Create a Cozy Reading Nook in your Home

March 24, 2014 By

Photo credit – Houzz

When you consider the idea of a reading nook, different images may come to mind. For some, the nook may be in an out of the way corner, surrounded by floor to ceiling book shelves filled with favorite volumes. For another it maybe tucked unexpectedly under a stairway or behind a curtain on a window seat. Having a special place for reading is the ideal way to encourage younger kids to read and allow teens and adults a place to unplug. Even when designating a space as small as a reading nook, the right paint job can have a significant impact.

Certain color choices can evoke feelings of calm that are ideal for anyone wanting to lose themselves in the pages of a good book. Depending on your personal style, the right hues can achieve the desired effect, whether its one of sophistication, whimsy or worldliness.

In creating a reading nook, here are a few points to consider:

  • Will it accommodate just one person or more?
  • Is there ample light?
  • Will there be space to store a few books or will shelves need to be installed?
  • What will the seating area consist of? …a plump chair, cheery bean bag or overstuffed window seat cushion surrounded by throw pillows?

Regardless of what type of reading nook you’d like, please call the crew at Colour Solutions for all of your design needs.  Please note that in addition to painting, carpentry is just another of our many services. A few simple alterations may be all it takes to achieve the effects shown here: www.houzz.com/reading-nook

For more information about our services, please call Colour Solutions at 910-686-3067.

Filed Under: Blog, Interior Painting Tagged With: , , ,

Paint Those Winter Blues Away and Get a Jump on Spring!

March 4, 2014 By

Interior Painting for a Fresh Look this SpringThe winter weather of 2014 has been tough for much of the country. It’s no secret that millions of us are excitedly counting the days when spring and warmer temps finally come our way. Rather than huddle inside by the fire, why not get ahead and perk up your home with some fresh paint? That way, when those gorgeous days finally do arrive, you’ll be able to enjoy them completely!

Perhaps you’re ready to change the color of your kitchen, family room, or want to redo a bathroom? Dollar for dollar, paint is hands down the most cost effective way to update your home. And what’s even better is that today’s low VOC paints make it easier and safer to tackle indoor painting jobs.  Just like with clothing styles, there are new spring collections for paint colors. We’d love to show you what’s new for 2014!

When you schedule an appointment, you can meet with our experienced staff members who will be happy to guide you to choices for your next painting project. Here’s a quick list of some of our most requested winter time projects:

  • Pressure Washing – It’s the perfect way to prepare a home’s exterior for a fresh springtime paint job.
  • Garage Floor Coatings – Has this winter destroyed your garage floor? A new coating will make it like new again!
  • Wallpaper Removal – Are you ready for a new look, but just can not get the old wall paper off the walls? Leave that messy job to us! We also handle drywall repair.
  • Cabinet Refinishing – If your kitchen or bathroom cabinets are dark and dated, you may be interested in finding out how easy it is to have us refinish them. Simply call one of our team members for an estimate.
  • Faux Finishes – Are you intrigued by some of the specialty finishes or interesting paint jobs you’ve seen on the home and decorating programs? From faux finishes to the new ombre, we can help!

Spring is truly just around the corner and let’s face it, there is so much more to enjoy when your home is freshly painted and in an excellent state of repair. Find out all the ways we can help you get the most from your spring and summer with a call to Colour Solutions at 910-686-3067.

Filed Under: Interior Painting Tagged With: ,

Beach House Paint Colors

October 14, 2013 By

Beach House Paint ColorsThe fall season is often a time of reflection for homeowners along the southeastern coast of N.C. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day the weeks are typically filled with trips to the beach, time on the boat, barbeques and numerous house guests.

When autumn finally rolls around, many who own coastal properties notice some serious sprucing up is in order. The summer heat and humidity can wreak havoc on your home’s painted surfaces, inside and out. At Colour Solutions, we agree with the old adage, that dollar for dollar, painting your home is one of the most cost-effective improvements you can make. With fall’s cooler temps and dryer air, perfect painting conditions are here, so why not freshen up your beach house with some favorite coastal color combinations?

