Scraping off Popcorn style ceiling texture

How to remove Popcorn style ceiling Texture. By Ken Rader Owner: Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C. In the 1970's and 1980's a lot of homes were built and the ceilings were textured with popcorn style texture. Sometimes heavy and sometimes light. They even sprinkled a little glitter on some ceilings. Well here we are in the 21st century and that texture will not do. Out of date and no chance of coming back into style. IT HAS TO COME OFF! Here is a list of the tools you will need. 1. 6" putty knife (for scraping) 2. Small bucket or dust pan (to catch the scraped texture) 3. 30 gal. trash bags 4. Plastic film for covering up floor and anything else left in the room. 5. Step Ladder 6. Gloves 7. Masking tape and paper and a masking machine if you can afford it. (Cost about $50.00) 8. Safety glasses 9. Ball cap or hat to cover you head 10.Dust Mask. Everything about this job works against you because gravity is pulling everything down. To keep the mess to a minimum you will need to use the bucket or dust pan to catch the texture as you scrape it. 11. Pump up garden sprayer Begin by removing as much furniture and items from the room you are going to scrape the ceiling in. Whatever you cannot remove will have to be covered with plastic or a drop cloth. Fill up the sprayer with hot water and adjust the spray to a fan pattern, not a single stream. Wet down a section about 5' by 5' square. Wet it down two or three times since the texture will usually soak up the water. The wetter it is the easier it will scrape. Now take your bucket or dust pan and hold it under your scraper and scrape the texture off allowing it to fall into the bucket or dust pan. You will not catch all of it but whatever you catch is that much less on the floor. After a few scraping passes you will have to empty your bucket into the trash bag. Wet texture is heavy. Go at an even steady pace, no need to hurry. If the texture begins to dry out then wet it down again. Keep it wet because it will scrape easier. Once you do the first section then move on to another section. Sometimes ceilings have been painted and this makes it a little more difficult to scrape because the water will not soak into the texture because of the paint. It this is the case you will have to scrape in layers. First layer texture nibs, next layer some of the texture sheetrock mud, and finally the last of the texture from the sheetrock. Once this is done you will need to do some repairs from gouges and perhaps replace some sections of sheetrock tape. Then you will need to decide if you are going to texture the ceiling again or not before you paint it. You will almost always have to texture the ceiling again. The texture covered up a lot of mistakes in the original sheetrock job and all of them will be visible again. Most people will either texture the ceiling with orange peel or knockdown texture that matches what they have on the walls of their home. Here are some picture of a large room we just finished. Texture was removed, repairs made, Ceilings textured with a knock down and the wall textured with an orange peel. Paint was then sprayed on the ceiling and then rolled on the walls. Be patient and remember this is not a quick clean job. Most people will tire out quickly because you are working with your hands and arms above your head. So take a break every few minutes and keep the texture wet so that it will scrape easier. Have fun, call in a few favors for some extra manpower. Don't take any shortcuts and be thorough. If you leave gouges or do not make the repairs needed, a coat of paint will not make the go away. They will still be there only in a different color. If you put on a new texture it will usually not hide any problem areas that you should have fixed. We hope this information helps Happy Painting and Decorating Ken Rader Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C. Professional Painters and Decorators Serving Northwest Arkansas since 1987 Licensed and Insured visit our web site at www.kenraderinteriors.com or follow us on facebook at www.facebook.com/ken.rader.interiors

KEN RADER INTERIORS-PAINTERS IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Why You Should Hire a Professional Painter for Your Home

KEN RADER INTERIORS L.L.C. IS PROUD TO OFFER THIS INFORMATION.  WE OFFER ARTICLES ABOUT PAINTING AND DECORATING FOR YOUR EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT.

WE ARE PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS AND DECORATORS IN FAYETTEVILLE ARKANSAS.
WE OFFER PAINTING AND DECORATING SERVICES THROUGHOUT NORTHWEST ARKANSAS.

FOR ALL OF YOUR PAINTING NEEDS CALL US AT (479) 443-3686
EMAIL US AT kennethrader@att.net and be sure and visit our web page at http://www.kenraderinteriors.com
HAPPY PAINTING AND DECORATING!

