Remodeling in the Ancient World

While touring Ephesus, I was struck by the beauty of the frescoes and the incredible embellishments these ancient people put into their homes.  These paintings are so expressive, colorful and festive.  What is fascinating is that in some areas, chipping paint reveals other frescoes underneath the outer paintings. We know that even primitive man would carve and paint drawings on to cave walls, perhaps as decoration, perhaps as a way of recording history (or both).  It is interesting to think about people thousands of years ago and how similar they are to modern man.  Even then, the fashion in home decor changed and the people who could afford to remodel changed their homes according to the latest design trends.

In my blog tomorrow, I will discuss the newest trends in colors according to Pantone.  From the photos below, we can see that the colors and trends of the time included beautiful reds, greens, golds and browns with hints of bright blue.

Everything Old is New Again, Our New Monday Blog!

On a recent cruise to Italy, Greece and Turkey, I was struck by not only the unbelievable beauty of the Mediterranean scenery and incredible architecture, but also by just how much we have taken from the innovations of the people who lived there thousands of years ago.

Renovation Guide 2010 - From Elle Decor

This renovation guide from Elle Decor features some great products for home remodeling - these items will be sure to inspire you for your next renovation project. Here are some of our favorites from Deb Reinhart Interior Design Group.

Dry-Erase Whiteboard Paint!

Working with a young family on a remodel of their home, I was aware the children often were tired after lengthy team conversations in this construction zone. I brought water based erasable magic markers and suggested they create an ‘archeological dig” in their closets.  They could messages on the unfinished dry wall in their closets and 100 years from now others can find out who live there. Before I knew it they had drawn a horizontal line on the perimeter of the entire home - every wall, every room. Luckily this was not an issue no walls had been painted, but for those creative children here is a new product. The award winning new product IdeaPaint, dry erase paint (surpasses chalk board paint, in my opinion - no chalk dust!) Beyond Children’s Rooms this idea can be applied in home offices, workspaces, hobby rooms, mud rooms, kitchen information areas or children’s rooms. This dry erase paint can be applied to walls or furniture.

The details for the dry erase paint are below.  If anyone has used this product or does purchase this, we would love to hear about the creative applications.

In the event you prefer water based erasable magic markers-we would be happy to send a fresh set to you!

Interior design is FUN!

From a Design Obstacle to a Design Element!

IdeaPaint is a dry-erase whiteboard paint that can be applied almost anywhere to create interactive, collaborative spaces. Paint entire conference rooms from floor to ceiling. Transform curved or angled walls into cool, useful work areas. Or turn tables, desks and cubicles into mini whiteboards.

IdeaPaint is incredibly cost effective versus traditional whiteboards and outperforms the leading dry-erase options. It’s also the most environmentally responsible commercial dry erase surface on the market.

IdeaPaint is available in two products that are ideal for work environments. IdeaPaint PRO, a solvent-based urethane coating and IdeaPaint CRE-8, a water-borne paint.

BUY IdeaPaint Online!

You need more reasons?

- Best of NeoCon & Metropolitan Home Design 100 - Interior Design Magazine’s Green Star Award - Erases effortlessly - No cracking, peeling, staining or yellowing - Warranty-guaranteed

Color!

Color can be your best friend. Or not. Benjamin Moore is teaming with Dwell magazine in a truly effective demonstration FOR HOW color influences a room. The vignatettes are so fun; the editors of Dwell showcased the same rooms with completely different colors. Pink walls instead of olive green? Charcoal instead of white? How about placing royal blue with sunshine yellow?

http://www.dwellstudio.com/benjamin-moore?utm_medium=email&utm_source=emailprtnr&utm_content=bmpaint&utm_campaign=bmpaint071510

Technology can assist a personal decision for color of walls check out this link for Sherman Williams. You can upload your own room photo and apply paint colors virtually.    http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/paint_colors/visualizer/

Although tools like this are helpful, there is no substitute for placing color in your space in different light (cloudy, sunny-day and night) will all influence what your eye will see.

We recommend creating samples on 2 opposing walls in your space and then live with it for a few days. Keep the formula on the paint can and number it on the wall.View the wall samples at different times of the day

At Deb Reinhart Interior Design Group, our designers will interview clients to find what their color comfort is in various rooms. After personal comfort light is key.

We show for example 2 bedrooms: soft blue worked in 1 space, while vivid orange transformed another bedroom. The orange can cocoon a room for one person yet shout or disturb another.

We invite you to share your paint stories, questions or comments.