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Fresh Coats: It's Nearly Spring, so Here Are Tips to Power Up That Painting Project.

Posted on: Saturday, 11 March 2006, 06:01 CST

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.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: Saint Paul Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.)

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