Since we are all inside…Let’s talk about paint!
Here I sit, on this beautiful fall day, there’s no smoke, the air is crisp and it’s time to share some more design for Southern Oregon. For this article, I thought it would be great to give a bit of advice from the Pro’s.
For over 20 years I have shopped with Drakes Paint to select colors for my projects. Drakes uses Benjamin Moore, and the range of colors and nuance of the paint has been beautiful. No matter which brand or company you choose, quality of paint does make a huge difference in the outcome of your project.
I recently asked Dan a few questions, so here goes:
KM: Hi Dan, how long have you been in the paint biz?
DD: I have been in the paint business since 1992, and I grew up helping my dad paint during the summer because he was a house painter.
KM: What is your advice on choosing the best quality paint?
DD: For choosing the best paint usually we need to ask a few questions: 1st Are you painting exterior or interior? Then we need to find out what type of surface will be getting painted (for example, interior trim or exterior door will be painted with a different product than interior walls or exterior siding typically.) Next, we will try to find out if the customer is wanting to get a paint that will just get them through a short period of time because it’s just going on some siding that is being replaced, and if this is the case, than we will recommend something a little different and less expensive that still covers well. If our customer is doing a lot of painting and needing it to last as long as possible, then we will recommend Aura or Regal, due to its ease of application, and it will last the longest. A customer who will be living in their house for many years will always spend less money over the life of the paint job with a higher quality more expensive paint than if they buy something inexpensive. Likewise, a customer who is painting a color over a color that is difficult to hide (red, for example), buying the best will always be less expensive and take less time. If you can paint it in one coat instead of two coats, you have used one half of the paint you would have for two, and the savings in time is worth even more in my opinion! Typically, the higher quality products are more eco-friendly as well.
KM: What are the typical mistakes homeowners make when choosing paint?
DD: I would say the biggest mistakes homeowners make when choosing paint is trying to save money by paying less per gallon. Most of the time it ends up more expensive to spend less per gallon than buying better paint, and again, the saving of time is invaluable.
KM: What, if any, are the most popular paint colors sold at Drakes?
DD: The most popular color in the industry is HC-172 Revere Pewter. Revere Pewter is a neutral color that works well with a very wide variety of different colors. Our most popular color collection is the historical collection of colors, and in my almost 30 years, the Historical collection has always been most popular of the collections.
KM: Good to know right? Paint is an easy to change item in your home, but when choosing colors for a new build or remodel, it can be very daunting. Hiring a designer for a color consultation is always worth the money if picking color is not your forte’. Another great resource is the internet. Google “best warm grey” for example and you can see fantastic images of rooms in particular paints. Consider your trim and floor colors too when selecting, as well as the texture of your walls. Matte finish is always my favorite for walls, and depending on the impact, the trim can be anywhere from matte to high gloss. It’s all a matter of choice.
And lastly, we just finished a beautiful bathroom remodel and guess what color the cabinets are? Revere Pewter! I had no idea it was the number one, but I have always loved the color. Check our Instagram (#terrafirmahome) for the before and after to see this gorgeous color!
Cheers, Krissy