There are two reasons that I am qualified to write about this topic. One, I have been a Painting contractor for the last 35 years. In that time, I have worked with dozens of painters and hundreds of homeowners. Second reason: My wife loves to paint our house as a hobby.First of all, there are four types of painting that will need to be done on your home; interior, exterior, trim and specialty surfaces. Let's look at each one separately as the techniques, materials and skills required vary quite a bit. There are several other variables, such as whether or not your home is single or two stories, the over all size of your home and it's age.Interior walls are by far the easiest for most homeowners to do themselves. Wash the walls, patch any holes, cut in the ceiling and roll on two good coats. Sounds easy enough. Until you try to fit this extra work into an already busy schedule. You will also need to buy some supplies that you may never use again, like drop cloths, brushes, rollers, roller handles, paint trays, etc. Older homes often have paint that is oil based, or worse, lead added. These require special materials and preparation. Let's add in a two story home with stairwells and cathedral ceilings and the fun goes right out the window. Professionals deal with these issues all the time and have the skill and knowledge to make sure the end result is the quality paint job you seek.Exterior surfaces can present endless challenges to the DIY painter. Here in Southern California, most of the homes have a stucco finish. This surface is very rough and captures dust and dirt over time. Good painters use a pressure washer to clean out the dirt and knock off the loose paint. Also, depending on the age of the home, there can be a considerable amount of repair that is needed before paint can be applied. If your home has siding or a large amount of wood surfaces that have not been painted in a while, the old paint will have to be scraped off and any cracks filled (we'll talk more about that in the trim section). Again, the multi story home compounds these challenges.
Trim can actually be separated into interior and exterior categories. Interior trim like door casings, baseboards and crown molding are usually painted white or some other accent color. This is most often accomplished with a high gloss paint and a brush. There is an art to cutting in the edge of trim in such a way that you don't get trim paint on the wall, or vice versa if the trim is done first. One of my painters, Jeff, is an artist at this, but he has been painting for almost thirty years. Exterior trim, usually wood, suffers a great deal of damage at the hands of the elements. Unless it is painted every three to five years, there will most likely be peeling, cracking and checking (cracks in the wood itself). All of your trim will need to be scraped and holes and cracks filled. This is the time consuming part of doing a good paint job that most home owners either do half heartedly or skip altogether. Remember, your paint job will only be as good as your prep.
      
Specialty painting covers all of the things not mentioned so far. Painting or refinishing kitchen cabinets and other woodwork is definitely not recommended for the amateur. I repainted my cabinets with an airless sprayer and they turned out very nice, but it took me almost three weeks of evenings and weekends and I do have a fair amount of painting experience. If I had really nice cabinets and wanted them refinished with a glaze or a stain, I would hire a professional in a heartbeat. There are also those contractors who specialize in painting concrete to make it look like something else (brick, stone, etc.). The materials, tools and skills for this type of work will be way beyond the reach of the average DIY homeowner. Mural painting and faux painting can give your home a rich elegant look if they are done well. If you want to paint cartoon figures in your child's room, quality is not quite so important. As a matter of fact, let the kids help. If, however, you want a Tuscan countryside viewed through a villa window, unless you are an artist, hire a professional. Faux painting can actually be accomplished with some practice (my wife has gotten pretty good at it), but if you have a large area to cover, two story walls and ceilings or other such obstacles, call in the professionals.
Masking off bushes and landscaping, putting down drop cloths and other preparatory steps are necessary to avoid the inevitable mess that painting can cause. Unfortunately, many homeowners are in a hurry or are too inexperienced to make sure all of these steps are taken and often spend more time cleaning up than it took to do the painting in the first place. Painting contractors make a living at their trade because they know the best and most efficient ways to get the job done. That includes preventing costly down time due to spilled or over sprayed paint. They also have a tremendous amount of knowledge about types of paint and how to apply them. If you want quality results, let the pros do what they do best and spend the time with your family. You will be happier in the long run.
      
AS ALWAYS,”HAPPY PAINTING AND DECORATING”

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C. --  Painting Northwest Arkansas Beautiful, “ One house at a time”.

Serving Northwest Arkansas and the greater Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bella Vista area.
 Professional Painters since 1987.

Check us out at www.kenraderinteriors.com
Like us at www.facebook.com/ken.rader.interiors

Ken Rader

KEN RADER INTERIORS-PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS PRESENTS"HOW TO PAINT THE EXTERIOR OF YOUR HOUSE

Ken Rader Interiors-- PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

IF YOU LIVE IN THE NORTHWEST ARKANSAS AREA GIVE US A CALL AT (479)443-3686
PAINTERS IN FAYETTEVILLE, SPRINGDALE, ROGERS, BENTONVILLE AND BELLA VISTA  ARKANSAS.
HTTP://WWW.kenraderinteriors.com

How to Paint the Outside of My House

Painting the exterior of your house every few years is an important step in maintaining its visual appeal. A good paint job can also extend the life of your home's siding and trim, saving you money in the long term. Getting the job done right involves more than just applying a new coat of paint to your home's exterior. It requires careful planning and prep work. Follow the steps outlined in this guide and you will achieve professional-looking results.

