorn ceilings were popular in past decades for adding texture to what seemed at the time a bland overlooked surface in the home. If you live in South Carolina, and want to have your home checked for lead, asbestos etc. see the link at the bottom of this article. Like many design tactics, it was a design feature that would come back to haunt homeowners later on. The question is should you remove it, or leave it and avoid the mess and time it would take to remove? Before you make a decision, it is best to ask and answer the following questions.


Is your home older than 1978?
Homes built prior to 1978 used lead in the paints, removing a popcorn textured ceiling may seem like an easy update to your home, but if the ceiling was painted (and most were) it could have lead in the paint. What does this mean to you? Scraping, sanding, and repairing could release lead particles and allow them to become air born. Exposure can occur from deteriorating lead-based paint, pipes, or lead-contaminated dust or soil.

Was your home built prior to 1985?
Asbestos was banned for use in building materials in 1985, however, for homes built prior to 1985 asbestos was used in almost every aspect of building materials from insulation, to floor tiles, roof coverings, and siding. Removing the "popcorn" textured ceiling could result in gouging out part of the ceiling, and causing asbestos to become air born. If there is any asbestos, experts recommend having the ceiling removed by professionals, or go over the existing ceiling with fresh drywall.

If you live in South Carolina, and  you think your home may have asbestos or lead you need to see: EnviroDemo Contractors before you take on any construction project, even removing popcorn ceilings.

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Questions from my readers: Where did I go wrong with my grey room?

Image by dawnella66 via Flickr

Dear Dawn,
First of all I really enjoyed your blog on interior decorating. Here is my question. I read your article about "grey" being the new "beige" and thought it'd be a great color for my bedroom. So I went and painted it "grey". Now it looks blah and sort of "institutional". Where did I go wrong?
Thanks for your help,
Bethanny

Dear Bethany,
Thank you for visiting my blog and reading my articles on interior decorating. First let me say that while "grey" is currently a popular neutral, it is just like every other neutral, a little bland on its own. Its really the accent colors that make or break a neutral in the home. Grey is a nice soft color but to make it come alive it needs a few lively friends in the room. There are a few accent colors that naturally look great with grey. Those colors are chocolate brown, black, and bright white. These all compliment grey very well and look best as trim, wood finishes and furnishings and decorative accents.
First, lets take a look at trim, although your trim work in the room is white or light colored, it probably could use a fresh coat of white. I'd go with a satin or even a high gloss bright white. Next family photos and artwork on the walls look great if they are framed out in black or chocolate colored contemporary frames. You'd be surprised how sharp these contrasting colors look with grey. Great choices for metal accents is Pewter, or brushed Nickel or Oil rubbed Bronze. By adding bold and bright contrasts to your newly painted grey room you will see a room transformed into a posh, sleek and anything but "institutional" design.  For more information please see: Grey, the new Beige in home decor, Good luck!

~Dawn

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Some easy kitchen design ideas

Image via Wikipedia

Whether your kitchen is looking somewhat worse for wear or you just feel like you need a change, we all enjoy decorating the room and making things look a little better from time to time. At first, decorating a kitchen sounds like a costly and difficult task that involves a lot of chaos and hard work. However, you don’t have to start ripping out your kitchen units to make the place look better.
Here are some simple, yet tasteful kitchen decorating ideas that will not cost you a fortune but will make your life a lot easier and more pleasant, see: Kitchen decorating ideas.
A simple coat of paint goes a long way towards making any room look good. Paint the walls or even paint the kitchen cabinets. As long as you find a pleasant color scheme that blends in with the rest of the room, you may find that this makes all the difference.
Jazz up your tiles with self-adhesive waterproof stickers. This is far less effort  and less costly than replacing the tiles.
Say it with flowers. For a nice decoration that makes any room look great, add some natural greenery. This can be in the form of a pretty vase of flowers placed in the center of the kitchen table or as a cute potted plant on the edge of the kitchen island. Flowers are eco-friendly, they look and smell beautiful, and they add a touch of vitality to every home.
What about changing the decorations on the walls? If you don’t have any pictures, why not add one or two – a poster of your choice or a pretty wall-hanging can give an new touch to your kitchen. You could also go farmhouse style and hang up some pretty china plates on the wall. This kind of look may remind you of the past, but it never goes out of style.
How about adding a neat area rug? This will make the floor look better and also cover up any unpleasant stains on the linoleum or carpet.
Another way to make your kitchen look pretty is to use kitchen accessories. You could, for example, light scented candles. These banish unpleasant cooking smells, look good, and create a special atmosphere. You could also create your own accessories. For example, you might like to keep your glass spice jars, wash them out, and paint them. Then they can be used for a pretty display on one of your shelves or countertops. If you are not sure what to do, there are plenty of kitchen design articles out there that could help you find inspiration.
Another important tip (even if it is not specifically a design idea) is to keep your kitchen at a certain level of tidiness and cleanliness. No matter how well-designed or pretty a kitchen is, if it is messy it will always look terrible. Therefore, if you get into the habit of making sure to put away everything that you use and never to leave dirty dishes lying around, your kitchen will definitely look a lot better.

