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Tallahassee Painting Services

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Paint homes great colors on our website at RiverKingPainting.com

"Don't have an ugly house" Call RiverKing Painting

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3501 Martin Hurst Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32312

Trend Watch – Gray Walls

Trend Watch - Gray Walls

By Jaime Derringer Jul 28th 2009 11:00AM

Categories: Decorating, Color

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I was over on Apartment Therapy checking out Jon and Ro's fantastic Brooklyn walk-up. However, one of the rooms really caught my eye, the gray office.

Jon and Ro's beautiful office desk jumps out of the dark wall. Photo: Apartment Therapy

Gemma Ahern's entire apartment is painted dark gray, including floors, radiators, shelves and doors. Photo: Design*Sponge

So I thought, "Hmmm...that's interesting." But then I saw it again on Design*Sponge's sneak peek of Gemma Ahern's London-area apartment. Except Gemma's entire apartment was gray.

It seems there happens to be a mini-trend in paint: floor to ceiling dark gray walls. And I'm talking the moldings, too. And not just gray, deep dark charcoal gray. I would think that this is probably a risky decision, so I decided to ask an interior designer about this phenomenon to find out if gray is really go.

I spoke with Mollie Chalk of Pineapple House and asked her a few questions about these smoky interiors.

When should you consider painting a room in a dark shade of gray or any dark color?
Although painting a room a dark color is not typical, there are many reasons why you might consider it. It can add drama and visual interest to any space. Before you paint your walls a dark color, make sure that you have other elements of your design that help support and balance the impact.

I prefer using a dark color in a room that can handle the drama. There is no real reason why you would have to be restrictive of dark colors if you like them. The most important thing when planning a room with dark colored walls is to make sure you have plenty of natural light and a variety of textures to make it cohesive and inviting. The simplest way to get texture in a room is by utilizing fabric. Because of the diversity of textile fibers, as well as the advancement in weaving technology, fabrics can offer an endless variety of textural surfaces that absorb and reflect light in different ways.
When should you perhaps consider not going dark?

If the space is relatively small with low ceilings you should consider going in another direction. Often times, small dark rooms feel claustrophobic. No amount of artificial light and texture can help a dark room if it's too small. I would avoid common everyday areas. Lighting would be a big reason why. Most commonly used spaces need not only natural light, but also a lot of task and ambient lighting. Lighter colored walls work best when you need a lot of light.

Designer Mollie Chalk says the key to a dark room is light & texture. Photo: Pineapple House

When painting a room a very dark color, how do you suggest keeping it feeling light and open?
Having natural sunlight is ideal when painting with dark colors. Use different types of task lighting. Don't limit yourself to table lamps. Consider floor lamps, pendant lights, and/or sconces. When picking shades, go with something more translucent so that more light can be distributed. If you have recessed or track lighting, try to aim the light at a specific area or focal point. To keep the walls from drowning the space, add texture wherever possible. The more interesting surfaces you have in a dark room the better.

Another tip: Use mirrors. Mirrors are a great way to help open up a dark space by creating more refractory light and visual interest. Consider mirrored surfaces on furniture and of course wall mounted mirrors. For the real drama seekers, an accent-mirrored wall would be a wise choice not only for the appeal, but the amount of light it helps create in a dark space.

Mollie also offered two distinct design options when decorating around dark painted walls:

1) Work with that color and create a monochromatic palette - make sure to incorporate texture! You could even paint the ceiling the same color so that the room disappears. This creates an infinite backdrop for the wonderful things you use to personalize your space.

2) Use contrasting colors to make it stand out or "pop" against that dark wall. It's important when picking a contrasting color to a dark color that they have a similar hue and saturation.

One last tip: Make sure you plan the entire room before you get started. The most successful design occurs when all of the components were thought out as a whole

Tallahassee Home Improvements

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Matching Paint to Surfaces

Sherwin Williams

To ensure a quality paint job that will last, the paint you'll use depends on the type of surface you want to paint.

Walls - Because it's easy to work with, latex paint is an excellent choice for do-it-yourself projects. Latex paints can be applied over properly prepared wood, vinyl, aluminum and stucco.

Metal - Use either latex or oil/alkyd paint on properly primed iron or steel. You can apply latex directly on aluminum and galvanized metal. However, these metals need to be properly primed if you're using oil/alkyd-based paint.

Trim - Either latex or oil/alkyd paint is appropriate for trim. Gloss and high gloss finishes are generally your first choice, but flat or satin finishes are fine selections.

Masonry - H&C® Concrete Stains and Sealers and Loxon® Coatings are excellent for protecting and beautifying masonry and brickwork.

Sherwin Williams Interior Primers

Interior Primers

Premium Wall & Wood Primer

Premium Wall & Wood Primer

If you're looking for a top-of-the-line interior primer, you can't do better than this. Our Premium Wall & Wood Primer is the perfect choice for showcase rooms such as dining rooms, living rooms, or wherever you want the finest, most luxurious finish.

