Step 3 – Apply the Tape

A great paint job begins with solid preparation. Proper masking technique for paint protection is key to achieving sharp, clear paint lines that will make any project have professional results. Good taping methods will protect lines, cover hinges and trim and help avoid messes by stopping paint drips and spatter. The type of tape you use, and how you prep for your painting will vary from room to room and surface to surface. Here are some common tape techniques, and step-by-step guides to make your job easier.

The following steps will help you prepare for almost any paint project:

• Ensure you’re using the best tape for the job. See the tape selector chart for assistance.
• Remove wall hangings (pictures, nails, fixtures) and fill nail holes. Use
  sandpaper to smooth the wall.
• The surface should be clean, dry and dust free before you begin painting.

Tape Adhesion & Surface Types

To help ensure clean, damage-free removal, your tape’s adhesion level should match the type of surface you are planning to mask.

• Delicate surfaces like wallpaper and fresh paint call for ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Advanced Delicate Surface with Edge-Lock™ Protector.
• Masking light to medium textured surfaces is the job for ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Advanced Multi-Surface with Edge-Lock™ Protector.
• For best results on heavily-textured surfaces, use ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Original Multi-Surface or ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape Advanced Multi-Surface with Edge-Lock™ Protector.

Step 4: Seal the Edges

Learn How to Use Painter’s Tape

• When you’re ready to mask, pull tape off the roll a few feet at a time.
• Apply tape to the surface, pressing down the edges as you go. Don’t stretch the tape, as this can cause it to lift or break.
• Secure the tape to smooth surfaces by pressing the edges down with a putty knife or 5-in-1 tool. Don’t use these tools on medium or heavy textures, as they can tear the tape.
• To further seal against seepage and paint bleeds, use your brush to paint a little of your basecoat color along the tape edge.

Step 5: Removal

Know How to Remove Painter’s Tape

• Remove tape at a 45° angle, using a moderate speed.
• For best results, pull the tape back on itself. If adhesive sticks to the surface, try a 90° angle
• If paint starts to lift, use a sharp tool to cut (or score) along the painted tape edge

Clean Removal Time Tips

ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape:

• Advanced Multi-Surface with Edge-Lock™ Protector: 14-day clean removal
• Advanced Delicate Surface with Edge-Lock™ Protector: 60-day clean removal

by MeCC Interiors

The photos are somewhat like passport photos – they show a close-up of the face and cut off just below the shoulders.

Odds are good that you do not think of skin tones when you think of colours for decor.  That may soon change.  While Pantone deals with colour in general, and not those specific to design, Humanae is worth a look.

Angelica Dass, a Brazilian artist, took a series of photographs of normal people.

The Pantone colours themselves are not new, but the way in which they are viewed may well be.

Rather than using a typical background, Angelica has matched each subject’s skin tone colour with an appropriate Pantone shade based on an 11×11 pixel sample of the model’s face.

The overall goal of the project is to document all possible skin tones. A lofty goal indeed!

I’ll be following to see all that they can document.  Will you?

There are only twelve (12) swatches above. The Humanae tumbler page currently has one hundred fifty (150).

by Shannon Peich

When sunlight strikes a rooftop, a large portion of the rays are absorbed by the roof and then emitted in the form of heat. This process results in a significant amount of air pollution, cooling expense and damage to the roof.  Green roof painting has been studied and determined to be an effective solution to all of these problems. Green roof painting benefits both the home and community in a number of valuable ways.

Improve Air Quality

Various studies confirm that green roof painting is an effective way to dramatically reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emission.  For those who live in a place where the urban heat island effect is a factor, green roof painting could make an especially noticeable difference in air quality. In a study done by the California Energy Commission, it was determined that each painted roof of 1,000 sq. ft. could reduce carbon dioxide in our atmosphere by 10 tons over 20 years. If every urban home on earth was painted, the result would be equivalent to removing 300 million cars from the road for 20 years.

