Kim and I have recently started a new site all about remodeling and design ideas and pictures. This article was inspired by one of the images Kim found for the new blog – you can find it here: Beautiful Workspaces {Dreamy Desks}.

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Find Your Color Bliss With Spray Paint

I have no idea whether the desk and chair above were painted with a can of spray paint, a professional spray rig, or a traditional paint brush. Even my brilliance doesn’t quite reach that level. However, what I do know is that they could be painted with a spray can.

I’m talking an off-the-shelf can of good old spray paint. And I’m talking quality here too. Not just some ho-hum job meant to last long enough for a photo shoot. (Maybe not heirloom quality either… something in the middle)

Spray paint rocks for good reason:

• Your color options are extensive
• Your tool requirements are minimal
• Your dry time is faster
• The overall job is done faster
• It’s easy, fun, and will make you feel like a rock star.

A Half-Dozen Tips For Quality Spray Paint Perfection

1. Put more effort into prep than paint – The surface you’re painting is more important than the paint you use to cover it. Take the time to get it really ready:
2. • Scrape or strip all loose paint
   • Sand the entire surface with two goals: first is to rough-up the surface and remove any existing glossy sheen so your paint will stick; second is to smooth down any edges left by scraping old paint off.
   • Clean off sanding residue completely with a tack cloth. The best cloth is a clean rag or t-shirt with a little bit of water or mineral spirits (paint thinner). I prefer the paint thinner because it evaporates quickly.
3. Use a primer coat – This step is somewhat optional depending on how close to the aforementioned heirloom quality you want to get. A good solid coat of primer, allowed to dry properly before top coat, will greatly increase the durability of your finish. They always sell the primer right next to the spray paint cans. It’s not super critical which primer you get. I’ve used automotive primer on wood before with great results.
4. Spray very thin coats – Did I say thin? I meant thin. The biggest mistake people make with spray cans is putting on too much paint. Spray paint is thin so it’s very prone to running, which is a big mess. Thin coats prevent that and they dry fast.
5. Never hold the can still. – “Just-Keep-Moving” should be your motto. Be moving before you hit the button and be moving when you let go. Never pull the trigger on a stationary spray can. Trust me.
6. Use plenty of coats – The thing with thin coats is that they’re, um, thin. If you want a durable surface, you’ll need a good thickness of paint, so use more coats. It’s not unusual when spraying furniture to have four, five, or even six coats on the finished work.
7. Finish with a clear coat (or four) – The last secret to a great spray paint finish is to use a liberal amount of clear on top. You can choose your sheen (glossy, semi-gloss, satin, or flat) with the clear and apply thin coats. Make sure the color coat is totally dry before applying the clear.

Not As Much Work As It Sounds Like

While this may sound like a ton of work, it’s really faster and easier than any of the other alternative methods. The thin coats dry fast.

Drawbacks – cost (those cans add up) and environmental concerns – wear a mask and don’t breath that junk in!

Thinking about spray painting your kitchen cabinets… you can do it! We tried it awhile back. Here is the post.

Do you have any spray paint tips or projects you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments!

Enjoy!

~RG

Here’s the truth: You deserve the home of your dreams.

You do. I’m totally serious and I’m talking to you. No if’s, and’s, or but’s about it.

Write this on a little index card: “I live in the house of my dreams.” and read that out loud every day, like ten times in a row. I don’t care if anyone thinks your crazy, even you.

The important thing isn’t that you’re sane, it’s that you live in a rockin’ abode. This will get you there. You just can’t quit doing it. Eventually you’ll make it true even if it’s not even close today. I’m telling you the truth.

Soon, you will start to feel a little motivated. RUN with it. Start doing something to make it happen. Like now. Maybe a little paint?

Research shows that a paint can is the most powerful force, in terms of Wpci rating (wow! per cubic inch), in all of home improvement! It’s like dynamite! Dyn-O-Mite!

Paint Project Inspiration

Glossy Painted Wood Paneling

I picked this picture, from HouseBeautiful.com, to show off the cool use of color, but it’s also a great example of using v-joint material to cover your walls. (post on v-joint paneling here)

If you look at where the natural light is shining in on this painted wall, you’ll see that it’s a semi-gloss paint (possibly even high gloss, but I don’t think so).

The trick to making that work on the wood is one action word: sanding. (followed by tedious cleaning off of all sanding residue.)

It’s worth the effort to achieve this look, but if you don’t have the time or inclination to sand the wood smooth, use flat paint!

