Archive for the 'Painting' Category

Feb 15 2010

Learn How to Add Color to Your Kitchen

If you’re like most families, you probably spend quite a bit of time in the kitchen. So why not make it more interesting by adding some color to the room? Maybe you don’t want a drab and dreary kitchen, but you don’t know quite how to add the right touch. Try some of these simple ways to add color to your kitchen, and make your look go from boring to beautiful.

Add Color by Dressing Up Your Table
If you’re looking for an easy way to add color to your kitchen, try dressing up your kitchen table. You might add a colorful tablecloth or placemats, as well as some colorful dishware. Add flowers in a vase or basket to the center of your wood dining table to add some instant color to the room. You want to try to find colors that complement your kitchen décor but add interest at the same time.

Add Color with a Backsplash
You don’t have to have a boring kitchen backsplash. Although you can always keep it simple with a neutral-colored tile or laminate, why not choose a colorful backsplash instead? You should be able to find tile and laminates for your backsplash in a variety of different colors. If you want a totally unique look, try arranging colored glass that’s been broken up in a random pattern on the wall. In this way, you can work some color into the décor and end up with a personalized, one-of-a-kind backsplash.

Paint an Accent Wall a Different Color
If your kitchen is painted a neutral color, then paint an accent wall to incorporate some color into the décor. You’ll want to choose a wall that’s not completely covered with cabinets or appliances. You’ll want the accent color to work well with the décor of your kitchen. For a more subtle look, go with a matching color. But if you want the wall to really stand out, pick a color that’s complementary.

Take the Doors Off the Cabinets
When you take the doors off your kitchen cabinets, you can display all your colorful dishes and other tableware. If you have neutral dishes, add some pop by painting the insides of the cabinets a contrasting color. This doesn’t mean you need to take every cabinet door off. But choose a couple of prominent cabinets about the countertops to be your “color cabinets.”

Use Window Treatments to Add Interest
Another great option is to utilize the window area in your kitchen to add color. For your valance or drapes, choose a color that will really stand out in the décor. A black-and-white kitchen, for instance, would benefit greatly from some red or purple window treatments.

You don’t need to redecorate the entire room in order to add color to your kitchen. Use what you already have and build some color into it, adding your own touches here and there around the room.

About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has been part of the furniture and interior decorating  business for 40 years. He owns and operates his family owned furniture store. They carry a large selection of American made solid oak furniture for your living room, bedroom and dining furniture. Whether you’re looking for a dining table for your dining room or a love seat for your family room  then they have everything you need.

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Feb 06 2010

Paint on Walls – The Most Popular Designs

Published by Medesto Remodeler under Painting

There are times when you notice that your walls seem so boring and dull. Thus, you tend to look for ways on how to make it more fresh and appealing. Well, one effective way which you can try is to paint your walls. There is actually no need to pay a particular person just to do the wall painting for you because you can simply do it by yourself. However, if you really have no time for such tedious task then, there is nothing left but to look for someone who can do the task for you. You just have to make sure to choose the best designs to paint on walls.

There are plenty of decorative techniques and designs which you can consider when it comes to making your walls look more attractive and charming. Hence, you will surely have a hard time in choosing the appropriate design to paint on your walls. You can start your thorough search for the best designs through the magazines or the worldwide web. In this day and age, there are already lots of designs to paint on walls which can surely give your room a total new look.

One technique which you can use to have the best designs to paint on walls is through the color blocking. This technique includes the use of three different colors painted in a wide variety of blocks on the walls. In addition, this technique is preferable in one area of the wall in your room because it can create some visual effects. You just have to make sure to take the blocks in various dimensions and sizes.

Another technique which you can mull over is the rag rolling and ragging. Such technique can surely give a dramatic effect on the designs on your walls. You can do this by starting with a solid color as a base. You have to crumple a cloth and dip it in a glaze to blot effectively into the wall. This method is actually known as ragging on. On the contrary, ragging off requires you to lift off some parts of the glaze coat. In doing so, you can surely expose the beauty of the under coat.

Furthermore, clouds are considered also as the coolest designs to paint on walls. Such designs can give your wall an awesome effect and make you feel like you are in the kingdom of heaven. This design requires you to have a sky blue latex paint color. After painting your walls, you can still add some touches of purple or pink to accentuate the colors of the clouds. Making these additional colors to glaze can surely give you a wonderful effect for your walls.

