House Painting – Contractor or DIY?

[The following is a guest blog post from a Wilmington NC homeowner]

Wilmington NC Interior PaintingWhen it comes to painting the house, the first question is usually: “Does it make sense to do this myself or hire painters to do it for me?” When we bought our first house – a definite fixer-upper – my husband and I did all the painting ourselves. That was when I first learned that “painting” really meant scraping, spackling, priming, taping, AND painting. That was a huge project and it took months to get all the rooms done. The most fun parts were picking the colors and enjoying it when it was all done. Of course this is when we were young, had no kids, and were full of excitement about our new house and all the possibilities.

Now that we have little kids and a more grown-up house here in Wilmington, we hardly ever even ask ourselves if we should do the painting ourselves. How could we spend our precious weekends getting rooms done bit-by-bit while living in the chaos of furniture that’s all moved around, fixtures and artwork taken down and piled up somewhere else, and kids who are trying to get your attention all the while? How much is our time worth to us? Surely it’s worthwhile to hire painters to come in for 2 or 3 days while we’re at work and the kids are at daycare to get the job done. The painters will even move the furniture around for us, take down the fixtures, and put everything back when they’re done. And we still get to do the fun parts of picking the colors and enjoying it when it’s all done.

So for us it’s a no-brainer. Hire a professional painting contractor in Wilmington, NC. One that you can trust with the key to your home or to be respectfully sharing your space while you’re there. One that is neat, polite, and does a great job cleaning up at the end of the day and at the end of the project. Colour Solutions Custom Painting Company is an excellent choice for house painting – interior and exterior. They are professional, efficient, neat, and clean and they do a wonderful job, particularly with specialty finishes. While they’re there, they can even help with drywall repair, small carpentry jobs, and pressure washing if needed.

Contact Colour Solutions today to learn how they can help you save valuable time and money with your house painting project in the Wilmington NC area: 910-686-3067.

Exterior House Painting – Add Accents with Windows and Doors

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.

Ideas for Painted Cabinets

Giving your kitchen cabinets a fresh coat of paint can improve their look and give your room a completely different appearance.

With just about any color you can imagine to choose from, Colour Solutions can help you find the perfect shade for your home’s cabinets. Choose classic white for a bright, clean look. Or go with something darker, such as deep forest green, to complement wood or copper elements and create a natural feel.

If you’re thinking of doing something a little different, don’t be afraid to experiment with bright colors or maybe even metallic finishes. Stainless steel appliances can look great when complemented by light counter tops and metallic-pained cabinets and compact spaces generally look much larger and more open when bright, light-reflecting colors are used.

Another unique idea is to use two different paint colors to create a two-tone effect in your home. Picture your upper kitchen cabinets in a light color such as white or cream, and the lower cabinets in a darker shade to match the color scheme of your home. This effect draws the eyes upward, making the ceiling appear higher and the room appear larger.

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

Get Ready for Fall Cleanup

Are you ready for fall? How about your home? To get you house in shape for autumn, check out these tips to make your fall cleanup go smoothly.

Transition garden -Â If you have a flower, veggie or herb garden, now is the time to get it ready for the next season. Remove any dead plants and weeds and till the soil. Start planting your fall/winter flowers/produce.

Rake leaves -Â Set aside an afternoon or morning to clear your yard of as many leaves and yard debris as possible. (In southeastern NC, you may be raking more pine needles than leaves! If that’s the case, you may be able to reuse the pine straw for landscaping).

Check your home for areas that need caulking -Â Caulk helps prevent moisture and mildew by creating a seal. Bathrooms, kitchens and around doors and windows are common places that need caulk. It’s a good idea to check these areas at least twice a year.

Check your home’s paint. Is it time for a fresh coat? -Â A fresh coat of paint can make your home more attractive. It can also act as a protective layer between your home and the elements.

Contact Colour Solutions to hear about our interior and exterior painting services: 910-686-3067

Color Stained Decks

deckStaining your deck will offer valuable protection against mold, mildew and sun damage. But how do you determine the best shade or color to use?

Colour Solutions offers a wide variety of color stains for wooden decks, from light stains like oak and pecan to dark shades like ebony or even deep reds like mahogany or cherry. If your looking for something a little different, we can even give your deck a blue, green, gray or white stain.

With so many options to choose from, it’s best to narrow down choices that will complement your home’s existing color scheme. If you need a little extra help deciding, Color Solutions’ experienced professionals will be glad to offer suggestions and show you photos of past projects.

At Color Solutions, we offer pressure washing and high quality deck staining at reasonable prices. Call us today to hear more about color stained decks and to schedule a free estimate: 910-686-3067