For exteriors, classic choices are a solid winner. Along the beaches of N.C., lots of homeowners choose shades that blend and compliment their surroundings. Timeless matches are rich grays, sandy beiges, butter cream yellows, pale shades of sage and light blue, all paired with crisp, white trim.

Recently, there’s a trend to opt for the bold and cheerful Caribbean color schemes. Vibrant hues of pink, orange, aqua, blue, and yellow can totally transform an older beach cottage. Whimsical contrasting pops of color for the trim, doors, windows, and shutters, are also very popular.

To maintain an airy feel inside the home, light colors are always a good choice. Whitewashed walls with accents of bottle blue, sea glass green, beach sand, or pelican gray are effective for achieving cottage chic. Painted ceilings and floors are another easy way to make rooms bright and breezy.

The idea of painting old knotty pine paneling that is in some older beach houses, would make some cringe, however, there’s no better way to lighten up. The same goes for brick fireplaces and mantels. Changing the finish from tired red clay to serene oyster white works wonders and is an easy way to update.

For more ideas, we encourage you to schedule an appointment to discuss paint and stain options. Please call us today at 910-686-3067 or contact us online.

Filed Under: Blog, Exterior Painting, House Painting Tagged With: , , , , ,

Summer Home Improvement Ideas

May 22, 2013 By

With the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer, most homeowners are starting to think about ways they can improve the look and value of their homes. Summer is a great time to tackle some of those big home improvement projects and Colour Solutions is always happy to help homeowners check some of these projects off their to-do lists:

Deck and Patio Maintenance1. Deck and Patio Maintenance
Get ready for those summer cookouts by giving your patio, deck or porch a makeover. Whether your wooden deck needs staining, your cement patio needs pressure washing or your front porch could use a fresh coat of paint, Colour Solutions can provide a wide range of services to make your outdoor living space the envy of the neighborhood. And the floor surfaces aren’t the only places that may need attention – porch ceilings, posts, doors and exterior walls can also be painted, stained or washed to give your space a completely new look.

Interior Painting2. Fresh Paint Indoors
Summer is a great season to paint indoors. Here in the Southeast, high outdoor temperatures can make it challenging to complete exterior paint projects in the summertime, but interior paint jobs can be done quickly and easily without worrying about the heat and humidity complicating the project. If you’ve been thinking about giving your indoor rooms a new look, Colour Solutions can offer homeowners top-quality interior painting services at reasonable prices. From choosing a new color scheme for your bedrooms to painting your kitchen cabinets to adding a faux finish in the dining room, we can provide clients with a full range of options – after all, painting is our specialty! Adding fresh paint indoors can also take care of those pesky scuff marks and scratches that may have occurred throughout the years. Colour Solutions knows how to effectively prep the wall surfaces to ensure your new paint job covers up small imperfections.

Yard with Fence3. Beautify Fences
If your home has wood fencing, you might want to consider having it professionally cleaned or painted. Because fencing is subjected to the elements every day, all day, it can tend to accumulate mildew and lose its original attractiveness. Quick, fairly inexpensive ways to improve the overall look of your home is to thoroughly clean or paint your fences. If you’re thinking of paint, Colour Solutions can even offer professional consultations on choosing a complementary color and offer suggestions on the type of paint to choose. This project is best done in early summer, before the extreme heat of North Carolina sets in; however, if you do decide to hire us to paint outdoors, we at Colour Solutions can strategically perform the task to ensure the paint doesn’t dry too quickly before it has time to set.

No matter what time of year, Colour Solutions is dedicated to offering clients throughout the Wilmington area the best painting and home improvement services at affordable prices. To get started on your next summer home improvement project, feel free to give us a call. In addition to painting, staining and cleaning, we can also do light carpentry, wallpaper removal, yearly maintenance packages and more (see our Services). Call us today to hear more about our services. (910) 686-3067

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: , , , ,

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 

Filed Under: Blog, Interior Painting Tagged With: , , , , , ,
Next Page »