Indeed, you can make your walls seem so alive by way of some techniques and designs to paint on walls. However, you have to do this very carefully to achieve your desired look for your walls as well as room. Also, you have to make sure to utilize a design which is affordable but can give a great effect and results for the look of your walls.

Mario’s most recent ebook is co-authored along with painting and wallpaper expert Ron Howard. This do-it-yourself, step-by-step ebook will teach you everything you need to know about how-to easily and effectively paint and wallpaper your own home while having fun and saving thousands of dollars by doing it yourself. You can even build a profitable businesses around the information you will learn. Get your ebook for over 50% off by visiting interior painting

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Feb 05 2010

Changing the Size of a Room With Paint

Published by Medesto Remodeler under Painting

Rooms which have ceilings that are considered too high or too low may be changed simply by painting it a pale color; hot colors to make it seem lower, cool colors to make it seem higher. Brown as a color can belong to either of the two groups of color, depending on the amount of red in the make-up of the brown.

The choice of colors must to some extent largely be based on the situation and location of the house. If the house is in a town, bright clear colors will look extremely vibrant and will serve to brighten the rooms in dull districts.

However, if bright clear colors are used for interior decorating in houses situated in the country, where they are seen against a background of nature’s own colors, they very often look harsh and cold.

The colors on the walls will also have some effect on the home décor you have scattered about. Whether you prefer metal wall décor or posters, the color of the room is going to either compliment it or be a hideous contrast.

Tenants of houses situated in seaside districts may have a problem of their own to consider as certain colors will fade to a neutral gray when exposed to sea air. These are mainly pastel shades of pale greens and blues, and this fading may also happen in some country districts in rooms which have southern aspects where sunlight is particularly strong.

The deep greens of modern paints are able to stand up both to air and to light, and many of the best known brands of different kinds of paints are guaranteed against fading.

When planning an interior color scheme it is first necessary to choose the main or basic color which should be one that will do most to help the shape of the room. Here are some simple examples:

Low Ceilings: As previously explained the effect of low ceilings can be largely offset by the use of pale colors such as the shades of ivory and light blues. If the main colors are used for ceilings and walls and it is really no bigger, floor length curtains considerably affect the appearance of the height of the room, as do plates and other wall décor like a small metal wall art piece hung up high. Metal art is better fort his than canvas because it is slender.

High Ceilings: To give the effect of decreasing the high ceiling it should be painted or distempered in a deeper shade of color than that used for the walls. Pink and beige are good examples of this when set-off by a deep colored carpet.

North Room: North rooms usually lack sun, but they have a strong light, and colors most suited for rooms that face the north are warm creams, yellows, gold, pinks, peach and shades of reddish browns, which also tend to give warmth to these rooms which have a cold light.

The type of art that best suits a room of this type would be celestial themed art designs. You can find a lot of laser cut metal wall art like this in holistic shops, or laser cut to order magazines.

Allison Ryan is a freelance marketing writer from San Diego, CA. She specializes in do-it-yourself interior design, home improvement, gardening, and landscaping. For an amazing selection of laser cut metal wall art and other types of metal wall décor, check out http://www.laserwallart.com/.

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Feb 04 2010

Selecting the Proper House Paint

Published by Medesto Remodeler under Painting

You might have invested in the best furniture, have the latest electronic gadgets but that is not enough to make your house truly great. People invest lots of money in purchasing a house in an upscale locality and spare no efforts in making up their house with the best gadgets and other things, but they invariably fail as far as proper house paint is concerned. This does not mean that they are not spending money on house paint. They are investing money in it, but they are not selecting a correct color scheme. Just using any color will not make your rooms appealing.

If it did, you can very well paint all the rooms of your house with black color. Anybody who knows a bit about color knows that the black color absorbs light and does not reflect them. If you have used black color for painting the walls and ceilings of your room, god forbid, you shall incur huge charges by way of lighting bills. Spend some time on the internet and visit sites that display interiors of houses and see how carefully the house paints have been used.