Contrasting Walls and Ceilings

I’m so easily distracted… I love the floors in this picture from HousetoHome.co.uk

• and the bench..
• and the steps…

But the use of stark contrasting colors is the “paint project inspiration” I’m showing here. Not everyone wants bright greens and yellows and reds which are so often shown. This photo is proof that you can get beautiful spaces with a wide range of colors.

One trick to pay particular attention to, and it makes all the difference in the whole world here, is that all the trim is painted the wall color. The baseboard and door casing just blends into the walls. Looks cool and makes for a much easier paint job!

Use Accent Colors

This picture, from a post here on RG about kitchen islands, shows a great mix of colors. The blue accent color on the cabinet shows off the woodwork and creates a great focal point at the end of the room. Imagine the same shot with that cabinet white and see what a difference the color makes!

The shot below shows how a nice simple wall color can be soothing and calm, while the use of color in the curtains and bedding makes the whole space pop! It’s often hard to remember things like window treatments, bedding, and pillows when deciding on a wall color. Sometimes those little things can give the splash of color you really need!

Boxes and Boxes of Color

Woot! Oh yeah. This is a hot idea!

Anyone can build a box! (more or less) Buy some plywood and break out those two essential tools, the power-saw and the air nailer, and go to town! (just me, but I would use thicker wood than is shown in the picture)

Painting the inside of these all different colors is brilliant! Just imagine what this can look like arranged and stacked all cool in a room, then loaded with your favorite stuff.

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Dream house, here we come!

If I can help you with any paint questions, or if you’ve got anything you’d like to share in the comments, please do. I love comments.

Ask yourself, of all the kitchens you’ve ever graced with your presence, how many stand out in your memory as flat-out amazing? One, five? None!?

The truth is that even beautiful, well-designed, and expertly crafted kitchens often aren’t outstanding enough to make them permanently memorable. Let’s put a stop to that right now!

Here’s a design tip to help you make your kitchen the one that stands out, etched in the memory of all who cross its threshold.

Add a Splash of Color!

A few examples:

Subtle Outside, Colorful Inside!

I’m a huge fan of glass doors on upper cabinets, even if it’s only on a few of them. This little trick takes that idea to a whole new level!

Add a touch of color to the interior of your upper cabinets and contrast that with a relatively subtle exterior color on the cabinets and you’ve got an inspiring design in the making!

The really exciting thought is how easy it is to change that color, especially if you only do a small section of cabinets.

It’s easy because you really can’t see minor imperfections in the paint inside a cabinet with glass doors and stuff in it. So you have this cool option of switching out your color from time-to-time.

I can see the look on my mother-in-law’s face now. “wasn’t that red last time I was here? I’m losing it…”

Create a Colorful Display

Ok, so let’s be real. There is no way this is going to work for all the cabinets in an actual kitchen in a real house with real people living in it. But that doesn’t mean the idea is bad.

Look at this picture, it’s really just a small section of cabinets, probably in a little piece of wall off to one side of the main kitchen. If you’ve got a space like this, it’s perfect for creating a display.

Think of it as living art! It’s worth doing just for the fun of shopping for the best looking water bottles and cans of beans! Is there a way to work Oreos into this?

Beadboard Blues

So let’s not mince words. Beadboard ROCKS! I’ve used beadboard in every imaginable place in a house and it always looks good. Inside of cabinets, bathroom walls, stairwells, you name it.

One of the most common and great looking places to throw in a little bit of beadboard is the front of an island or high-bar. People do it all the time.

Don’t you want to be different? Aren’t we looking for that one-in-a-million memorable kitchen?

Then add a splash of color! Paint that beadboard front a blue, or a red, or a green. Any color that works for your design. And like the inside of the cabinet above, it’s easy to change.

Redfrigerator?

No? Then, how about some blue-ish, aqua-ish awesomeness? Like this:

This kitchen has a bit more than a “splash” of color. It’s more like a gatorade bath after the superbowl win. Too much? I think it would be perfect with a more subtle wall splash tile.

I love the appliances and that’s the idea I’m sharing here. Vintage look appliances like this are available now from a wide range of manufacturers. Some companies, like Big Chill Fridge, have made a name for themselves doing nothing but colorful vintage look appliances.

Not quite as easy to change colors on this one though, so make sure you’re sold out heart and soul before taking the plunge!

Paint The Windows!

