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Deck Staining and Painting in Time for Summer

April 4, 2013 By

Deck Painting Wilmington NCIf you want to have your outdoor deck looking ship-shape in time for summer, the time to schedule your staining and painting service is now! Colour Solutions offers high-quality, professional deck staining and painting at affordable prices, which is why we’re already booking up fast!

Summer is a time of backyard barbecues, family reunions and other at-home gatherings. If you’d like to impress your guests with an outdoor space that’s attractive and functional, a deck painting or staining project may be just the thing. You’d be surprised at what a difference a professional paint or stain can make for your deck!

Naturally, wood decks are subjected to the elements year-round, which can cause a lot of wear and tear as the seasons change. In North Carolina, our weather can fluctuate wildly, which means keeping your deck properly protected is essential to extending the life of the material. A high-quality stain not only makes your deck look more attractive, it protects it from Mother Nature’s challenges. Staining can prevent mildew, protect from ultraviolet rays and can help keep the material from rotting. Additionally, deck stains come in a variety of shades to suit your personal style. From rich, dark tones to light, natural shades and a few things in between, Colour Solutions can help you find the right choice for your wood deck stain.

If you’d rather have your deck painted, Colour Solutions can recommend a paint material that works well for outdoor wood surfaces. In addition, Colour Solutions will completely prepare the surface to minimize the risk of moisture and other environmental factors that may compromise your deck’s material. Like staining, painting your wood deck offers a variety of protective benefits, but may require a few additional steps; applying an exterior wood primer, for instance (see: Deck Painting Ideas in North Carolina) . But don’t worry; Colour Solutions has a team of highly experienced home improvement professionals who will treat your project with the utmost care and professionalism.

Instead of trying to do it yourself, hiring a professional wood deck stainer or painter can save you a lot of time and energy. If you’d like to begin planning your deck staining or painting project, feel free to contact Colour Solutions today. Give us a call at (910) 686-3067 or simply fill out our contact form online – but don’t delay! Our schedules are quickly filling up as people begin preparing for spring and summer!

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Kitchen Cabinet Makeover

March 28, 2013 By

Ideas for Painted CabinetsOver the years, your kitchen cabinets will get a lot of wear and tear. Instead of spending a small fortune to replace them, why not simply refresh their look with a new coat of paint or an attractive faux finish? Colour Solutions offers professional cabinet painting services to give your kitchen a totally new look for a fraction of the cost of replacing them.

With a very wide selection of colors to choose from, including the basic neutrals as well as attractive shades to suit just about any style, Colour Solutions can help you choose a look that works well in your kitchen. Whether you’re going for a more modern look or you want to capture a rustic “shabby chic” motif, Colour Solutions’ design experts can create a custom painting project suited to your tastes and budget.

Need a few ideas to get started?

  • Choose a bright white to create the illusion of a bigger, more open space. This works well in small galley kitchens.
  • Want something more unique? Consider experimenting with deeper shades of colors found throughout your home.
  • Consider the layout of your kitchen and how color will play into it. Does your kitchen open up to the dining/living area? You may want to break up the monotony by choosing a different color that complements the color in those areas. Likewise, you may start out with the idea of painting your kitchen and find that you’d like to have that color flow through the entire space.
  • Two-tone effects are also becoming more popular in kitchens. Choose a lighter color for your upper cabinets such as cream, white or a light shade of green, and choose a darker shade for the lower cabinets. This effect helps draw the eye upward and can make your ceilings appear higher, making the room appear larger.
  • Inspect the design of your cabinets. Depending on the style and texture, a faux finish may work well.

Check out our online gallery to get more ideas, then be sure to give us a call for a free consultation and estimate. (910) 686-3067.

In addition to cabinet painting, Colour Solutions also offers a wide selection of other home improvement services. Whether you need to get rid of that old, outdated wallpaper, want to refinish your deck in time for summer or need to fix a drywall mishap, Colour Solutions can help! Check out Our Services  to see a full list of what we can do.

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Kitchen and Bathroom Painting

March 21, 2013 By

Kitchen & Cabinet PaintingMaking improvements to your home’s kitchen and bathrooms can have a big impact on its resale value, not to mention your own sense of comfort and happiness. One way to easily transform your kitchen or bath into a beautiful space is to add a fresh coat of paint. At Colour Solutions, we offer a range of kitchen and bath painting services in the Wilmington area, from simple applications to luxurious faux finishes, all at a reasonable price.

