8 Questions to ask your Painter !

Hiring a Local Painting Company? 8 Questions You Need To Ask

By Robert M Woodward

Avoiding drab and mundane ambiances in your home or place of business is easily remedied by changing the color of the exterior or interior. Expect to pay more if hiring a painting company than you would by doing it yourself. But having the professionals do the job can actually save you money in the long run. One way to feel at ease about hiring local painting companies is to know their track record. You'll want to keep these questions in mind when looking for a professional painter and get the answers you want before signing a contract:
1. Do they provide their recommendations and estimates in writing? Is their estimate a fixed price? Be clear before they start their work. Know exactly what you will get for the price you are asked to pay.
2. Are they licensed, bonded, with adequate insurance? Check this information ahead of time to know if painting companies stand behind their work.
3. Are they willing to provide a list of references upon request? You'll need to call those references but you'll also want to go by some of the jobs the company has completed so you can see for yourself the quality of their work.
4. What safety standards and work ethics are adhered to? Make sure the company has clear safety policies for employees while working on your property.
5. What type of prep work is done before applying paint and will it cost extra? As an example, are the costs for pressure washing your exterior walls built into the estimate you were given?
6. What type of paint will they use and do you have selection options? You'll want to ensure they're using a good quality paint so you don't have to have your home repainted within a few years.
7. Are the painters actual employees? Know if the company uses actual employees or day laborers. In many cases, day laborers work without adequate background checks. This might leave you open to thefts, poor paint jobs, or both.
8. Do they conduct pre and post quality inspections before they start or after they finish the job? Do they inspect the completed work with you or will they snatch the check and exit quickly? Is the work guaranteed, if so for how long?
In addition to asking these crucial questions give special attention to the way they respond. One way to know if a painting company will be prompt in starting and completing work on time is the way they handle your initial contact. When you contact them and ask your questions are they prompt about getting back to you and do they answer the questions you're asking. When a contractor is open to addressing your questions it is a good indication that they practice professionalism and good customer service.
This is a posting of an Article written by Mr. Robert Woodward.  It is an excellent article worthy of consideration.  Though I write many articles on the subject of painting and decorating, I could not write this article any better. 
We at Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C. meet or exceed the required information asked for in this article.  We are the painters, estimators, designers, consultants.  We are prompt, insured, licensed and guarantee our work.  Servicing Northwest Arkansas since 1987.
As Always “Happy Painting”
Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

EXTERIOR PAINT-WHAT TO BUY?

EXTERIOR PAINT- WHAT TO BUY?
Don’t go cheap!  Quality Paint will last a LIFE TIME.

When planning to paint our homes, we focus a lot on the colors and the type of paint finishes to be used. The same amount of time and planning is required in case of exterior wall painting too. For a home to look its best and its walls last long, the exteriors need to be looked after well. Thankfully the exterior paints available presently have high resistance to external temperature, dust etc which provides a reliable coverage to the walls. Choosing the right exterior paints company can save a lot of your maintenance money and more, the pointers below explain how and why.
Durable paint: Your decision of choosing good quality exterior paints will keep your worries at bay for a long period of time. You will certainly not face problems like bleeding, blistering, blushing, chalking, cracking and even chipping of the paint. Exterior walls are more prone to such problems as they face way more harsh climatic conditions and thus higher wear and tear. Superior quality paints are manufactured after considering these problems and are prepared to fight against them and give your wall protection against external as well as internal eroding agents. These paints come in endless color choices.  You can refer to the color chart and choose the paint color you would want to paint your exterior walls with. Gone are the days of using dull and boring colors for your exteriors, you can give them a lively makeover.
Ease in application: Your exterior walls will also love your choice of right paint and make the application process easy. If without the proper knowledge you pick up interior paint colors to paint your exterior walls, there will be a lot of problems in its application. Using the right paint will not just make the painting process easy but also spread over your walls easily without consuming much time. Exterior paints now come with multiple added qualities like resistance to fungi, harsh sun rays, eco friendly, waterproof etc. When you go to buy exterior paints next time, be sure to have a look at the different types of paints you can choose from and pick the one that suits your area's climatic condition so that your exterior home walls stay like new for a long time.
Protection to your home walls: The prime aim of exterior paints is to give your home complete protection. Exterior walls get affected first and then the interior walls, good quality paints will see to it that your walls are ready to face the toughest challenges and yet look like brand new. Such paints are also easy to clean and will give you least trouble while you do so. Your choice of exterior paints can highly impact your home walls in the right or the wrong way, so make sure you buy the best protection for them.
Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C. recommends ‘Behr’ paint.  It has been at the top of Consumer Reports for 5 years in a row.  That says something about the product.  For your exterior use the Paint and Primer combination.  It will save you time and money.  Of course, if you live in the Northwest Arkansas area, give us a call.  We would love to give you a quote to paint the exterior of your home.  Our Motto “ Attention to Detail with every job”
www.kenraderinteriors.com   or follow us on facebook (www.facebook.com/ken.rader.interiors)
We post our projects as we progress through them on facebook.  Pictures galore.  We will be starting a house exterior next week so stay in touch and see the progress.
As always “Happy Painting”
Ken Rader  Interiors L.L.C.

