Selecting Paint Finishes

Have your interiors gone flat?

So!....You’ve selected that “perfect paint color”; now it’s time for another important decision. Yes, it’s time to select that “perfect paint finish.” Paint finishes are designed for specific surfaces and use. These tips will you help you find the appropriate paint finish for the job and eliminate the confusion. Note: Some paint manufacturers have their own name for these finishes. If this is the case, refer to the manufacturer’s literature or ask the person mixing the paint.

TIPS:

FLAT- is just like it sounds; it’s a matte finish. Flat is the first finish choice for interior ceilings and exterior walls; it’s the second choice for interior walls. Flat does not reflect light and is the best finish to camouflage small wall bumps, cracks, or other surface imperfections.

EGG SHELL- is also as it sounds; it’s a very low sheen similar to that of a chicken’s egg shell. With its slight hint of a shine, is good for walls; it holds up better for cleaning than a flat finish paint. Is it any wonder, that egg shell is the first choice for interior wall finish?

LOW SHEEN- is a smooth and velvety with a bit more gloss, than egg shell. Low Sheen finish, is specially formulated to hold up to cleaning and light scrubbing, which is why it’s particularly suitable for kids' room walls, kitchens, or bathrooms, hall ways or in any area that get a lot of traffic.

SEMI-GLOSS- is nice subtle shine, without being too glitzy and is glosser than low sheen. It cleans easily, which is why semi-gloss the first choice for interior trim, doors kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Spend the extra time and elbow grease, in your pre-paint preparation work. You’ll thank yourself later, because a poorly prepared semi-gloss surface will highlight the surface’s imperfections.

GLOSS- is the most reflective finish; it mimics plastic and enamel. Though not widely used for home interiors, it does remain the preferred finish for the very contemporary of environments. Gloss is most commonly used to add a dramatic or formal look to cabinets, trim and furniture. Gloss finish magnifies all of the surfaces imperfections, so careful preparation and sanding and priming is essential before painting with high gloss paints.

More things to consider

Clean ability & Durability
As a general rule the shinier the paint finish, the better it will stand up to multiple washings. Refer to paint manufacturer’s cleaning specifications.

Kid-Friendly Finishes
When painting children's rooms, consider using an eggs shell or low sheen paint on the walls and semi-gloss for doors and trim. These finishes will withstand repeat cleanings.

Ceiling Finish
The ceiling finish for most rooms are painted with flat finish. An eggshell finish is fine, provided the ceiling surface is flawless. Choose a glossier finish for good light reflection, but only if the ceiling is in flawless condition.

Kitchens & Baths
For any room that’s exposed to water, steam or splashing, such as the kitchen and bathroom, it’s best paint with a semi-gloss paint. If the guest bath or powder room isn’t frequently used, they can be painted with lower-gloss paint, such as satin or eggshell finish.


For a customized color scheme, that you’ll love, contact the VIRTUAL COLOR CONSULTANT. We’ll help you overcome your color and interior design dilemmas. We're the Paint Color & Interior Design Coach. We'll collaborate with you to create the ideal color palette and be a supportive ally throughout your home décor projects. denise@colorturners.com http://www.colorturners.com/

Remodel Survival Tactics

So you’ve finally decided to remodel that 1970s kitchen - out with the Avocado Green and Harvest Gold tile. Wait! Those colors are back.Presuming you have a design, licensed contractor, building permits, architect and Certified Interior Designer, there are some things to do before bringing in the wrecking crew:

• Set up a temporary kitchen. Patios are ideal. Water and drain lines in exterior walls can occasionally be temporally routed to a utility sink. It beats washing dishes in the bathtub.

• Stay out of construction zones. It’s for your safety. Think ahead of where you place items to make them accessible and out of the way of the remodeling crew.

• Be flexible! Unexpected situations WILL HAPPEN!

• Contractor’s Aid. Designate a bathroom; keep the snacks and nonalcoholic drinks coming. Keep your sense of humor! You’ll soon have the home you desired.