         

Instructions

1. Steps for Painting Home Exteriors

   • 1
     Determine what color you want to paint your house. Your local paint dealer should have a variety of sample colors to choose from. If you want to keep the same color, bring a small piece of your siding and trim with you and your local paint store dealer should be able to match it.
   • 2
     Estimate the amount of paint you will need to complete the job. The precise formula used will vary depending on the type of surface you are painting, but the process typically involves determining the square footage of the area to be painted. Consult with your local hardware or paint store to find exactly what formula you should be using.
   • 3
     Use a scraper to remove any loose old paint from the surfaces you will be painting. Place a drop cloth beneath you to collect paint chips.  The use of a drop cloth sounds good but in reality it does not work very well.  The only time I use a drop cloth is when I want to cover shrubs, plants, sidewalks,decks and patios.  You can catch the majority of the paint chips and then just fold them up in the drop cloth and shake them out in a trash bag( a big one).
   • 4
     Fill any holes and cracks in your siding and trim using an appropriate filler or caulk.   I like to use 35 year latex caulk.  There is silicone that says it can be painted but it is very difficult to use, cost more and is in my opinion,"not the product to use".  I also like to use "DAP crackshot " to fill in any holes.  It can be painted, sanded and is high performance.
   • 5
     Remove any mold or mildew using a bleach-water solution or a professional-strength remover.
   • 6
     Sand all surfaces to be painted smooth using sandpaper. Employ a power pad  sander to save you time and energy.  do not use a belt sander!  Few people can control the monster and most house exteriors are not smooth to begin with so don't try and make them smooth.
   • 7 Clean all surfaces to be painted using a brush or power washer.  Use the power washer only in extreme conditions.  It is very powerful and can damage your house siding.  Usually you can just take a broom and brush off the house siding.  As long is there is not any oil or grease on the surface you can prime and paint it.
   • 8  Apply the first coat of primer, let it dry according to manufacturers instructions and then apply a second coat of primer.  The primer can be mixed with exterior paint at a ration of one to one.  So if you find some exterior paint at a bargain price like an "OOPS" paint at your paint store ,"GET IT".  It is going to be covered up with your good exterior paint.  The primer is used to seal the house and provide a sound surface for your paint.  This will make your paint job last much longer.
   • 9
     Apply a first coat of finish paint.  The use of an Airless paint sprayer will really help you in both the priming and painting application process.  Check in to how much it would cost you to purchase one.  It will pay for itself in the time it saves you. Airless paint sprayers put so much product on the surface that your second coat will only be a very light coat and basically to paint the spots you missed with your first coat.
   • 10
     Apply a second coat of finish paint. Light coat if using an airless.  You will still need to brush some areas of the house.  Be sure to get a good 4" brush with lots of bristles (Nylon/Polyester).
          

Tips & Warnings

Additional tools that you will find helpful are:
1.  Masking Machine( you will find them at The Home Depot or Lowes or Ace Hardware)  cost about $50.00 but well worth it.
2.  1" masking tape and 9" masking paper ( both used on the masking machine)
3. House scraper and Wire Brush
4. A good step ladder and a good extension ladder.  ( Try the "Little Giant".  It is both an adjustable step ladder and can be used as a 22' extension ladder.  It is solid and will not throw you off like a cheap aluminum ladder will do.  Aluminum step ladders are almost alive and wild unbroken horses.
5. Box your paint.  That means mixing as many gallons together as you can, usually 5 gal. and then keep adding to to bucket as you use it.  This will make the color from one can to the next blend.  Then you won't see the difference from one gal. to the next gal.  There is always, "Always", a slight difference that can be seen if you do not mix the gallons together.

• A variety of scraping tools are available on the market today, each designed for dealing with different situations you may encounter while removing old paint. No one scraper is likely to do it all, so purchasing multiple scrapers can make the job a lot easier. When painting, start at the top and work your way down so any paint drips won't land on a surface you've already painted.
• Never paint a wet surface, and always check the weather before you start to paint. You should paint only when dry, sunny weather is forecast for the next 24 to 48 hours. Inhaling paint dust and fumes is hazardous to your health. Always wear protective gear, including safety goggles and a dust mask when scraping and sanding, and a vapor mask when painting. Homes built prior to 1980 may contain hazardous lead paint, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Test old paint to make sure it is not made from lead. If lead paint is present, do not proceed on your own. Contact a professional who can remove lead paint safely.

This should give you some help.  Some of the painting process you will learn as you go along.  Each project or house is unique and presents it's own problems and issues.  Just keep in mind the principles of removing loose paint, repairing, 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of paint.

As a professional with 38 years of experience I have painted a wide variety of house surfaces.  Some good and some bad.

People always ask, " How long will it take?"

My first response if they are going to be painting the house themselves is" It's all relative".  In other words, "How many of your relatives will be helping you".  My next response is a series of questions,  " How big is the house, One story or two, How tall is it, How much surface will be painted, How many colors?