HOME IMPROVEMENT TRENDS TO HELP YOU SELL YOUR HOUSE

HOME IMPROVEMENT TRENDS THAT WILL HELP YOU SELL YOUR HOUSE

People are changing in their tastes of the sort of home improvements they want to see when they are shopping for a home. One of the big trends we are seeing is that people are not so much looking for WOW!  in the house, but value.
For example, what do you look for?  Many people like to see a higher quality siding on a house than vinyl. People are not spending all the money on a pool or on landscaping. They are buying higher quality materials for the side of their house. Also, people are improving the trim on their homes and are going for a lot of pre-painted and inexpensive trim.
Also, look for upgrades on the front door of the home. Buyers are really noticing the quality of the door on the front of the home. There is nothing wrong with putting in a new upscale door. It is a good idea to put glass that is argon filled to make sure that it keeps down heating and cooling expenses. This is a nice way to upgrade the look of your house but to not spend a lot of money doing it.
Windows are another thing that are good to upgrade in the home and are something that  buyers are going to notice and appreciate. Today you can get a lot of windows that are made from vinyl and they are not expensive at all really. You also can get tax credits for buying efficient window systems. YOU can get back $$ per window! What a deal, and you also get energy efficiency and they are very attractive to a potential buyer.
Another solid home improvement is a deck that is not too expensive. You want to make sure you do not spend more money than you are going to get back of course. They are simple to put together so you can get reasonably priced wood and do it yourself in fact. People still like composites and more expensive materials but buyers want to keep costs down. People are more sensitive to taking on more house they can afford now.
A home office space is also something that is becoming more popular. It is becoming more possible for more people to work at home and to avoid the expensive and long commuting. More people are able to do business from their homes so they appreciate having a dedicated space where they can do this.
Adding a room in the basement is always going to be a good investment for you. Just keep in mind that you want to keep the material costs down. You don't want to spend more than you can get back, and again, people are just more sensitive to buying more they can afford now.
We hope that you will follow these tips and you will be able to add value sensibly to your house. Home improvements that are done affordably can really help you market your house.
As always ‘HAPPY PAINTING’
KEN RADER INTERIORS L.L.C.

