Exterior Paint Colors

Melanie,
If you were going to paint the exterior of your home, what colors would you paint it if it had red brick up half way up.    It also has front shutters.  I have noticed many have a different color on the wall, trim and shutters. It is a one story house with a black roof.  I like a traditional look but an open to something a little more jazzy.....

This lake house has a lot of character to consider when choosing paint colors. The trim work can add a lot of charm to this home when painted with a great combination of colors. You mentioned you like traditional look. This home has a slight Tudor look with the trim work above the windows. Not being a true Tudor home you can add the character  by painting the exterior in a Tudor look. Tudor homes typically have a white or beige background with a darker trim. For example....

Your home being smaller and not having quiet the elaborate trim work, It would be best to use a softer color pallet. This will make the exterior look inviting. Look how inviting the house below looks by using a soft brown/beige background color. For example....

This look can be accomplished by using these Sherwin-Williams colors I selected.





Sherwin-Williams SW6394 Sequin

 



Sherwin-Williams SW6110 Steady Brown



Okay, ready to get Jazzy! The color scheme I selected will really help to pop your house out of its neutral wooded surroundings. These colors will give you fresh look to an older home.

Sherwin-Williams SW6178 Clay Sage



Sherwin-Williams SW6203 Spare White



Here is an idea of what this color sceme will look like.





I hope this helps! (Keep in mind the colors shown here are not an exact of the swatch. You can find these colors at any local Sherwin-Williams and see the true color hues.) Send me pictures once you have selected colors and painted. 

Here are a few tips by Jackie Craven on how to pick exterior paint colors. 

Your house is your canvas. Here's how to choose paint colors that will bring out its beauty and character.

Time Required: At least 2-3 weeks

Here's How:

1. Begin with colors suggested by your roof and masonry.
2. Consider the color schemes used inside your home. Exterior colors should harmonize with the interior.
3. Don't clash with your neighbors! Choose colors that coordinate with the buildings around you.
4. Large surfaces make paint look lighter. Consider selecting darker shades.
5. Remember that very bright or very deep colors will fade.
6. To emphasize architectural details, outline them with an accent color that contrasts with the background.
7. Use darker colors to emphasize shadows and lighter colors to show projections.
8. Avoid extreme contrasts. Choose colors that are related.
9. Study color samples outside, but never in direct sunlight. Bright sun will distort the color.
10. Photocopy a sketch or photograph of your house. Use watercolors or colored pencils to try color combinations.
11. Before buying large quantities of paint, buy quarts of your selected colors and paint one area of your house.
12. Take your time... be creative... and have fun!

Tips:

1. The simpler your house, the fewer colors you'll need. For an elaborate Victorian, plan to use four to six colors.
2. Light colors will make your house seem larger. Dark colors or bands of trim will make your house seem smaller, but will draw more attention to details.
3. For some accents, consider using darker or lighter shades instead of changing color.

Drapes and Rods

Melanie,
How far should curtain rods extend beyond the window? Are there certain curtains that are appropriate for the living room vs. the bedroom?

   Every window is going to be different, but here are a few pointers and tricks to follow. When deciding where to hang your curtain rod there are a couple options for a standard window. Hang the rod at least 4" above the window frame, or at the ceiling. (If you have crown molding, and your opting for the ceiling height hang them below the molding.) There is not an exact answer on how far you should extend you drapes beyond the window. However here are a few tricks to ponder upon....

• When dealing with low ceilings, hanging the drapes at the ceiling will make your ceilings appear higher. This will give your room an overall larger look.
• If you are working with a room that has one window or small windows; you can create an optical illusion by extending the drapes a significant amount past your window frame.  This will trick your subconscious it thinking the window is larger, which in return makes your space feel larger and brighter.
• Always take your drapes to the floor. This gives your room a finished look. (In the early 1900's the status of someones wealth was by how much their drapes puddled on the floor. The bigger the puddle the richer you were. The wealthy would purchase draperies that were longer than their actual walls. It would collect (puddle) on the floor. This was a statement showing how much money they could spend on luxurious fabrics for no reason.

There are many different styles of drapes. It really comes to personal preference and the space. All styles of draperies are appropriate for your bedroom, living, and dining room. If you have a question pertaining to your room send me a picture, and I will gladly guide you in the right direction.

Drapes at least 4" above window frame

Ceiling mounted drapes

Window illusion

Puddled drapes

DIY projects

I love DIY projects so I thought I would share one of mine. I was inspired by a picture of a chandelier I saw in a magazine.

Inspiration: 

Corbett 109-412 Dolce Capiz Shell 25" Wide Pendant Chandelier

$1,344



 

Capiz Shell Triple White Round Top Chandelier 19" across x 35"

$355

Mine:



My own created chandelier made for $40



Got a cool DIY project email it to me and I will share it with everyone!