Different color schemes are used for kitchens and for dining rooms. You have to select yet another scheme for the sitting room and another one for the bedroom. Yet another house paint scheme shall be required for your kid’s bedrooms. To put it in a nutshell, the house paint should reflect the mood of the room and will depend on the usage of the room. A soft and sensuous color is most suitable for bedrooms whereas bright colors should be used for the kitchen and the sitting rooms. Again the ceiling and the walls should be painted using colors that compliment each other.

Generally it is the rule of the thumb to paint the ceiling in a lighter color than the walls of the room. This way you shall ensure that all the light falling on your room’s ceiling is reflected properly and illuminates the room properly. Most people have a decent color sense and they should find no problems in selecting the proper colors for their rooms. However if you do find selecting the proper color shades for your room, you can always seek the advice of some interior decorator.

They will discuss with you and find out more about your tastes and suggest paints that suit your personality. You should also remember that there are different types of paints and each of them should be used as and when required. While general paints can be used in your bedroom, you need to assure that the paints used in your bathroom are water resistant. This is the one room where water is used throughout the day and some of these water particles are bound to splash on to the walls. Similarly you should use special anti-corrosive paints in your kitchen so that the grime and grease deposited by smoke can be removed easily from the walls.

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Nov 11 2009

How to Paint a Room For the First Time

Published by Medesto Remodeler under Painting

So, you’ve just been asked to help assist your friend in painting their new apartment, or you’ve just moved into your own new place or even home. You’ve never painted before; either you’ve relied on someone else to do it, or hired professional help to take care of it. Now, you want to cut some costs and have heard about others painting for themselves. Well, you can do it, too, with a little elbow grease and a few simple instructions.

Determine Your Needs

Take a good hard look at your place and what you hope to accomplish via color and accent. If you’re planning to “lighten things up”, you may want to choose extremely light pastel paints, which almost look like white, but are tinged with color (i.e., green or pink).

What to Look For

Paint comes in cans or buckets. You are better off buying the buckets which are usually premixed and less expensive. Just let the paint person know at the store what “type” of paint you’ll need and for what purpose. Then, fine tune things and choose your favorite color. Paint “types” includes matte, semi-gloss, full-gloss and eggshell. You can also get either the water or oil based types.

Buying the Paint and Supplies

Some other supplies that are essential to painting that you should be looking for in the painting section are: primer, brushes, rollers, masking tape, paint trays and plastic paint drop cloths. Even a bunch of inexpensive rubber gloves are very helpful. You should purchase all of these things at once if you do not have them at home, as it won’t be very convenient or wise to go back and get these items later on.

From the Trenches

Make sure that there is plenty of ventilation before you begin painting a room. You should always begin a paint job in your oldest and worst clothes, because it is guaranteed that you’ll be covered with spots and blotches of paint as you go along.

  1. Try to clean the room and sweep and dust as much as possible beforehand. This only makes is easier and neater to paint. Mask any areas that are delicate before hand well.
  2. If there are any outstanding holes or imperfections in your walls, it makes sense to spackle them beforehand, so that things look crisp and clear later on.
  3. There is some rhyme and reason to painting a room and an order should be followed. This is an example order: ceilings first, then walls, then doors, and lastly windows.
  4. As for strokes, try to keep them neat and even. It is a good idea to prime, then, do your first coat, let that dry, and do a second coat. Or, if your paint is a one-coater, then you won’t have to paint the second time around. Try not to put too much or too little paint on the roller or brush. Keep it steady and light.
  5. Make sure all brushes are soaked well overnight. Allow the walls to dry, preferably overnight, or with a fan blowing on them. You may preserve the paint on the rollers, by wrapping the rollers in plastic wrap and putting them in the freezer or refrigerator overnight. This way, they won’t get hard and dry.

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Nov 10 2009

A ‘How To’ Guide to Interior and Exterior House Painting

Published by Medesto Remodeler under Painting

Painting both the interior and exterior of a house will not only refresh peeling, dirty paintwork, but will also maintain the beauty and life of the wood, render, or wall plaster.

