Jan Maresh

Author's details

Name: Jan Maresh
Date registered: September 20, 2011

Latest posts

  1. Use Gray as An Elegant Backdrop To Your Space — September 19, 2012
  2. How To Paint Wood Chairs and Update Your Dining Room — August 27, 2012
  3. Blistering Paint – Here’s What To Do — August 22, 2012
  4. Painting With Red — August 21, 2012
  5. Odd Furniture Pieces? Check Out My Atomic Chairs — August 11, 2012

Most commented posts

  1. How To Use Your Sherwin Williams Professional Color File — 4 comments
  2. Odd Furniture Pieces? Check Out My Atomic Chairs — 2 comments
  3. A Little Something for My … Homies Part II — 2 comments
  4. Recycling and Re-covering Breathes New Life into this Classic Chair — 1 comment
  5. Master Bedroom Color for Selling — 1 comment

Author's posts listings

Use Gray as An Elegant Backdrop To Your Space

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September 19, 2012

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Look at the the colors in this pallete that will stand out againt Gray.

One of the bigger color trends this decade is moving away from brown and closer to gray. But before you jump to the conclusion that gray is dark and depressing, know that there are both warm and cool grays which will make anyone’s stuff look great – as long as you get the color right.  …

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How To Paint Wood Chairs and Update Your Dining Room

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August 27, 2012

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Priming makes the paint stick to the wood on the chair.

I’m often asked how to paint stuff — like wooden chairs and kitchen cabinets.  This question is from  Judi Risser – Thanks, Judy! Hi Jan, I am curious what you would do with a situation I find myself in. I purchased 6 dining chairs, dated 1968. They are stained a dark brown color however, I …

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Blistering Paint – Here’s What To Do

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August 22, 2012

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Got Blistering? Scrape, sand prime then paint again.

The summer is winding down and it’s still warm enough to do some painting (and less humid so the job isn’t as miserable as it would have been a couple of weeks ago). Why bring this up?  If you have some interior or exterior surfaces that look like this, then you might want to take …

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Painting With Red

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August 21, 2012

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Look for the "P" on the back of the swatch.

                  Traditional Dining Room by  Nashville  Designer AB HOME Interiors Red is a fabulous color for a dining room because it stimulates the appetite.  But have you ever painted a deep rich red on a wall? Could you see the drywall through the paint –  even after two, three or more thick coats?  Here’s the …

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Odd Furniture Pieces? Check Out My Atomic Chairs

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August 11, 2012

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Unify pdd pieces of furniture with the same fabric.

We had three very different chairs that needed to be in the den.  One came from a tag sale, another was  saved from the Longmeadow dump, and then there was my IKEA my desk chair that either had to go or be redone – I chose the later. I love the way it looks and …

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Chalk is Not What You Want On Your Walls

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August 9, 2012

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Chalking exterior paint may need repainting.

Have you run your hand over an exterior wall and found a powdery chalk residue come off on your hand? Some degree of “chalking” is normal but if you have a lot of it, you might want to repaint. What happens is that the Ultra Violet light breaks down the binders in the paint and …

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What People are Saying …

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August 8, 2012

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Thank you, Everybody!

Readers, It is my greatest honor to share what I know about color with everyone who has a curiosity about it. I am humbled (and thrilled) by the feedback I’ve had on the course.  If you are considering taking my  Color for Selling and Dwelling course you might want to read what others have had …

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How To Mix Fabric Prints (Like Ya’ Know What Your Doin’)

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August 7, 2012

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Varying small, medium, and large-scale prints can be used in the same room as long as they...

Remember Mom telling you not to mix a print with a plaid, not to put polka dots with stripes? If you’ve been following this rule, STOP. Pick up any decorating magazine and see how many beautifully decorated rooms break this rule. Here are some guidelines for picking perfect print patterns and putting them together: Stare …

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Don ‘t Use Flat Paint in High Traffic Areas

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August 7, 2012

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Flat paint.

Ted and I spent the weekend in a quaint New England Inn.  On the way to our room I noticed that the almost-brand-new paint on the stairway walls was streaked with shiny swipes and grease spots (I know it’s an occupational hazard:-).  The contractor used flat paint in this high traffic area and in very …

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How To Use Your Sherwin Williams Professional Color File

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August 2, 2012

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cspiApprovedFaculty

Join Me — Monday, April 2013  from 7 – 8 pm (EST) Do you have a Sherwin Williams Professional Color File Box?  Know what’s in it?  Know how to use it?  If not, you are missing out on a fabulous color tool that will help selecting colors for your clients faster and easier. Learn what’s …

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“Can I Paint Wood Paneling?” Yes You Can!

