Painting tips series part 1

I have had several questions about paint lately so I am starting a new series over the next week or two on finishes, types, and picking the right color. I am starting with a post I did in 2009 as a review for some of you and new info for many of you.

I thought it would be fun since most of my clients lately have been people needing help picking paint colors, to give a liitle bit of information about paint types and finishes. You already know that paint can update and help personalize your space for very little investment. However going into the paint section of your local hardware store can be a bit intimidating. There is ceiling paint and floor paint and satin finish and high gloss, flat paint and glazing etc. There are tools that we never knew we needed and tools what can't figure out the use for(stay away from those :)). Hopefully this will help take a bit of the intimidation out of it for you.

Flat paint is just that, it is flat in appearance or matte if you will. It is harder for cleaning, so use of it is best in a room that doesn't get high traffic. (I personally never use flat paint.) While it will hide some imperfections better than other finishes it is not my favorite.

Satin paint has a slight sheen and gives a nice glow to any room. It cleans up well, much better than flat paint. Satin is my very favorite finish and is in most every room of the house.

Gloss in my opinion should almost never be used, but is great for high moisture areas such as a bathroom. It is also great on trims and doors. It is intersting to note that using a gloss on trims and doors in the same color as your satin wall paint will create a slight contrast in color just because the finish has changed.

Ceiling paints are designed for just that use and again the finish you select should be determined by the use of the room. It is best to keep your ceilings a lighter color than your wall color to keep the room from feeling closed in or small.

When taking the time to paint, don't skimp on quality. The better quality the paint, the better coverage and the less paint you will use. Make sure you have all tools you need, good brushes(again don't skimp here there is a difference in brushes), painters tape, rollers and tarps or other floor and furniture coverings.

Feel free to ask questions and I will help the best I can. There is so much more about paint, but I thought the basics would be a great place to start.

Happy Painting! Oh by the way, after you get your painting done, stop by www.lovethedecor.willowhouse.com to find new accessories for your new look.

Paint or Wallpaper?

If you have seen the recent issue of Country Living Magazine then you probably have seen this:

Country Living Magazine Photo
Sept 2010 issue
What caught my attention about this photo was the wall design. With the resurgence of wallpaper, I am often drawn to different wall treatments. Upon further inspection, I found that this is not wallpaper but paint. No it is not a stencil either. It is painted on with a special paint roller  that is unique in it's make up.

It is designed by a company called rollerwall.com 
They have many designs and styles available and a how to guide as well. I have not used this product but as far as I can tell, it looks like you saturate the foam roller with your paint then snap on the patterned roller. As you use the roller it picks up the color and distributes the design on to your wall.The article in CL magazine did say that one should practice a few times on paper before applying to the wall
Just look at some of the patterns available and remember these are just patterns you can use any color you like!


If you are not a wallpaper fan, but appreciate pattern on your walls, this may be an option for you. Let me know your thoughts and if any of you have used this product.