Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Tool Talk Tuesday: Paint Brushes and Rollers with AnNicole

Tool Talk Tuesday is my way of introducing my home reno-challenged friends to ways of improving their own homes. This week, I have a special guest who never ceases to amaze me...a chick after my own heart who has been renovating her very own home. Please help me welcome her!

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Hi – AnNicole from Our Suburban Cottage here. I’m so glad that the Blah Blah Blahger asked me to do a guest post today.

First, I can’t tell you how much I want a miter saw and nail gun. The idea of cutting and nailing molding to my little hearts content just makes me plain giddy…but since I don’t have those tools, today I’ll be talking about my hands-down favorite tools that I do have.

My favorite house transforming tool by far is paint. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING can transform a room like paint can…and NOTHING can beat paint in terms of decorating bang for your buck….and that’s perfect for me because I’m one frugal chick. I’ve used paint to transform nearly every room in my house, and I’m not just talking about walls. Don’t be afraid to paint furniture to make an old piece look like it belongs in this century, take the plunge and paint that brick fireplace that makes your skin crawl or that faux wood 1970’s paneling that makes you cringe every time you look at it. I’ve even used paint to update outdated laminate countertops, which you can read about here and here. I've also used paint to transform ugly cabinets which you can read about here and here.

Seriously...it only took a little more than paint to transform this bathroom...
...into this.

So here are my favorite painting tools:

1) PAINT:
Um…yeah, that one’s kind of obvious, I know. I’ve heard amazing things about Benjamin Moore’s paint and I would buy it in a heartbeat if I weren’t so darn frugal. If you can afford it, I’d recommend trying it for sure. That being said, my favorite go-to brand of paint is Behr from Home Depot. It has great coverage and is very affordable at around $23 a gallon. I prefer an eggshell finish for walls and a satin finish for furniture and cabinets.

Also, I almost never use Behr colors (sorry Behr). I find my favorite colors from Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore and have them color matched and mixed in Behr paint. I’ve yet to have a Home Depot employee give me a hard time about this.

2) PAINT BRUSHES:
This is where I’ll splurge a little bit. You’ll never regret investing in a good brush. It won’t leave those dreaded brush strokes, and (if you wash thoroughly after each use with a mild soap…or even just water) it should last you a while.

I also like to use a 1½ to 2½ inch brush (depending on the project) with an angled tip. The angled tip makes it so much easier to get into corners…believe me.

3) ROLLERS:
Make sure you choose the right roller for your project (again…I know many of you are saying “duh”, but it is very important). If you have smooth walls, choose a roller made for smooth to semi-smooth walls. If your walls are textured, go with a roller specifically made for textured walls….I promise you’ll thank me.

And for those little projects like painting cabinets and furniture you can’t beat a small foam roller for a flawless, smooth finish.

Finally I have a few painting tips for you:

1) If you’re painting over a dark color or cabinets or furniture I HIGHLY recommend that you prime first. It will keep you from having to paint a bazillion coats of paint, and it will make the finish more durable (especially when it comes to cabinets or furniture). I prefer an oil based primer for furniture (like BIN). I also like Gripper brand primer.

2) If you’re not sure how steady your hand is at “cutting in” (or painting around the edges of walls) then go ahead and apply blue painters tape beforehand. Just make sure you put it up in a straight line and that you press down firmly enough to prevent the paint from “bleeding” underneath the tape. You can also apply a thin coat of clear polyacrylic topcoat along the edge of the tape before painting to avoid paint bleeding through the tape.

3) Dry time is very important in a good paint job. Never try to apply a second coat of paint if it’s been less than 4 hours since the first coat. And if you’re painting cabinets or furniture, use restraint and let is dry a good 12 hours between coats.

4) I like to wrap my brushes and rollers in tin foil between coats. I also cover my paint tray with tin foil so I can reuse it for the next coat.

I hope this helps some of you. Happy painting!

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Thanks SO MUCH to AnNicole!!! She's done some AMAZING things with paint...you MUST click through her links and check out her painted counters and renovations in her Suburban Cottage!



8 comments:

Debbie @ OtRD said...

I love that before and after photo! It is amazing what paint can do. When I moved into my home I painted every single wall. The new colors made such a difference. It made it feel more like mine and not to mention, new and clean! Thanks for all the great tips!

Debbie @ OtRD said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michelle Hughes said...

I just want to say I love your blog, especially your layout! I only recently found it and found your kitchen post... I am such a green person, so obviously, I love your kitchen. Our library is a similar color. Look forward to reading more!
Michelle

Erin said...

Thanks so much for this post, definitely helpful. I'm getting ready to dive into a lot of painting in a new house and am glad to have some great info before I hit the stores for supplies!

Anonymous said...

Paint is so inexpensive and it changes everything. I have painted almost every room in my house, need a break!

Louise | UPrinting said...

Oh cool. I really love crafty women. I really find her tips useful. And I agree, nothing can transform a room like how a simple paint does it.
The transformation of her bathroom is amazing! It's like from old-school to elegant. So cool! :)

Eli's Lids said...

Pic and pluch of you on my post today. http://elislids.blogspot.com/2009/08/oc-bloggers-ball.html

Thrifty Decor Chick said...

I love you AnNicole!! You rock my world!!