But here is a rule of thumb," A one story house with end gables about 24 feet tall that has easy access all around (not too many bushes) and of a size of about 2,000 sq. feet.  You should be able to paint the house in 5 to 7 days.  But they will be full days.  At least 6 hours of continuous work each day.

One more bit of advice:  Do one side of the house at a time.  Scrape it, repair it, caulk it, prime it and paint it.  Then move on to another side.  This will educate you about what you will need to do on each side and it will give you a goal that is attainable.  If you get called off of the project it won't look so bad and you will have a definite place to start when you get back to it.

I know you will be successful with your painting project.  Professionals make it look easy and it is for them.  The homeowner will not get as good a result as the professional but that is why you hire the professional.  However, the homeowner can do an amazing job if they are willing to take their time and follow the steps we have outlined.  DO NOT SKIP ANY OF THEM! AND DO NOT RUSH THE PROJECT!

       

             

AS ALWAYS,”HAPPY PAINTING AND DECORATING”

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C. --  Painting Northwest Arkansas Beautiful, “ One house at a time”.

Serving Northwest Arkansas and the greater Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bella Vista area.
 Professional Painters since 1987.

Check us out at www.kenraderinteriors.com
Like us at www.facebook.com/ken.rader.interiors

Ken Rader

Painting Momma's House

PAINTING MOTHERS HOUSE
TRANSFORMING THIS 40 YEAR OLD HOUSE.
By Ken Rader Interiors
Painters in Fayetteville Arkansas and serving all of Northwest Arkansas
This fall we are painting my mothers house.  We are also video taping the complete process and will post it on YouTube.
Until then I will share some photos with you to show you the progress.
We have been working on the house for 4 days.  First was the scraping of the house followed by caulking and priming.
[slideshow]
This house was painted about 15 years ago with 8 year paint.  So, it is in pretty bad shape.  It required a lot of scraping and caulking.  You can see from the pictures that most of the paint scraped off down to the wood.
This time around we are priming and sealing they siding.  You will notice that the primer is different colors, sea foam and purple.  This is the result of several tinted primers being combined.  This saves on the expense and it introduces an element of surprise and fun.  The other 2 sides of the house and the 3 car garage will be different colors of primer as well.
The color of the paint is "Carrage House"  Kind of a mossy green.  The Trim will be "Linen" and the front door will be "Red".
The siding on 2 sides have now been painted and the trim will be painted tomorrow.  We will also continue with the scraping and caulking.  We will work on the front of the house tomorrow.
The video will show the complete process as well show you all of the tools that are being used.  We will show you how to mask off the windows and fill in some big holes that the birds have made.
The paint that we are using is Behr paint and primer combination which is a real pleasure to use.  This should be the last paint job that this house will need.
Stay tuned and follow the progress to the finish.
Today is Thursday and for most it is a day off of work.  NOT FOR KEN RADER INTERIORS!  Today we continued on with the exterior house painting of my mamma's house.  Today was a big day and we are very proud of what we accomplished.
We scraped, caulked, filled some damaged places on the siding and then primed and painted the front of the house.
Two coats of primer and 2 coats of paint.
[slideshow]
Next will be the east side of the house.  Scraping, caulking, priming and painting.  Something extra that we will be doing is using a block filler/primer on the cement blocks so that they can be painted the same as the house.  The block filler/primer will make sure that the paint sticks and will not crack or fail.
Once the house is completed we will move on to the 3 car garage.
As of today we have used 15 gal. of primer and 8 gal. of paint.  As you can note, using primer cuts down on the amount of paint needed for the finish spraying.  This saves money and will help the paint job last considerably longer.
When you paint the exterior of your house you are doing more than changing colors.  You are putting on a weather proof coat that will protect the wood from further damage from sun, rain, wind or ice and severe temperatures.
We will continue to keep you up to date with the project.
AS ALWAYS,”HAPPY PAINTING AND DECORATING”

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C. --  Painting Northwest Arkansas Beautiful, “ One house at a time”.

Serving Northwest Arkansas and the greater Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bella Vista area.
 Professional Painters since 1987.

Check us out at www.kenraderinteriors.com
Like us at www.facebook.com/ken.rader.interiors

Ken Rader

12 most popular green colors for 2012

12 OF THE MOST POPULAR GREEN COLORS

OF 2012!

12 SHADES OF GREEN YOU WILL LOVE.

WHERE ARE THESE SHADES OF GREEN SHOWING UP?

Green started out the year with a big bang and it continues to be a popular choice.  Everything from paint to pillows to rugs to candles are showing up GREEN.

These are presented in no particular order and there was no clear number one.

First up—Benjamin Moore  CLEVELAND GREEN 1525

It is more brown than green. This is a Mossy, Olivey Green.  It works like a neutral, allowing you to play around with stronger, sharper colors like shocking pink, apple green, turquoise, and chromium yellow.  It is a fabulous background for artwork as well.