Preparation in house-painting is the key to success. Interior walls should be washed with sugar soap to remove all traces of grease and dirt and then thoroughly rinsed with clean water. Any flaking plaster or cracks will need to be sanded down and re- filled with plaster. It is possible to buy ready made filler suitable for plaster which is really easy to use. Interior wood also needs to be cleaned with sugar soap, rinsed, and then sanded with a fine grade glass paper to give the new paint a surface on which to grip. If you just paint over existing paintwork without preparing the surface, the paint may flake and peel off!

It is personal choice on whether to paint the woodwork first or the walls. Generally, it is best to paint the emulsion on the walls first as emulsion does not always ‘take’ over gloss paint.

Once all the preparation has been completed on the walls and any filler rubbed smooth with fine glass paper – begin painting! When painting a light color over a dark existing color it is best to use an undercoat of white. Either that or be prepared to give the walls two or three coats of paint to ensure full coverage. Nothing looks worse than pale walls with the dark color showing through; it looks most unprofessional and you will not be happy with the result. Start by painting the wall from the top down, this will enable you make sure there are no paint runs in the finished wall.

After the woodwork has been prepared, begin painting from the top of the room down. Use a good quality primer on new wood, followed by the undercoat. When re-painting over existing paintwork it is best to use a ‘one coat’ gloss paint which is readily available from DIY shops and most hardware stores.

In painting windows, use masking tape to cover a small strip of the four edges of the glass. Paint from the top down to avoid drips and runs. Be mindful not to put too much paint on the brush as this will produce drips and runs. Also do not try to spread the paint too thinly as this will leave unsightly brush marks. Do not be tempted to pull off the masking tape for at least 24 hours; otherwise it will be a waste of time using it!

When you paint doors it is advisable to also begin painting at the top and work downwards; use a final up and down stroke of the brush to blend the paint in the same direction to help remove brush lines.

Don’t forget to paint the baseboards! Use the same approach of preparation then painting.

When painting the exterior of the house, all old and flaking paint or rendering needs to be dealt with first. Once this has been removed begin painting either by hand, which is an arduous task or by using a paint sprayer. Which ever method is chosen it is advisable to cover the ground below and any features on the house with old newspaper or sheeting. Begin at the top and systematically work downwards.

Exterior woodwork should also be rubbed down with glass paper before attempting to paint. Work with a systematic approach from the top down. Try not to chose a windy day for painting outside woodwork otherwise you will end up with dust particles sticking to the wet paint!

More information on exterior and interior house painting can be found at http://www.housepaintinghowto.com

Jonathan Hunt is a free-lance writer and creates websites He is interested in running, writing, and personal development.

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Nov 09 2009

Suede Faux Finish Painting Tips

Published by Medesto Remodeler under Painting

Faux finishes often require a little bit of skill and some pre-application learning and practice in order to achieve the desired finish. Paint manufacturers have addressed the faux painted finish market by developing some finishes that require very little of the usual faux finish skills. These finishes don’t require any “glaze” and the tools are often just the usual roller and brush. This approach has opened up the world of faux painting to the average homeowner who doesn’t have the time to attend a workshop on faux finishing in order to decorate their living room walls. One of these “faux finishes in a can” is the “Suede” paint finish.

Suede paint is basically a mottled flat paint. Almost all of these paints require a base coat and a final coat which gives the desired “look” to the finish.

Base coating

The base coat is a coat of the suede paint rolled on the normal brush and roll manner. Cut in the ceiling with a brush and roll out the walls as you would any other paint. This coat of suede does not have to look perfect or have perfect hiding as you will be going over the top of this with the final coat.

Finish coating

The finish coat is what makes the suede paint look like “suede” leather. This finish coat is applied with a brush. I use a 3″ wall brush and find that I can execute the work fairly quickly with that.

The actual technique is simply a cross hatching brush technique, which basically is applying the paint to the wall in random semi-circular X’s . Each “x” should be curvy and random.

Tape off the base board and ceiling with easy release (blue) tape, and tape off the adjacent walls too with the same.

Work in small (uneven “broken edged” for better blending) sections of 4′ x 4′ and progress down the wall in that manner, joining the sections together as you go.

Inside corners require a semi-circular brush stroke that pulls away from the corner in a curvy manner. Change the directions of the curves and keep them random.

