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Spring Cleaning
If you get the urge to wash your curtains and beat your rugs the minute the thermometer starts to rise, carry some of that energy outdoors. A few hours spent cleaning and repainting gutters, washing mildew patches off the porch, and painting over any peeling spots delivers a powerful seasonal pick-me-up to the exterior of your home.
Fanciful Fence Here’s an easy weekend project that results in a cute headboard for a child’s bed. Buy a three or four-foot section of picket fence at any home supply store. Sand smooth, then prime and paint in the color of your choice (use a glossy finish to stand up to little hands). Attach directly to the wall, and position the bed in front. The effect is fresh and garden like, and the slats make a handy spot for a clip-on reading light. Ready To Pounce? If you’re planning a faux finish project, here’s a term you’ll need to add to your paint glossary: pouncing. Simply put, pouncing is the act of gently dabbing the tip of a dry brush into wet glaze, removing just enough of the top coat to let a base color shine through. Less pronounced than sponging, pouncing results in a soft, subtle, dappled finish, often called a “stippled” effect. Freshen Your Furniture Wrought iron and wicker furniture may need a quick coat of paint to spiff it up after months of winter storage. One easy remedy: a can of spray paint, which works into wicker weave and iron curlicues better than a brush. Just remember to wear eye protection and a mask, then spray away.  Clean Whites What does it mean when experts talk about “pure” or “clean” whites? The terms refer to whites with no deep pigment, and thus no undertones peeking through (hints of pink, yellow, blue, etc.). Clean whites tend to be a favorite of decorators who want a pure white to showcase fabrics, art and furnishings. Nordic Notions Pale, summery colors don’t have to be confined to the beach: draw inspiration from the Swedish style, where lots of pale blues and greens make wintry interiors feel fresh, breezy and unconfined. In a part of the world where summer is in short supply, color can supplement the season—any home decorator can do the same. Bookshelves With Bite Looking for a spot to inject some vivid color, without overwhelming a room? Try painting the backs of bookshelves or open cupboards a bright, unrelated shade. Pumpkin, apple green or Chinese red can make a delightful color accent peeking over book spines or as a vibrant background for collectables. Orange You Glad Orange is back in home interiors, but the new shades are a far cry from the color’s brassy, op-art, 1970s incarnation. Instead of fluorescent orange, persimmon, pumpkin, and melon colors are featuring prominently on the decorator’s menu, with some splashes of zesty tangerine. For your nearest independent Benjamin Moore Retailer, visit www.benjaminmoore.ca or call 1-800-361-5898 or see your yellow pages under Paint Retail. |
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