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August 2, 2012

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We found plywood scraps behind the wood paneling - ick!

Does your house have cheap wood paneling?  You know, the stuff that has grooves in it and pushes in when you lean against it? Do you like it?  If not, I know what you’ve been thinking! Can we fill in the grooves with joint compound, then sand, prime and paint? Can we just paint the …

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Want More Light? Raise Your Window Treatments!

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July 30, 2012

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Let in the light by raising the curtain.

I’m in houses every week helping folks with color and NEED to have the natural light flood the room to get the wall color right.  And this is what I see – curtains, drapes, and window coverings that are attached TO the window trim, covering most of the window and making rooms dark and dreary. …

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Master Bedroom Color for Selling

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July 17, 2012

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Neutralize the wall color so buyers can see their furnishings in the space.

Have you been looking for just the right color for the master bedroom to entice the next qualified buyers into making the right offer? This was the master bedroom in a house that was on the market for months. The problem? Besides the color, this house was in Vancouver, WA and most folks up there …

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A Little Something for My … Homies Part II

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July 12, 2012

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The Japanese Maples is the centerpiece of this bed. I really need to do something about those lounge chair covers!

Installing the stairs was a feat of strength!  Ted and Todd muscled the 600 pound steps and laid them in place by hand.  Glad I was taking pictures! Take a look at how we were able to keep the hill from caving in. Then there was the retaining wall…crumbling and water soaked. After digging out …

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A Little Something for My … Homies – Part I

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July 10, 2012

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Todd raking out the topsoil on top of the hill.

Quick!  when you think of green do you think of: the color, nature, sustainability? Yeah…I do, too, but since we have been up to our eyeballs in nature – dirt, stone, sweat and other stuff getting the back yard in for the last three summers, I thought you might like to take a look. We …

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What Blue Says About You

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July 5, 2012

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Blue Room ing The Whote House

Since blue is the most popular color, let’s take a look at where you might want to use it when dwelling in a space. If you have a room with a large, south-west facing window and you want to visually “cool down” the space, consider using blue. Blue also calms and sedates, so it’s a …

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Blue Isn’t for Selling … Why Not?

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July 3, 2012

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Azurite is ground to a powder to create blue dye.

If you or a client of yours is getting ready to move and wants to re-paint, avoid the color blue.  Why?  Because statistically, blue houses take longer to sell.  Why?  We (in the real estate and staging biz) don’t really know but let’s take a look at what we do know about blue and see …

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Master Bedroom Color for Dwelling – Can You Say Spaaaaa?

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July 1, 2012

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Looking gor that Spaaaaa Feeling, paint the walls a soft blue-green.

Why is it that the master bedroom is the last room in the house that is finished?  Maybe you’re using it as a multipurpose room – you know, your home office, the gym, and folding center for last week’s laundry?  If this sounds familiar, may I suggest, Dear Reader,  to shift your thinking. Wouldn’t it …

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Colorphobic?

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June 29, 2012

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Do you have an uncomfortable f e a r of Color?

I teach a certified color course for the CSPI Training Academy and have the pleasure of working with folks that are hooked on color like I am.  One of my students, MJ Getkate from www.arteffects.ca, asked if she could use my definitions of Colorphobia in some of her marketing materials.  I said, “absolutely” then, it  …

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Color FAQ’s: Accent Wall …. or Not

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June 22, 2012

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Want an accent wall that won't stand out that much? Use a wallcovering from the Sherwin Williams HGTV line.

Just about everyone I help with color has a room where they want to do an accent wall and ask me what to do. Does this resonate with you? This is a question from one of my Color for Selling and Dwelling students. Q: “When choosing a color for a large accent wall in a …

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Use Yellow for Selling – Same Color Three Rooms

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June 18, 2012

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Yellow can be a neutral, too, and brighten up a north-facing space.

When we lived in Camas, WA( just outside Portland, OR)  I just had to do something to perk up our house during those gray, rainy days in the Pacific Northwest.  Turns out the color I chose for dwelling worked just as well for selling. The magical color I painted our bedrooms was Sherwin Williams 6379 …

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Using Yellow for Dwelling? Ask The Right Question!