HIRE YOUR LOCAL PAINTER AND HANDYMAN FOR THE BEST SERVICE

HIRE YOUR LOCAL PAINTER-HANDYMAN FOR THE BEST SERVICE

A few decades ago, big box stores, including major home improvement chains, were the top choice for Americans looking for a great way to upgrade their homes while saving money. The national chains offered greater variety than local shops and could offer a wide variety of services and support for remodeling projects. In recent years, however, homeowners have been disappointed in the quality of the work done by the big names in home improvement and have begun to turn back to their local handyman/painter for everything from kitchen remodeling to individual maintenance or repair services. There are several reasons for the renewed interest in old-fashioned craftsmanship, but they all lead back to one thing - a local handyman/painter provides better service and support and will truly get to know you and your home.
The Painter’s Attention to Detail
Big box remodeling centers offer an impressive array of products and services on display, but most of them hire out to subcontractors to do the actual installation and repairs. In many instances, the turnover is quite high for painter’s is quite rapid. If you hire a local handyman/painter, however, you'll be hiring someone who only works locally and is an independent contractor, who takes pride in every job no matter how large or small. Subcontractors through chain stores simply want to rush through the jobs they do, scheduling multiple jobs at one time, which inevitably leads to rushed or sloppy workmanship. If you hire a local painter, you can be sure he will be focusing all his attention on the details of your job. The result is superior craftsmanship and service.
Reasonable Rates and Reliable Quotes
Not all home improvement projects are the same. If you need a leaky toilet fixed or need seasonal cleaning of your home's exterior, a local handyman will be glad to quote you an hourly rate so that you'll know exactly what you're paying for. He will also be happy to provide you with a quote for larger jobs such as bathroom or kitchen remodeling. This flexibility is rare with big box stores that quote "standard rates" regardless of the size of the project.  Some of the big box chains take a large percentage of the total cost of the job.  Therefore the subcontractor is making less and will indeed be in a hurry to finish.  Time is Money.  Don't hire a carpenter through a national remodeling chain unless you're willing to pay the overhead that's a part of every subcontracting job. By hiring locally, you eliminate the middleman that jacks up the cost of doing business.
Personal Pride and Integrity
When you hire a local carpenter or painter, you are getting the services of a member of your community. He or she will take pride in providing you with top quality materials and, when it is needed, working with local professionals who also take pride in their work. When you're ready to begin your project, you'll discover that the personal touch and dedication to superior work you're seeking can best be found by hiring a professional. He can handle all kinds of painting and handyman jobs. No national chain can offer you the same quality and guaranteed service.
Personal Service
And finally, once you've hired a skilled handyman/painter in your area, you'll rest easy knowing you will be able to count on him again in the future. You'll never have to worry about strangers going through your home or constantly changing crews (always a danger when working with subcontractors hired by a chain store). Won't it be nice to know you can count on your personal handyman, painter or carpenter for every job in your home?
Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C. offers the highest quality in Painting and Handyman services.  Our Motto has always been “Attention to Detail with every job”.  Check out our web site
www.kenraderinteriors.com.  You can also follow all of our blogs and projects on facebook ( www.facebook.com/ken.rader.interiors )

Paint Colors for Bathrooms Made Easy

Paint colors play a primary role in appearance of a room. So choosing the same rightly, even in case of bathroom walls, needs no mention. Considering the size of your bathroom, the visible wall area and tiled area and other furnishing in the bathing space is important while you choose the paint colors. So, here's more about bathroom paint colors .

Bathrooms were previously the most ignored area of a house in terms of interior decoration. People often didn't bother and think much while choosing the tiles or wall paint colors for bathrooms. But, nowadays bathrooms are becoming bigger and luxurious. Making them look the best and giving them a classic effect that will help you relax is primarily considered while designing them. People now don't mind spending money in refinishing the bathroom, remodeling it and especially experimenting with paint colors. Paint colors for bathing space are no longer simple and single toned. Choosing the suitable and most popular paint colors and opting for one of the latest painting ideas, is what you need to do, for having a perfect bathroom. After all, paints are definitely important for sprucing up the overall look of your bathroom.

Best Colors for Bathrooms

If your bathroom is smaller in size, then it is best to choose soft and fresh colors. The rule here is to strictly avoid dark shades. Basically, bathrooms have low illumination to have the necessary feel, hence, darker tones would make it look even smaller. If you would still like to have a dark tone, use it for the wall behind the shower fixtures or for the one on which the light directly falls. Warm paint colors like cream, pale blue or soft green are sure to create a lovely effect. Pink, orange or gray can also be used to have a cool looking bathing space. A lot of colors can be experimented in case of large bathrooms. If you want to make it really jazzy, choose some dark tones, but make sure that you rightly balance them with white. You can add the 'bold' element to large bathrooms with dark shades like black, violet or maroon. One of the important things that you must do while deciding on the bathroom wall paint colors is considering the mood that you want to create! Think whether you want your bathroom to look calm and soft or bold and bright and choose the colors accordingly.

