Have you not too long ago made the decision that you wants to have your bathroom remodeled?  If so, have you already started generating the changes? As much as some homeowners wants to have their bathrooms remodeled, not all do so.  One of the factors for that is the price. Regrettably, bathroom upgrading can get quite expensive.  Alternatively, despite the fact that it may perhaps appear as should you cannot pay for to have your bathroom remodeled, you will still be capable to.  You will discover a number of different ways that you can go about paying for your bathroom upgrading.

One of the most popular methods that bathroom redecorating is paid for is by funding.  If you are a homeowner, your property could also advantage from a minor bit of upgrading. This advantage is definitely an increase in worth. Since quite a few homes see an enhance in benefit, right after a bathroom remodel undertaking may be completed, several monetary institutions really feel comfortable giving out loans to qualifying homeowners.  If you are seeking to have your bathroom remodeled, and you don’t have the cash to do so, you could want to strategy one of one’s neighborhood banks for a loan. These financial loans are generally referred to as household improvement lending options. Based on your credit score rating, you should effortlessly be capable to pay for a bathroom redecorating challenge with a loan.

As previously mentioned, most monetary institutions only had out loans to nicely qualifying people.  A nicely qualified person is usually someone is has a spotless credit history or a minimum of a decent one.  If you are searching to have your bathroom remodeled, but you are unable to obtain funding, you don’t necessarily have to give up your remodel dreams.  An more way that you could pay for your redecorating is by only getting it one step at a time. Although you could possibly have hoped to remodel your entire bathroom, you could only want to focus on one component of it with a time.  For instance, you can start with replacing your bathroom floor, and then get a new bathtub and probably even a new sink soon after that.  Talking little measures is one of the best methods to afford a bathroom remodeling challenge, specifically if you are unable to obtain financing.

An extra way that you could afford to have your bathroom remodeled is if you place the repairs on your credit ratings rating card. The only problem with accomplishing will be the high fees that you could be charged; alternatively, credit cards are fantastic options to household enhancement lending options.  In fact, if you are transporting out your own bathroom redecorating, instead of hiring the support of the professional, it could possibly be simpler to suit your needs charge your remodel expenses. That is since all you’ll really have to have to pay for could be the supplies, materials, and tools required.  Based on the fees linked with your credit score card, as properly as the overall price of one’s bathroom redesigning project, you will also want to take your upgrading in little strides.  Undertaking only one remodeling venture with a time is a excellent way to lessen the volume of money you are forced to repay right away.

As you can see, there are a number of different means that you can go about affording to have your bathroom remodeled.  Prior to generating any decisions that may be set in stone, it may be a very good thought to sit back and totally examine the benefits and disadvantages of one’s alternatives.  Doing so may support to avoid you from having to pay more money for your kitchen remodeling challenge than you have to have to.

Regardless of how you design your bathroom or for no matter basis, you must make sure every thing you do is in compliance with state and local laws. The way to do this can be to go down to your nearby town hall or county workplace and go to the construction data office, oftentimes referred to as the permit office. There it can be achievable to talk to a permit official and file for a building permit. The filing of the building permit is a form of public record, so quickly right after the building permit is filed you may no doubt be contacted by various contractors who will offer you assistance with you job. These contractors use your permit filing as a construction lead. It is crucial to listen to the promotions offered to you at this time, as there may be essentials of the redesign that you have overlooked that these firms can certainly assist you with. In the same manner, many other home enhancement corporations use construction leads to help owners upgrade their homes – regularly the deals you get are for items you may no doubt need prior to and after you begin your upgrade.

Have you been tired of entering your bathing room each and every single day, only to be disappointed with what you see? If so, you will want to consider having your bathroom remodeled.  A bathroom remodeling task is the perfect way to not only spice up your bathroom, but additionally to increase the general appearance of your house. As nice as it really is to have your bathing room remodeled, you can have to have to consider of your remodeling strategy.  Basically, you can will need to choose what you’d like changed and what you’ll like to stay exactly the same, if anything. The problem that quite a few homeowners face is that it isn’t always as uncomplicated to develop a redecorating strategy as originally believed.