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June 14, 2012

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ugly blue family room

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting a family that wanted help in choosing color for their family room.  The room in question has a north-east facing picture window, an overhang, and a large canopy of oak and maple trees.   The room was a very deep Navy Blue – a very dark room. One …

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Using Orange for Selling

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June 11, 2012

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orange_room-e1286470867225

Looking for a pop of color to guide buyers through your home?  Consider using orange — but not too much. Walls, ceilings and trim colors are all grayed down tones of orange from Sherwin Williams and are all on the same color swatch in the fan deck.  Easy and dramatic! The print in the chairs …

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Using Orange for Dwelling

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June 3, 2012

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Use a fabric in your room for wall color inspiration.

This time, let’s  focus on the color orange and how it affects your space (and mine)! Orange adopts a few of the physical attributes from the primaries red and yellow. Orange stimulates activities, Orange stimulates appetite, Orange encourages socialization – great color to use in areas where family and friends gather, don’t you think? So …

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How To Buy a Used Car – The Test Drive

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May 22, 2012

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Test drive the car and listen for squeaks.

As mentioned in an earlier post, our son lives across the country and is buying a used car. Here’s some information from Ted (our resident car expert who’s been in the business his career) on how to conduct a test drive. Hi Todd, After looking at the general condition of the car the most important thing …

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How To Buy a Used Car – Price Negotiations and Paperwork

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May 22, 2012

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Getting to the right price is easier than you think.

This is the last post on How to Buy a Used Car written from Ted (who’s been in the car business his career) to our son Todd on how to handle the price negotiations and paperwork. Hi Todd, Okay, this is the last of my wisdom… for now anyway. If you are still interested in …

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How To Buy A Used Car – Maintenace and Tire Wear

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May 22, 2012

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How to Buy a Used Car

This title of this post may have thrown you off a little, but stay with me – this is Life’s-Hub and this topic may hit home for anyone interested in buying a used car. Our son, Todd, lives 2500 miles across the country and is in the market for a car that will last him …

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How to’s and What for’s of De-Clutter Your Closets

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May 18, 2012

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I am very excited to be adding video to Lifes-Hub and this is the first post in a series of  preparing yourself and your home for selling and for dwelling.  This first post is about selling. The cruel reality is that buyers are nosy.  So if you think you can clear away the clutter and …

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How Red Ridinghood Got Her Red “Just Right”

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May 17, 2012

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This primary color scheme uses warm reds, yellow and blue.

Little Red Riding Hood’s favorite color was…well…. red.  But like “Red” when using it in your home, it can’t be too hot, or too cold — it needs to be just right. If your favorite color is red, chances are you’ve used it in your decorating projects or want to, right? But using it all …

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What Happens When Buyers See Red?

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May 15, 2012

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Red takes the buyer's eye on a trip through the space.

Why do we see red? Red draws attention because it has the longest wavelength in the visible light spectrum – think STOP sign or someone dressed in red within a sea of dark suits.  Red is stimulating and a symbol of courage, love  and sacrifice. But the most important thing to remember about red when …

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What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?

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May 10, 2012

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Red stimulates energy.

Quick…What’s your favorite color and what do you really know about it? Do you walk into a room and check out the colors – rather, do you feel the energy in the room…or not? The way a room feels, the mood you want to create in the space, has everything to do with the way …

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Getting Around Odd Color Schemes

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May 8, 2012

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How to get around an avacado counter top.

Have you ever walked into a room and said (to yourself or out loud) Wow…look at that color!  And maybe not in a good way.  As a decorator for Sherwin Williams, I am in houses every week and am often challenged when working around an existing color that will not change – or is not …

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How To Hang Window Treatments for Dwelling

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May 3, 2012

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Prevent draftsby hanging panels that overlap the window frame.

Window fashion has become as high-tech as everything else in our lives.  So if you have window toppers from 10 years ago or drapes that look like flood pants on your kids, it’s time for an update. Since most warm or cool air is lost through our windows, let’s take a look at the “hard” …

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Window Treatments for Selling…or Not

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April 30, 2012

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Remove drapes to let in the light!

I was in a stunning house this morning that will be on the market soon.  This is a grand, beautiful home in an ideal location for busy families, a great school district; the sellers are being transferred out of the area. But as soon as my colleagues and I walked through the front door and …

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Curb Appeal for Dwelling – Love this Trick!