Unique Bathroom Paint Color Ideas

 Color is really important, a perfect color scheme is also essential to finish the task. Think of various color schemes. Single color scheme for bathroom is a passe. Think weird and opt for an out-of-the-box idea that will definitely work right in jazzing up this space. Remember that you can have a classy bathroom with an ultimate color scheme. Think of a monochromatic color scheme, which is one of the best paint color ideas. Here you can use different shades of a single color and have an elegant looking bathroom. This will keep it simple, yet stylish! Make sure that you also consider the laminate colors of cabinets and other bathroom decor in your bathroom while painting. An overall effect will definitely make your bathroom look the best. When you opt for dark tones, balance them with soft contrast tones or simply with a white or off white paint color. For balancing purpose, again you can consider the cabinets, bathroom flooring and ceiling, instead of painting a wall in soft color. If you are using tiles as well, for the bathroom walls then make sure that they match well with the wall colors. The tile colors and bathroom wall paint colors must complement each other and the bathroom vanities as well.

Choosing the right paint colors for bathrooms, is the key to an elegant looking bathroom. You can further add spice to the nicely colored walls with some wall art ideas. Browse through the interior decoration magazines and websites to get more information about the latest trends in bathroom decor. With the right shades and good combos, get set to turn your bathroom into the best looking area of your home.

As Always “ Happy Painting”

Ken Rader Interiors

www.kenraderinteriors.com

Choose Your Bathroom Paint Color

Paint Colors for Bathrooms Made Easy

Paint colors play a primary role in appearance of a room. So choosing the same rightly, even in case of bathroom walls, needs no mention. Considering the size of your bathroom, the visible wall area and tiled area and other furnishing in the bathing space is important while you choose the paint colors. So, here's more about bathroom paint colors .

Bathrooms were previously the most ignored area of a house in terms of interior decoration. People often didn't bother and think much while choosing the tiles or wall paint colors for bathrooms. But, nowadays bathrooms are becoming bigger and luxurious. Making them look the best and giving them a classic effect that will help you relax is primarily considered while designing them. People now don't mind spending money in refinishing the bathroom, remodeling it and especially experimenting with paint colors. Paint colors for bathing space are no longer simple and single toned. Choosing the suitable and most popular paint colors and opting for one of the latest painting ideas, is what you need to do, for having a perfect bathroom. After all, paints are definitely important for sprucing up the overall look of your bathroom.

Best Colors for Bathrooms

If your bathroom is smaller in size, then it is best to choose soft and fresh colors. The rule here is to strictly avoid dark shades. Basically, bathrooms have low illumination to have the necessary feel, hence, darker tones would make it look even smaller. If you would still like to have a dark tone, use it for the wall behind the shower fixtures or for the one on which the light directly falls. Warm paint colors like cream, pale blue or soft green are sure to create a lovely effect. Pink, orange or gray can also be used to have a cool looking bathing space. A lot of colors can be experimented in case of large bathrooms. If you want to make it really jazzy, choose some dark tones, but make sure that you rightly balance them with white. You can add the 'bold' element to large bathrooms with dark shades like black, violet or maroon. One of the important things that you must do while deciding on the bathroom wall paint colors is considering the mood that you want to create! Think whether you want your bathroom to look calm and soft or bold and bright and choose the colors accordingly.