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Choosing the finishing touches for your newly built home

Image by burienundressedblog via Flickr

Many home builders out there offer a wide range of upgrades that will enhance a buyers home for years. In some instances, the choices of wood finishes, hardware, and counter tops is limited, along with paint colors, while others run the gamut. There are a few things to remember during this process.





1. Take your time and research-
  Just as important as pleasing your color pallet, it is important to know what upgrades are worth it and what upgrades aren't. This is an investment opportunity, and in some cases, making the wrong choice in finishes can be costly mistake later.

Image by thepatriotcompany via Flickr

2. Wood finishes-
Try to match your wood finishes in your new construction- Flooring and cabinetry look best when they are the same. Some may argue that this seems to be too much of a good thing, but to counter that is the fact that mixed woods are distracting to each other. Also know that trend wise, Oak is on the lower end of the totem pole, with more desirable woods falling under Maple, Mahogany, and Cherry. All of which can be finished in different stains, so try to at least keep stains similar. Contrasts are nice in a home, but you can easily bring in contrasts via paint colors and in decorative elements.

3. Hardware-
Make sure you don't mix your finishes in the room. While some designers will think it a bold move, most of the time from a visual stand point, having brushed Nickel and Oil Rubbed Bronze in the same setting just doesn't  jive well. There are metals that flatter each other that you can mix, such as Oil Rubbed Bronze, antique bronze, and  Copper, or Brushed Nickel and Pewter. Do not forget your cabinetry hardware when planning your fixtures. Lighting fixtures, faucets and cabinetry should all go well together. You can go a little creative, but this isn't the best area to be daring in. A pulled together room will always have a professional touch to it, and the way to achieve it is when you carefully match your finishes throughout.

Image via Wikipedia

4. Paint color and type-
 There are two schools of thought with regards to paint colors for you new home, one is to paint before you move it, which is a great way to avoid getting paint on furniture and allows you the ability to move about freely from room to room. The other school of thought is wait to paint until you move in the home for a while so that you can be certain that the color choices you make will work well with your furniture and decor. Another consideration is that if you move into your home first you will have the opportunity to examine the effects that lighting cause in each room. Perhaps you want to capitalize on a rooms natural light by picking a color that will enhance the natural light. There may be a room that receives little light that you may want to paint a brighter color, or use a semi gloss to redirect what light does come into the room. One thing you want to remember with regards to painting is to keep the same color family in any areas that are connected, or open up to each other. When several rooms are visible from one viewpoint, you can stay in the same color family. You can make distinctions by going with a varying shade of the same color. Make sure to go with the correct type of paint in kitchens and bathrooms. Kitchens usually do not fair well with flat paints as even small grease particles can eventually be seen on your walls. Bathrooms need a paint that will have waterproofing characteristics and also be mold resistant. See : Sherwin Williams Bath Paint.

Image via Wikipedia

5. Flooring-
Ideally using the same flooring through out your home is playing it safe and for most a wise route. However, you can mix flooring if you are doing different materials as long as the colors meld well with each other. For instance, Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors will look perfectly fine in your living room, but you may wish to have stone tile in your kitchen. This is perfectly acceptable if you go with a stone tile that embodies the same warm red, gold and tan tones found in the Cherry flooring. Do not mix hardwoods with other hardwoods, example, an oak floor in your living room should never butt up against a mahogany floor in your dining room. This will make the areas look choppy and your flooring will appear to be an afterthought. In some cases it even suggests that part of the home is older, or has an add on. It just doesn't look pulled together. Tiled stone flooring shouldn't be a mix of styles either. The exception perhaps in bathrooms.

Image by granite-charlotte via Flickr

6. Counter tops and Vanities-
Make sure you go with a pattern in your counter top choice that will accommodate a change in color scheme. If a granite counter top has several color variations, you will have an easier time at a later date, should you grow tired of the paint color in the room.  For the same reason, you may want to chose a Vanity top that can easily go with any color.

 

 

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Top 5 articles on painting your home interior

Image via Wikipedia

If you live in South Carolina and would like to see a complete listing of the finer paint stores in your area please visit this South Carolina Retail Paint Stores Directory. This list is a thorough list of paint stores spanning over most of South Carolina.






