Best Tip For Choosing Countertop Colors and Floor Colors

 

We’ve worked with our share of homeowners who are in the process of remodeling and upgrading their homes. You’d be surprised how many times we’re asked our opinion on home finishes.

There’s a lot to think about when choosing a surface type, including the color. In working with designers and other construction professionals we’ve learned a thing or two. This is why I’m so excited to share with you the BEST tip I’ve heard for choosing countertop colors and floor colors.

FLOORING
When Greg and I were choosing our floor we both LOVED the darker wood. It was super popular on all the decorating shows. Then we met our flooring expert. They said, “The best thing you can do is take a handful of dirt from outside, some of the debris you sweep up, and pet hair and put a little on each sample.” So the key to finding a forgiving floor is as easy as finding the one that best hides the dirt. I felt like, “DUH!”

Turns out most of Colorado’s dirt is very light—almost sand-like. It would show like crazy on a dark floor. But my chocolate lab’s hair would appear like brown fluffy hair clouds on a light floor. Not cute. The best choice for us? A medium tone wood floor with lots of grain. It is so forgiving and has made my cleaning stress level decrease. I’ve swept up considerable debris and dog hair that I couldn’t see—gross! But so cool.

COUNTERTOPS
The reasoning and process for finding a forgiving countertop is similar.

Get your samples out and lay them on your current counter.
Collect some of your crumbs and the like you’ve wiped from your countertop when cleaning.
Take those crumbs and spread them on your samples.
Now step back. Which one hides these little particles best? There you go.

We had a good friend who really wanted dark countertops that were basically one color. Those would have shown fingerprints, streaks, and crumbs all day every day. So unless he wanted to clean them all the time he needed to find a more forgiving counter surface. He still chose a dark one, but with the tip I just shared, he chose a different surface pattern (lines, specks, etc.) to hide little offenders. And he has thanked me over and over.

We are experienced painters. If you live in the Colorado Springs area, contact us NOW to get your free paint estimate!

Disclaimer: You are responsible for your choices. What we provide here is for entertainment purposes. If you choose a color of anything and you don’t like it, that’s not our fault.

Outlet with USB Charger: A Little Upgrade

Looking for an inexpensive home upgrade?

As painters we deal a lot with outlets—well, at least the plates around them. As smart phone owners we are on the lookout for convenient ways to charge our phones. We can use the same USB cable to charge an iPad or iPhone but they take different charger adapters. And recently one charger went missing. Ugh!

Enter the outlet with USB charger.

This device replaces a standard outlet with two receptacles. Greg replaced the outlet in our kitchen counter we usually use for charging with one of these bad boys. A.Mazing. Our phones and iPad charge quickly. No searching for the charger. We just use one of several USB cords.

It’s so great we’re thinking of replacing the outlets by the bed with something similar. Imagine how nice this would be for your guests.

Of course we don’t recommend using this on every outlet, but if there are a couple of charging stations in your home, it’s worth considering. And at around $15 a piece on Amazon.com they are very economical.

Plus they make your house look high tech.

Disclaimer: Please be careful and follow all manufacturer instructions when installing. We’re not responsible for your mistakes.

What inexpensive upgrades have you found? Share a comment below.

2013 Color of the Year Emerald: 4 Ways to Bring it Home

Did you know there IS a color of the year each year?

 

Well, 2013’s color of the year is Emerald green. This is why you see it used everywhere. Textiles, clothing, pillows, bedding, and paint.

How do you use it without your home looking like a set from The Wizard of Oz? Here are four tips to bring this trend into your home successfully.

Bold wall color

Very bold wall color as a backdrop for simple, graphic furnishings will transform your space. If you really love emerald, this is a great way to embrace the trend.

Textiles

If you’re less committed to the trend but want to liven up a space, try adding emerald curtains, pillows, and throws. You’ll need more than just one splash of the color for it to make sense.

Furniture

Adding one piece of furniture in a bold color will draw the eye. Why not paint a great Craigslist find a bold emerald color? It may very well become your favorite piece of furniture. Dressers, tables, and chairs are fairly easy to paint and don’t take up a huge amount of visual space. Want more impact? Paint a hutch or your cabinets.

Accessories

Like the trend but don’t want to re-do your whole space? Grab a few emerald accessories. Place settings, tablecloths or runners, knick-knacks, vases, and trays can say more than a bold wall. Treat them like the actual emerald jewel and spread them around your space.

These examples and more inspiration are all found on our Pinterest board Green with Envy.

Flying Horse Home

This house is splashed all over our Web site!

The house was built like other track homes. But then Cheryl Windom of Windom Interiors was hired to transform the space. The homeowner LOVED bright, bold colors and having each room look polished. It matches his personality. Every room in this home was painted by A Quality Paint Job.

Cheryl chose a bold green that permeated the main living areas.

The master suite is a much subtler hue. The earthy brown colors anchor each space. This house boasts an outdoor lower level bar and waterfall.

We enjoyed working with Cheryl and the homeowner to create an unforgettable space. We get a spring in our step when we get to use fresh new colors and see big transformations at the end of the job.

A special Thank You to Joel Strayer for use of these fantastic photos!

Check out our photo gallery for more images of this stunning home!

Striped Walls

Stripes are an easy way to make walls pop with pattern without the commitment of wallpaper.

 

It gives your eye a point of interest—something to follow. And it allows you to keep your furnishings more simple. Some quick tips as you plan your striped room:

1. Don’t limit yourself to horizontal and vertical stripes! Stripes done at an angle can give a small room the illusion of being larger!
2. Chevron patterns are really fashionable right now. We can do those!
3. Punch up the color in a kid’s room or guest room! Choose two or three colors from your curtains or bedding and make stripes!
4. They are an easy way to theme a room. A white room with red stripes and small stitch marks can mimic a baseball. Or a stripe with embellishment at the top can mimic a princess crown. The possibilities are endless.
5. Stripes can be subtle, too! Choose a monochromatic color scheme or the same color in two very different sheens (like flat and semi-gloss) to create subtle texture.

Check out our Pinterest board Striped for more room inspiration!