If you’re planning on putting your home on the market soon, a newly-painted kitchen or bathroom will add value to your home and will likely attract more potential buyers. Just be sure to consult with a Colour Solutions design expert first, to help you choose a color that will appeal to a wide range of tastes. Of course, you can’t please everyone, but when putting your home on the market, it’s important to consider the taste of those who may be interested in buying. If you choose something extreme or something that reflects the current “fad,” the paint job may end up being more of a deterrent. Neutrals are usually the safest bet, but light or muted colors can also be attractive.

Even if you aren’t planning on selling your home any time soon, adding a fresh coat of professionally applied paint can do wonders for your home’s personal appeal. Kitchens are especially important. It is estimated that most people spend the majority of their time at home in the kitchen, as opposed to any other room in the house. It makes sense when you think about it. Kitchens are thought to be the heart of the home, as this is usually where families gather to prepare meals, talk to one another and socialize with friends. Haven’t you ever noticed that people tend to hover around the kitchen at parties? This is probably due to the common link between food and socializing. So why not do something to really improve one of the most important rooms in your home? A professional paint job is a relatively inexpensive way to spiff up any room, but a kitchen will benefit from it the most.

Like kitchens, bathrooms tend to get a lot of traffic. Although they aren’t used for socializing or eating, bathrooms are also very important when it comes to the overall comfort and appearance of your home’s interior. A bathroom with a poor paint job or stained and outdated wallpaper will certainly detract from the home’s resale value, but it can also bring your mood down. Studies have shown that when homeowners are proud of the way their home looks, they tend to enjoy spending time at home more than those who are unsatisfied with their home’s appearance.

If you’d like to explore the possibilities in your home, be sure to contact Colour Solutions for a free painting estimate. Call 910-686-3067 or simply fill out our contact form on our website. We offer high-quality, professional kitchen and bathroom painting services at affordable prices. We also offer a wide selection of other household improvement services such as exterior painting, wallpaper removal, wood staining and gutter cleaning, just to name a few.

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Exterior House Painting – Add Accents with Windows and Doors

February 22, 2013 By
Home Exterior Accent Colors

Home Exterior accent paint colors can help you achieve the look you desire, whether that be a more formal, casual or whimsical appearance.

As with interior design and fashion, choosing paint colors for your home’s exterior takes a little know-how. Highlighting a home’s front door in a contrasting color is a great way for a homeowner to express their creativity and boost curb appeal. In times past, the preferred color choices were black, green, and red. Today’s homeowners are faced with so many exterior paint choices that making a decision can be tough. In a recent article from This Old House magazine, architectural color consultant, Amy Wax, offered a few suggestions.

Before you zip out to the paint store, take a moment to consider these points:

  • the architectural style of your home
  • what the exterior is constructed of and its color or colors
  • the door’s trim
  • the exterior entryway leading to the front door-is it wood, stone, brick?

Wax explained that for homes with solid colored, neutral exteriors, the paint pick for the front door should serve to compliment and enhance. Siding that is pale, such as white, gray, or beige; practically begs for a pop of color. Formal, stodgy entrances take on a new attitude with an unexpected choice that is both bright and bold. Casual residences can look more sophisticated when the front door is painted a glossy, deep shade of a primary color such as blue or yellow. For a touch of whimsy, consider using ice cream colors or shades inspired from the Caribbean: turquoise, coral, and sea foam green.

Doors that incorporate glass are able to handle strong shades because the glass tends to soften the overall effect. Residences with darker exteriors benefit dramatically when the front door color is incorporated artfully. Wax suggests repeating a shade that is already present and playing it up. For example, is the perfect choice lurking in shade variations within the brick or stonework? The answer could also be discovered in the home’s surrounding foliage or foundation plantings.

If you are on the cautious side, don’t worry. Paint stores provide samples so you can try a color or two out before committing to an entire gallon. For inspiration, here is the link to the article and photos from the This Old House article: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20567862,00.html

If you want help choosing colors or for us to give you a quote for painting services, you can request a quote online or call us directly at 910-686-3067.

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Color Therapy

February 15, 2013 By
Color Therapy

Color Therapy or Chromotherapy is the use of color to help modify mood and emotions.

Color therapy, also known as chromotherapy, is the practice of using colors from the visible light spectrum to enhance moods, restore emotional balance and combat a variety of psychological problems. Although some critics argue the validity of this practice, others are more inclined to accept its theories.

While using colors to affect your emotions may seem like a silly theory, there may be some truth in this “pseudoscience” after all. For decades, advertising companies and corporate design teams have utilized color to trigger desired behavior in their customers or employees. For instance, the most common color associated with fast food chains is red. McDonald’s, Hardee’s, Chick-Fil-A and Arby’s all use the color red in their logos and packaging. This is most likely due to the theory that red is an attention-grabbing color that is sometimes associated with appetite. (This is also why red is such a popular color choice for home kitchens and dining rooms).

