Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Tag: painting

  • Foolproof DIYs You Will Want to Do this Year

    Do-it-Yourself projects (DIYs) are a huge trend right now for many reasons. These are the projects you don’t need a natural talent for craftiness, or professional skills, to perfect. With a quick online search, you’ll be amazed what you can make out of the old belongings laying around your home. Here are some of the top foolproof DIYs for 2016 that can thoroughly enhance the interior of your home while putting something old to good use.

    Foolproof DIYs You Will Want to Do this Year - bhgrelife.com

    1. Use a Paint Pen in Your Kitchen

    Paint pens are one of the coolest things out there for foolproof DIYs. They’re also incredibly inexpensive and super simple to use. You can use one to write elegant cursive or add unique designs on your mugs, keeping paint away from any part of the surface your mouth might touch; once you design the mug, you just need to bake it for 40 minutes at 375 degrees. You can do the same on your dining set or teapot and even wine glasses. Before you know it, you’ll have a dose of individuality added to your kitchen with little effort.

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: The Great Grout Mistake

    A simple design mistake has halted one reader’s remodeling project! What can you do when you don’t like the tile your contractor has already installed? Never fear, Dream Team member and interior design expert Jennifer Adams reveals the stylish solution!

    Ask a Pro Q&A: The Great Grout Mistake - bhgrelife.com

    Q: We made a mistake when we installed “12×12” white tile in our home.  The contractor used gray grouting that wasn’t sealed very well.  I would like to get rid of it but I discovered it’s glued to the flooring underneath. Now I’m wondering if I can paint the tile, and if so what products to use. Thank you very much for your help!

    -Carol V.

    A: Ohh… this is truly a tough situation! I’m sorry you have to deal with it. While white tile isn’t a mistake all by itself, any tile incorrectly installed is going to be a problem at some point.

    Do you know if there is damage underneath the tile as a result of the poorly sealed grout? If this isn’t the case and you like the look of the white tile, chances are good that your floor can simply be cleaned or re-grouted and sealed properly. Contact a professional tile installer to take a look and answer more specific questions and for an estimate, and follow their instructions about cleaning. Harsh chemicals and acidic cleansers will quickly deteriorate sealers and the grout itself.

    To answer your question about painting tile directly, well yes, technically, tile can be painted if it’s cleaned, prepped and primed properly. This includes sanding, cleaning again and using a special bonding primer. If you’re thinking about handling this project yourself, the staff at your favorite paint store should help you choose the right products.

    However, I wouldn’t recommend painting any tile if it’s on the floor or in wet areas such as bathrooms or kitchens! The paint is not likely to hold up to the wear or the moisture, and won’t look good for very long.

    If you’re thinking about changing the look of your floor, I recommend having your old tiles removed and new tile or other flooring installed. Talk with a licensed contractor for options!

    Good luck and let me know how it goes!

    -Jennifer A.

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Is Black Paint Too Dark for Walls?

    One reader is ready for a makeover, but how drastic is too drastic? Dream Team member and interior design expert Jennifer Adams comes to the rescue and shows her the light when it comes to painting a wall black!
    askapro_paintwallblack

    Q. Is black too dark for a wall color?

    -Lyn W.

    A. It depends on the room and its purpose. Dark colors often make a room feel dramatic, intimate and luxurious… but in the wrong hands it might feel dark and dreary! Typically I prefer lighter toned neutrals on walls across the board, but you can get away with dark and dramatic colors in rooms such as powder baths, entries, game or movie rooms, and maybe kitchens and dining rooms if there is also a lot of lighter colored cabinetry and a lot of natural light.

    Dark paint in a room such as a living or dining room with a lot of windows could be beautiful, as the change from daytime to night would be so dramatic. But don’t limit dark paint to just large rooms. For small rooms like powder baths you can play up the dark paint with dramatic and sparkly accessories.

    If you think black might be too dark, it might be your gut telling you it is. But if you like the idea of something dramatic and bold, think about dark warm gray or navy blue instead, for a softer effect. You can even work up to a dark color by painting a medium tone warm gray or navy blue first, and see how you feel about it.

    Talk with your paint provider before doing it yourself. A tinted primer or a special type of paint that will hold the color might be necessary for the color you want.

    Send in a picture and let me know how it goes!

    -Jennifer A.