Nyeleni Furniture, House & Home Improvement

When it comes to the easiest and cheapest ways to transform your home, paint is often described as the most powerful tool. And it truly is. But, what many overlook is just how far paint can go. Beyond walls and the front door, there are many other elements in your home, that with the right kind of paint, proper application and good color can be transformed into things of beauty!

Let’s walk through the home and see just how far your paint can go:

Bathroom:

Does your ceramic tile look old and tired, outdated and sad? Before opting to replace the tile, there’s a much less expensive and time consuming project: paint! There are special paints available on the market that are specifically made for ceramic tile. These paints are waterproof and come in myriad designer color options.

Ever hankered to get rid of your outdated lavender colored bath-tub? Replacing a bathtub can be very costly and messy as well. If the tub is attached to tile, than the tile can end up breaking. You can have your bathtub professionally painted- which is often the best option in this case as it’s a tricky job and requires specialized paint products. A typical job will cost you about $300. But it may well be worth it, if you compare to the cost and hassle of replacing the tub.

Likewise, if your bathroom cabinets are dragging your design overhaul down- have no fear, paint is here! Depending on what your cabinets are made of, and painted with, the job may involve some sanding and a particular kind of paint and possibly primer. Consult with your local paint store as to how to approach this. Paint your cabinets a nice, bright and light color that ties in with the entire bathroom. Replace your old bathroom hardware and SHAZAM- a whole new bathroom!

Kitchen:

Beyond the walls of your kitchen, paint can be used to brighten up down-trodden cabinets. As cabinets are such a dominate feature in a kitchen, this will do a lot to enliven the entire room. Again, consult with your local paint company with regards to the type of paint and process that will best serve your particular cabinets. When replacing the cabinet hardware in the kitchen, think of finding something that ties in with all the appliances.

Another element you can spruce up with paint is your countertop. Yes, it is possible to paint countertop. But you’ll want to do it right. It’ll involve using a special primer, numerous coats of paint and then a seal- generally satin or high-gloss non-yellowing polyurethane. When approaching the color of your countertop, make sure it ties in with all the colors you’ve chosen for the other elements: cabinets, walls etc.

Living Areas:

You’ll be surprised what you can transform with paint in your main living areas. Maybe you have an outdated tile on your fireplace hearth. Again, with the proper primer, the right kind of paint and a color that ties everything together, you can wave your painting wand and cure almost any outdated monstrosity!

Furniture is another beast that paint can tackle successfully. You can sand down wood furniture and then re-stain it, or go for painting it a completely different color- something bold to serve as an accent in your living room. This again may involve a coat of primer and a particular paint. Think of it as another opportunity to consult and get chatty with you local paint store.

You can even get down to the nifty gritty details and start to create some art projects. Re-paint some old art frames, to make them punch out in your home design. Try painting a vase, or a decorative platter.

So, as you can see the power of paint goes far beyond walls. Whether you’re in need of some affordable and relatively quick home staging tricks before a resale, or if you just want to do some improvements that won’t break the bank and consume all of your time, get to know paint and its true potential.

The charm of living in a historical neighborhood appeals to many. The houses are unique with interesting architecture, not like the cookie cutter homes in most new subdivisions. Most homes are also located in desirable mature areas with tree-lined streets and wide sidewalks.

The design opportunities for these homes are endless, and a buyer is often so focused on their vision of what this house will be, they neglect to see what they are really buying. There are considerations with historical homes that don’t exist with a conventional modern houses. Many of these are located in protected neighborhoods that have a historical designation in order to preserve the character of the area.

These designations have rules that may prevent a homeowner from making the changes they’d like. Most of these are restricted to structural changes, but they can affect other areas of the houses as well. For instance, you may have to sacrifice adding a luxury bathroom to the master bedroom if one doesn’t already exist. Upon purchase of the home, the seller should disclose whether it’s located in a historic district, you should double check at the local municipal offices and research any restrictions for the property.

The parking in these older neighborhoods is usually sparse and more often than not, residents can’t even park in front of their own homes.

Roof replacement can be a costly consideration. In many areas, asphalt shingles aren’t acceptable and must be replaced with wood shingles, standing-seam metal or slate.

Window replacement and window coverings can also be limited as they have a direct effect on the look of the home. Another added expense is the energy costs, often times these larger old homes are drafty and difficult to heat. If a particular renovation is denied by the historical board, the homeowner can usually appeal a decision, but it takes time and paperwork.

One ray of sunlight exists in the grants that are often available to homeowners to help ease the financial burden of the renovations, but keep in mind that the upgrades must fall within the guidelines.