Should you know that you would like to have your bathroom remodeled, but you aren’t exactly sure how you’d probably like it to be remodeled, you might want to think about getting tips from other people.  Needless to say, your first impulse might be to acquire the services of a expert decorator, you don’t necessarily have to. As nice as it’s to have the opinion and ideas of the expert decorator, you may come across that their tips do not constantly come cheap.  If you want to employ a decorator, go perfect ahead, you have every single proper to. On the other hand, if you are hunting to remodel your bathroom on spending budget, you might want to get suggestions from somewhere else.  If that sounds great to you, you might want to see what the world-wide-web can do for you personally.

One of the causes why the world-wide-web is nice is simply because it is quick, convenient, and reasonably easy to use. Furthermore to being fast and quick, the world-wide-web can also be complete of useful information; actually it’s really overflowing with it. With a standard world-wide-web search you could potentially very easily be able to locate info on whatever you are hunting for, including bathroom improvement concepts.  Which is why you are, at least, urged to give the internet a try.  You’ll have nothing to lose by searching for bathroom redecorating suggestions online. This is certainly mostly because you have to easily be capable to find cost-free guidelines, instructions, and ideas on-line. Using the net to find out about newest developments in bathroom redecorating can be a nice, cost-free choice to utilizing the services of your professional decorator.

If you are interested in employing the net to aid offer you bathroom redesigning ideas, it can be finest to perform a normal internet search. If you are looking for common bathroom redesigning tips, it could be a great concept to perform a generalized search.  To get a fairly huge amount of results, you could want to search employing the phrase bathroom improvement ideas.  If you are searching for ideas on a particular bathing room redecorating task, such as replacement cabinets, you will want to try searching while using phrase bathroom cabinets or bathroom cabinet concepts. Your search, whichever one you use, will likely return a relatively big quantity of results.  

The outcomes that you may well find online are an additional cause why you really should make use of the web to get bathing room remodeling tips.  Your net search will likely lead to on the internet sites that discuss bathroom remodeling projects. Additionally to on the web internet websites with redesigning info, you could also be directed to the on-line website of the house improvement store.  Although you will not get detailed facts on the hottest developments in bathroom redecorating, you may get to see what’s obtainable for sale. Actually, there is a good possibility that you may well discover what you are searching for for perfect away; whether or not or not what you had been searching for turns out to be a hot trend.  

Irrespective of what you make use of the world-wide-web for, whether or not it be to get bathing room upgrading concepts, browse for bathing room fixtures and remodeling supplies, or to purchase individuals resources, you should give the internet a opportunity. As previously mentioned the internet is filled with important info; information that may well assist make your next bathroom redesigning project a success.

Regardless of how you home improvement your bathroom or for what ever intention, you must make sure every thing you do is in compliance with state and local laws. The way to do that is to go down to your local town hall or county office and go to the construction data office, occasionally called the permit office. There you are capable to talk to a permit official and file for a building permit. The filing of the building permit is a type of public record, so soon right after the building permit is filed you’ll no doubt be contacted by many trades-people who will offer you assistance with you activity. These workers use your permit filing as a construction lead. It’s essential to listen to the deals displayed to you at that point, as there may be elements of the rework that you have overlooked that these corporations can easily aid you with. Similarly, quite a few other house improvement firms use construction leads to assist owners redesign their houses – regularly the offers you get are for products you may without doubt need prior to and after you begin your remodel.

