Painting Tips: Stripes - Before and After

Stripes are a great way to add interest to a wall. Here are the Before and After shots of the project I finished last week (see last week's video). It's hard to tell from the photos but the darker strips are semi-gloss and the lighter stripes are flat. It's a very cool effect and changes the whole look of the room.

Before

Think how creative you can be with colors and geometric shapes. How about diamonds? Or diagonal stripes? Squares? In this bedroom we went two shades lighter but if you wanted a more subtle effect you could go just one shade lighter. Use your imagination...the sky's the limit!

After

The hardest part of this project is the math! Make sure your stripes are even and straight. If you need help call me: 312.420.2367. We love transforming bland into beautiful.

Painting Tips: Stripes - Beginning the Project

This is a perfectly lovely bedroom but my customer wanted a little more interest. So we painted stripes in a color two shades lighter than the original. The most important part of this project is measuring your wall and being sure your measurements are precise.

Stay tuned...before and after photos next week!

Paint a Concrete Floor

What do you do with a concrete floor when you don't have the budget for carpet or wood? Paint, what else?! It's a great way to customize your look, it creates huuuuuuge interest, and it turns blah into fabulous.

Check it out:

Be sure to clean the floor thoroughly before you prime/paint, and I do mean thoroughly: wash, sand, vacuum, wash again.

You'll love the look and it's easy enough to do. But if you're lacking ambition call Painting Ladies: 312.420.2367. We love transforming bland to beautiful.

It's Never What You Do...

My friend Janice Koerber from Many Hats Homeworks says, "It's never what you do, it's what you don't do that people notice."

Isn't that so true? Here's an example: I recently painted a bathroom. It was a gorgeous, deep blue and looked fabulous when I finished (I'm manic about clean lines and straight edges, especially important with dark colors). Later, I went to an open house at the client's and when I went into the bathroom...horrors! the front part of the vanity had been removed, leaving a 2" gap between the edge of the new paint and the wall. In a situation like that your eye goes directly (do not pass Go, do not collect $200) to that unpainted area. It doesn't matter how meticulous the rest of the job is, THAT'S what you see. I wanted to put up a sign that said, "THIS IS NOT HOW I LEFT IT!" or run out and get more paint and fix it on the spot. I was mortified.

It's never what you do...!