Extend the Life of Your Roof

Suffice to say, every homeowner would like to avoid is the expense of a roof replacement for as long as possible. Green roof painting is an easy and effective way to accomplish this. Our skin isn’t the only thing that can be damaged by long-term exposure to harsh ultraviolet rays.

Many roofing materials are very susceptible to sun damage as well. Green roof paint protects the roof by reflecting harmful UV rays back into the atmosphere, sparing your roof from most of the negative effects of the sun. Protecting your roof with paint that reflects more than it absorbs can dramatically extend the life of your roof.

Aesthetic Appeal

Along with increasing the life span of your roof, green roof painting will keep your roof looking newer for a long time.  Although green roof painting is typically done with white paint, there are now a wide variety of colors available to choose from. With the development of “cool roof” pigments, even dark colors like black, can be used in the painting of your roof. The options are numerous, but the end result is the same—a roof that is both attractive and wonderfully beneficial. Raider Painting will tell you how it all works!

The U.S. Department of Energy estimated the average yearly savings on cooling costs at 15%, for those who chose a painted roof over a standard roof.  The DOE was so impressed by their findings that they painted the roofs of many of the buildings that they occupy. The low cost of materials involved in green roof painting is another pro on the list.

Paint’s price tag to cover a 1,000-sq. ft. roof ranges from $235 to $370, depending on the brand.  The improvement seen in the form of reduced energy needs will vary by climate, but some families might notice such an improvement in the thermal condition of their home that they opt to give up air conditioning altogether!

—

Author Bio:

Shannon Peich is a marketing lead at Raiderpainting.com. Raider Painting working from last 29 years, executed several projects throughout California and the continental United States, including Ontario, CA. Raider Painting covers wide range of services in commercial or industrial sectors like Epoxy and elastomeric coatings, Graffiti removal and anti-graffiti coatings and Maintenance painting programs.

by MeCC Interiors

Sample CHIP IT! profiles based on artwork from denisongallery.com. The image on the left shows the full CHIP IT! screen, while the one on the right focuses just on the image and associated palette.

If you’re often inspired by the colours you see in a photo and want to extract those colours to use for future use, CHIP IT! might be for you.

CHIP IT! is a web-based interactive tool introduced by Sherwin-Williams that identifies corresponding paint colours – up to ten (10) per photo – to those contained within an image.

To use CHIP IT!, create a user profile and add the bookmark to your browser.  (Note: you can also simple add in the image URL on the CHIP IT! page and it will still create the palette for you.)  When you then scroll over an online photo, Sherwin-Williams will match the palette and add it to your profile.  You can share the inspired palette or print it off for use in a future project.

by MeCC Interiors

The Connoisseur palette.

Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute, director of the Eiseman Center for Colour Information and Training, and author of several books on colour, says that colours for 2013 will need to “coax and cajole, soothe or astonish, renew and replenish.”

“We are seeing a resurgence of classic shapes and traditional styling, combined with a much more updated feeling.  That has been going on for the past few years and I don’t see it going away.”

Eiseman expects colour schemes for 2013 to be filled with interesting new directions.  Her forecast of nine (9) colour palettes includes:

Connoisseur: The palette takes a fresh approach to celebrating the finer things in life, displaying a sense of history and elegance.  The colours are a combination of monochromatic violets and orchids, liquid Pink Nectar, Deep Mahogany, White Alyssum, Beechnut … all reflected against Champagne Beige and Silver.

Glamour: The palette is sleek and sensuous and is reminiscent of the art deco area interpreted with contemporary influences.  Colours reflect the mood of the bygone era, and include Rio Red, Monaco Blue, Tap Shoe, Chinchilla, Moon Mist, and Jasper.  To add glimmer is Silver and Champagne Beige.

The Glamour palette.

New Old School:  Adding a twist to a somewhat “preppy” collegiate and classic palette, it includes hues typically found in flags and banners.  The colours include Ribbon Red, Bright White, and Sodalite Blue, while nautical blue salutes Breen and Ultramarine Green.  Gargoyle and Micro Chip grays add to the link between the old world and the new.