Grey the new beige in home décor

Ten years ago, if someone had said grey would soon be the new beige in home decor, one might would have scoffed. However, in recent years consumers have softened towards this not-so-new color and it is turning up everywhere in homes. Grey is no longer the dull and drab institutional color it once was. Today, the average homeowner is more skilled in design than ever before. Most consumers are quite design savvy and have access to information and know that in the right settings, and paired well with supporting colors, grey is the new hot neutral. Continue reading on Examiner.com: Grey, the new beige in home decor 

Making neutral paint colors work

We have all heard on television that neutrals are the way to go when painting a room, especially if you are planning on selling sometime in the near future. So you went and bought some beige and went to work "neutralizing" your home. Did you run across a feeling of boredom? Did you feel you toned your home down to the point it could be used for a sleep center? Well what a lot of these decorating shows on television fail to mention is that neutrals work but to get them to "pop" requires, bold compliments in trim and accents.
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Making neutral paint colors work

Painting basics for beginners

Few improvements you make in your home will be as affordable or easy as painting the walls in your room. The impact can be huge and gratifying. Knowing the best paint for the particular type of room you are working on is an important first step before your project should begin.
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Painting basics for beginners

Painting green for a healthier home
A few decades ago, painting a room involved a major process of opening windows and doors, sleeping in other rooms, and hours and hours of dry time. Little did the consumer know, the walls they were painting were laden with lead, and high concentrations of VOC's. Now the homeowner has options like never before to make their home beautiful, healthier and Eco friendly.
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Painting green for a healthier home 

How to find inspiration for color in your room
When deciding my color choices in a room, It's a great idea to use what is already in the room. Often our own decor can give us the greatest help when we need to decide on what color to paint a room that will not only appeal to us, but also enhance the existing decor elements.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: How to find inspiration for color in your room

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Laminate counter top restoration

Melamine paint in the simplest terms is a liquid plastic paint. For items composed of plastic or plastic materials, Melamine paint is one of the few paints that will adhere to it. It is also naturally fire resistant. While Melamine paint is thick and sticky, it has some qualities that will make it a great option for some. It is self leveling, extremely durable and can be found in a variety of colors that will allow the homeowner to liven up, or completely change the current look in their kitchen and bathroom. Melamine paint has been used for repairing and restoring Melamine cabinets for years. It is typically an oil  based paint, and thus all brands come with their own set of manufacturers suggested instructions with regards to applying it. Some manufacturers recommend applying a Melamine primer, others  suggest applying two coats, etc. Depending on what brand is purchased the recommendations will vary.

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If you are interested in updating your kitchen or bathroom laminate counters or cabinets with a fresh new look for around  $20.00 per can, you can check online for local paint stores that carry  Melamine paint. If you have difficulty finding laminate/Melamine paint, see: White Knight Paints. This site has a lot of information on the paint, regarding how to prepare surfaces, dry time and health and safety.
Another alternative is Modern Masters Countertop Transformations. This is a three step kit that is currently carried by Lowes.Image via Wikipedia

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How to Keep Your Living Room Neat When You Are in a Hurry

Image by dawnella66 via Flickr
Do you lead a pressured life? Perhaps you are a working mom who has to leave the house
two minutes after the kids in the morning and only gets home again in the evening. Or
you are a doctor working long shifts at unusual hours. Or you may be a home worker, and
even though you are physically in the house you are so busy with your work that you
don’t get a chance to do any of the standard household tasks that need to be taken care of.
The uniting factor between all of the individuals mentioned above is that they probably
do not get too much time to do the housework. One option is, of course, to hire household
help. But anyone who has children will tell you that the nice, tidy living room that is left
does not stay that way for very long. Unless you hire a live-in slave, you will therefore
have to at least fill in the gaps between your cleaner’s visits.
So how do you keep your living room looking neat when you have so little time
available? Here are some useful tips to help you:
- Tidy up as you go. For example, if your child has been playing a game in the
living room you must make sure that every single piece is picked up as soon as
they have finished. And depending on the age of the child, he or she should be the
one to pick it up and put it away. Don’t leave it till later, or the mess will only get
worse!!!
- Every single thing needs a home. Therefore, there should be a rack for magazines,
a shelf for books, a drawer for papers, and a bin for garbage …
- Similarly, educate your Significant Other to hang coats or jackets on pegs or
hangers, rather than on the backs of chairs because this always looks untidy and
also creates the “have you seen my best jacket” scenario that most of us try to
avoid.
- Create a list of things that you will always make sure are done before you go to
bed at night. For example, this could include making sure that any dirty cups left
lying around are washed and put away, that the table is clear, and that the sofas
are left with nothing on them. These are small tasks, yet they make a huge
difference to how a room looks.
- Write down in your personal calendar one day a week when you do a thorough
clearing up of the living room. Again, if you have been trying to keep basic order
through the rest of the week, this should not take too long or be too difficult.
Here, tasks would include vacuuming the carpet flooring or
washing the laminate flooring, dusting surfaces, clearing out the mess
under the sofas and in the corners, and making sure that the bookcases and
sideboards are orderly and clear. You can also make a bi-weekly list that would
include cleaning the windows, and a monthly list that would include washing the
drapes. Planning is everything, and just as you plan a business meeting, you can
also slot certain household tasks into your personal schedule.

