Painting, 8 tips to get you started!! As a home stager and redesigner of Abella Home Staging & Redesign, I often recommend painting. Painting is the least inexpensive way to change the look of your home without going broke!! But many times my clients are lost as to where to begin and what they need. Here are some very helpful hints that can get you started.

 

1. Get the right brush. If you don't have the right brush it can make the job more difficult then it has to be. Look for brushes that are tapered, split and set in multiple lengths, this will form a slim tip, good for cutting along the ceiling and doors.
2. Choose the right roller. Synthetic is great for latex. Natural-fiber such as mohair or lamb's wool, for oil paint. There are different thickness to a roller, 3/4" nap for textured wall (stucco, brick), 3/8" to 1/2" nap for lightly textured walls (drywall, wood), 1/8" to 1/4" nap for very smooth surfaces (plaster, laminate, metal). Here's a tip I learned from my husband who was a professional painter. Take blue or masking tape and pull out about 3-4 ft and run the roller over it several times. This will eliminate all the loose lint from the roller so it won't get on your surface!!
3. Pick quality paint. Using inexpensive paint won't save you money, if you have to prime the wall, plus put on two coats of paint and hope for coverage. Using a quality paint with a primer will save you time and money. Making your job easier!! I recommend Sherwin William super paint.
4. Choose between oil or latex. Latex paint is water-based and easier to clean up, and dries quickly. Oil paint is solvent-based, dries slower and must be cleaned up with mineral spirits. It also has a more durable finish.
5. Low VOC. Volatile Organic Compound, gases that are created when using latex paint. A potential hazard to your health. Using low or no VOC won't sacrifice good color or even coverage. 
6. Calculating paint. Divide the square footage of your surface by the coverage per gallon listed on the can. This will give you and idea of how many gallons to purchase. Don't forget to add if it will take two coats.
7. Spout. A lot of companies are now producing cans with a spout, making it easier to pour and prevent the lids from getting clogged.
8. The right finish. Choosing the right sheen for you surface is critical. Low sheen hides imperfections, glossier paint is more wear-resistant but shows all imperfections. Here is a guide to help you choose the right finish.

• Flat. Great for ceilings and high traffic areas.
• Matte. Use for bedroom, living rooms, dining rooms.
• Satin/Eggshell. Good for high traffic areas like foyers.
• Semigloss. Use for trim, doors, and kitchen carbinets.
• Gloss. Good for trim and doors.

These are just 8 tips that can help you get started. I always tell my clients getting started is the hardest part, but i guarantee you that the rewards are worth the effort!!

Should You Paint the Paneling? Before and After Picture Included

One of the first questions asked when we arrived to this home (which, by the way, was soon to go on the market) is whether or not to paint the paneling. There’s a variety of thoughts and opinions on this subject. The truth of the matter is that it boils down to a number of different factors.

In the case of this home, there was no doubt that having it painted would be beneficial. As you can see, the transformation is pretty significant.

Here’s how the home looked when we first paid a visit to see it:

Yes, there are kitchen cabinets in the kitchen. This home was in the process of being renovated and as a result, was in total disarray. However, that paneled wall isn’t hard to miss.  Perhaps considered nice, in its day, it truly dates the home.

With our recommendation to paint and having selected the colors for the homeowner, the change was incredible. Bringing in the furniture and accessories really made a difference as well.

Here’s the after picture:

 

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A Real Estate Staging Association Finalist for Professional Stager of the Year 2010, Kathy Nielsen understands  what it takes to help sell homes quickly. Considered an expert within the home staging industry, and having years of experience, Kathy makes the perfect choice for preparing your home for the market in the Atlanta area.

Website:  Home Staging Atlanta

Before and After Pictures: Atlanta Home Staging Portfolio:

Email:  Kathy@HomeStagingAtlanta.com 

    

 

PR: wait...  I: wait...  L: wait...  LD: wait...  I: wait... wait...  Rank: wait...  Traffic: wait...  Price: wait...  C: wait...