Unique Bathroom Paint Color Ideas

 Color is really important, a perfect color scheme is also essential to finish the task. Think of various color schemes. Single color scheme for bathroom is a passe. Think weird and opt for an out-of-the-box idea that will definitely work right in jazzing up this space. Remember that you can have a classy bathroom with an ultimate color scheme. Think of a monochromatic color scheme, which is one of the best paint color ideas. Here you can use different shades of a single color and have an elegant looking bathroom. This will keep it simple, yet stylish! Make sure that you also consider the laminate colors of cabinets and other bathroom decor in your bathroom while painting. An overall effect will definitely make your bathroom look the best. When you opt for dark tones, balance them with soft contrast tones or simply with a white or off white paint color. For balancing purpose, again you can consider the cabinets, bathroom flooring and ceiling, instead of painting a wall in soft color. If you are using tiles as well, for the bathroom walls then make sure that they match well with the wall colors. The tile colors and bathroom wall paint colors must complement each other and the bathroom vanities as well.

Choosing the right paint colors for bathrooms, is the key to an elegant looking bathroom. You can further add spice to the nicely colored walls with some wall art ideas. Browse through the interior decoration magazines and websites to get more information about the latest trends in bathroom decor. With the right shades and good combos, get set to turn your bathroom into the best looking area of your home.

As Always “ Happy Painting”

Ken Rader Interiors

www.kenraderinteriors.com

CHOOSE YOUR BATHROOM COLOR'S AND THEME WITH THESE EASY SUGGESTIONS !

YOU CAN DECIDE YOUR BATHROOM COLOR’S AND THEME- HERE’S HOW!


With easy designing suggestions, anyone can beautify a bathroom to make it enjoyable, large or small, with or without windows.
1 – The small dimensions of many bathrooms means that you can paint the surfaces yourself, not having to utilize the services of skilled painters. Though it is recommended to hire the professional.  Before starting redecorating your current bathroom, clean the walls and remove all items on the walls and vanity.  If it is not nailed down, take it out.
2 – Choose a light color to paint for the bathroom surfaces: this particular will give it luminosity, that’s important particularly if the bathroom does not have an exterior window. Or vibrant, brilliant or even dark earth tones are the rage in bathrooms. Or paint the walls, after which install a line of tiles at the very same height on all four walls, or perhaps paint a series designs on the walls.  Use vibrant colors to give it a Fiesta look or Earth tones for a more classic look. This allows a person to use accessories of a wide variety to give the room some punch.
3 – Select the accessories in accordance to the colors you used.   A Soap dish, a tooth brush holder, utility accessories and also sponges, towels, washcloths etc.
4 – Set on the floor any desirable basket.  If you have space for it. Place in it extra paper goods, designer soaps in the boxes or maybe a bag of potpourri.  You get the idea. Use the accessories and baskets to add the color to the room.  Make sure the colors complement your walls, counter tops, fixture color.  Complement is a big word and implies you can pretty much go wild with your choices.
5 – Indoor plants lighten up the bathrooms and therefore are a cheap approach to beautify. Decide on abundant plants that don’t need a lot of lighting.
6 – In case you have lots of room on shelves, various other feasible accents could be old-fashioned colored bottles or even glass containers filled with colored salts, unique rocks, colored sand.
7 – Candles are an appeal in bathrooms – romantic and passionate or maybe calming. Place large candles in the sides of the bathroom or on shelves. Candles placed around the tub can be extremely relaxing.
8 – Acquire exciting and colorful soaps. Synchronize the colors of the soaps along with the color of the surfaces as well as candles.
9 –On the subject of shower towels, use exciting strong colors.  You have probably noticed that vibrant colors are in this spring.  And, you can always use some new towels.
These are just a few suggestions for your bathroom.  If you give it a little thought you can pick your color and theme.  It does not have to be expensive. A little paint, a few accessories and ‘Voila’ , your dream bathroom.
As always ‘ Happy Painting’
Ken Rader
Ken Rader Interiors
www.kenraderinteriors.com

DECORATE WITH COTTAGE STYLE

DECORATING WITH COTTAGE STYLE

“THERE’S A CERTAIN SOLIDNESS TO OLDER STRUCTURES AND FURNISHINGS”

Plan smartly and succinctly- The best type of home that will work with the Cottage style is a small to medium size.  Extra rooms such as spare bedrooms were non-existent when Cottage’s were built.  It all starts with the entrance to your home.  Make it easy for the guest to get to your front door and feel invited in.