In order for you your bedroom to exude beauty and style, one fantastic decision you could make is usually to use a bed made from oak in your own bedroom. Several aristocratic and also rich young families embellish their particular master bedrooms utilizing oak fixtures given it simply leaves a long lasting impression to any person who views and also makes use of the area. This implies a rich life-style and hospitality too . Bedroom accessories which tend to be crafted from solid oak gives a lovely and chic scene to your master bedroom. You could pick from as much kinds out there just like classic, conventional, Victorian, modern day, rustic, and also periodic design and style. Oak wood bedroom furniture almost never gets discolored and it’s also also water-resistant.The reason is , companies typically apply well-seasoned oak wood turning it into the low maintenance type . Also, with its reddish along with brown shades, they create very eye-catching bedroom furniture . You may choose to have all your own bedroom furniture manufactured from oak: bed furniture, storage room, shelves, display cases,dressing tables, side tables, chairs, armoires, boxes, dressers, and evening stands. Dependent on exactly what you may need, these oak bedroom furniture may serve as a wise investment in your residence. They can look rough, but they are tasteful and weather-proof pieces designed to last many generations. They can serve as a item of treasure in your household which you can offer to your children and grandchildren. Upkeep isn’t very difficult as oak can be effortlessly wiped clean and also polished. Just dust the piece of furniture everyday with a dry cotton towel and also polish it every few months . Don’t utilize silicone oils together with ammonia-based washing agents whenever washing. As a substitute, try a non-wax gloss or a mild washing liquid. However, if expense is a little bit of a dilemma, household furniture made of oak are probably not the ideal item to order at this time. The high quality they keep carries a high price tag, however it’s a price that is definitely very much worth every penny due to the endurance and also classic style and design.

Through the use of low-cost glass tile you can easily achieve a glimpse that is each timeless and classic. Installation is swift and easy if you possess simply the suitable overall amount of know-how and the outcomes can be nicely really worth it if carried out properly. These tiles can be appreciated all through your household although they are most frequently located as kitchen backsplashes or as tiles in the bathroom. Even so you can still discover them in areas or surfaces similar to the pool, shower, table, wall, art or even fireplace.

There are countless suggestions once it comes to glass tiles in the rest room. With this distinct part of the dwelling experiencing a change in standpoint from being simply a useful area and turning into a room that calls for aesthetic appeal. There are a wide variety of employs that go past just the rest room floor. You can intermix them with tiles produced from other supplies such as natural natural stone, and you can even perform approximately with the designs even though targeting within a selected motif. You can use recycled mirrors that has a greenish tinge and wrap them them with white colored ceramics to accent a jungle motif or you can combine glass tiles with steel tiles collectively and perform nearly with an industrial glance. In all instances your inventiveness should often be the only limiting factor so prolonged as you can find the money for it. And frosted glass floor tile isn’t that high-priced at all.

Glass tiles are additionally discovered in places beyond the rest room. Cooking area backsplashes are typically applied as a regular 4-inch large protection from dampness and grease. While beforehand only becoming acknowledged for their functionality and not often their beauty, they can now turn into the layout key attraction of your household kitchen area. Products that you would commonly locate in backsplashes are concrete, normal jewel, metals, mosaics, goblet and ceramics. Nevertheless with translucent glass you can attain a timeless look for your cooking area, all at a cost that will most likely be a portion of what you would commonly expect.

When working with tiles of any size, shape or materials there is often a tendency to remain to conventional styles and types. However with the wide variety of available hues and styles that glass tile happens in, it is impossible not to be capable to play around with layout suggestions once laying them out in your home. Iridescent floor tile on your shower tiles can create a shimmering impact if you have overhead lighting that can recreate that water slide look. You can also stay with impartial tones when employing them in your dwelling to develop a more timeless glance that can last for years.

