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How to Paint a Wall Red

10/17/2017

Benjamin Moore is my favorite brand of paint. I use their "Aura" line of paint whenever possible, because it usually covers in just one coat.

They just announced their 2018 color of the year, and wow! What a color!

Photo credit: Benjamin Moore Paints

It looks like they're moving on from the white-and-gray trend. This is called "Caliente" and it's an incredible scarlet hue.

A color like this can really make a room, but from the painter's perspective, crimson paint offers a few challenges. With that in mind, here are a few Tips for Painting with Red:

Even with a high quality paint like Benjamin Moore's, red often requires multiple coats, so keep that in mind when making your budget.
To improve paint coverage, check with your paint store to see what kind of primer they recommend. With this color, I would have my primer tinted at the store to match the paint. It won't be a close match, but it will still be less likely to show through.
Red pigment often changes a lot in hue from wet to dry, so if you brush it on the wall and it looks like you bought the wrong color, don't panic! This is one time when watching paint dry can be kind of fun.
My wife, who is an artist, has often mentioned that crimson is notorious for taking days or even weeks to dry on an oil painting. The dry time won't be that long for your red walls, but it might take a little longer than usual. Consider setting up fans to circulate the air and speed up the process.

Be sure to mix the paint well before applying it. You've got a lot of pigment in that can, and you want it to go onto the wall evenly.
If you're painting an accent wall, remember that it's the first thing everyone's going to look at when they walk into the room. You really want to get that texture right, so be sure to patch any holes.
Brilliant colors can be a challenge to paint when they're paired with light ceilings or trim, Some people recommend using painter's tape to get a crisp line, but I advise against it, because the paint can still leak under the tape and leave a huuuuge mess. If you can, it's better to cut in carefully by hand with a good-quality brush.

Painting with bold hues like Caliente can be a challenge. If you're nervous about doing it yourself, why not hire a professional interior painter like me? I'm good at it!

Get Red Done Right

Photo credit: Benjamin Moore Paints

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Custom Built-Ins for a Laundry Room / Mudroom

10/4/2017

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Upgrading your laundry room can make a big difference in the functionality of your home, while also making your day-to-day chores a lot easier. This project is a great example.

I recently had the pleasure of installing new cabinets, counters and a custom bench in this mudroom in Asheville. The room doubles both as a a laundry closet and an entrance from the outdoors.

As you can see in the "before" pictures, the space was large and pleasant, but there was no storage! (The cabinet in the first picture was put there by me.)

After consulting with the homeowner, I came up with a plan that combined pre-made cabinets and handmade built-in furniture to give a custom look while staying within her budget.

We used standard cupboards from Lowe's over the washing machine, but I put shelves in between and painted them to match the entrance door.

Take a closer look at the counter top. This is hardwood oak, but I was able to save the homeowner money by using plywood instead of solid boards. Since this was cabinet-grade plywood, the grain is still very beautiful, and it will last a long time.

We also used a standard cabinet for the broom closet. Since it was a little too low, I raised it up a few inches and manufactured a few pieces of trim to match the existing baseboard.

The homeowner chose hardware and hooks to match the existing hardware on the door. Then we added a few other small details, like a bench to sit and remove your boots, and extra hooks by the exterior door to hold more coats and hats.

It all came together beautifully, and this is a project that could make a big difference in helping this family stay organized, while adding serious resale value to the home.

Before

After

If you've got a laundry room with no counter or storage, or a mudroom with no place to take off your boots and hang up your coat, give us a call. I'll be glad to bring your plans to life.

Yes, I need more storage!

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