TILE: Did you know

Have a bathroom or kitchen with tile you hate, and a budget that does not allow for a remodel. Here are a few "Did you know" facts about tile that can help you renevate for less.

• Did you know you can tile over tile?

• Did you know you can recolor your tile grout?

• Did you know you can paint over tile?

What to do with that television niche...

Question I was emailed today...

My husband and I just bought a new house and we’re working on decorating it(which is challenging because we have completely different styles!)  Our biggest dilemma right now is the TV Niche above the fireplace.  We have a huge TV that we couldn’t possibly fit in that space, so it’s just empty.  I am so lost as to how to decorate it.  Any suggestions? 

It’s about 2 feet high and 2-3 feet deep.

First of all I would like to sympathize with you, this is a common issue in homes. Home builders were trying to do something great for our living spaces, but now days with our new age tv's this has just added a challenge to our room layouts. What do you do with that hole?

The best thing to do is cover it up! When you try to fill the hole with decorative accessories it just looks forced. There is no way to decorate that hole to make it look as if it were meant for anything other than a television. No matter what style your space is, try using a mirror or artwork. Make sure to cover the hole completely on all sides. This will give the illusion of a solid wall.

Since you and your husband have different styles, try meshing them together. For instance lets say you have a contemporary style, while you husband is traditional. Try taking your living space and adding a contemporary sofa with a traditional wing chair. Some of the best designed rooms come from a blend of styles. 

I hope this helps and thanks for asking me! I would love to help you with anything you have questions about.

How do I know QUALITY furniture??

Quality furniture is hard to find, and while it is nice to have lower price points; where is all the good furniture? Think back to our parents and grandparents furniture. That stuff seemed indestructible, and it was! It was QUALITY! Something the furniture industry has for the most part forgotten about. So in your quest for good furniture here are some things to know and look for…

A. Dovetail joints : This type of joint is important in case goods. Dovetails are the strongest of all joints. The joint is made up of interlocking wedge-shaped elements called pins and tails that resist the forces applied to the joint. This joint looks attractive and, if well made, the decorative quality can be used to enhance projects. In other projects the joint can be hidden completely. Dovetail joints work best when in tension. For example, the most common application of the dovetail joint is in drawer making as the strength of the joints tails and pins resist the pulling forces applied to the drawer. Dovetails are so strong it is rare to see a drawer that has broken as a result of joint failure, even when put under frequent stresses.

B. Look for quality veneers. There is a huge misconception about veneers. Veneer is a thin layer of solid wood that is adhered to the surface of another product. While there are cheap veneers the term “veneer” is not a negative thing. A quality veneer is going to be a superior layer of wood with beautiful graining and color. Many beautiful woods are soft in nature, so applying it to a core makes it a much stronger product. Therefore you are getting a durable case good. However, to tell a quality veneer for a cheap veneer its all about what it is attached to. You want to see a crosshatched core. Crosshatched is a layering process of wood.

C. Cushions: there are many types that furniture manufactures use. (spring down, goose down, standard, and firm) They are commonly made from a polyurethane foam or latex. Both being good options. So how do you know a quality cushion from a cheapo? Unzip it! Seriously, when shopping for furniture lift one of the cushions and unzip it. You want a cushion that is encased , not stuffed directly into the fabric. Quality furniture cushions might also have channels sewn into the actual cushion. This is wonderful! It prevents the cushion from crushing or moving from one area of the fabric to another.

D. Frame: The frame to upholstered furniture is very important. This is an area that is hidden to eye, and manufactures can get away with cutting corners. However there are tricks to tell a good frame. Run your hand across the back of a sofa or chair. In a quality piece of furniture you should barely feel the wood frame through the fabric. This shows you the manufacture took the time to wrap the wood frame with a foam to prevent the wear of the wood on the fabric. The best frame is made out of kiln-dried hardwood. The process of kiln drying removes all moisture from the wood, enabling it to retain its shape and stability over a long period of time. A frame made of green wood can shrink or crack. Knotted wood can also cause cracks. In a good quality frame, special attention is paid to the joints, which are glued, dowelled and screwed. The corners are further strengthened by corner blocks. These provide extra support. Generally plywood and particleboard frames are inferior, especially if they are held together with staples. However, additional layers of plywood may help reinforce the frame, so construction matters as much as material. In case you have to choose a sofa with a plywood frame, make sure it has 11- 13 layers of plywood and not fewer.
　
These are just a few things to look for in a quality piece of furniture. If you find all these qualities in the furniture you are selecting, everything else is icing on the cake. Most furniture manufactures that offer these qualities will also offer drawer stops, corner blocks, and wooden glides. Below I have put pictures corresponding to items A-D. Happy Shopping!!!

Quality Furniture



A. Dovetail joint



A. Dovetail

B. Veneer

B. Veneer construction

B.  Cross layered wood

C. Encased cushion

C. Non encased cushion

D. Good frame construction