"Safe" paint....as in no VOC, safe for your health and the atmosphere, safe paint!

More and more companies are springing up and modifying their products to apeal to people who are concerned about the purity of what surrounds them every day.  I am finding that more and more of my clients are asking if I use "no VOC paint" and "natural" paint.

"VOC" stands for "volatile organic compounds". With the word"organic" in it, it sounds like it's a good thing, but it actually refers to the particles that are released into the air as the paint breaks down over time.  These particles can affect the ozone layer and can also be unhealthy for those living and breathing within this space. The more vibrant the color, the higher the VOC's. Water-based paint has fewer VOC's than oil based paint. The VOC's decrease as the paint dries, so you should never sleep in a room that you have painted, but it isn't dry.

VOC's are what gives you the high when huffed.

 

When people say "natural" they usually mean "man-made chemical" free. It's not only the long-term impurities that are worrisome, but the exposure to those living in a freshly painted room-especially children.  Paint contains chemicals-like formaldehyde-that give off toxic, cancer causing fumes as the paint dries and cures. If you are painting furniture in your children's room, your child will be touching that furniture every day, and if it's a toddler, may even putting their mouth on it.

Chemical exposure, whether it's short or long term, can effect your health. In some cases, it can lead to increased miscarriages, abnormal sperm, kidney and liver damage, and increased asthma symptoms in children.

Luckily, there are many choices for those who want an alternative. These products perform wonderfully, offer just as many colors, can be color matched to any other color, and last just as long.  They can be used for faux or mixed with any other additive when used in decorative painting.

Here is a list with a link to their sites:

Milk Paint: Has been around for over 100 years. Comes in powder form-you add water. It is made of milk, and minerals.  I love the consistency of this paint-I can mix it with anything and it gives a unique look not attainable with any other product. By far, the least toxic of all the "safe paints". Only disadvantage is that you have to use what you mix within a few days because it contains no preservatives.

   Uses: originally used to paint naked wood, milk paint now offers products and additives that allow you to paint any surface including walls as well as top coats and sealers.

AFM Safecoat: This company offer a wide range of products from no VOC polyurethane to no VOC primer. They can match any color and they paint is high quality. One of the few companies that offer exterior products

   Uses: any surface- walls, floors, including deck stain and top sealer coats

Mythic Paint: Paint for walls and ceilings-very good quality

   Uses: walls, furniture, ceilings

Home Depot Fresh Air: May be the least expensive of all the other interior paints. I have not personally used this paint before since it is fairly new to my knowledge.

  Uses: walls and ceilings

Yolo: Wonderful paints. They have a special section just for kids and babies rooms. The only disadvantage is that there are not many Yolo dealers-I would be hesitant to have paint delivered in extreme temperatures.

  Uses: walls and ceilings.Offers interior and exterior paints

Totem: This company offers products for the decorative painter such as glazes and plaster products. Their product line is very extensive and their reviews from other decorative painters are good

  Uses: Specialty decorative painting, plasters,glazes, lime based products, varnishes and top coats interior and exterior

I am sure there are many companies I have missed as new lines and products seem to be springing up daily.

These products are not very much more expensive (just a few dollars in some cases) than existing paints. I encourage you to look into these products for your next painting job.

As always Marietta Mural & Wall Design uses safe and health conscience products wherever possible. Please see my web site or contact me for more information

 

 

 

My sister was in terrible need of a kitchen makeover.  She lives in a beautiful older home in Chicago. This is the type of home with the wonderful creaks of real hardwood and the beauty of properly applied plaster, gorgeous archways and very cool crown moldings.

The kitchen, however, was another story.

The previous owners had decorated the kitchen in puke green(yes, I think that was the actual name on the color sample) plastic tiles and bright yellow laminate kitchen counter tops.  They put in their own cabinets which were neither level nor centered and the cabinet pulls were from the 60's.  At the sink, the water had eaten through the back splash laminate and created a wonderful hole that was artfully covered by a hand mirror.

