Because many people put outdoor plans on hold when it gets cold, fall and winter are the best times to begin indoor painting and papering  projects.  While your interior projects are usually best left to professionals to achieve optimum results, for those of you who want to do it alone, we thought we'd help you out. In this post, we'll provide you with 8 tips for painting and papering the inside of your home -- four for each home improvement technique.  Painting 1. Prime and patch: A good primer will allow paint to stick for many additional years. Further, it will cover up darker paint tones so that a lighter color is possible. You might also want to consider priming over patches as well. Primer will keep paint tones evenly across all parts of the wall, and will enable you to touch up any spots that you missed. 2. Be consistent: Painting a...

Many people think of gardening as a therapeutic hobby that helps you learn more about plants as you draw closer to nature. Outdoor gardening is the more traditional way of planting and harvesting various herbs and vegetables, however, you have to take a break from your garden in the harsh winter months. Have you considered moving your garden indoors? Indoor gardens, or grow rooms, allow you to grow your favorite foods year-round. In addition to the space needed to start your grow room, whether it be a cabinet, shelve, or spare room, your plants will also need light to photosynthesize and survive indoors. Our friends at DIY and Crafts  share with us a few plants that made NASA's list for the top houseplants that provide a purer and cleaner indoor air quality: Aloe Vera These plants are known for their "healing" ability. It is easy to grow, and hard to kill...

Flooring isn't often on the radar for many of those who have committed to a home renovation. But it should be! Choosing your flooring last is a huge mistake. As a licensed  general contractor , we have seen and installed some of the best flooring money can buy, and we always try to help the homeowner pick out what is best for their situation or family. The right flooring can make or break an entire room's motif and style, and the wrong flooring can cause major headaches. Especially when it involves pets and kids.  Here are some of the best family-friendly flooring you can install in your home. Oak Oak is classic. It is a tough and durable hardwood that outlasts many of the homes it is installed in. In fact, oak is often replaced simply for the desire of something new. A lovely, wired-brushed finished oak is highly dent-resistant, and measures near the...

While your home may feel content, what opinion do you have of your wall colors? Often, people take great time (and pride) in decorating their home, but forget one of the most important factors for creating mood:  painting and papering . In this post, we'll cover some ways for homeowners to step up and take some risks with their painting. From how to add contrast with bright colors to ways to make muted colors more vibrant with trim accents. Read on to learn more. Don't Be Afraid of Black For a log time black was off the home painter's radar. It wasn't sold in large quantities and having it mixed was a pain. But as times have changed, black has proven very useful in home decor. Use it as trim accent to make lighter colors pop. Also, with gold and brass becoming trend this year, black is perfect as a highlight....

Are the walls in your home drab, boring, or forgettable? Are you ready for a big change? Many people go a long time in between paint jobs, not realizing how much new wall  painting  can make a huge difference in their home's entire atmosphere and feeling. But before you rush out and buy a few gallons of any old paint, or call a professional, consider how the color you choose will effect your room. Too bold and you may contrast your decorations. Too muted and you may have just wasted your efforts. Research color swatches and take your time for best results. Here are some additional tips: - Don't just think about a single room when you paint. Consider the rest of your house so that the color you select is complimentary. Be cohesive in your design palette and reap the benefits.  - If you've picked a color that you are worried may...

Well... it's fall. Which means that for a lot of homeowners, they will be weathering the long, cold days by doing a few  home renovations  to pass the time. But what do you do if your kitchen is beautiful, your bathroom is magnificent, and your living room is to die for? The master bedroom of course! So for the weekend warrior chomping at the bit for a project this season, here are some of fall's hottest master bedroom trends. 1. Reclaimed Materials It's been done to coffee tables for years. You take an old wire spool or piece if barn wood, and you refashion it into something great and useful. Well, now the exact same process is being done for headboards and nightstands. Old and raw woods, like pines and cedars, are perfect for the job. It adds old world charm with a modern flair, and looks spectacular. 2. Commercial-Grade Style...

When you’re moving into a new home, you’ll probably be  painting & papering  to produce the exact effect you’re looking for.  Many people get lost when they look at the various shades of paint available in the same color.  The differences appear so slight at first glance that it’s difficult to decide which is the right one for you.  As general contractors, we can help you resolve your dilemma, since we’ve painted and papered many homes according to the specifications of homeowners.  Still, here are a few questions you can ask yourself before beginning the process of painting or papering your home: Have you decided what furniture you’re going to use?   You obviously want to make sure that your walls match with your furniture.  You don’t want to go with an exact match but you might want to stay in the same color family.  So if your sofa is a...

When you look up at the picturesque sunset up in the sky, your first instinct is often to grab a camera and get a great shot. What if you had a way to find the  painting & papering  colors that perfectly match that sunset picture, without a huge hassle? There's a way to do this with the use of an app that connects to a handheld product called a NODE. This product is basically a way to touch the things that are illusions on smartphones and tablets. When searching for the best possible color to paint your living room walls, you don't have to go to the hardware store and pick up a stack of those papers that showcase the shades of orange that they offer. You can look around all the world in front of you, find what color suits you the most, and bring it to the store to find...

You've bought or moved into someplace new -- a home, condo, apartment, shack, or shipping container (yes,  shipping containers  make excellent homes too!) Now you're thinking about  painting or papering  the interior walls. Painting is the easiest of the two, but how should you select the colors? Maybe you can let the colors pick you through the use of an awesome  color helper  tool we recently became fond of. This tool, combined with a little bit of creative color foraging, can make this task easy and exciting. To get started, first you must obtain the color helper device. It's easy, since you can  purchase  one online. Once you have the color helper tool in hand, pick a day and a favorite location or two or five for some creative color foraging. Ideally, the locations should be places you have visited before and enjoy. Most likely you will find some colors in those spaces...

When you buy your first home, your dream may have finally come true. But the joy of simply owning a home can quickly become overshadowed by tasks and maintenance that you will need to perform to keep everything running smoothly.  So while the average homeowner knows that a little DIY can go a long way when it comes to  painting and papering , for those who are not so do it yourself-inclined, there are a few things you should familiarize yourself with before you begin. Proper Painting Prep Title alliteration aside, proper preparation when you decide to paint a room is imperative if you want your project's appearance to shine and last. Sprucing up a room with paint is the quickest and easiest way to add your personal touch to your home. But prep work is a must. Succeed by following these simple rules: - Remove fixturing and hardware that may...

After a long, cold winter, there's just something about spring that makes us want to start fresh. The flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, newness is in the air, so why not bring some of that renewal indoors by beginning a spring  painting  project?  Here are some helpful tips to get you started. Picking a Color When you arrive at the paint or hardware store, you will likely have an idea as to what impression you'll want to make in the room you have chosen. But take one look around, and you'll see that there are thousands of colors to choose from. Don't let this discourage you. Just imagine what mood you want to create, and pick your color. Kitchen: Think active and high-traffic, and try bold, bright colors. Bedroom: Imagine soft and relaxing hues that create a subtly restful mood. Family Room: Deep, soothing colors. Or open and airy,...