Lapping and touching up: You will see that the suede paints as a rule do not touch up very well so do it right as you go and do not back track onto a previously painted wall to correct areas that don’t meet your approval – try to get it right as you do it the first time. If you absolutely have to correct something on a already dried suede painted wall you will need to start at a breaking point and kind of “fade” it in with a uneven ending “patch” of suede paint. This is not easy to do, but it is do-able.

For more information on suede painting see: Suede Paint

Dale Slater is a professional painter and faux finisher. To learn more about all aspects of painting and decorating visit http://www.paintinganddecoratingconcourse.com

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Aug 19 2009

How to Disguise a Not so Smooth Wall

Published by Medesto Remodeler under Painting

Do you have one of those walls, with nicks and bumps and just all round tired looking wall? Maybe you removed very old wallpaper and its left a wall that either needs to be replaced with new drywall or plastered.

Well, if this project was not in your budget this year, then why not try working with it, instead of covering it up! Have you ever done a faux finish? painted a mural? well both of these methods are great ways to extend the life of a “not so nice wall”.

First of all, make sure you wall is clean and dry, and any loose bits have been removed, then decide on your color theme. A mottled look is a great quick way to give the wall some life and a old world plaster look, and you can achieve this by painting the lightest color first. Your color theme should be of similar colors or just different shades of the same one for a mottled effect.

While that is drying, get your next colors ready in small trays and add some glaze, (this extends the drying period to give you time to work with it) or if you can’t get any glaze, thin the paint with a tiny bit of water, but you will have to work fast. Once your base coat is dry, start dabbing on your next color and find the effect you like, or take a cloth and basically “wash” the wall lightly with it, and keep adding other colors that are part of your theme.

You should end up with a mottled look, that can appear like old plaster, and with your walls lumps and bumps this will actually help give it the look! You can experiment with different techniques, you can drag a dry paint brush through the wet paint to give a linen look.. just try different ideas, you have nothing to lose, this wall will look way better no matter what you do at this point! So don’t worry if you are not a great artist, this makes for a nice bit of artwork when done and extends the life of the wall.

Another great way is to paint a mural pick something simple to begin with, and then make sure you have the colors needed a quick hint, you don’t want to be spending hundreds on all different colors of paints, just pick a simple scene that can use different shades of about 3 colors or whatever you have around your house if using latex, you can mix them to get your shades such as for trees, or sky or water make your mural simple and not too busy, and have fun! Depending on where this wall is, you could also let older kids become artists!.. especially since they love to paint on walls anyways, and this would definitely become a conversation piece!

Article by Diane Palmer http://www.make-crafts-for-cash.com/donnadewberry.html is a website by Diane Palmer, with more than 15 years in the crafts business. Learn creative ways to make and sell crafts, online, craft shows, fairs and more Turn your craft hobby into a business!

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Aug 18 2009

Don’t Forget The 5th Wall

Published by Medesto Remodeler under Painting

If asked, “How many walls do you have in a room?”, most would answer without a second thought “Four”. After reading this article, you might re-think your answer. In fact, the ceiling should be considered the fifth wall in a room, and should always be considered when developing an interior design plan.

Just like the other four walls, the quickest least expensive way to change your ceiling design is by painting it. Even if your walls are white, your ceiling doesn’t have to be. Color on the ceiling will give the room dimension and personality. Soft colors will make the room open up and evoke feelings of the outdoors. Imagine painting your bedroom ceiling a soft blue, sunset peach or mellow yellow. If you have a dark room, you can paint the ceiling in a high-gloss finish that will capitalize on the room’s available light (Caution: high gloss paint will highlight flaws in a surface). If you have high ceilings and you want to ‘bring the ceiling down’, you can paint the ceiling a dark color such as chocolate brown. If your ceilings are low or average height, consider painting the ceiling a lighter shade of the wall color (mix one part of the wall color with two or three parts of pure white).

Another option when using paint on the ceiling is not to paint the entire ceiling in a color, but to paint large squares, circles or diamond patterns. The paint colors can be monochromatic, or a mix of different complementary colors. This approach is particularly good for modern/contemporary design plans. You can hire a professional artist to paint a mural on your ceiling. It doesn’t need to be a complicated design; it needs to flow with the other design elements in your space.