If the refrigerator gets to be colorful, then the windows should get the same opportunity. This is non-discriminatory coloration. It doesn’t have to be a crazy bright color, you can go a little more subtle, like this picture:

You know how some guys can’t stay focused when a pretty girl walks by? I have that problem, but with open beams. I forgot what we were talking about…

Oh right, the splash of color in the windows! How creative and fun is that?

You would normally think that this is only possible with wood windows and it’s true that the process is a bit easier with wood. But the truth is that you can buy paint formulated for metal or vinyl at most any home center type store today. So if you have aluminum or vinyl windows, I wouldn’t let it hold you back.

Paint Beams or Soffits

Soffits and support beams the kids who always get picked on. Many a remodeling project has been started with the simple goal of getting rid of that ugly soffit*. Maybe the soffit just needs a little encouragement. Anybody ever think of that? How about a nice new outfit to make it feel better…

I’m telling you what, that looks good. It might not be your personal style, but you have to admit its nice and it pulls off a contemporary look without being stark and unwelcoming.

Not everyone has a steel I-beam in the kitchen, but lots of people have ugly soffits or structural beams wrapped in plaster or drywall.

If that includes you and you’ve been wanting to banish the offending bit of architectural malpractice, maybe this will change your mind.

Color Inspires!

One thing all of these kitchens have in common is that they are inspiring! They serve two purposes. One is the function of a kitchen and all which that entails, the other is the function of invigoration! That’s what makes a space memorable. It makes you feel great to be in.

Give it a try!

The photos for this post can all be found on my Idea Kitchens board on Pinterest, where each can be traced back to it’s original source.

*In this context, the soffit is the solid box that’s built either to lower the upper cabinets down or to conceal ductwork, not to be confused with exterior soffit in your overhang.

Hi Tim,

Ok, when we moved into our house, we repainted everything with the help of friends. Well, the friend who did the dining room did a TERRIBLE job.

It’s like she slopped the paint on there and then never actually rolled the roller back over it to smooth it out. And the drips….I won’t even discuss them.

I didn’t catch it in time to fix it immediately so now it’s just there, driving me crazy.

So, what’s the best way to fix this? Sandpaper blocks? I am planning to repaint in a few weeks and I would love to start working on these problem areas.

Heres’ the other part of the question. If I sand to fix this one area, do I now have to sand the entire wall?

Thanks!
Carrie

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Wow. Carrie!

Your question almost sent me to Google looking for the answer. That’s because I know you’ve got a challenge on your hands with this. I’ll do my best to sum-up what I think your options are and the things to be careful with.

Best Case Scenario — Peel Off The Nasty Parts

If you can grab hold of the paint by getting a screwdriver or razor behind it, you can try and peel off the runs and gobs. At that point you can sand the edges of the sections where the old paint remained. It’s not too hard to sand an edge where paint has been peeled, but it is a real mess to try and sand out large gobs of paint.

Here’s the issue: paint gets to be pretty much like rubber when it dries. You really can’t sand a clump of rubber. What ends up happening is that people start sanding and the offensive piece tears off. The danger is that you can ruin your wall texture sanding too hard. That’s why I suggest getting the worst off first, then lightly sanding the edges.

After that you can just apply another coat or two.

Worse Case Scenario — Skim the wall

This is probably radical and can’t possibly happen, BUT, if you ruin your texture trying to get the paint gobs off and you do that all over the whole wall (as opposed to just one spot) then you’ll have a problem trying to fix the texture. At that point it might be best to make the whole wall smooth again and start over!

You could always just go over it all with paneling!

To be honest, I’m having a tough time picturing your issue. I mean, how bad can it be? If it’s just a “normal” sloppy job, I think some detailed sanding and cutting away the messy paint in particular areas will do the trick. If you literally have a disaster over the whole wall…???

Hi Tim,

The sides of my kitcen cabinets aren’t real wood but some kind of laminate or something. What are my options for refinishing them?

Thanks for all the great ideas!

Melissa

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Hi Melissa,

Interestingly enough, most of the potential finishes you have can be painted. Formica type plastic laminate can be painted, as can the very thin melamine finish. Most likely, you have one or the other. Both are sheets of plastic with a pattern printed on them, the main difference being thickness.

The concerns with painting come in three main categories:

1. Is the surface clean? – the first step is making sure there isn’t some residue from a previous cleaning agent, or grease build-up near the stove, or anything that will get between the paint and the actual surface. A good scrubbing with TSP or some other good cleaner will do the job.
2. Is the surface glossy? – If your surface is shiny, like glass or glossy formica, you’ll need to rough it up with sandpaper. Otherwise the paint can’t gain a foothold on the surface and will peel off. Make sure to clean the sanding dust off after cleaning.
3. Is the surface secure? – You can clean all day, sand real well, and then paint on something that’s going to fall off! Not what you want. Just be sure that whatever you’re painting over is securely attached to the structure of your cabinets. If not, you’ll want to remove it.