There are a few essential things to keep in mind just before determining to buy and set up glass mosaic tiles. They can be cheap compared to other flooring or walls supplies, even so porcelain tiles are even now cheaper. Make sure that your choice stays inside of your budget. There are additionally specific kinds of mortar or grout that do not stick adequately to that distinct material so it’s constantly best to seek the advice of with a sales consultant at your nearby household improvement retailer for tips on which form or model brings together nicely with this variety of tile

When most people think about painting, they tend to focus on trendy color combinations, accents, and other aesthetic considerations. While it can be exciting to think about trying out a dramatic color to make your home stand out from the landscape or finding a shade that will make your rooms appear larger, painting offers numerous additional advantages that could help property owners save money, prevent serious damages, and prepare for the future. Whether you’re interested in Sunburst Orange or are looking for traditional white walls, painting is one handyman service that will bring immediate and evident improvements to your property’s interior and exterior at the fraction of the cost of a full-scale remodeling project!

Outside appeal

No one wants their home to be known as the neighborhood eyesore, but that’s exactly what can happen when a home is marred with stains and other unsightly consequences of a worn-out paint job. Your reputation in the neighborhood can have a major effect on your daily life as an individual, but if you own a business, there is even more at stake. No matter how good your service or merchandise may be, many customers could be turned off by a building that appears to be unkempt. Of all of common handyman services, painting is among the simplest and most apparent upgrades. Create a welcoming atmosphere and show your customers the utmost professionalism by keeping up with your painting needs.

Increased property value

When your paint begins to peel, crack, or otherwise show signs of age and wear, it is important to seek a fresh coat in order to help preserve your property’s value. That’s right–something as seemingly small as a layer of paint on your interior and exterior walls can have a large effect on your home’s overall resale value and its appeal to potential buyers. Invest in your home by keeping your colors bright, stylish, and beautiful.

Building protection

Painting can prevent the need for more serious and costly repairs, as this task protects against visual and structural threats such as wood rot, insect infestation, standing water, wear and tear due to inclement weather, and more. By making sure your exterior wood trim, doors, windows, and other areas receive a fresh coat of paint every now and then, you can preserve these features for a long time to come!

If you’ve noticed exposed wood, flaking paint, or any other deterioration in your building’s paint job, it is important to take quick action to prevent further damage and to take full advantage of the benefits listed above. When you decide that it’s time to paint your home or business, it is important to do your research, as no two painting projects are ever identical. Before selecting the type of paint you want to use, consider your overall goals, as well as your area’s climate, the type of surface you will be painting, and more. All of these factors will have an effect on how long the coat lasts and how effective it will be serving its intended purpose. For example, a paint job completed with low-VOC paint may be best for a customer who is interested in preserving their interior air quality, while a customer who is painting their porch may benefit more from a paint that is especially effective at resisting weather-related moisture and UV damage. For outdoor projects, it may also be a good idea to consider professional pressure washing services prior to painting to ensure an even, long-lasting coat. And if you’re not feeling up to tackling your painting project yourself, your local handyman service should be able to help. A well-executed, properly planned paint job could last for years, so before that brush gets dipped into a gallon of your favorite shade, stop to consider your goals and prepare accordingly.

Proper planning can help ensure that your vision becomes a reality and that your home’s new coat of paint does a lot more than just look pretty. Maria Allen is a home improvement enthusiast and an Internet marketer for Prospect Genius, specializing in affordable online marketing for local businesses.

We all know the importance of looking after our home and of making sure that we get painters and decorators in to ensure that everything looks spic and span. First and foremost this allows us to enjoy our home more, and to relax in a place that looks the part and that feels modern and clean. At the same time though it will also help to improve health and hygiene by removing or covering up the smoke and moisture that your walls gather over time, and it will help to improve the value of your home when you come to sell.

However when many people forget when hiring painters and decorators is to get exterior painters to paint the outside walls and this is actually just as important in order to keep your home at its best. The first thing to think about when getting exterior painters is the simple fact that this is the very largest surface area in your home. If you do not have exterior painters to paint the outside of your home then you are leaving a huge amount of space looking dirty and flaky which will make a large impact on the appearance of your home – a larger impact in fact that having a better carpet or a better interior paint in a couple of rooms.