Eat-in Kitchens- The theme of the eat-in kitchen us based on 1800’s French Kitchens.  Think Julia Childs.  A Farm Table would make a good center piece to build your theme Kitchen around.

Main Living Area- The main living area need lots of old stuff.  Search Antique stores, Pawn shops, Flea Markets for items big and small that are already old or that can be made to look old.  We will talk about this in a bit.  Pick one wall and have floor too ceiling Bookshelves, lots of shelves that you can put books, Nic-nacs, pictures and odd items.   Fill the shelves with these items.

Old furniture with many layers of paint, old lamps, Old light fixtures, old hardware, ‘you get the picture’.

Key Architectural Components- Vintage accessories and furniture as mentioned above are good choices and they do not have to match in style or color, that’s the beauty. “Decorate with Timeless Style”, be resourceful and become enthralled with this process.

ADD AGE WITH PATINA- Some items are not old but can be made to look old.  The trick for wood furniture is to add multiple layers of paint.  Usually of different colors, so that they can show through in places.  “ The worn look”.  You can distress the wood by hitting it with chains, straps, ropes, hammers, you name it.  This can also be done to the book shelves.  Your walls can accent the Cottage look by using earth tones.  Some people use white but it will have to be what I call a “Dirty White” to give the aged look.

PLANK FLOORING- You can use old wood on your floors.  If you locate some that was taken out of an old building’ grab it’.  This can be laid over your existing sub-floor. Then put a few coats of floor varnish to seal it and make it nice to walk on.  Remember, ‘small rooms are easy to install floors in’.  This is called “Salvage building material”  You want to give the home a ‘period feel’.

MAKE A LIST- Starting a list of items and writing down your description of what you want will give you direction.  Even though the “Cottage Look”  is very random and open to personal interpretation, it does require a little direction.  The direction is defined by YOU.  Your house will become YOU. Then it becomes “Your Home”.  As time passes your list will be added too and will change.  Some items you purchase will not be used immediately but be stored for future use.  If you find an interesting item, ‘get it’.  It may not be available again.

Look at magazines, surf the internet, you will be amazed how quickly you will find what you are looking for as a theme of your home.

As Always “ Happy Painting

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

www.kenraderinteriors.com

Follow us on www.facebook.com/ken.rader.interiors

How to choose color

Interior Designer Tips for Selecting a New Paint Color

by Michelle Davidson

Designer Tips for Selecting Interior a New Paint Color

1. Find a starting place. Pull your color inspiration from something already in the room such as an area rug or painting. If you are planning to replace the furnishings in a room as well as fresh paint, start by finding the new items for the room. Finding a paint color to match a rug you love is infinitely easier than trying to find a rug you like to work with the color of your walls.
2. Think about what you like, and what colors you like to wear. If you don’t look good in yellow, do not paint your Master Bathroom yellow or you will be unhappy with yourself every time you look in the mirror. You might be seeing a lot of blues and browns in home furnishings lately, but if you don’t love blue do not paint your room blue just to keep up with the trends.
3. Get inspired!   Mother Nature is the world’s best colorist and she pulls together the most incredible palettes. Look around outside for color combinations you might have never considered.
4. Start small and take baby steps. If you want to try a bold color for the first time, start in a small and manageable space such as a Powder Room. The small space will allow you to live with you new bold color in a small amount, plus you will need very few accessories to pull the look together.
5. Ignore all “rules” you may have heard such as dark colors making a room look small. Do not be guided by what you have been told is right or wrong when selecting colors. Yes, some of these rules do have some amount of truth but the world is not black and white, and nor should your home be.

Of course there are more than 5 “Decorating tips” but this is only a starting point.  There are thousands of colors and it is just too overwhelming to try and pick colors with out following these 5 basic steps.  They really do work so give them a try.