Next up—Farrow & Ball COOKING APPLE GREEN 32

This one has been around for several years and continues to capture the eye of cutting edge decorators.  When the light hits it in the early morning, it sort of electrifies.  And then at night, it becomes quiet and dreamy.  It has a multifaceted quality and sometimes looks Georgian and then at other times modern.  Go figure.

Number 3--- Farrow & Ball FOLLY GREEN 76

Farrow & Ball score again with this happy, whimsical green—like Kermit the Frog meets Lucky Charms clover. “ This is probably a little tough to envision”.  It shows up a lot in Kids’ rooms or any room that needs a little color kick.  Bright but not scary, with a cool retro feel.

4^th offering--- Benjamin Moore  NANTUCKET GRAY HC-111

Benjamin Moore has another winner with this gray, earthy green.  It is the color of wet raincoats.  It has depth and age, and somehow it is both utilitarian and romantic at the same time—a great fusion. This is proving to be a perennial color for many.  It too has been around for several years.

Number 5—Donald Kaufman Color  DKC-29

Very subtle and it could be classified as an off white.  It is incredibly rich with pigment and it is easily the most lively pale green you will find.  It can go blue and gray.  It behaves in a completely natural way with light and can appear so different in different settings.

Number 6--- Full Spectrum Paints  LICHEN

It looks a lot like taupe but a more complete description might be, silvery gray-green with blue undertones.  It is both soothing and grounding. It has be described as “the most healing color”.

Coming in at number 7--- Benjamin Moore  CYPRESS GREEN 509

Benjamin Moore continues to produce winning colors.  This is a murky, pond-scum green.  Cagey in its neutrality, it seems to go with almost everythin.  It will set off other colors, like a soft celadon or a saturated orange.

I know, pond scum does not sound nice but it is how us country people see it.

8^th—Glidden THYME 70YY 46/160

I personally like Glidden paint and I am happy to see them in the running.

This is very organic, with a bit of dustiness to it.  It is a surprisingly versatile neutral.  You can balance the coolness of the green with golden yellow and rose. It would also work beautifully with brown bark colors or blue—colors you would find next to it in nature.

Here is Number 9--  Dunn-Edwards RIPE PEAR DE5515

This one almost glows.  You can put this one with pink or chartreuse.  Even porcelain blue will give a unique effect!  A great paint color that is never meant to stand on its own.

Big 10--- Benjamin Moore SEA GLASS PT-330

Chalk another one up for BM.  This is a metallic paint color in appearance.  This green is like a piece of glass washed up on the beach. Light seems to dance across it. It is much more gray than green.  I would say it is in the putty color pallete.

Number 11--- Pratt & Lambert  SUNNY MEADOW 19-7

Green is such an amazing, confident color. It makes you think of nature, health, and vitality.  This is a very crisp green.  It looks good enough to eat.  Anyway, the name says it all “Sunny Meadow”.  Bring it on.

Finally number 12--- Donald Kaufman Color DKC-26

Another good choice from this paint company.  Most of nature is green for a reason. It is pleasing.  This color can also be seen in a St. Petersburg castle with gilt mirrors and candlelight, and in country cottage with French printed linens.  It is a universal, tranquil shade.  Once again, more brown that green.

Well, what do you think?  Do any of these spark your interest?  Most of these greens will be around for years to come.  They are that good.  I must admit though that you can find 100’s of greens just like these at your paint store.  Paint companies have a habit of following the same fashion as everyone else.  So go and check out your local paint store.  What is popular will be featured.

As Always “Happy Painting and Decorating”

Ken Rader

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

Quality Painters in Fayetteville, Arkansas and painting all of Northwest Arkansas

Check out our web page  www.kenraderinteriors.com , we are proud of it

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NEUTRAL COLORS YOU WILL LOVE

NEUTRAL COLORS

CALMING AND A BREATH

OF FRESH AIR

A HAPPY MIDDLE GROUND

By Ken Rader

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

Professional Painters in Fayetteville, Ar.

Because we live in such a color-filled, busy world, coming home to a calm, neutral space feels like a breath of fresh air.

Enter the Neutral Zone--  Saturated neutrals are a happy middle ground between quiet palettes and full-on color.  How can you enter the neutral zone?

1. If you are looking at neutrals on a paint chip, go one step more colorful from what you are thinking to ease you out of the ‘safe’ neutrals and get you into a bolder or perhaps more colorful neutral.
2. Anything you find in a wineglass works well with neutrals, from champagne to burgundy to merlot.
3. Rethink beige.  Far from being one-note, it runs the gamut from grayish mushroom to greenish khaki to rich Café au lait.  If you are most comfortable in the beige area, use variations like these to change things up.
4. Changing the sheen—such as using high-gloss paint on the walls or the ceiling—is a clever way to punch up a neutral palette.  But be careful.  High Gloss paint is not for everyone.