As another example, pink can sometimes be found in prisons, behavioral health centers or other types of places where residents may need to be confined or subdued. “Passive pink,” as it is called, is used as a calming color, though its effectiveness is often criticized by the scientific community.

As for homes, most interior designers will agree that color has a powerful effect on the overall mood and atmosphere of a room, which in turn will affect the mood of anyone who enters it. If you want to create an inviting space for guests to mingle and feel comfortable, a warm orange (think terra cotta, not traffic cone) may work well. If you’re an artist in need of inspiration, try purple – the color often associated with creativity and spirituality.

While most scientists will agree that color can have an effect on a person’s emotional state, most reject the notion that color has any effect on the physical or physiological aspects of health. While we at Colour Solutions consider ourselves experts when it comes to painting, pressure washing or wood staining, we aren’t exactly equipped to help our clients combat physical or emotional illness. If you find yourself experiencing any physical or psychological problems, you should contact your doctor.

Sources:

Color has a powerful effect on behaviopr – NY Times
Color Therapy for Designers Pt 1: The Meaning of Color – Smashing Magazine 

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Choosing Paint Colors as Part of a Home Remodel

February 8, 2013 By
Home Remodel and Paint Color Choice

Choosing new paint colors is one of the most important aspects of a home remodel.

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for a room. Whether you’re space is in need of some serious TLC or you just want a quick and easy way to give your room a makeover without breaking the bank, paint can be your secret weapon against interior design disasters. If you’re about to embark on a home remodeling project, be sure to give some thought to your color scheme and then choose your paint accordingly.

From building an addition to knocking down walls to installing new appliances and light fixtures, any home remodeling project can be further enhanced by incorporating a new paint color. When choosing your colors, it’s important to consider the setting. Depending on the room and what it is used for, you may want something bright and invigorating, or you may want something a little more subdued. For instance, lime green or fire engine red may work well for a kitchen or play room, where there is usually a lot of activity and creativity going on, but such a vibrant shade probably won’t work well in a bedroom or study, where things need to be quiet and calm. Something more along the lines of a soft blue or muted violet would be well suited for a serene atmosphere.

When in doubt, you can always stick with the tried and true neutrals – just don’t go stark white or jet black. Grays, tans and off-white colors like cream or eggshell are standards that offer versatility in design and decorating. But if you’re looking for something a little more fun, don’t be afraid to use color!

If you need help deciding on the perfect paint colors for your home remodeling project, we at Colour Solutions are happy to assist you. Just contact us at 910-686-3067 or request a quote online.

In addition to providing residential painting services, Colour Solutions is also proud to offer commercial painting services, pressure washing, light carpentry work and more. And rest assured Colour Solutions will work hard to ensure your project is handled professionally and to your satisfaction. Check out our testimonials page to see what some of our satisfied clients had to say.

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Brighten Up Any Room with Vibrant Paint Colors

January 25, 2013 By
Brighten Up Any Room with Vibrant Paint Colors

Brighten Up Any Room with Vibrant Paint Colors

Introducing new colors into your decorating scheme is one of the most cost-effective means of revamping, updating, and upgrading your home. Although painting is an easy and economical choice, the tough part is choosing colors we can live with. If you are hesitant to make a decision and worried that your paint pick will lack staying power, the folks at This Old House have some suggestions. After reviewing hundreds of new options, they have narrowed it down to 15 shades that they predict will, “go beyond trends to perform beautifully in real rooms.”

Oranges – These edged out reds as a new way to add depth and drama. Pumpkin, copper, clay, and exotic curry, are a few to look for. The color consulting firm, Pantone, which selects their paint picks twice a year, have named “tangerine-orange” as one to watch.

Blues – Cool and peaceful, shades of blue never go out of style. They can impart tranquility or create a breezy, endless summer feel. Some new choices to track down are those with hints of gray, turquoise, and aqua.

Greens – Because it is a secondary color that relies on blue and yellow, green can go in several appealing directions. This Old House has chosen three new greens that bounce from apple to a true green right from the crayon box to tinted shades that are reminiscent of sea glass.

Grays – More interesting than stark white, selections in gray provide a great neutral backdrop. They are unobtrusive and can serve as a blank canvas for practically any accent shade that is deep, dark, rich, or bold, to generate instant drama! The This Old House article also noted that, “gray compliments Carrera marble, stainless steel, and nickel”, all popular in kitchens and baths. The ranges of tints for gray can make shades that are warm, soft, or stark.