  • Assures professional results on wood trim, doors and walls - and provides the smoothest finish on decorative surfaces like crown molding and window and door casings
  • Allows the finish coat to develop a full and consistent sheen and offers exceptional ability to maintain topcoat gloss.
  • Ideal for use under ProClassic® and Cashmere® topcoats

Multi-Purpose Latex Primer

Multi-Purpose Latex Primer

A general-utility primer ideal for both interior and exterior applications. Its wide versatility and strong adhesion properties make it a universal favorite - plus it works without the solvent odors and high VOCs common with most stain-blocking primers.

  • Adheres tightly to glossy paint and paneling, and difficult surfaces like PVC piping, wall laminate and galvanized metal
  • Effectively blocks solvent-sensitive stains - such as tar, grease and ink
  • Achieves a consistent finish and dries quickly for recoats

Multi-Purpose Oil-Based Primer

Multi-Purpose Oil-Based Primer

Even though it's oil-based, this versatile sealer is low odor - making it a great choice for using in occupied areas. It's an exceptional whole-house primer that really does live up to its functional name.

  • Can be used on many interior surfaces - including wood, hardboard, cured plaster, paneling and ceiling tiles
  • Seals out odors and great at blocking stains - especially wood tannin stains and water-based stains

Drywall Primer

Drywall Primer

A dependable, economical primer you can count on to seal new drywall and previously painted walls - resulting in a uniform, consistent finish.

  • A great choice for basic priming at an affordable price
  • Well-suited for priming under flat topcoats
  • Performs on drywall, wood and plywood

Harmony® Wall Primer

Harmony® Wall Primer

Need an environmentally preferred primer for walls and trim?
Harmony is made with an exclusive zero-VOC, low-odor and formulated without silica.

  • Meets even the most stringent environmental standards - displaying our respected GreenSure® designation
  • The virtually odor-free formula makes it ideal for priming in occupied areas

Pre-Wallcovering Primer

Pre-Wallcovering Primer

This unique labor-saving primer makes wallcovering easier to install. Allows freshly pasted wallcovering to easily slide over the primed surface for precise placement.

  • Primes, seals and sizes in one coat
  • Promotes wallpaper adhesion and dries in two hours
  • Protects walls from damage during wallcovering removal

Adhesion Primer

Adhesion Primer

Got a hard, slick surface to paint? Our Adhesion Primer is the answer. It bonds tightly to interior and exterior surfaces typically considered "unpaintable" - like ceramic wall tile, round PVC piping, plastics, laminate, glass and fiberglass.

  • Solves tough adhesion challenges for varnished woodwork, kitchen cabinets and wood paneling - as well as previously painted surfaces
  • Dries quickly to a smooth, even finish
  • Accepts a wide range of topcoats - oil, latex, semigloss and gloss, even water-based epoxies

White Pigmented Shellac Primer

White Pigmented Shellac Primer

A favorite for fire restoration work, White Pigmented Shellac Primer blocks stubborn stains caused by fires, floods and pets - as well as imbedded cooking and cigar smoke odors. It's our highest performing primer for permanently sealing out the toughest stains and odors in one coat.

  • Provides excellent adhesion to virtually any interior surface - from previously painted surfaces, wood and paneling, to cured plaster and ceiling tiles
  • Can be used as a spot primer for exterior applications
  • Also effective for spot priming knots and severe tannin stains on bare wood

Loxon® Concrete & Masonry Primer

Loxon® Concrete & Masonry Primer

Loxon Concrete & Masonry Primer is perfect for sealing and conditioning above ground masonry surfaces. It tolerates the high pH common in new masonry and ensures a uniform look and long-lasting finish on both interior and exterior surfaces.

  • Seals and adheres to concrete, plaster, brick, stucco, fiber cement siding and EIFS exterior insulated siding
  • Masks pinholes and surface imperfections while preventing peeling caused by alkali salt damage
  • Saves the time and money typically lost while waiting for complete curing of concrete surfaces

PrepRite® ProBlock® Interior Stain Blocking Alkyd Primer / Sealer

PrepRite® ProBlock® Interior Stain Blocking Alkyd Primer / Sealer

  • Low-VOC formula
  • Blocks stains
  • Dries quickly and assures a uniform finish

SF-1 Aerosol Quick Drying Pigmented Primer / Sealer

SF-1 Aerosol Quick Drying Pigmented Primer / Sealer

  • Blocks tough stains and odors such as from fire, smoke and water damage
  • Prevents tannin bleed from knots and dark woods such as cedar and redwood
  • Sand or recoat in 45 minutes

All SurfaceTM Enamel Latex Primer

All Surface Enamel Latex Primer

  • Provides excellent adhesion for the topcoat
  • Controls rust and corrosion
  • Helps resist chipping
  • Interior and Exterior
  • For galvanized, aluminum, and steel furniture, cabinets, railings and more

All SurfaceTM Enamel Oil Base Primer

All Surface Enamel Oil Base Primer

  • Provides excellent adhesion for the topcoat
  • Controls rust and corrosion
  • Helps resist chipping
  • Interior and Exterior
  • For steel furniture, cabinets, railings, and more