The New Old School palette.

Rugged Individuals: Ranging from out west to the Outback, this palette emphasizes the colours of the cowboy and cowgirl styles, with weathered wood and animal hid and Raw Sienna tones blended with Vintage Indigo and Stonewash blue jeans.

The Rugged Individuals palette.

Extracts: Taking orangey and spicy tones to a new level, the palette employs flavourful notes of colour along with suggestions of appealing scents to create combinations that are zestful, pleasing, piquant, and often unexpected.  The colours include Spiced Coral, Brandied Melon and Apple Cinnamon combined with the quiet presence of Dusty Pink, Baked Clay and tart Green Banana.

The Extracts palette.

Footprints: The palette leads us down a path of vibrant tribal colours, and includes Tangerine Tango (the 2012 colour of the year) with Peacock Blue, Pink Flambé, and Solar Power.  A yellow-green called Oasis provides respite from the heat of Sudan Brown.

The Footprints palette.

Sojourn: The palette takes us on a journey, Eiseman said, one that is more magical, with mixtures of Syrah wine, Black Plum, rosy Foxglove, and Baton Rouge against Pampas and the green Winter Moss.  All are nestled comfortably within organic hues of Cobblestone and Shitake.

The Sojourn palette.

Surface Treatments: This highly textural palette utilizes smooth and nubby, polar opposites in a tactile world.  It embraces the liquid colours of ocean, sea and air such as Maui Blue, Vapor Blue, and Tornado with Fallen Rock and Birch combined with a vegetal Agave Green.  Medal Bronze adds another dimension to the grouping.

The Surface Treatments palette.

Out of the Ordinary:Quirky, odd, whimsical and obtuse, this palette captures the eye of the beholder.  It can be styling, texture, shape or design that tempts the eye, but the colours capture instant attention and include Bonnie Blue, Puréed Pumpkin, Chocolate Truffle, Amber Green, Linden Green, Golden Rod, Bright Violet, and Rosebud.

The Out of the Ordinary palette.

Which is your favourite of the bunch?

by Janice Clements, Clement Interiors

Well, it seems like a simple concept.  You’ve heard from all the experts that a fresh coat of paint is the most economical and quickest solution to revitalizing any room.  How complicated can choosing a paint colour be, right?  No big deal.

Consider for a moment that Benjamin Moore alone has in excess of 3400 colours to select from!  Add in the colour palettes of Para, Farrow & Ball, Behr, and Pittsburgh to name just a few, and suddenly, finding a colour is kind of a big deal.

Like choosing baby names, colours can elicit strong reactions and emotions from people, potentially making the process of colour selection a painful endeavor.  Moreover, research shows the psychological responses to colour are numerous, from bringing up childhood memories (good or bad) or having an impact on one’s appetite, to affecting a person’s ability to sleep soundly.

From personal experience in helping clients select colours, I have learned over the years to avoid reference to the word “pink” when dealing particularly with males simply because the mere mention of this perceived feminine colour results in cringes more often associated with sucking lemons.  I worked for a newly married couple who ultimately chose a paint called “Maid of the Mist” because that was the place of their engagement.  Each of us has a distinct relationship with colour, but most do not approach it with much confidence.

So how do you improve your colour confidence?

Keep in mind that our eyes only recognize colour because it reflects light, so increase your chance of successfully selecting something appropriate by looking at colour options several times: in the morning, at midday, in the evening, on a bright day and on a day that’s overcast.  Each time, the appearance of the colours will change.  Be sure to make your selection while looking at the colour only on the surfaces on which it will be painted; do not make a final choice in another room or worse, at the paint store!  It can be difficult to make these choices in a room that is already painted, so open the blinds, turn on the lights and cover a small section of the walls with a couple of sheets of white printer paper.  Then place your paint chips on top of that paper so you can get an accurate view of the new colour options.

