Monthly Archives: December 2009

Textured paint and faux finishes have become more popular in recent years than at any other point in history. One reason for this is because so many home improvement stores are offering classes for those who are willing to pay the price for the paint so that the average Joe or Jane can recreate these fabulous finishes on their own walls as well. The fact is it is truly amazing what works of art can be created with the clever and creative use of textured paint.

Faux finishes can be used to create the illusion of anything from plaster or brick to leather and a few amazing things in between. Those who are skilled at applying faux finishes are in great demand for their artistic talents though most home owners can do a passable job if they are willing to take the time required to properly learn the technique. Even wood grains can be imitated through the use of a talented faux finisher and paint.

Using textured paints and faux finishes can be done in almost any room in the house though they seem to be most common in living rooms and kitchens as a major design feature. There are some ambitious homeowners who have decided to take this style of painting into every room of the home. While it may seem a good idea in theory there are some drawbacks to this as well.

First of all, textured paints and faux finishes are very time consuming. If you are hiring a professional to do the work their time is a lot of your money and this is something that really needs to be considered. Is the amount of time really worth the reward of the finished project as far as you, as the homeowner, are concerned? Most people find that it isn’t worth all that much money and time but others really appreciate the look and feel that it is vital to their enjoyment of their homes. Whichever category you fall into it is important that you realize that this could become a costly proposition.

Another thing to consider is that many who manage to bring a texture or faux finish of some sort into every room of their homes often decide after a little while to remove some of their hard work. The reason for this is that in small doses faux finishes and textured paints are novel and spectacular. In large doses they can be more than slightly overwhelming and, more importantly, unimpressive. There is something to be said about the fact that sometimes less is more.

This doesn’t mean that some homes do not wear faux finishes beautifully in almost every nook and cranny. Some homes are simply meant to be decorated from one end of home to the other end. These homes are simply lovely no matter how many new finishes are added to the walls, furniture, fireplace mantles, and bathroom cabinets. There never seems to be too much in these homes. There are some homes however that beg for moderation when it comes to designs such as this. Listen to your home when decorating and you should have a much better decorating experience overall without overwhelming either your home or your guests.

If faux finishes and/or textured painting is something you would like to incorporate into your home decorating plans you should be delighted to discover that there are many, many resources both online and offline that can assist you with your goals. The first and best choice is to check with local hardware and home improvement stores in order to see if they are offering any free workshops on faux finishes or textured painting in your area. If they are then you are set. However, if they are not your local library may prove to be a valuable source for videos, magazines, and books that offer step-by-step instructions. The Internet is also an excellent source. Do not forget the value of spaces such as YouTube and Google Video as they may have some actual demonstrations or how to videos to help as well.

Kitchen cabinets are one of the most expensive items in home remodelling. Cabinetry costs more than replacing the kitchen furniture in many cases. If you can afford the expense, there are a wide variety of designs and styles available to update your cabinets. You can add extras like a kitchen island, lazy susan, or built-in appliance centers.

If replacing the cabinetry is too expensive for your budget, refacing is a less expensive alternative. Refacing involves replacing only the cabinet doors and exposed wood areas of the cabinets. The insides are left as they are to save money on the job. Painting is the least expensive option and can give the room new life. The job can be easily done over a long weekend with the right preparation.

You will need to decide if you will paint the entire cabinet, inside and out, or just the outside and the doors. To save time, consider leaving the inside of the cabinet alone, you won’t be able to tell the difference.

Preparing the Cabinets

Start by removing all hardware from the cabinets and remove the doors. Mark the doors, so you will remember which door goes on which cabinet. This will save you time and prevent aggravation later. Protect the countertops and floor with drop cloths, old bed sheets or plastic sheeting. These can be taped in place, especially on the floors. If you will be replacing the flooring, paint the cabinets first.

Clean the cabinets thoroughly before painting. This is important. Grease and oils from cooking will prevent the paint from adhering properly. You could end up with an uneven color. A wood cleaner with orange oil works well for breaking down grease residue. Be sure to let the surface dry thoroughly before you begin to apply the primer.

Primer is an important step in the process. It provides a smooth, even surface for the paint to adhere properly. Use a roller for larger areas and a brush for small areas. Be sure to coat all areas, including the underside of the cabinets. Consider using sawhorses for priming and painting the doors, for an easier time and a more even coverage.

Allow the primer to dry thoroughly before you begin to paint. Overnight is generally sufficient for the primer to dry. Apply the paint in thin coats. It’s better to apply a few thin coats than to use one thick coat. Allow twentyfour hours between coats for the paint to dry completely. Sand with a fine grit sandpaper between coats.

When the paint has dried completely, you are ready to put the doors back on and replace the hardware. Consider updating the hardware to match your new look. Door handles and hinges are inexpensive and can make a big difference in the look of the room.

Choosing Paint for Kitchen Cabinets

Don’t skimp on the paint. Use high quality paint that is right for the surface being covered. This will be different for wood or metal cabinets. If you’re not sure, ask for help at the paint store.

In general, you will want to use enamel paint. You have a few choices in the finish. Gloss, semi gloss or satin finishes are most commonly used. The higher the gloss, the stronger the finish and the easier it will be to clean. If you want less shine, consider the semi gloss finish.

Safety When Painting

Be sure to paint in a well ventilated room. Do the job when the weather is warm enough and leave the windows open.

Wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt to protect your skin from the paint. Plastic gloves can be worn to protect the skin on your hands.

Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from paint and fumes.

Thanks to the new styles of tropical home décor, the amount of people who are being turned onto this style is growing day by day.  This is all due to the many new lines of tropical home décor that are marking the line between flashy and tasteful that seems to be so blurred that it is not working for most.  If you consider the tropics for a moment then you will understand what the debate is over.  The tropics are actually quite beautiful and most often they are anything but flashy or tacky.  This is how the new line of tropical home décor is being created.  The appeal is going way beyond those that have been to the tropical areas and is extending to a whole new group of people who want the warm and inviting feel that tropical home décor brings to the table.  The mass appeal has the manufacturers scrambling to keep up as the surge has caused a shortage in many areas.  This is good news for the companies that make and sell this tropical home décor.

When it comes to home décor the tropical home décor is one of the finest and easiest to work with.  When you consider the massive amount of choices that you have with the tropical home décor you understand that more often than not there is more than enough for you to work with.  This means that even the most picky person can find exactly what they want without having to spend massive amounts of money.  That is always the biggest downfall for the home décor area as the prices of some of the styles tend to run way past that of the normal budget leaving many people without the style they desire for lack of a large enough budget.  This can not be said of the tropical home décor line.  The prices are very reasonable and can easily be fit into the budget of most that are interested in this style.

The tropical home décor line is becoming so popular that it can be found most anywhere, as long as the place has not sold out of it, which has been known to happen more often these days.  You will find that all the styles from the tropical home décor line fit nicely with other items in your décor, which will make it much easier for you to make the decorating choices that are all important.

Beaded curtains make windows colorful and are especially good if you want a dramatic entrance to a room. They have been used in Asia for many decades and their popularity in the West rose dramatically in the 1960s. A string of beads are hung from a rod and this was used to achieve the perfect bohemian look that was in vogue at that time. Different types of beads were used to make the door/window colorful and attractive.

Besides being used for doors and windows, beaded curtains are also used to divide a room. They are commonly used in small shops or restaurants to cordon off the storage room or kitchen. You can also use beaded curtains to divide you room. They are used to cover open closets, sleeping quarters and storage areas.

Beaded curtains are popular today with the spread of interest in Feng Shui, according to which passing though a beaded curtain will have soothing effects. It is also believed that positive energy is spread when air passes through the beads.

Different types of beads are used in making beaded curtains. These include glass, wood, plastic, bamboo, acrylic and sometimes even crystals and gemstones. Beads are normally cheap and if you don’t want to buy the curtain readymade, this is a simple project you can undertake at home. You can use as many materials as you like in varied sizes and shapes.

Beaded curtains are also popular as they are low maintenance. If they get dirty, rinse them in soapy water. If your beaded curtain breaks, you don’t have to worry as you can either mend them or since they are inexpensive, replace them with new ones.

Cast iron furniture adds a new element of beauty to anyone’s patio and garden.  There is nothing like the exclusive state of the art process in manufacturing furniture that is cast iron. A beautiful patio adds grace and beauty to anyone’s home.  Many families live on the patio during the long hot summer months. The Garden Furniture importance is much like that of the household furnishings.  The Garden Furniture must be comfortable, easy to clean, fit the family needs, and affordable.

Perhaps you have never thought of cast iron furniture for your patio, but this is truly a remarkable way to beautify your patio.  The cast iron furniture is inexpensive, long lasting and yes comfortable. Let me introduce you to the Thermosint(c) Process, which is used by Contract Furniture Company to make cast iron furniture.  The cast iron is welded and sanded first, and then the bare metal frame undergoes a PH balance wash and primer coating process. This is important step towards crafting the cast iron into beautiful designs for the furniture. Next the premièred frame is heated 660 degrees Fahrenheit in a Thermal Tunnel before it is dipped into an air injected powdered paint mixture. The air-circulated powder, consisting of paint pigments, aluminum flakes and resin particles, evenly bonds the frame, building up to eight mils of paint.

With the outer shell still uncured, the coated frame again enters the thermal tunnel for its final heating process at 390 degrees Fahrenheit. The paint is completely dried and hardened creating the company’s one of a kind finish that is approximately eight times thicker than standard powder coat, and approximately fifteen times thicker than a wet coat.  Contract Furniture Company’s exclusive state of the art process resists scratching, peeling, fading and chipping.  Furthermore, the frame remains fifty percent cooler to the touch long after exposure to sunlight. The company offers a five-year anti-rust guarantee, which farther reassures you that cast iron furniture meets the best standards in furniture artisanship. These important parts are the trademark of the Contract Furniture Company and no other cast iron company uses this specific procedures.

Let us review the four elements in the Contract Furniture Company metal finish:
1. Iron profile or solid iron as a permanent, stable structural material
2. Iron phosphate undercoat to increase bonding and rust protection
3. Primer coat for improved, even bonding of sintered coat
4. Thermosint(c) up to eight times stronger than standard powder coating varnish.

Let us explain why Contract Furniture Company Thermosint(c) is the best.
1. Five year anti-rust guarantee
2. Remains fifty percent cooler to the touch after long exposure to the sun
3. Eight times thicker than a standard coat
4. Fifteen times thicker than a standard wet coat
5. Extremely smooth finish, weld points are obsolete
6. Resists scratching, peeling, fading and chipping

Now that you know how the craftsmen of Contract Furniture Company make the Cast Iron Outdoor Furniture, you should visit the showroom and see the beautiful pieces created.