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December 17, 2008
By: Debra
Category: Decorating Ranch Style House, House and Home
Expert Paint: Painting Kitchens: How to Choose and Use the Right Paint for Your Kitchen Walls, Ceilings, Floors, Cabinets, Countertops, and Appliances
Most people use the color squares that are provided in the paint department, rather than going to the trouble of experimenting with colors on their own. This is simply because the paint manufacturer has already done that for you, but you can experiment with colors on your own.
Mixing colors to create that special color you want requires a little testing on your part. If you are really not happy with the color squares at your local home improvement or department store. You can take the time to come up with some very pretty and special colors that will be somewhat different than people usually see on the color squares.
It is not hard at all, however, you might want to purchase a color chart and play around with the different colors of the rainbow to find out just what colors you can mix together to create the precise color you are looking for.
You do not have to spend a lot of money purchasing all the colors of the natural color chart. You can save yourself that expense by purchasing a small set of watercolors. This way you can use them to get an idea of what you want. For instance, if you add a little yellow to red, you can get orange, and by mixing a little blue, the orange will turn to a brown hue. By adding various amounts of different colors from your water colors to the red will bring about many different hues of the red.
The same idea will work for other colors such as yellow, or blue. Blue and yellow will become a hue of green and by adding some of the white, you can produce a lime green. Then to lighten or darken the hues just add a touch of the lightest or darkest color. You can come up with some very beautiful blue hues, such as a Caribbean, Aqua, Sky, Wildflower or many other blue hues. Red can produce hues from Apple, Berry, Watermelon, and others. By adding different amounts of brown, you can make a Cinnamon or maybe an Orchid hue, a little more brown and you can produce a wine color.
Once you have the idea of the color you would like to paint you can then purchase some small cans of the same colors that you have decided to use. And begin testing the colors using real paint just to see if you get the same effects.
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November 04, 2008
By: Debra
Category: Remodel Ranch Home
Remodeling a ranch house seems to be common these days. People all across the country are taking these familiar houses and remaking them into something new and exciting. Some people are remodeling a ranch house for their own family to enjoy, others are renovating to sell the home and move to something else.
When you’re remodeling a ranch house with plans to sell it, it helps to know which areas of the home will bring you the most return on your investment (ROI). In nearly all cases, it is best to remodel the kitchen and bathrooms before heading to other rooms of the house.
If you can do some of the work yourself by providing “sweat equity,” you will save yourself a good deal of money. You will also be more familiar with what has actually been done in the home whereas you may not be sure if you use outside contractors. To be sure the plumbing and electrical systems remain working, it would be best if you left those elements of the remodel to the professionals.
Ranch Style Home Kitchen Remodel
You may not want to spend a fortune renovating a house just to turn around and sell it, but there are some things that you can do that can greatly increase your chances of interesting potential buyers. Starting in the Kitchen, here are some changes you can make:
- Update the counters. Ranch style homes of the 60s and 70s had Formica countertops which were state-of-the-art at the time. Now people would prefer something more durable than laminates. Look into replacing the countertops with soapstone, tile, stainless steel, or even concrete.
- Uncover the cabinets. It has been a common practice to paint over hardwood cabinetry. Strip the paint off the cabinets and it will give your kitchen an updated and desirable look.
- Replace sinks and faucets. Older sinks may have a certain charm to them but most people want sinks and faucets that are beautiful as well as functional.
Ranch Style Home Bathroom Remodel
Bathrooms are another area of the home that will give you back a good percentage of the money you spend in the renovation.
- Replace the tub. If you can afford it, replacing the bathtub with a spa or whirlpool will appeal to most potential buyers.
- Update the bath fixtures with something beautiful. Nickel and bronze are commonly used today in place of stainless steel and brass. Be aware that some of the bath fixtures can be quite expensive.
Don’t forget that one of the simplest ways of remodeling a ranch house is to paint each room, add new molding, and new flooring. Whether done in the kitchen or bathroom, remodeling a ranch house with plans to sell can be accomplished with the assurance that you will most likely recoup your expenses.
Home Staging: Creating Buyer-Friendly Rooms to Sell Your House
photo credit: reubenaingber
photo credit: skvidal
photo credit: billaday
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October 19, 2008
By: Debra
Category: Exterior Design Ideas, Exterior Paint
Although the name “bungalow” comes from India, this style of house is an entirely American architectural style. Bungalows are single-story houses with a low-pitched shingle roof. They were popular during the 1910s and 1920s. The bungalow exterior paint was earthy and muted in tone.
The bungalow had an unusual floor plan. In most cases, particularly in the early years of this style, there was a main central living area. The remaining rooms – kitchen, dining area, bedrooms, and bathrooms – clustered around the central area. The house had plenty of windows and a welcoming front porch.
Similar in style to the Craftsman and Prairie style houses, the bungalow is best suited to those who enjoy a simple or informal lifestyle. Those that enjoy the outdoors will enjoy this type of house because has wide porches that create additional outdoor living space. The bungalow helps the homeowner to embrace the outdoors as they use the various porches and open the many windows.
It is very common to see a bungalow among trees and shrubs which helps the home to remain as private as the homeowner prefers. Of course, the Bungalow Exterior Paint may help the home almost disappear among the foliage depending upon how the house is painted. Most bungalows have earth-tone shingles that contrasted with the muted shades of the bungalow’s exterior paint.
Historical colors for bungalow exterior paint include walls that were painted gray, trim painted deep green and accent colors in copper red. Other combinations included walls painted in bronze green, trim in Birdseye maple, and accents painted in hammered silver; wall color suede, trim in brass, and accents painted in polished mahogany.
Many first-time homebuyers are interested in bungalows because they allow the homebuyer to learn about homeownership without becoming overwhelmed. The size of the home means there is less upkeep than there would be for a larger home. They are also a good choice for people who have mobility impairment because there are no steps to contend with.
There are a number of variations on the bungalow concept. These include the ranch bungalow that has the bedrooms separated from the remaining living areas similar to the ranch style house, raised bungalow which actually has a basement that is partially above ground, and the chalet bungalow which offers a second story loft area.
No matter the layout of the bungalow, exterior paint combinations are most likely similar. Of course, this could depend upon the location of the house. When repainting the home, it is probably best to leave the color of the house as close to the original as possible. Historically accurate bungalow exterior paints can be purchased from suppliers such as Sherwin Williams, Pittsburgh Paint, and Lowe’s.
Check out these great books on:
Bungalow Colors Exteriors
Bungalows: Design Ideas for Renovating, Remodeling, and Building New
photo credit: roarofthefour
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