I’ve painted hundreds of kids’ rooms over the years. And I’ll tell you something most paint articles won’t: the color you pick matters less than you think, and paint quality matters more than you’d expect.

That said, color does make a difference. I’ve seen it firsthand. Painted a room bright red once for a family in Wilmette. Nice people. Called me back six months later because their kid couldn’t settle down at night. We repainted it a soft blue, and the mom told me bedtime got easier within a week. It could be a coincidence. But I’ve heard similar stories enough times that I now pay attention.

[Read more…] about What I’ve Learned About Painting Kids’ Rooms

I’ve been painting houses on the North Shore for 25 years now. And there’s one thing I tell almost every homeowner: your powder room is where you get to have some fun.

Here’s the thing. Most of your house, you’ve got to live with every day. You wake up, you see that wall color, and you sit with it for hours. But a powder room? You’re in there for two minutes. Your guests pop in and out. That’s it.

That means you can go darker, bolder, or more interesting than you’d ever try in your living room. I’ve had clients pick colors for their powder room that made them nervous. Then they see it done, and it becomes their favorite room in the house.

[Read more…] about Your Powder Room: The One Place You Can Actually Go Bold

Just like the exterior of your home, every interior surface has a product that’s made for it and a dozen products that aren’t. Wall and ceiling paint belongs on walls and ceilings. Put it on your trim, cabinets, basement floor, heaters, radiators, or the inside of a fireplace, and you’ll watch it fail. It might look fine for a few months, but the color fades, the finish breaks down, and you’re back to square one, paying to strip it and start over.

[Read more…] about Choosing the Right Interior Paint Products

After 25 years of painting homes on the North Shore, I can tell you that picking the wrong product for an exterior surface is one of the most expensive mistakes a homeowner can make. Not because the product itself costs more, but because you end up doing the job twice. Here is what I’ve learned about matching the right product to the right surface.

[Read more…] about Picking the Right Exterior Paint Products: Fences, Porches, Decks, Trim, and Masonry

I’ve been painting houses on the North Shore for over 20 years. And in that time, I’ve watched many homeowners tie themselves in knots over color. They’ll stand in their living room with 47 paint chips fanned out like a deck of cards, totally stuck.

Here’s the thing. Picking paint doesn’t have to be that hard. You just need a few practical guidelines and the willingness to test before you commit.

[Read more…] about How to Pick Paint Colors Without Driving Yourself Crazy