by Kelly DuByne on May 1, 2012
5 Affordable Ways to Upgrade Your Bathroom
Do you want to make some changes to a bathroom in your home, but not do a tear it down to the studs? Here are some quick tips on how to make some relatively easy, inexpensive changes for a whole new look.
• Look for remnant pieces for flooring: Since a bathroom floor can be smaller in space, (especially if you’re doing a guest bathroom or powder room) most flooring stores sell remnant pieces-pieces that are left over from other projects. You can often get a deep discount here.
• Update your mirror: Re-use the mirror, but frame it out with wood or trim pieces for an updated look.
• Look for remnant pieces for your counter top: Think marble, quartz or granite is too expensive? Think again! You can get remnant pieces, like flooring, for much less expensive than buying the entire slab. 
• Use pre-made cabinets: Big box stores like Lowes, Home Depot and Ikea have affordable ready-made vanities, medicine cabinets, and towel racks.
• A new coat of paint: A gallon may be all you need! Color doesn’t cost anymore than white! So choose a fun color to tie in your flooring, cabinets and countertop. Be sure to use a higher sheen like satin, as there is more moisture in the bathroom.
Be sure to keep samples of all your color and product selections, and after all is said and done; pick up new towels, a shower curtain, rug and accessories.
by Kelly DuByne on April 6, 2012
As spring approaches, it seems everyone gets excited for exterior as well as interior painting projects. Adding color to your home can help to change the overall feel of the space. Here are some questions I ask when doing a color consult. The answers to these questions are a starting point of selecting the best colors for your interior.
1. How do you want to feel in the space?
2. Are you trying to recreate a feeling from a vacation? If so, what?
3. How do you plan to use the space?
4. If you’re entertaining in the space, how often and how many do you accommodate?
5. If I were to peek in your closet or china cabinet, what kind of colors and patterns would I see?
So I mull over these answers and consider them when choosing colors. For instance, if you were trying to recreate your trip to France, I would consider reds, golds, blacks and greens. If your closet is full of neutral colored clothes like blacks, brown and grays, I may consider sticking with a neutral or monochromatic color scheme. If you throw a lot of dinner parties, I might consider deep, saturated colors in hues of red or blue. Red is warm and welcoming, and blue can be stately and make you feel tended to. I also take into consideration your art and furnishings that are staying in the home.
So often, people don’t know where to start when it comes to color and they get completely overwhelmed. With consideration of the answers to these questions, you may know more than you think you do!
