by Debra on Wednesday, June 10, 2009
photo credit: robertgaal
In a perfect world, we would all be able to hire an expensive interior decorator to come over to our house, pick out the ideal tone and feel, match the cutains, rugs, kitchen tile, and walls to the precise blend of color combinations. Go to Spray Paint for more information.
Unfortunately, interior decorators and designers can run us quite a bit of money. As a home designer and owner of a paint contrating business for over five years now, I have learned some tips of the trade that will allow you to choose color combinations like a well schooled pro.
We will start will some general facts, and work our way from there. Everyone’s knowledge on the subject varies, so I want to make sure I cover the basics.
Light colors will make rooms seem larger and more open. This is especially important if a room is on the smaller side and you don’t want to feel claustrophobic inside it. Lighter colors will also do a better job of hiding imperfections in the walls.
However darker colors have their benefits too. Darker colors will provide you with an opportunity to create a more elegant feel to a room, and draw more attention to crown and decorative moldings.
The first thing that I suggest doing is taking a sample of your carpet and blinds to a paint store, and ask for some advice in choosing colors. This advice will be free, but you have to be wary of who is giving it to you. This will work best at small mom and pop paint stores, or professional stores like Benjamin Moore or Sherwin William dealers. Home Depot or Lowe’s is not a good place to try this, because their employees are not likely to be as experienced in the industry.
Choosing Colors: An Expert Choice of the Best Colors to Use in Your Home
Once you have a rough idea of possible colors it is best to visit one of the many online color scheme coordinators, like the one available at this New Jersey Paint Contractor’s website . Clicking on the link to the right will take you to a section that will allow you to try out different color combinations within a room. You can match different trim, door, ceiling, and wall colors and see which ones go together the best. refer to Spray Paint for more information.
The most popular home interior paint color, regardless of architectural style and design is buff, which is a neutral tone. Neutral colors go very well with any other color scheme, imparts a warmer tone in any of your house’s rooms and is well suited for showing off artwork, portraits or any other type of wall accessories. The best feature of using a neutral as a home interior paint color is that it can make any room look bigger!
The color blue is also a popular color for rooms however due to the wide variety of shades people have a difficult time trying to come up with the perfect shade to complement the rest of the house.
Others prefer dark colors for an avant-garde look; however, if you want to do the same, keep in mind that dark, bold colors make a room look darker than it really is and smaller too.
You can choose home interior paint colors that belong to the primary color group as long as you also find the perfect match for each particular color you choose in order not to sacrifice your home’s visual appeal for being trendy.
My suggestion is staring off talking to your local paint contractor, get a free estimate and pick his brain for color choices. Then visit a local paint store, talk to the clerks. They will help you narrow down your choice.
Always remember, you are the person who has to live there. So make sure it is a color that you are in love with. Visit Car Care for further information.
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by Debra on Tuesday, January 20, 2009
photo credit: Mel B.
A hearth is a important addition to any home. They are perfect for providing some comfort during cold winter days and nights but better than that, they are fun. A hearth gives off feelings of friendship and love along with their warmth. No one can deny how nice it is to gather with family or friends in front of a hearth sharing stories and laughter. When you think of a hearth, you may have pictures in your head images of the old built in type with a brick chimney up the side of the house. Today that is not the case, you can find fireplaces of all shapes and sizes that are portable and use a variety of fuel.
Overall most fireplaces are either gas or wood burning varieties and there are Electric Fireplaces as well. A decorative fireplace mantel: can be a fancy and ornate part of your living room or den ; however, they can also be subtly functional pieces that hold the firebox. Choosing a great wood fireplace mantel: will make your hearth a central piece and are very easy to put in. 
Conventional fireplaces, while attractive , are not the most energy efficient and if you are not knowledgeable about their proper use can actually pose both a health and physical hazard .