Those things complete, you can paint those cabinets. You can totally remodel a ktichen by doing the above and including some new replacement cabinet doors. I’ll be demonstrating that soon at my house, so if you wait a bit I’ll show you exactly how to do it.

I just can’t get enough of these colorful kitchens! I wrote apost just over a year ago with one that is still my favorite. That post was titled: Colors in Cabinetry — A New Trend? If it wasn’t already a major trend then, it certainly is now! And I’m one person who is happy, happy, happy about it!

bhg.com

The photo above has one thing in common with the one from last year that I think is really a key to pulling this look off:

Color on bottom — White on top!

Using white on the upper cabinet really serves to brighten the look. If the top half of the room had the darker colors, it wouldn’t work the same way. If they were actually reversed, and the white was on bottom, I think it would be a disaster!

Color On All The Cabinets

architecturaldigest.com

This look, where color is used on all of the cabinets is also beautiful in the right color and can work in a wider range of overall decor. The kind of detail and quality in these particular cabinets doesn’t hurt either.

Any thoughts? I’d love to hear your opinion on color in cabinetry or your favorite details in these pictures. It helps me know how your mind works! Thanks!

If you can find it, that is. Bouquet’s like this one are going to be much harder to find.

If you haven’t heard, the cold truth now presents itself:

Home Depot will no longer stock Ralph Lauren Paints… starting like a few days ago!

A little warning to Senor Remodeling Guy sure would have been appreciated. Shows where I stand.

But there is good news and it comes in two sizes:

Gallon Size Good News: If you run out now to your local Home Depot you can buy-up what’s left for cheap! Like $14.00 a gallon cheap, which is more than half off. (hint: if they only have quarts left, you might suggest the gallon price for four…worked for me)

Quart Size Good News: I spoke with a representative from the manufacturer. He told me that the line will still be available in ICI Paint Stores. I sure hope that’s true.

You see… I was a believer. One of the few; apparently.

Oh… I almost forgot, they’re replacing the line with Martha Stewart’s paint, so maybe it’s not a total loss.  Martha’s cool.

(bringing back one of my early favorite posts from last winter)

Let’s Roll…

Or brush, or sponge, or rag…even spray! No matter how you do it, just paint!

For most of you (not me!) it’s the dead of winter and outdoor projects are pretty much out of the question!

Even if you’re going to hire someone, it’s too cold to go out there and even show them what you want done! So what to do? How can you scratch that remodeling itch when the mercury drops to unmentionable levels?

I asked myself that question and the first two things I thought of were painting and lighting. They go hand-in-hand and I’ll touch on great lighting tomorrow. But for today, let’s talk about paint.

See the Room as Art!

There is an artist in you whether you know it or not! If you already know it, great! If not, just look at some pictures and ask yourself “Does this inspire me?” When you start to feel inspired, that’s when you’re on the right track. Follow that look and you’ll find what you want for your new space! Let’s start with a simple one and work our way up to CRAZY!

Simple, right? But beautiful too! The contrast of the darker wall color against the bright white trim works great in this nook! Great use of similar colors in the art and furnishings brings it together. A small area like this can be tackled in a weekend and make an impression for years!

Make White Sing!

A white wall has many great characteristics. They make spaces seem more open, and of-course, brighter. Sometimes, when there’s a shortage of natural light or to go with a particular design, white is the way to go.

Two thoughts about white walls:

1. Even if your room is already white and you want it to stay white…repaint it anyway! If the paint is more than a couple of years old, it will make a difference. You might also change a shade to “tweak” the look a little bit. There must be 1,000 “white” colors!
2. Add color with furniture and decor, like in the photo above. You might have an old chair laying around that you can repaint in two hours. Try it…it could change your life! (at least a little bit)

Look Past The Walls!

Feeling inspired yet? If not, check your pulse! These cabinets ROCK! I’m not so sure about the ABC’s on the glass, but I do love the use of color in the kitchen cabinets.

It can easily run $40,000.00 or more for new cabinets. Why not look a little closer and ask that artist in you what other options there might be? If you get a good answer, I’d say you should buy the artist a cup of coffee or something! If not, keep reading…

Hit the Door!