This is also the part of your home that people see first and thus it creates the largest first impression. As people approach your house they will see the work of the exterior painters and they will immediately judge your home as somewhere nicely decorated and looked after, or as somewhere that has been allowed to fall to pieces and go to waste. You know that first impressions are highly important, and it makes sense then that how your home looks on the outside will set the ‘tone’ for when guests and potential buyers come to look around the interior. If they are expecting it to be shabby and ugly inside, then they will be looking at the rooms and seeing them as worse than they are.

This also means it’s very important to discuss with painters what colour you want for your home. If you decide to change colours then this can make a huge impact on the look and feel of your property and make it really stand out on the road. However you might decide that you don’t want your property to be too bold and unusual as this can sometimes look garish. Consider also which colours are likely to wear the best and the least likely to show up dirt and mess.

Which brings us nicely to the next point – that the exterior painters will be needed more regularly than interior painters making their job even more crucial. This is simply due to the fact that the outside walls are subject to far more weathering and harsher conditions. They are likely to have to deal with bird faeces, rain, hail, snow and scorching heat and all of these will damage the paint over time meaning that it looks much worse after a few years than your inside walls.

If you need painters Birmingham then follow the links. Make sure you get your decorators to pay attention to the exterior of your home too for the best looking property. Follow the links for more information.

One Step Paint and Primer

The new all in one primers and paints are advertised to cover in one coat, but do they really? While the new formulas are definitely far superior to the ones that we are accustomed to (you know – the paints that take anywhere from 2-4 coats to cover), they don’t always cover as advertised. But there are several ways to increase your chances of a successful paint job that will cover in one coat.

Be prepared before you get started:

Here are some ideas.

1. Purchase all of your supplies first. The convenience of ordering online has never been easier. Paint (about 1 gallon for each 300 square feet of wall and ceiling space), 5 gallon plastic bucket, 6 foot fiberglass ladder (very light), brushes, roller frame and covers, pans and liners, blue painter’s tape and masking paper, drop cloths, putty knife, spackle and caulking, cleanser and sponge can all be found at your local hardware store.
   
2. Move everything to the center of the room. Less interference means a smoother application.
   
3. Cover all flooring and furniture with heavy duty drop cloths. They may seem expensive at first but they will last forever and you will be ready for the next job.
   
4. Clean all surfaces to be painted with a mild cleanser. There are several brands available at your local hardware store.
   
5. Remove all plug and switch plates and tape off the plugs and switches.
   
6. Remove all wall hangings. If you intend to re-hang in the exact same place, leave the hooks, nails and hangers in place. This way you won’t have to guess where they were. It will also save you a lot of extra time not having to re-level.
   
7. Spackle all dents and holes as needed. Always keep your patch as small as possible to avoid the need to sand or re-texture the patched areas. You can do this by first applying the spackle to cover the defect and then wiping the excess around the patch with your thumb or finger.
   
8. Next, if you purchased your paint in 1 gallon cans, you must batch it to insure that all of your paint will match no matter when you decide to use it. This is very important for any touch up that you might want to do at a later date. To do this just pour each gallon together into the 5 gallon bucket and stir well. Then pour the 5 gallons back into each 1 gallon can.
   
9. Place a couple lengths of blue tape (about 12″ long, side by side on the door of the room you are painting). Now double the tape back over itself so that the sticky side is exposed and roll your new roller cover over the tape to remove any fuzz that may be loose. Again, a real time saver. Now you don’t have to constantly keep picking out little hairs that get stuck in the paint. Just leave it on the door in case you need it again.

In our next post we will have a few tips on applying the paint.

See our blog for weekly tips:
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http://www.mikekellyconstruction.ws

Do you often feel that something is lacking when you walk into your home? Sometimes things just look dull, flat, and even a little boring. It’s not uncommon for people to make the mistake of decorating their homes in bland, monotonous colors such as white, beige, and brown. If you want your room to have personality and interest, you’re going to need to add some color! Whether you choose to add little splashes here and there or big bold accents, color can really change the way you look at your home.