Yellows – Here are the go-to feel good choices for sure. Sunny shades of yellow are at home virtually anywhere. Pale buttercreams are perfect in traditional settings, while brighter, deeper, lemony picks add oomph to more contemporary homes. From true sunny shades to more subdued, creamier yellows, these cheery hues are sure to brighten up any space!

Remember that painting trim, ceilings or pieces of furniture are several other excellent ways to introduce some fresh color into your home. For a little more information and some inspiration, here is a link to the entire article, complete with pictures of color choices.

For more ideas for brightening up your home, contact Colour Solutions for a free estimate. 910-686-3067

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Interior Paint Colors can make a Room Seem Larger or Smaller

January 18, 2013 By
Lighter colors can make a room look larger.

Lighter colors can make a room look larger.

Whether you live in a small starter house or a three story luxury home, using space effectively is an important part of interior design. But did you know that the paint colors you choose can also have an effect on a room’s space? Well, truth be told, the color doesn’t actually add or take away from a room’s physical space, but depending on your color choices, a room can LOOK larger or smaller than it actually is.
The general rule of thumb is, the smaller the room, the lighter the color. Deep, dark paint colors are generally avoided in smaller rooms without much natural light. Of course, this guideline isn’t set in stone. Sometimes a dark color can add a dramatic effect to a small room, such as a guest bathroom or laundry room. Likewise, a house with several open rooms that connect to one another may be overwhelmed if a darker color is selected.

The best thing to do is decide what your goals are for your room (or rooms) and take into account the following factors:

Light – How much natural/artificial light does the room get? Remember that paint colors can look very different when exposed to different types of lighting.

Architectural components – Do you have crown molding you want to show off? What about baseboards or window frames? Will you choose to repaint these as well, or do you want to just find a color that complements the existing structures?

Flooring – What color is your floor? What type of floor do you have? Do you want to highlight your prized hardwood floors?

If you have questions, or just aren’t sure where to begin, give Colour Solutions a call. Dial 910-686-3067 today for a free estimate!

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Why Paint A Cement Floor

October 5, 2012 By

Cement floors are typically found in garages, workshops and patios. While it’s not always necessary to paint these surfaces, doing so can be beneficial to your home or place of business.

In addition to creating a more aesthetically pleasing space, painting a concrete floor can add resale value to your home. Cleanliness is always a big selling point for homes, and while garage and patio floors will inevitably get dirty, if the surface is painted, it can be kept clean much more easily.

Concrete is porous, which means there are millions of tiny holes within the material. These tiny holes allow dirt, oil, grease and other contaminants to seep into the concrete itself, making it extremely difficult to clean. If you’ve ever wondered why the stains on your garage floor are impossible to remove, even after pressure washing, this is why.

Adding a coat of epoxy concrete paint will create a protective barrier between the concrete and all the nasty stuff that will fall on it. You can choose just about any color you want for your concrete surface, but most homeowners choose a neutral color. You can even choose a solid color look or add loose flakes for a terrazo or granite effect.

To learn more about concrete painting, talk to the experts at Colour Solutions. Call today for a free estimate! 910-686-3067

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Faux Finishes – When and Where to Use them

September 28, 2012 By

Faux finishing is a great way to personalize your home by going a step or two beyond a simple coat of paint by creating rich textures and patterns for your wall, cabinets or other home fixtures. Faux finishes can also be useful in covering small surface flaws and imperfections.

Knowing when and where to apply faux finishes is important, as they don’t always work with every surface. Here’s a look at some of the most popular faux finishes and where they work best:

Venetian Plaster – Gives the surface a marble-like appearance by creating depth and leaves a smooth but slightly textured feel. This finish is silky and cleans easily so it would be best suited for kitchens and baths.

Crackling -This gives a weathered appearance, as if the surface has been exposed to the elements for an extended period of time. Because this is a less subtle finish, it would work best for small spaces, cabinets, tables and other furniture. Not recommended for large surfaces such as living room walls.

Sponging – This is a faux painting technique that can be dramatic or subtle, depending on the colors chosen. Typically, two similar colors are used to create the effect. This finish is versatile and could work on a variety of surfaces.

Ragging – This faux painting technique imitates look and texture of aged leather or fabric. This is a great option for anyone looking for a dramatic look that isn’t too over-the-top. Works well for smaller, intimate spaces such as studies or bedrooms.

For more ideas on faux finishes, contact Colour Solutions for a free estimate. 910-686-3067

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