Optional “fireplaces” and heat sources:
Real Flame Gel Fireplaces are different from electric fireplaces in that they actually start a real fire. The fuel required for these is a gel like substance that is odorless , non-toxic and environmentally friendly. These fireplaces all meet the EPA standards of cleanliness, without using wood or gas . One canister of gel is enough fuel to burn at 3,000 BTU’s for up to three hours, this is not as energy efficient as an electric fireplaces but they are nice for heating a localized small area Many gel fireplace owners simply burn two canisters at once, increasing the BTU emission and therefore promoting even more warmth over a larger area. This will increase the BTUs and allow you to heat a larger area. Even though they are less cost effective than an electric fireplaces, they are perfect for the person who wants to keep the romantic quality that comes with a conventional type fireplace and all without any possible consequences of wood smoke.
When electric fireplaces were first introduced in the 70’s and 80’s they were a cheap and tacky looking affair. With new technology has come the ability to create electric fireplaces that look so real it takes a close inspection to tell the difference. Of course, they will not have the same crackling, smoky ambiance of a conventional fireplace design but they are much more portable and efficient. The fact is many electric fireplaces generate enough heat to warm a 400 sq ft room. In addition, you have the choice of hundreds of styles, colors, and mantel types. There is a portable fireplace to fit any style or need.
One of the most widely used alternative fuels today is propane. Propane is a highly refined product that is left over from the processing of crude oil and natural gas. As fireplaces go, propane fueled one burns much hotter than any other type. Compared to a wood burning fireplace they have less pollutants as well. Next to gel or indoor electric fireplace, propane is a lot less expensive, however they emit more pollutants than these two do. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are common pollutants of a propane fireplace. If you like, the look of a traditional flame fireplace but not the health risks associated with wood or the cost of gel look no further than a propane fireplace.
A hearth is not only a wonderful addition they can actually increase the value of your home. With all the different kinds of fireplaces and mantels available, you will find one that meets all your needs perfectly. A fireplace is something you can enjoy for years to come.
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Fire Places: A Practical Design Guide to Fireplaces and Stoves Indoors and Out
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by Debra on Friday, September 12, 2008
It’s not unusual for homeowners to make changes to their homes. Their circumstances may change, styles change, or they may simply get tired of the way things look. From home buyers comes a plea to ranch style home sellers, don’t be guilty of using cheap cover ups when making those changes! Think about what you are doing when remodeling your ranch style home to sell.
What is a cheap cover up? This would include doing anything that is going to be difficult for future owners to fix. For instance, in the past homeowners chose to paint over wallpaper rather than removing the outdated paper and reapplying new. While this may be a cheap and easy way to make a room look different, it’s not always easy to remove that wallpaper in the future.
Some homeowners have painted tiled walls or flooring with standard paint. If you absolutely cannot remove the tile and replace it with new, be sure you find the paints that are specially formulated to be used on tiles. You’ll also want to follow the directions carefully to get the best results. Be sure to have the room well-ventilated to avoid health issues.
Be aware that styles change when you decide to paint a room with dark or bright colors. While it may look great now, if you decide to paint over it in the future, or a new owner decides to paint, it may be very difficult to cover without multiple layers of paint.
If you’re sold on the idea of a dark accent wall, try to find other ways to create that look without using dark paint. There are two options you can use that involve fabric. First, you can buy dark fabric and create a panel that is hung from the ceiling. This will give you the look without the paint.
Another fabric option is to buy enough lightweight fabric to cover your accent wall. Apply starch on the upper half of the wall with paint roller. Smooth the fabric onto the wall, adding push pins to keep the fabric from slipping. Apply more starch and then smooth out the rest of the fabric. By using fabric instead of paint, you can take it down, launder it, and then reapply it to the wall. Or you can use it like any other fabric for sewing.
If they decide to buy your home they may decide to offer less than you want for the home because they’re going to have to fix your mistakes.
301 Simple Things You Can Do to Sell Your Home Now and for More Money Than You Thought: How to Inexpensively Reorganize, Stage, and Prepare Your Home for Sale
photo credit: Clav
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