Watch out that you do not choose your colors in the paint store.  The lighting there is not like that in your home.  Take the color chips home and look at them.  I have published some article on ‘Pinterest’  (Kenneth1951).  If you cannot find me then look under “everything” then look under “Home décor”. You should be able to find them.  You can also find them on my facebook site   (www.facebook.com/ken.rader.interiors.com)  maybe that will be easier for you to find them. Painting with White, Gray and Brown.  They will give you some assistance.

I love giving out information regarding “Painting”.  It is a life long education and what you like today you will not like tomorrow or at some time in the future.  Decorating with paint is fun and quite fulfilling.  As a painter for about 30 years I have seen hundreds of color schemes.  All of them , well, most of them, were beautiful.  I have also re-painted some homes after some years have past.  The home owner just got tired of the color.  I like that.  More work for me.

As Always  “Happy Painting”

Ken Rader Interiors

www.kenraderinteriors.com

P.S. I have altered and added too this article.  The original author is listed at the top.

SHABBY CHIC STYLE

The Basics of Shabby Chic Style

by Michelle Davidson

A shabby chic look is a style that naturally lends itself to decorating on a budget. This is because the Shabby Chic look is based on using furnishings that are comfortable, time-worn, and in keeping with simple and practical living.
If you are on a limited decorating budget and want to create a look that is unpretentious yet elegant, Shabby Chic may be the style for you. Here are a few of the basic elements that make up a Shabby Chic look that you may want to try in your own home.
Slip Covers:
Slip covered furniture is the cornerstone of a Shabby Chic interior. Not only does slip covering furniture give an old item a new look, the cost is quite inexpensive and slip covering allows you to easily purchase used furniture. The Shabby Chic style often uses lots of simple white slip covers that look clean and fresh and are extremely budget friendly.
Unmatched Printed Fabrics:
To liven up the white slip covers, printed and patterned fabrics are added as comfortable throw pillows, chair cushions, bedding, etc. These fabrics are often floral but can also be striped, paisley or any other type of subdued print. These various patterns and colors creates a relaxed feel in a Shabby Chic home, and allows a budget decorator to purchase remnants to mix and match.
Painted Furniture:
Painted furniture is another key element in a Shabby Chic interior. Furniture can be purchased at flea markets and garages sales, and then painted for that old but loved look. Adding paint to an item of furniture gives a clean appearance, and painting several items all one color (typically white in Shabby Chic) gives unmatched furniture a look of an imperfectly matched set.
Flowers:
Fresh flowers add lightness and color, and an instant Chic in the home. To achieve a Shabby Chic look with flowers, use cut flowers from the garden or make you own bouquets from flowers you purchase. The floral arrangements are typically informal and organic, with a look of just being thrown together. Flowers are used in all rooms of the home including the bedrooms and bathrooms.
Unique Lighting:
Shabby Chic features light fixtures and lamps that typically appear to be flea market finds. Often the light fixtures have glass or crystal beads which are always fun and creates an unexpected look. Lamps are often painted, and feature fabric shades made from printed fabrics.
Now that you know some of the key fundamentals that go into making a Shabby Chic look, you can try to incorporate some of these elements into your own home. A major appeal and the beauty of a Shabby Chic look is the imperfection, so do not be afraid of making a mistake when giving this style a try.
Be Yourself
We all have a little Shabby Chic in ourselves.  Sometimes just moving a few items from one room to another gives a room a new feel.  We all have stuff in storage.  You know old items from previous decorating adventures.  Many times if you paint a room and new color you can use these special items and get a completely new look.  If you cannot use any of them, nothing is lost. 
As with any Decorating, the key is to enjoy the process.  If you make it into work then you will come to hate it and the results will show your feelings.  We don’t want that.  So ,”what do you think?”  Is it worth a try?  Sure!  If you find yourself with decorators block then browse the internet for some ideas.   That is easy enough.  And,”don’t rush the process”.   It is like good wine, “ It takes time”.
The original author of this article is listed at the top.  I have changed it some what and added some of my own ideas.
As always “Happy Painting”
Ken Rader Interiors
www.kenraderinteriors.com