Such terms as “Farm-Fresh Neutrals”, “Rustic”, “Pastoral hues”, “Earthy”, all describe the neutral colors that are popular.  Here are a few for you to consider.

Doeskin (C21-4) made by Olympic Paint is a chocolate alternative.  It is pale brown but still looks rich and yummy.

Homestead Resort Tea Room Yellow (3004-4B) made by Valspar is a warm and livable yellow that is easygoing enough for walls.  Paired with blues or dark woods, the look is classic; with gray, it is fresh and contemporary.

Artesian White (C19-1) made by Ace Hardware is great on trim or furniture, this off-white pops—especially in a high-gloss sheen. Though for most trim a semi-gloss will be a better choice.

Cracked Wheat (320E-2) made by Behr can be paired with a rich brown or deep red, this cream will look even warmer.

Trumpet Gold (14C4) made by True Value is a brownish gold that works very well with all of the colors that we have listed.  Everyone thinks of gold when you mention neutral.  This is a great choice.

From buttery yellow to rustic brown you will find many choices in the neutral palette. One direction that we will talk about in another article is “Green”.  Greens are very, very popular and many of them are in the neutral choices. 

One of the keys to making neutrals work is to use several different colors in any given room.  If you use just one neutral then the room will not pop or have any punch.  The collection of neutrals that you use can be in the paint, furniture, floors, rugs, window treatments, pillows, wall art and accessories.  Each item should be a different neutral color.  Also, vary the texture, this will liven up the room and complete the look.

Enjoy the selection process and plan out as many details as you can before you begin the project.

As Always, “Happy Painting and Decorating”

Ken Rader

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

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Check out our archived articles, 104 to be exact, all about painting and decorating.

This Year's Favorite Colors

2012 THE YEAR OF COLOR!

PAINT COLORS WE LOVE.

THE MOST POPULAR COLORS

By Ken Rader
Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.
Your FIRST CHOICE PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS
Painting Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas beautiful !
Each year we change our minds when it comes to color.  We like to think that we are happy with what we have at present but that usually does not hold true. We love change and while all colors have been around for 1000’s of years we are always seeing a different shade or hue that is new to us and we fall in love with it.
This year's popular home interior wall colors include a few carry-overs from 2011, but there are also some new, emerging trends worth understanding. A new collection of popular neutrals includes off-white, beige, sage green, teal-blue, yellow and smoky gray. Adding tans, browns, grays and purple to teal-blue softens and controls its power. Choosing red, blue, peach, black, green or coral to pair with yellow can create an energized space. Be careful of your shade of yellow, however, because natural and artificial lighting can change its warmth or coolness significantly. Lemony yellow is more associated with anxiety and should probably be left as an accent. Dark gray is the most popular neutral for 2012. It grounds a room and allows you the freedom to add vibrant pops of colors such as intense reds, yellows, purples, blues or black.
Once you have your neutral choice, it's time to jazz it up consider what to add to it.  For a compatible combination, match warm neutrals with warm-toned accents and cool-toned neutrals with cool-toned accents. On the other hand, 2012 is all about unexpected combinations. While bright, bold shades seem to be declining somewhat, intense colors and contrasts definitely have a place in today's home design. The following combinations pack a lot of punch: cherry-red with blacks, blues, whites and grays; juicy, tangerine-orange with dark reds, browns and blacks; and deep blue-purple with yellows, blacks, whites and reds.
 Interior wall color combinations can bring new life to the important rooms in your home:
Here are some suggestions for different rooms in the house.

• Kitchen - Increase the energy and warmth with tangerine as either an accent for gray or as its own main color. Bright blue and white is a clean, fresh combination. How about yellow-green supported with earthy neutrals? Charcoal gray and white together are modernistic. Dark wheat, browns and white are sophisticated and versatile.

• Bathroom - This year's color trends support calm, relaxing and natural spaces. Cool gray-blues or warmer purple-blues look elegant but unpretentious. Smoky grays are also subdued. Pale greens and browns continue the nature theme and work well for bathrooms with plants and flowers.  Beige has made a big comeback though it is not the same beige as earlier years.

• Living room - A new trend is to return to the glamorous elegance of the Hollywood styles of the '30s and '40s. For a more playful approach, mix in some unexpected, vivid colors. Bright yellow-green and dark brown neutrals are earthy and comforting. A gentle mix of apple green and fuchsia is uplifting and optimistic. Dark grays with rich purples are dramatic and interesting.  This is tricky.  If you watch movies from the 30’s and 40’s they are in black and white.  So you have to imagine the clothes, hats, rooms and décor in color.  What you are looking for is a style that says “Glamorous”.