Emotions and lighting aside, most people do not consider is that colour is relative.  A colour only looks a certain way when it is placed next to another colour.  Put a pale blue paint chip beside a white one and the colour intensifies.  Place the same colour next to one more violet in tone and the blue may appear greener than when it is beside the white.  Colour comparisons are an important part of selecting colour and will help you eliminate what doesn’t work.  Knowing what doesn’t work is as important as knowing what does.

Of course, in making your selection, you want to get inspiration from other elements of your room, so look to a favorite sofa fabric or a much-loved piece of art and pull from them a colour you already love to get the ball rolling.  Remember if you think you will keep it simple by choosing white, whites also have subtle colour – some are cooler (bluer), some are warmer (yellower).  Be sure to compare them so you know what you’re getting.  Ask your paint supplier about the most popular whites available as they often work well with many colours.

While wall colour can be the one element that gives a room that wow factor, don’t feel it is your only option for establishing colour.  You can create a ‘blue’ room without putting a drop of blue paint on the walls, by introducing blue accessories and fabrics.  The paint colour you select can be more neutral in tone, creating a wonderful backdrop on which to highlight your fabrics, accessories and furniture.

I’m a firm believer that there is a right and wrong colour selection to be made, but colour preference is as individual as you are and is nothing if not subjective.  Your walls are likely the largest easel you will ever have to work with, so go ahead and have fun!  And remember, it’s just paint.

Cheers!

Janice

by MeCC Interiors

Given the bold hues chosen by the likes of Pantone (Tangerine Tango) and the Color Marketing Group (Boyz-N-Berry) as the 2012 Colours of the Year, some people will naturally question the impact of colour within their home and how it effects mood.

Though there are differences of opinion based on things like culture and geography, there are general rules of thumb regarding colour’s psychological impact.  Let’s begin with the Colours of the Year, and their more muted counterparts.

Colours of the Year

Tangerine Tango is described by Pantone as a “spirited reddish-orange [that] continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.  [It is] sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive…  Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, [it] marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

How does that correspond with general colour theory?  Orange is generally associated with words like exciting, stimulating, intense, lively, and vibrant.  In more muted forms, it can evoke thoughts of changing seasons and movement in general.  Orange is also connected with thoughts of health and vitality.  Orange tones are considered to be less overpowering than red; they are more friendly and inviting, and less “in-your-face.”

CMG describes Boyz-N-Berry as follows:  “[a] deep rich purple with slight red undertones…it is mature and elegant yet has a youthful edginess.  It reflects our changing mindset on so many issues — off centre and unconventional, spiritual, meditative yet impulsive.  It is serene and in control.”

Purple has long been associated with royalty, and thus conjures thoughts of riches and luxury.  It can also be calming and mysterious, having a mystical effect.  It can be powerful yet introspective and spur imagination and creativity.  Lighter shades are considered more romantic and spring-like; they are softer and generally thought to be more sensual and feminine, quiet and tranquil.

The Neutrals

White: purity, light, cleanliness, simplicity; excessive use can feel stark and/or sterile, which makes some people think of hospitals.

Grey: conservative, quiet, calm, formal; can feel cool like steel or warmer and richer when paired with soft browns; can be moody or depressing or very modern and fresh.

Brown: earthy, stable, rooted, secure, reliable; sense of permanence and familiarity; warm and natural; can be considered dull.

Black: strength and power, dignity, elegance, poise and formality on the positive side; oppressive, evil, mysterious, rebellious, death and decay on the negative.

The Brights

Red: arousing, exciting, stimulating; warm / hot; passion; strong emotion and intensity, including fire and violence; raises blood pressure, respiration, and/or metabolism rates in some people; urgency and importance; in some cultures, red signifies prosperity and happiness and attracts good luck; can be overwhelming in large amounts.

Yellow: luminous, sunny, cheerful; soft yellows can seem expansive and open, which magnifies the feeling of spaciousness; intense, pure yellows can seem acidic and irritating in large amounts but whimsical and energizing in smaller amounts.

