Let’s talk about painting – for those who wants to do some DIY painting job at home

    Painting is one of the quickest and easiest decorating projects you can undertake to change the look and feel of a room. Should you plan to do a little DIY painting job over the weekend, you may find the following basic knowledge and tips helpful.

    In the past, oil-based paint was considered to be the best at standing the passage of time, but manufacturing techniques have developed to allow today’s water-based latex – and even acrylic – option s to be just as effective. They usually dry faster and are more environmentally sound.

   

 here are types of paint you will find at the local paint store:

Undercoat ( also known as primer or base coat):  Whether you are painting wood, drywall, metal, or brick, there’s an undercoat product to suite your job. It provides a base to help subsequent paint layers adhere and also mute the color below.

    

Regular acrylic:  This type of paint is great for small jobs around the house and for painting small details such as door knobs or trim. Because regular acrylic is water based, brushed and rollers can be cleaned under your faucet.

         

Latex: This is the optimum product for wall coverage. Available in every conceivable color, this convenient water based medium will wash out easily form brushed and rollers.

    

Oil based: These product are long – lasting but with latex paint now so improved, there is little need for them in this day and age, plus they tend to be more pungent than other paints and need special paint thinner and brush cleaners to tidy up after each job.

 

Tinned spray paints: Spray paints are generally oil based and are available in a limited range of colors. They are relatively easy to use and don’t need the same level of preparation as brush applied paint. They are usually used for small jobs or tricky items such as pieces with lots of carved decorations.

                   

Please see my next blog about paint Finishes and painting tips…

Refference: Home heist style guide

A Color Symphony

What a fabulous Color Symphony!

Picture Source: Annie StMartin

The charm of empty space

“Simple can be harder than complex. You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple” – Steve Jobs

To arrange an interior in a minimalistic stale can also be a real challenge. Here is a good example:

This three-floor house is entirely based on five colors – white, brown, beige, black, and gray. The spots of more vivid colors are aged in the form of cushions and other accessories.

The great sofa decorated with cushions; everything is kept graphite and white.

This house has 3 floors, but, arranged so stylistically, its space seems unlimited. After it gets dark we can use roller-blinds, but during the day we can let in even mild winter sunlight. It’s comfortable and kept in good taste. What can you say about it?

The empty space fills the interiors with peace, cleanliness and relief. The stairs submerged into the wall lead to the most intimate spaces.

The brown has been forced out from this bathroom. It’s like an photo of black and white, beautiful and classically charming. It has a big window with the world outside.

Source: http://www.natarchitecten.nl/

Green – Love it or hate it?

This gallery contains 4 photos.

One of my clients once told me that she did not want to see any green color in her room. “It’s the color of hospital” , that’s what she said. Well, looking at these pictures of Legacy ER I would … Continue reading →

Something for Everyone – Family Rooms

The key to designing a successful family room is to keep comfort at the front. Think simple and organized, so each activity has its place: books on bookselvs, toys in a chest, and CDs and DVDs stacked neatly in baskets, boxes or drawers.

Ten questions to ask yourself – all about the family room

• What’s the purpose of this all-purpose room?    Do kids play here or is it more for formal entertaining?
• What kind of feeling do you want?     handsome library or homespun hangout?

• How much seating do you need?  Where will the sofa have the best view?
• Are you plugged in to all of your electronic need ( computers, music, movies?)

• Does the room need to work as a home office?
• Is this a spot for a small happy hour? Or are you planning for party central?

• Ottoman or coffee table? Does this piece need to move easily/
• Have you got lighting in the right place? Overhead or lots of lamps?
• Traditional or modern?
• Is is a TV-guided room? Do you want it to be?

Quote of the Day:

At Home with Color

Color is the decorating glue that holds your home together. A beautiful scheme – even if it’s simply different shades of white – can make your whole house seem thoughtful, well-planned and organized.

Even though color plays such an important role in the way our homes look and how we feel about them, there are no hard-and-fast rules about finding the right palette. Color choices are personal; start with what you love. In the end, what works for you is the right decision.

Ten questions to ask yourself

Which hue is for you?

1.  What’s your favorite color? Open a box of crayons and pick the first color that catches your eye.
2.  How do you react to color? Do the warm shades of sunset move you? Or is it the clean, clear coolness of winter landscape that specks to you?
3.  What’s in your clothes closet?  Does that one red sweater get passed over time and time again for the neutrals in your wardrobe?
4. How big is the space?  Do you want to feel it larger or cozier?
5.  If you are decorating more than one room, do you want unify them with one color?
6.  How do you want to feel in the room ? Laidback and relaxed or excited and energized?
7.  What’s the room’s current scheme? Are you already living with the color you like, or are you looking for a change?
8.  How much available light is there? What time of day will you use the room most?
9.   Is there a color memory you want to call up? A place you want to re-create? A mood you want to capture?
10. Are you decorating a room with a view? Do you want to incorporate the hues in your surroundings into the palette?

HAVE FUN WITH COLOR AT HOME!!!

Picture source: Pinterest