I could see my work was cut out for me!

My sister was working with a budget and I thought it would be fun to see just how cheap inexpensive we could be on the redesign.

Step #1: Repaint the cabinets.  Since the kitchen was small, we decided to go with another white.  The white that was on the cabinets was an off white or cream color. After removing the old hardware and plugging the holes with wood putty, and sanding the crap out of them with a coarse foam sanding block, I double primed with Zinser BIN primer using a  4 inch foam roller to get a perfectly smooth surface.

     We decided to stay with white, but chose a beautiful clean white called "White" from Benjamin Moore. I chose an eggshell finish because I knew I was going to seal the cabinets, and I wanted a dull, but not flat finish so the sealer would grab onto the surface. Benjamin Moore's "eggshell" is a bit duller than standard eggshell finishes at other paint stores. I painted two coats of the white, sanding with a fine grit foam block sander between coats and again using the foam roller.

    Cost for step #1:   $82.00 (paint, primer--1 gallon--to be used elsewhere in the project, sanders, wood putty)

Step #2: Paint the tile.  I wanted something different for the back-splash, and being a faux finisher, I thought of doing a faux brushed nickel.  The plastic tiles were painted with a product called Prime Etch which makes any smooth surface paint-able. I then primed with the zinser BIN- two coats with a foam roller. I used Faux Effect's Master Dutch Metals which is a wonderful product that I have mentioned before (see You Cant Beat This Metallic Gold Paint) This was rolled on and then gently brushed in one direction diagonally with a chip brush and let dry.

   Cost for Step #2:  $52.00 (prime etch,paint, rollers)

Step #3 Fix the laminate. The only way to fix this hole was to cover it. My sister found these cute rosettes at Lowe's made out of wood that are used in decorative molding. I attached then to a piece of 1/4 inch thick wood and glued it to the backsplash with liquid nails(my #1 favorite product) I, of course primed and painted first with regular latex paint. I then sealed with Aquathane--a wonerful polyurethane product that seals and water proofs.  You could also use any polyurethane brand.  I like the Aqua products because they are very durable, clean up with soap and water, and do not have any odor.

   Cost for Step #3:  $58.00 (wood, liquid nails,aquathane)

Step #4  Make a chalkboard to organize the area and paint the rest of the walls. To make the chalkboard, I used a thin piece of panneling that was smooth. Any wood can be used, but it must be very smooth-like plastic.  I have used thicker pressed board for this project as well.  Ask for help at any hardware store and tell them you need a very smooth surface, but you must be able to nail through it.  After the board was cut to the right size, I nailed it to the area. I painted the surfae with primer, and then painted 3 coats of chalkboard paint. I then made a border with some molding, painted it, and cut the pieces using is miter box.  This allows you to get the correct angles for the corners.  I then used the prime etch, primed and painted the walls. My sister chose a softer yellow than the counter tops. This softened the color of the countertop and made it blend with the rest of the kitchen.

  Cost of Step #4:  $68.00  (board, molding,paint)

Step #5 redesign a separate cabinet in the kitchen  to have a unique look.  This piece was painted originally to be part of the rest of the kitchen cabinets, but it really is  not. I sanded primed and painted the whole thing white as I did with the rest of the cabinets. We then found some interesting pulls to dress it up.  I used Modellos-sticky backed stencils to create a funky design. I then sanded prime etched, and primed the counter top. I painted a faux weave to make it interesting and functional(this won't show scratches, dings etc) I sealed the whole thing as I did the cabinets with Aquathane.

  Cost of step #5  $20.00 (the modello was actually $50.00, but you could use a regular stencil and get a nice design for $20.00)

I also found a silver aluminum corner molding that I put all along the back splash to give it a clean finished look. We bough new pulls for the rest of the cabinets Cost:  $66.00

before

 

Total cost of kitchen renovation:  $346.00!!

Please see more ideas on my web site!