Blue: peaceful, calm, tranquil;  can feel cool and melancholy.

Blue-Green: rich and complex; often calming.

Green: restful, relaxing, quiet; natural and alive, new beginnings and growth, abundance; fresh; balancing and harmonizing effect, providing stability; wealth.

Experiment with colour and have fun!  Think outside the box and consider that there are more surfaces to decorate than just the walls.  Just remember that the way a colour will look on a wall is different from how it might look on a floor or ceiling or accented around a room in pops of colour.

by MeCC Interiors

Are you looking to enliven your home or office with a fresh new colour palette this fall?  Pantone recently released its Fall fashion colours, conveniently breaking the chosen hues into feminine and masculine categories and, of course, highlighting the colour of the year, Honeysuckle.

Trends from the fashion runways always influence what is seen in the home.  The Fall shows paid “close attention to texture, contrast and colour… pairing warm prints with cool metals, incorporating both old and new influences, and creating an intriguing balance between colours.”

Pantone’s Fall 2011 Fashion Colours

The overall trend?  Mixing staple neutrals with bright, bold bursts of colour, even moreso on the masculine side than the feminine.

A rundown of some of the colours, as described by Pantone:

Bamboo, a surprising fall hue, brings a warm, exotic flavor to the season.  Like a filtered sunset on the waning days of fall, Bamboo is a standout yellow with a subtle green undertone.  This dappled shade pairs dramatically with several of the top 10, including Phlox, Teal, and Honeysuckle.

Radiant Emberglow, a traditional autumnal tone, emanates the warmth of a glowing fire – the perfect panacea to the crisp air of fall.  Combine Emberglow with Coffee Liqueúr for a classic look, or with Honeysuckle for something a bit more retro.

Offering a sense of continuity from spring, dynamic Honeysuckle adds a bold punctuation point.  This playful, reddish pink works with any other colour in the palette, especially fall staples like Coffee Liqueúr and Nougat.  To add some intensity, pair it with complementary Bamboo.

Phlox, a magical, deep purple with a hint of mystery, is an outstanding statement on its own.  Add Phlox to this season’s neutrals to create a bit of drama, or combine it with Cedar, Deep Teal or Coffee Liqueúr for something extraordinary.  To add even more excitement, pair Phlox with Honeysuckle or Bamboo against a Cedar background – a combination inspired by Mother Nature.

Evoking the freshness of a cool mist in a dark forest, Cedar is a versatile, mid-tone neutral green.  It is a natural with Deep Teal, and sophisticated and timeless with Phlox or Orchid Hush. Deep Teal, a strong, blue-toned green, suggests ocean depths and the colour of the sky as daylight descends into darkness.  A great standard when used with Cedar, its colour-wheel neighbor, Deep Teal, is also a unique counterpoint to Honeysuckle.

Rich, decadent Coffee Liqueúr brings a sense of elegance to fall, and is a savory alternative to basic black.  A deliciously warm camel tan, Nougat is tastefully embellished by Phlox, Emberglow or Honeysuckle. Orchid Hush, a unique tone of gray with complex orchid undertones, blends well with any other colour in the palette. Quarry, a reliable medium gray, remains, as always, a practical, dependable staple.

Revitalize your space with the new design trends for 2012

Love interior design? Live in Toronto? Well you’re invited to the first 2011/12 event of the Design Talk series at Urban Mode.  Guest speaker Lucy Campos-Gentile, Principal Interior Designer of TO DESIGN CO returns to share the upcoming design trends for 2012.  Lucy will be focusing on the new trends in paint, fabrics, floors, and more – providing an inside peek at what’s new for 2012 on Thursday, November 24^th, 2011 at Urban Mode at 7:00pm. So get inspired to refresh your spaces using combinations of paint, fabrics and other design elements that don’t require costly and time consuming renovations.  See what’s new, and determine the style keepers amongst the elements you already own. Learn how to find your own personal style; Lucy will be sharing tips and examples of how to turn bland spaces into unique and stylish rooms.