Of course there are other options for ceiling design besides paint. Wallpaper on the ceiling is another way to complete a room. (Note: Just like when you wallpaper your vertical walls, the ceiling texture needs to be smooth prior to application.) You can use patterned wallpapers, or a textured paper such as grass cloth. You can tile your ceiling in small mosaic glass tiles. This approach is a great option for powder rooms. The sparkle of the tiles will add great color and dimension to a small space. Wood can be used in many ways too. Here in Arizona, a popular way to dress a ceiling is with wood beams. If you have an Old World, Rustic or Southwestern design scheme, this is an excellent way to add dimension to a room. You can take it further by using wood planks on the ceiling. Armstrong Building Products offers Woodhaven Planks that come in ten different pre-finished styles and install with a clip system. Armstrong also offers Tin Look Paintable Ceilings that include shapes such as triangles, squares, circles and even tin tiles. Think of how much fun you can have with the ceilings in a game room or a child’s room! Fabric treatments can also be used on the ceiling. Options here include a padded upholstered look, or a gathered, tent effect.

In summary, ceilings should not be boring or ignored. Use the ceiling to emphasize and enhance the décor of a room. Have fun and make your ceilings something pleasant to look at that will compliment your home and give it unique style.

Suzanne Lasky, Allied ASID is the owner of S Interior Design. S Interior Design makes homes harmonious, functional and beautiful for families with 2-legged and 4-legged members. Suzanne has an M.B.A. and an A.A.S. degree in Interior Design. Suzanne offers years of real world experience, giving her clients the peace of mind to know that their projects will be professionally handled from start to finish. She is an experienced residential and small commercial interior designer and is the exclusive provider of Pawprint Design Services™ ‘Stunning Interiors with Pets in Mind’.

For more helpful tips-visit http://www.sinteriordesign.com

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Aug 17 2009

Setting the Mood – Choosing The Right Paint Colors For Your Home

Published by Medesto Remodeler under Painting

Picking which colors to paint the interior of your home can be a stressful venture. Following trends can make your home look fashionable one season, but completely outdated the next. What you want is to choose colors that will satisfy you now and in the future.

So how do you choose? In reality, there are no right or wrong colors, but there are poor color combinations. Pairing lime green paint with red accents would look terrible, whereas combining lime green and white looks cheerful and clean. One place to start is to look at what colors and textures are already present in the room, and go from there.

After looking at what you already have, consider what function the room will serve, and how you want to feel when you spend time in it. Don’t be too limited by so-called color rules. If you read a magazine article that you should never use red for a bedroom, you’re going to miss out on a rich array of options. Go with your gut, and select shades that make you happy.

Colors affect us. They can lift our spirits, make us feel tense, or make us feel at peace.

The kitchen for instance, is typically a place where family and friends gather, snack, and engage in friendly conversation. This is a great area to use bright, cheery colors that promote feelings of well-being. Yellow has long been a popular choice for this room, but be mindful of the shade you select. Lighter shades of yellow are associated in our minds with happiness and freshness, while on the other hand, a dull shade of yellow reminds us of sickness and danger.

The bedroom is your place of refuge from the rest of the world. If you want to give the room a sensuous feel, light red paint can envelop you in feelings of passion. Pink is the classic color for romance, but can be too feminine and overpowering for many people. Blue is a great choice for the bedroom if you want to create an area of stillness. The color blue promotes feelings of tranquility and has a calming effect on the mind. Blue also acts as an appetite suppressant, so be mindful of this when painting your dining room area!

When you’ve decided on what mood you want to create as well as the color family you want to use, be sure to paint a fairly large square on your wall. Don’t rely on paint chips, as the color can end up looking different on your walls. A paint chip also can’t give you an accurate idea of how the room as a whole will mesh with the new color. Your furniture, the amount of natural light in the room, and the type of flooring you have, all play a part in how color will look in the room. So you need to have a fairly large sample area to properly judge.

Selecting paint color can be intimidating, but remember to go with your gut. If you love a color and it evokes the feeling that you want, then chances are good that you will be happy with your choice for many years to come.

Matt Barker is a real estate professional specializing in Saint Paul real estate. For information on buying or selling Saint Paul homes, look to Matt Barker, an experienced Saint Paul Realtor for more information today!

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