• Bedroom - Monochrome color palettes continue to be popular in this romantic room. Dulled gold, mustard-yellow and sunflower mix with browns to form rich combinations. Greens and browns pull earthiness and nature into the room. Bright blue and sparkling white are modern and refreshing.  Such terms as Earthy, Farmhouse, Natural, Country and Country Chic should get you thinking in the right direction.

It is important when choosing your interior wall colors don't neglect your own personal preferences' the colors that make you feel comfortable and satisfied. Your choices may lead you to a soft, earthy, natural environment; an intense, brightly energized space; an ambiance of quiet sophistication; or a fun place for quirky playfulness. Use your favorites as accents, or splash them everywhere. Feel free to express your personality in your choices. After all, this is your space, so color it to your tastes.  2012 is well on its way and almost over.  It has proven to be a year of change in the world of color.  While we can make small additions and changes in our color scheme in the home the trend is to make big changes.  This calls for painting several rooms.  Painting one room will usually lead to painting others to make the style complete and make all of your living space fresh and new.
Go to your favorite paint department and see what is popular.  The colors really have changed as the year has progressed. Look at your favorite magazines or notice what is being used by the decorators on makeover TV shows.  Our taste in color is changing all the time whether we are aware of it or not.  You will enjoy and be happy with the popular colors of the day for quite a while.  So don’t be afraid to paint the room or rooms.  Change is important and can give us a brighter outlook which is a good thing.
As Always “Happy Painting and Decorating”
Ken Rader
Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.
Professional Painters serving Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas with the finest the painting trade offers.

BEIGE-- WHAT IS IT AND IS IT FOR YOU?

BEIGE!

What is Beige and is it for you?

A neutral that has a big impact.

What, exactly is beige?  Isn’t it just a shade of something else?  Why should we give it color, and not just a hue?

  Beige is a term that originated in the mid 19^th century for unbleached wool.  As you can imagine, even the reference would always have an ambiguous reality--- somewhat gray, white or brown.  Since its descriptive origin, it has become even more loosely defined.

  Today it describes a hue that has a hint of color from any color family but is dominated by its tonality or presence of gray.  Plus, it works!  It is not the most saturated hue, but can paint out beautifully in a space that needs a touch of color.

  Beige was originally a yellow-brown that was the color of cotton cloth with no dye added.  Slowly it became a grand word that was placed on almost any neutral or tan color.  It is distinguished by its ratio of white blended with black, green, yellow, umber, or red which separates it from pastels that are primarily colorant with little white existing.

STUCK IN NEUTRAL?

  Even if it is a neutral, it’s important to put some thought into it.  Just like an ill-advised off-white can create a funny caste in a room, it’s important to know what your beige is made of to properly relate it to other colors.

   Picking the right beige can be tricky if you are unfamiliar with undertones existing in colors.  Usually you want to pinpoint colors in the room from rugs, drapes, sofas and other items and determine the undertone within each.  Then, strive to blend with a green, yellow, red, or gray undertoned beige.  This will help blend all the furnishings while making a stunning backdrop for further décor.

  To pick the right beige with other home décor elements, see where the root of the beige is.  Are most of the other décor elements grey-beige?  If so, then choose a grey-beige for the walls so that you have an integrated, seamless look.  The root color of the paint and the other décor elements will follow through from piece to piece and not look wrong.  If it’s an orange-beige, same situation—find a beige that has a hint of orange in it.

  Plus, it can work with itself.  Beige also begs for mixes of textures and using layers of different beiges together--, pulling from nature where we see such a variety of hues and beige, beige, beige.

Our next blog will continue on the subject of beige.  What beige’s are trendy.  What are the new names for beige and where to use them.

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As Always “ Happy Painting and Decorating”

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

Ken Rader 

Serving Fayetteville and the Northwest Arkansas area since 1987

MODERN COLORS ARE PERSONAL. HOW TO PICK YOUR COLORS

COLORS FOR THE 21^ST CENTURY

 MODERN COLORS & WHERE TO USE THEM

COLOR IS MORE THAN STYLE.  IT’S A STATE OF MIND, WHICH MAKES COLOR VERY PERSONAL.

The colors that we are attracted too sometimes mystify us as to why we like them. So if we can identify what makes them personal to us will help us be comfortable with our choice.

Are you drawn to bright, shiny things?  Then a metallic paint that is not overbearing will probably catch your eye.  For instance, Modern Masters Platinum  ME591 has a subtle luster that gives depth to the walls.  It’s soothing in bedrooms and has a more finished effect than a typical painted wall.  This makes it a wonderful, cheaper alternative to upholstery or wallpaper on the walls.

Sherwin-Williams color called “Morning Glory” SW6971.  I have used this color on several occasions.  It is a color that triggers emotions in people.  It has been described as “Saturated Prussian Blue-Purple that pulsates with drama and will intensify the impact of your décor. I have painted in foyer’s, powder rooms and mud rooms.  It is beautiful!