Tickets are available online:  http://designtrends2012.eventbrite.com

About Lucy Campos-Gentile

Lucy Campos-Gentile started working in Interior Design over fifteen years ago. In the first two years of her career, she worked in largely corporate, retail, and hospitality design. When she was hired by a builder to work in the residential field of the market, her career shifted, and she later started her own design firm, TO DESIGN CO.

TO DESIGN CO is a full-service interior design firm specializing in home renovations, additions, new construction, and remodeling. Lucy provides design services around the GTA including project planning, drawings, project management, and trade supervision. Lucy plans with her clients using a full range of samples and detailed specifications, floor plans, architectural drawings and 3D models, then manages projects, overseeing the selection and purchasing of furniture, products, and materials. TO DESIGN CO clients need only to express their design wants and needs, approve the resulting plans, then enjoy the wonders of a well-designed space that offers function, style and balance!

by Vicky Sanderson

Rona lead free faucet

If one word sums up the design and décor zeitgeist, it’s balance. That’s because homeowners are increasingly tempering an appetite for possessions with practicality, weighing beauty against a budget and considering how over-consumption affects the planet.

Does that mean our homes will become colourless caves, mere machines for living? On the contrary, a simpler approach can actually open up options for individuality and creativity.

How to start? Try sourcing product from thrift shops, garages sales and online buy and sell sites like Kijiji www.kijiji.ca This an easy and fun way to shop locally for everything from art to furniture to collectibles, much of which you can customize to create a high-end signature look — with a bare-bones budget.

If you need to declutter, Kijiji is also a quick and convenient way to get rid of items you no longer want. Use it, as well, to educate yourself about collectibles, as I did after recently scoring two highly unusual glass Rembrandt lamps. If you’re selling collectibles, it’s also provides a reliable pricing guide for similar items.

Recycled décor can be a short-cut to one-of-kind style, but there are times when new is preferable. Newer-generation appliances are more energy and water-efficient, while it’s also often easier to get replacement parts for fixtures, a fact that will help extend product life.

Rona's lead free faucet

The best of the new renovation and building products strike a balance between style and sustainability. Rona’s Uberhaus line of bath and kitchen faucets, for example, is both green and gorgeous.  These good looking faucets, which come in a variety of finishes, definitely qualify as eco-elegant. It’s worth noting that Rona (www.rona.ca) has several eco-categories now, including Eco-Responsible, a program under which items are subjected to a program devised by the International Chair in Life Cycle Assessment at the École Polytechnique de Montréal, which looks at the impact a product has throughout its life, from manufacturing to disposal.

Pittsburgh Hacienda Palette

One of the simplest and most affordable to get a great new look is with paint. It’s also a wonderful way to express individual taste and style, and I was reminded of this when I recently spoke to colour expert Janice Lindsay www.janicelindsay.com who has a collection with Pittsburgh Paints www.ppgpittsburghpaints.com. I told Janice that I was considering backing off the wonderfully rich colours I’d picked for a project from that company’s sunny Hacienda Collection. She offered sage advice.

Pittsburgh Hacienda Palette

“If the colour really seems too much, don’t make the mistake of moving a few shades lighter on the colour chart. It’s not the same colour. Instead, introduce the colour you love it in small amounts — as a headboard or even a broad swath on a wall, “says Lindsay. How right she was. I stuck with my original colour choices; but used them as accents and focal points on a backdrop of PP’s Jute, which is my fave new “neutral”. And how does it look? Simple, stylish and sustainable, if I do so say so myself!

About the Author

Vicky Sanderson writes a widely-read weekly column on home improvement products and housewares, Hot Home Products, that appears every Saturday in The Toronto Star, while her blog, On the House, http://thestar.blogs.com/onthehouse is a personal take on up-to-the-minute news about all things home and decor related. You can also follow her on Twitter. http://twitter.com/#!/ She’ll be appearing at the International Home Show www.internationalhomeshow.ca from March 31 to April 3.