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April 25, 2012

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Clean up those ragedy edges with a hand edger and elbow grease.

Now that the birds are crowing and the grass is growing — over the walks, driveway and the flower beds — it’s time to straighten up those rough edges.  And the easiest way to tackle this yard-beautifying job is not by waiting, but by doing it now. Here’s how to get that perfect edge in …

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What Everybody Ought To Know About Curb Appeal for Selling

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April 23, 2012

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This is a two-story home - really! The solution? Cut some lower branches so buyers can see the house … not the tree.

According to the National Assoc. of Realtors(R) (as published in  Home Staging for Dummies) over 90% of buyers start shopping  for a new home on-line then 74% decide to do a “drive-by” before contacting a Real Estate professional.  On their drive-by, it’s within seconds that the buyer decides whether or not to take the next …

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Do You Feel Like You’re in Prison?

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April 19, 2012

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CFL (cool) light at the top; Warm light at the bottom. Which one makes you feel better?

See the difference a light bulb makes? CFL (cool) light at the top; warm light at the bottom. Which one makes you feel better? The Problem: Have you ever walked into a room …after sundown…turned on the light and the room has felt heavy and depressing, almost like being in a prison camp? Chances are …

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Colors for Dwelling – Warm and Cool Neutrals Are the Foundation of Your Color Choices

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April 16, 2012

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Cool Color inspirtion

Unlike choosing color when selling where everything needs to be neutralized, wall color for dwelling can be a lot more fun and personal. But there are some guidelines that are the same. Just like choosing color for selling, you first need to determine if the space is warm or cool, if your fabrics and artwork …

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Choose Color to Work with Home’s Complexion

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April 11, 2012

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conceptscolor

There’s a lot more to choosing color than meets the eye — all you have to do is to stand at the paint display at your local Home Depot and watch the customer’s faces (and open mouths). Of the 10,000-plus color choices, which one will work the best for the girls’ room … the kitchen… …

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Stopping and Starting Another Color – Part One

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April 9, 2012

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Stay on the same swatch or move across each color at the same level for fabulous flow..

When you stand at the front door of just about any home in North America, you are able to see from three to five spaces at once – even if it’s not an open floor plan. So whether you are selling your house or dwelling in your home, this presents a challenge when painting. Where …

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Stopping and Starting Another Color – Part Two

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April 9, 2012

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Here's What NOT to do!

Last time I showed you how to change color at a corner by choosing wall color from the same paint swatch.  Another strategy is to choose the same intensity or color strength.  If you have a Sherwin Williams Fan Deck I’ll wait a minute while you go get it….okay…..ready? So let’s say the family room …

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Recycling and Re-covering Breathes New Life into this Classic Chair

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April 4, 2012

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chandelier and chair 013

I love living in Longmeadow, MA — we have a mix of several styles of architecture and this is New England, after all. But when you think of New England, mid-century modern usually isn’t on the radar screen. That said, we live in this cool little pocket of mid-century modern homes and have a lot …

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Sell This House

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March 29, 2012

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Heavy and crowded.

PROBLEM: Why won’t this house sell? If you are in the market for a new house and this is the first room you saw…what’s your first impression? •    “What a small dining room and so….depressing; •    “I don’t think our furniture will fit; •    “If this house makes it to our top three choices, we’ll …

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What…Paint the Ceilings?

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March 20, 2012

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Tinting your celings cozies up the room.

Last weekend Ted and I painted the den ceiling. As a Decorator for Sherwin Williams, clients often ask me about their ceilings — should they paint them at all  or… are they “allowed” to paint the ceiling another color than white.  I say, “Don’t ask permission … just do it!”  How to pick the color? …

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If only I’d known this sooner…

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March 7, 2012

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joy

Earlier this year visited my mom in Arizona – she’s 88 and her memory is failing. Besides repeating herself over, and over, and over, again, her natural reasoning is gone and common social boundaries have been breached. It wasn’t the best visit; I was sad, mad and discouraged. Ohhhh, Poor Me…And boo hoo, our son …

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Color As the Mood-Setter

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March 6, 2012

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We Love the way the room feels!

I have the best job in the world as the decorator and color specialist for Sherwin Williams — I meet home owners who really care about their homes the way I care about ours.  My approach is that the “right”  color should fit their personality, work with what they have in the room, while reading …

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