Benjamin Moore color Passion Plum 2073-30 is in the purple family.  There is something mysterious and magical about purple.  A den or a library or a family room, are all good choices for this color.  It is a modern color and can be used where you might have used sage green.  This color warms things up and makes everyone look better when in the room.

Jewel tones seem to never go out of style.  Probably because they are emotional colors.  Pratt and Lambert  Dark Teal 21-16 will make you feel luxurious.  It will go well with burnished brass, black lacquered furniture and presents itself very crisp.

The elements of silver, green, gray, and blue make us feel modern. That is because they are complex.  In the evening these colors will shimmer in the light and make dark wood furniture look great.  Actually, it goes with anything and still looks new and trendy.  Benjamin Moore, Gossamer Blue 2123-40 fits the bill.

Glidden, Antique Silver GLN51 is a favorite silver gray.  It is crisp, will bathe a room in icy haze, like moonlight on the snow in mid-winter. It has a hush about it that makes it like a shadow.  Perfect Neutral.

Did you feel a different state of mind come over you as you read through these colors?  Probably not much.  Words do affect us but not as much as color.  So, “what are you waiting for”? Go and get some color swatches.  Take them into your home and see them in the light that you get in the house.

These are modern colors and you will pick your personal favorites once you see them or the other colors that are lighter or darker but in the same family.

Enjoy your choices.  Make it fun and fulfilling. 

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As Always ,”Happy Painting and Decorating”

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

Serving Fayetteville, Ar. With the finest of painting for over 27 years.

Color, What is Hot and What is Not, Part 2

COLOR, COLOR, COLOR

PART 2

WHAT ARE THE DESIGNERS’ SAYING?

WHAT DO THE EXPERTS THINK?

THEY DON’T ALWAYS AGREE WITH THE REST OF US.

According to some designers’ a kitchen should always be white!  Others say that a kitchen is usually a mess so be careful and make sure that white does not accent the mess.  However, the overwhelming color for kitchens is WHITE.

The Dining Room gets the most striking color, RED.  It creates warmth and drama- it’s great at night.  Red is passionate- a delicious ambiance. People look great in red rooms!

The Living Room is the next room that we spend most of our time after the Kitchen.  So it is important to choose the right color.  The color that the Designers’ picked was “Drum roll , WHITE!

Closely following White is Gray.  White and Gray won’t compete with art and rugs.  Warm white is like being bathed in sunlight.  Some gray’s can go tan, yellow and even green.  Which gray you pick will need to be tried with the furnishings in the room to make sure it works for you.

The Bedroom deserves the most attention according to designers.  These experts agree with the majority of people polled and said the color BLUE should be used in the bedroom.  Why?  It is like water- refreshing and restful at the same time.  Dreamlike, cloudlike, heavenlike.  There is a blue for everyone- it’s a safe color.

These are the color’s that the designers say will work in certain rooms, “at the present”.  But what does the future hold according to these color guru’s.

Well here it comes!

29% say green will start making a big statement.

27% pick purple as a sure winner.

24% still like pink

21% will use gold

20% stay with light blue (seems to never go out of style)

18% choose the passion, warmth and ambiance of Red

14% will suggest Orange

13% Will still favor White

12% Like gray because it is Fresh, Modern Neutral and works with everything.

10% Want us to use brown somewhere in the house.

9% bring Black in as the least to be used.

Now let’s get a little more detailed.  What colors were the top picks of the designers.

Ralph Lauren Paint- Light Sky RLIB221

Valspar- Prussian Cadet 4008-6C

Sydney Harbour Paints- Apple Crunch (Granny Smith apple green)

Benjamin Moore- Dusty Miller CSP-755 (Not quite gray and quite green, this is a putty color

Pratt & Lambert- Flint 32-20 (Smoky gray)

Pittsburg Paints- Applesauce Cake 316-5

Glidden- Hazy Sage GLN27

Valspar- Tropical Breeze 2002-2A

Glidden- Cherries Jubilee GLR03

Farrow & Ball- Borrowed Light 235 (Combination of serene blue and sedate gray)

Sherwin-Williams- Demure SW6295 (Pink with a touch of burgundy)

Stark Paint- Plum Brandy

All are very nice and lovely colors.  Without a doubt, our mood is affected by color.  Give it due attention and time. 

There is a lot of advice out there.  In the end it is what you personally like that will serve you the best.  Don’t be unduly influenced by polls.

They just give you a base to start from.  The polls and choices that I have written about can be found in the latest edition of HouseBeautiful, Sept. 2012.  I take no credit for the excellent advice and help that the polls and the insights of the designers provide for you.  I have picked and shared just some of the good information you can find in the magazine.

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As always “ Happy Painting and Decorating”

Ken Rader

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.