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Ask About Paint & Color
Real
Answers from Stacey Vallerie
Painting contractor, sole proprietor,
color consultant, & artist
Ask the Expert a Real Question >>
Question: How do I get started choosing a color?
Answer: Fabrics should be the first thing on
your agenda. Curtains, rugs, pillows, bedspreads, etc should be
purchased prior to choosing a paint color. Paint color is
virtually unlimited; so matching a color from your fabric is a
lot easier than taking your paint chip and trying to pick out a
bedspread. Try selecting a lighter color from your fabric for
your walls and a bolder color for an accent wall. Don't limit
your accents to one wall. Try painting a bookshelf or even paint
your trim in an accent color. Don't be afraid to pick a color
that gets you in the mood for fall. It's temporary; you can
always change it.
Keep in mind that color swatches don't compare to buying a quart
and painting a test spot or two. Test in natural sunlight and
artificial light. How does it look in the morning, midday, and
evening? How does it look with your kitchen cabinets, your
counter top, and your flooring? You may find it's not what you
wanted at all. If it's close, but a bit too saturated, ask your
paint retailer to cut the formula by a percentage. This approach
is also used when you want your walls and ceiling to be the same
color. Cutting the color on the ceiling will create a slightly
more lifted feeling rather than having the ceiling feel like
it's closing in on you. Again, sampling is strongly recommended.
Quesiton: How do I make my front foyer warm and inviting?
Answer: Color is often referred to in terms of warm or cool. Warm colors are close to reds, oranges, and yellows on the spectrum. Purples, blues, and greens are considered the cool colors. You can easily use color to evoke a mood. Think about how you want to feel in a specific room. The cool colors tend to be more soothing. However a solid brown is considered rich and traditional. Black can create a sophisticated look and, white, an airy and bright feeling. A pale yellow would give a bright, warm and welcoming appearance to your front foyer. Accent with earth tones for a relaxing thanksgiving gathering.
October 2008
Question: What is the best way to remove wallpaper?
The Real Answer: There are a million different ways to remove wallpaper, but some are less expensive and more environmentally friendly than others. I have yet to find one that makes the task enjoyable. It's tedious and labor intensive. In addition to making a mess on the floor, you'll most likely make a mess of the walls too. If at all possible, hire someone. If not, take these steps to make your chore less painful. Using a spray bottle, saturate the paper in sections with a mixture of vinegar and water. If the wallpaper is “strippable,” you should be able to peel the vertical strips with relative ease leaving only the paper backing behind. Resaturate the paper backing and with a PLASTIC putty knife scrape away working in sections as once the solution dries, the walls will need to be sprayed again. Once you've made your way around the room and every last piece of paper is gone, gently scrub any remaining glue from the walls using the same water and vinegar mixture.
Question: OK, so I've removed the wallpaper with the giant pink flowers. Can I just go ahead and paint?
The Real Answer: Not so fast. Remember all the times you pushed a little too hard and took a nice gouge out of the wall with that putty knife? Using joint compound, fill any flaws in the drywall. Once your repairs have dried, using a block sander, sand them smooth. Your next step is to prime the walls with an oil-based primer. The purpose of this is to seal the surface in preparation for paint. Do not use a latex or water-based primer for this step as any residual glue left behind can be reactivated and come through your finish coat. The oil primer will need 24 to 48 hours to cure. Then your walls will be ready for two coats of color.