For a customized color scheme and interior design consultations, contact the VIRTUAL COLOR CONSULTANT. We’ll help you overcome your color and interior design dilemmas. We're the Paint Color & Interior Design Coach. We'll collaborate with you to create the ideal color palette and be a supportive ally throughout your home décor projects. denise@colorturners.com

10 Tips-Select Ceiling Colors

Look up! Have you forgotten something?

Ceilings represent one-sixth of a room’s space, but far too often they’re forgotten.
Ceilings are either ignored or get nothing more than a coat of white paint. Now, there’s nothing wrong with white ceilings. In fact, for years, white was considered to be the only choice for ceilings; fortunately that rule no longer applies today. If you dare to step outside your color comfort zone, you’ll add drama and excitement to your interiors.

TIPS:
1. Ceilings are typically lighter than the walls, which make the room feel brighter and more spacious.

2. White overhead tends to disappear calling our attention to the furnishings and walls.

3. White ceilings also offset highly saturated wall color, making the walls look crisp. However pure, non-tinted white tend to look too stark and clinical.

4. Tinted ceilings can dramatically change your room’s appearance.

5. Darker ceilings visually lower the space; evoking a cozy intimate interior.

6. Consider a Mono-Chromatic color scheme by painting your ceiling the same color as the walls. Depending on the hue, it could be very southing color scheme. By painting the walls and ceilings the same color, it makes your job easier; you won't have to tape off the molding at the ceiling line.

7. As with the other colors in the room, ceilings need to echo, other elements in order to integrate it into the scheme. Such as cabinetry, carpet, window coverings, furniture, otherwise the room will feel unbalanced.

8. What’s the best white? That depends on the walls. For example, if your walls are green begin by looking at green-tinted whites.

9. Here’s a fail-safe way that a painter taught me years ago. To get the perfect ceiling white that coordinates with the walls, dilute the wall paint with “non-tinted white” in a ratio of about 80 percent white to 20 percent wall color.

10. As with all paint colors, test them. Purchas a couple quarts of paint or tape a few paint chips together, of the same color and live with the test for a couple days; view them in different lighting conditions.


For a customized color scheme and interior design consultations, contact the VIRTUAL COLOR CONSULTANT. We’ll help you overcome your color and interior design dilemmas. We're the Paint Color & Interior Design Coach. We'll collaborate with you to create the ideal color palette and be a supportive ally throughout your home décor projects. denise@colorturners.com

Color Blind- Their True Colors

As a colorist, whose livelihood depends on the ability to differentiate between colors and all their subtleties, I’m intrigued with the ten percent among us, known as the “Color Blind.”

My curiosity with the Color Blind began as a child, when my friend Ronnie invited me to his grandmother’s farm and apple orchard.

His grandmother said “here’s a pail. I’ll give the person a prize that comes back first with a full pail of Red Delicious Apples.” This immediately became a challenge. With pails in hand, we trudged off in opposite directions into the orchard. He yelled “I beat you; my pail is full” Ronnie proudly carried them into his grandmother’s kitchen. Instead of his grandmother praising, for picking apples in record time, she scolded him for picking green (unripe) apples. Little did grandma know Ronnie, was color-blind; he couldn’t differentiate between red and green.

Color Blindness is an over looked disability; it gets little notoriety or financial support. Sadly, it’s also something that people, tend to poke fun at.

COLOR BLIND FACTS:

• Eight to ten percent of men are color-blind; only five percent of women are.

 

• Less than one percent of the color-blind can only see black and white.

• A male inherits his color-blindness from his mother, whose vision is normal.

• Everyone is color-blind at birth.

• Bulls are color-blind. The movement of the bull fighter’s red cape is what angers him and not the actual color.

• Color-blind American military men, during World War II, were sent on special missions. Their inability to see green, led to an increased ability to see through camouflage.

• Color Blindness can be acquired through injury or disease. However in most cases it’s hereditary and present since birth.

• Hereditary Color Blindness is caused by the chromosomal differences between males and females, in which the condition typically is passed from a mother her sons.

FAMOUS COLOR BLIND PEOPLE:

• John Dalton, developer of the atomic structure theory

• Bing Crosby, singer

• Mark Twain, author

• Matt Lauer, TV news caster

• Bob Dole, politician

• Mr. Rogers, actor