Painting the kitchen cabinets a little bit of a reach for you?  You’re not alone.

The impact you can make by painting a door or window is really astounding! I can’t decide which one I like better, the blue or the red?

What do you think?

So, honestly, don’t you feel like painting? You have options:

Walls, Ceilings, Trim, Doors, Floors, Furniture…

Everything including the Kitchen Sink can be painted, though you might want a pro to hit the sink for you.

The bang for your buck is unmatched and the D.I.Y. difficulty factor is  among the best you’ll find. Go for it!

Get Radical!

If the artist in you still has not stirred, I have one more trick up my sleeve. If this doesn’t get you going, there may be no hope…I’m sorry.

Now THAT is color!

Oh, a couple more details…you have to do it right! The web is full of great resources. I found a site here that has good advice on exactly how to paint. You can also email me for my thoughts if you’d like. I would love to see your before and after photos. I’d love to help.

Let me know if I awoke the artist in you in the comments, and use the ShareThis feature to share this new blog with friends. Just click on that little green button and all the options will show up before your very eyes. If nothing else, it’s colorful!

This one is a perfect 10 if you ask me. I found the picture at one of my favorite haunts Houzz.com, and the kitchen is by Valerie Pedersen who works in the SF Bay Area.

Wow! I love, love, love it! I was searching for window seats and I came across this shot. I really love the built-in seating (storage inside would be cool). And while we’re talking seating… I love that bench seat too! The whole thing just works for me.

A Closer Look

I see much more than just the seating here though. One great thing about this kitchen is that it’s timeless. not much here is going to be outdated in five years. The white cabinets and black granite look awesome with that white subway tile wall splash.

(trivial info: traditionally, the “backsplash” was only a few inches above the counter. When the whole wall between the upper and lower cabinet was done it was referred to as a “wall splash”… not so much nowadays)

I also love the farm sink in this kitchen. To me, the whole kitchen almost has to be designed around a farm sink for it to look right. This one looks great! Great faucet too.

Great Trimwork Too

One of the other things that make this room look great is the use of “normal” but beautiful trimwork.

• Standard 5.25″ Crown
• Simple window casing
• Upgraded, but simple, baseboards
• Small Crown on upper cabinets

Some Great DIY Ideas Here

When I look at this picture, I see a list of individual projects that most beginners can handle.

• Painting – the biggest thing in this picture almost gets missed. That is a great contrast between wall color and cabinet and trim color. You can do that right now in your house!
• Light Fixture – the next step-up the DIY difficulty ladder is installing a cool light fixture. Installing a fixture is something you can learn to do with a Google Video search. It makes a huge difference (just don’t skip the “turn off the breaker” step)
• Cabinet Hardware – Maybe easier than the light fixture is to change out your pulls, knobs, and hinges. Heck, once all that is off, maybe you want to spray paint your cabinets!
• Run that trim! You can so do this! Start with the easiest thing, probably the window casing; maybe the baseboard. When you want to try crown molding, do that little crown on the cabinets first so you can figure out how to hold it upright in your saw for easy angle cuts.
• Build A Window Seat! – Once you get your skills to the point where you can run that crown, you can tackle the window seat. Then you’ll be in high-style!

Have fun!

One of the advantages of my graying beard is that I can say things that aren’t, like, totally hip, and get away with it! Or at least think I got away with it! For example, I can refer to a kitchen island this way…

This island is HOT!

Now I know the look overall may not be just what you’re looking for. If it is, great, you found it! But what I’m really stoked about is the way they used two regular ole dressers to make the island. That rocks!

If I was the one who came up with this idea, I’d have to treat myself to a steak or something. This is a great idea! How quickly could you do this? A day?

9:00 am – Find old dressers at Goodwill or a garage sale

10:00 am – Pick up some spray paint and stencils at Michael’s or, what’s that big one we went to in Charlotte???…thinking…(have to go ask Kim) Hobby Lobby!

11:00 am – Furniture laid out on drop cloths, spray paint going mad.

1:00 pm – Paint is drying, and you’re off to a local granite supplier with measurements for a square slab of stone.

2:00 pm – How lucky are you! The granite supplier had exactly what you want in the scrap bin for $10.00 … this almost doesn’t seem real!

3:00pm – Since you’ve been working out, it’s no problem to throw that slab of stone on-top of your freshly painted island… and you’re done!

4:00pm – Relax, kick back, look at your handi-work, and wait for the family to come home and see what you did today!

See how simple that is!

Now you try!

pictures from DIYIdeas.com