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Defining spaces in open floor plans

Image by adaptorplug via Flickr

It is a real challenge to divide up and define specific spaces in an open concept design. If done poorly the end result will look congested and cluttered and disconcerting to the eye. There are ways that we can define individual spaces in an open concept and have it merge seamlessly.








1. Furniture placement- 
We can always form a border between two rooms using the furniture in the room. Sofas, love seats and freestanding units are a great way to divide a space. If you appreciate the flow of the open space, use the smallest size piece of furniture to do this. Make sure sofas and love seats have a finished back, and can be freestanding. Some inexpensive pieces do not have a finished back. This simply means that the furniture has a pale piece of canvas type fabric backing and not the matching upholstery seen  on the front.

2. Coordinating colors- 
 If you have an open concept in your home but wish to define one area from another you can use a lighter paint or darker paint color in the same color family to give the other room its own personality while still making it merge with the other areas. Take a sample of your existing color to your home center or paint store and ask them to either darken it or lighten it.


3. Create a movable barrier- 
You can create individual spaces using a variety of movable barriers. Some ideas are to section off one area from another using large fabric panels on tracts, building a divider using bi-fold doors, and creating your own fabric screen that requires using 2"X 2 " wood, piano hinges and the fabric of your choice.

4. Use of columns, half walls and large objects- 
Many homes in new construction are using columns now to add architectural detailing and definition to spaces in an open room. You can build your own as well. Many home centers have columns, 8 foot posts, etc that you can easily paint and install between two spaces to create definition. Half walls can easily be built with 2 by 4 lumber, sheet rock, paint and molding. Large objects like vases, book cases and stands in darker colors usually cause the eye to stop and make the distinction between two spaces.

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Working around architectural and design flaws

Image via Wikipedia

Man has been the master of design
 far before technology 

Many older homes have a lot of charm, character and history. However some were built out of practicality and by the original homeowner. As such, they may have certain quirks and oddities in their layout and design. Finding ways to work around these can be a challenge and calls for a lot of creative solutions.

Off centered windows-
Sometimes home builders placed windows in areas for airflow, and not necessarily for visual appeal. Even new construction has windows placed in odd places making it hard to arrange furniture or achieve balance in the room. To counter windows that are off center, you can create faux windows that simply counter balance the existing window. One technique is a mirror similar in size to the window placed adjacent or opposite of the window, and then adding drapes to it to mock the appearance of a second window. There are really no limits here, adding molding around it to frame it like a window can be done as well. Preferably it should reflect some light from the other window for the illusion to be ideal. In some cases, an off center window can be simply balanced by a large floor lamp that has presence in the room visually and offers bright light. In some extreme situations, it may be best to simply have the window removed and placed in a more ideal location. This may be a good time to start thinking about window replacement if the home is old.

Barrier Walls-
Walls that block the flow of a room may have originally been erected in early times to help maintain heated and cooled areas. However in today's world of design, open spaces are desirable to partitioned areas. Consider hiring a contractor to either remove the wall, or add either an opening on each side to allow for flow through traffic, or a pass through window that will give you visual access to the adjacent room. If the wall is a weight bearing wall, do not do this by yourself. Leave that project for the professional contractor. Additionally you will have to ascertain whether such a change will compromise the charm and integrity of the home. Never make a rash decision in this area.

Old painted wood work-
In older homes, pre - 1978, you may encounter painted wood work that you wish to restore. I can not stress this often enough. Before you sand, strip and paint any surface in an older home you should consider and assume the paint used was lead based. Research indicates that up to 75% of all homes built prior to 1978 had some form of lead based paint used in them. Homeowners suspecting that their home may have lead based paint used need to take special precautions. Err on the side of caution if you aren't sure and use a lead paint encapsulating paint. There are several types and options and all have specific manufacturers instructions that you must follow. However, that being said, using an encapsulating paint is much less expensive that hiring a lead removal team to remove lead from the home. Consider replacing all doors and windows that have a lead paint possibility. Avoid doing anything that will create dust in the home as air borne lead is dangerous. For more information on encapsulating paint, see http://www.fiberlock.com/products/5600.html   

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