Fresh Coats: It’s Nearly Spring, so Here Are Tips to Power Up That Painting Project.
By Molly Millett, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
Mar. 11–Spring’s approach means painting projects can’t be far behind. We asked Danielle Hirsch — the paint pro of HGTV’s new “Decorative Paint Techniques” video collection — to share some spring painting tips.
Let’s roll up our sleeves!
How to: Make a room look like spring
Hirsch says: For a fresh spring look, pair chocolate hues with sorbet tones of pink, orange or red.
How to: Be trendy
Hirsch says: Look for metallic tones, such as a silver palette of blues.
How to: Shop for paint
Hirsch says: Skip the big-box stores and try a specialty paint retailer. Hirsch finds the sales staff helpful, skilled, knowledgeable about the latest trends and decorative paint techniques, and their paint lines are excellent.
How to: Make the walls pop
Hirsch says: Use finishes that have or give the illusion of texture, such as Venetian plaster.
How to: Bring more light into the room
Hirsch says: Use paint that has extra sheen, or top your decorative finishes with a varnish or opalescent glaze. Hirsch says, “I love using eggshell sheen; it really bounces around the light.”
How to: Pick a time to paint
Hirsch says: Don’t paint when it’s rainy outside; the extra moisture in the air means it will take longer for the paint to dry.
How to: Get inspired
Hirsch says: Study fashion magazines or visit fabric stores to get inspired by the colors, textures and color combinations.
How to: Try an easy decorative paint technique
Hirsch says: Roll paint on bubble wrap and then stamp it to your walls to get instant polka dots.
How to: Get more information from Hirsch, a master faux painter who is also featured in HGTV’s “Design Remix” series.
Visit: www.hgtv.com to access Hirsch’s “Decorative Paint Techniques” videos. Or, click onto www.daniellehirsch.com.
Molly Millett can be reached at mollymillett@pioneer press.com or 651-228-5505. Paint by the numbers
The 2005 KILZ Roller Report, which polled members of the Interior Redesign Industry Specialists, offers some insight into home painting projects.
— Paint color is the most common item couples disagree on when redecorating a room (45 percent).
— More than 65 percent of the redesigners’ clients admit to skipping the priming step before painting.
— Paint color and project cost are the top two concerns consumers have when redecorating a room.
— More than half (52 percent) said spring is the most popular season to redesign a room.
— Popular colors of 2000 were whites, blues (teal, navy and slate); mauves (pink and burgundy) and hunter green.
— Popular color choices of 2005 were sage greens (bamboo, moss); golds (millet, Tuscan, butter and mustard); reds (warm reds, rust and terra cotta); and taupes (neutrals, chocolate brown and khaki).
— Redesigners predict the fashionable colors of 2010 will be blues, creams, reds and greens.
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Copyright (c) 2006, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
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