Interior Re-Paint in 5 Days

This is the first of four projects that we are doing back to back.  This couple moved here from L.A. and purchased a house in Prairie Grove, Arkansas.  Needless to say," Culture Shock".
This house was built in the 1980's and needed a complete interior paint job.  Enter,"Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C." Cathie started the project with a color/decorator consultation.  Which is worth millions of dollars.  The colors are " Milk Chocolate, Macadamia , Hopsack and Bordou.
The Ceilings were then scraped and re-textured with an orange peel texture and then painted.  This is a very nice update item for anyone to consider if they are updating their home.
The above picture is my Dad spraying water on the ceiling to soften up the popcorn style texture.  He is doing this with an airless paint sprayer.  It makes this process so easy.  Of course all of the floors and tops of doorways had to be covered, So did the CabinetsThe above picture shows some of the cover-up.  This is a big time eater and we were on a time limit.  So hurry, hurry, hurry.
Once the ceilings were textured and painted we were able to move on to the Closets and walls.  We spray painted the closets with semi-gloss paint, walls, ceilings and shelves all the same.The above picture is one of the closets.  We then painted the walls in all of the rooms.  Master Bedroom, Master Bath, Hall Bath, 2 guest rooms, Huge living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Laundry Room.Once the painting was done we moved on to installing, ceiling fans, lights and some plumbing fixtures. You have to be a genius to put together the fans.  5 fans, all different styles.  But 'I did It'.
As I mentioned, we were on a time limit to get the house done.  They closed 5 Days earlier and we were able to complete the project in 5 days.  Our crew worked very hard and long hours to complete the work.  Ron and Toni are very happy.  He spent this morning sitting in the living room and gazing at all of the finished product.  He is in shock.  Toni is emptying boxes and is still in disbelief that the house is completed.  I must say," I can't believe it either".
We will post all of the photos on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/ken.rader.interiors ) . Take a look, it tells about half of the story, but a picture is worth a 1000 words so it is a pretty good story.
As always 'Happy Painting'
Ken
www.kenraderinteriors.com

4 Painting Projects at Once !

That is right!  4 painting projects at one time.  Can it be done?  Are we crazy?  Why would you put yourself through this?
Well, first of all it can be done, yes we are crazy ( according to other people) and we are putting ourselves through this because we are CRAZY!
Here is a list of the projects.
1. Painting the exterior of a house that has never been painted.  The siding is cedar and needed some repairs and a paint job was in order.
2. Complete interior updating.  This is a 1600 sq. ft home that we are scraping the ceilings, textures added, painting every room and closets in the house.  This one is done on a time crunch.  That is right.  We started this project last Friday and we will be done this Friday.  And, we are ahead of schedule, thank you very much.
3. Painting 2 bathrooms a hallway and 3 bedrooms in another home.  This project will be started Next Monday and be completed in 4 days.
4. We started a complete home renovation some weeks ago.  We worked on it for 5 weeks.  Massive amounts of work.  The Tile layers entered the home and we have been off of the project for 5 weeks since.  We received a call today and will start back on the project April 2.  Still about 3 weeks of work to do. Much has been added to this job.  This project has been shared on our facebook site and I know that several of you have followed our progress.  So if you were wondering what happened.  Get ready, it is coming back.
We have taken many pictures of each of these projects, and I will upload them and write a little something about each project in it's own Blog each day.  I just wanted to let everyone know what was coming.
It is fun to document these jobs and we will give you all of the details such as colors of paint, what was done at this stage of the job and pictures of the completed rooms or exterior.  We hope this will inspire you to tackle your own project.  Perhaps it will give you the courage you need to start.
We will also be posting other Blogs with painting and decorating advice and instructions for your enjoyment and education. Please continue to follow us.  If there is a particular subject that you would like our comments or thoughts on, just let us know, and we will lend a helping hand.
As always  " Happy Painting"
Ken Rader Interiors