You want your home to have some personality. You want the look to be vibrant enough to attract the eye. Colors that are lifeless, like beige and white, do little to spark any interest. This doesn’t mean you need to use colors like bright red and passionate purple. However, a few great colors can really liven up the place. If you’re looking to transform your home from drab to dramatic, here are a few tips to get you started.

Transform the Walls
If you’re working within a budget, painting your walls is one of the biggest transformations you can make. However, before you start, you need to consider the colors you’re going to use in your furnishings and accents. All your colors should either complement or contrast one another. Consider bright greens, peaches, yellows, and blues if you love springtime hues. Nothing adds cheeriness to a room like a botanical print hanging on a spring green wall.

No matter what colors you choose, try painting only one or two walls, leaving the rest white. What this does is add depth and dimension to the room. The baseboards can either be painted a much deeper shade of the same color or a contrasting color.

Floors Are for More Than Just Walking!
When looking at the complete picture, people often neglect to include their floors. Whatever flooring you have—whether it’s wood floors, tile or carpet—can be dressed up. When topped with brightly colored accent rugs in strategic areas, wood or tile floors can really be livened up. Find patterns that reflect the rest of your décor. Go with whatever suits your decorating style, whether it’s florals, plaids, abstracts, or geometrics. You can use area rugs even if you only have carpeting. A rug would look great placed in front of the couch or in the center of a furniture grouping where you often entertain.

What About Furnishings?
This is where the fun really begins. People often believe that patterns shouldn’t be mixed and matched. But if you have a floral sofa containing bright hues of green, yellow, and blue, don’t be afraid to add striped and plaid throw pillows containing those same colors. The resulting look will be stunning and will simply amaze you. You can also get a big bold splash of colors with some throws or tapestries. For solid-colored furnishings, use large throw pillow with loud patterns, brightly colored throws, or even a colorful quilt thrown over the back of the sofa.

When you want to liven up a dull look, the key is color and pattern. Just use your imagination and incorporate the colors you love. All you need is some paint, a few area rugs, throw pillows, tapestries, and other accents.

With color, you can infuse your home with energy and personality without spending a whole lot of money. For very little cost, you can completely transform the look and atmosphere of a room. Ultimately, big splashes of color offer lots of bang for your buck. With a little daring, you will never walk into a boring room in your home again.

About the Writer…
Leon Tuberman has been in the home furnishings and interior design industry for 4 decades. He is the owner and operator of popular furniture store in California. They have a huge inventory of handcrafted Amish built solid wood furniture for your bedroom, dining room and living room. Whether you’re looking for a tv stand for your living room or a mission style bookcase for your media room then they carry everything you need.

Look up. What do you see? If you’re at home, you’re looking at your ceilings. Ever wonder why they’re most often painted white? Do your ceilings appear too high in some areas or too low in other areas; making it difficult for you to make decorating decisions? The answer to these questions could be as simple as a can of paint. Painting ceilings is something we’ll gradually be seeing a lot more of because it’s a great way to solve common decorating problems.

That’s Right! Painting ceilings an actual color can resolve decorating problems and complete the look and feel of a room tremendously. As you can see in this luxurious bedroom, the ceiling paint color matches closely with the wall paint color making the room appear totally “tied together.” Almost as if the room itself is the actual comforter you’re securely snuggled under.

A few tips to consider when choosing a ceiling paint color:

• Choose a color one shade lighter than the walls for the appearance of higher ceilings and more space.
  
• Choose a color one shade darker than the walls for the appearance of lower ceilings and more coziness.
  
• Choose a complementary color and paint the walls and ceilings in a completely different color for a more evocative or inspirational atmosphere.

Painting ceilings will allow you to magically transform rooms and resolve decorating dilemmas; making a room with very high ceilings appear warm and cozy by painting ceilings a darker color or making smaller rooms appear larger by painting ceilings a lighter color.

Ceilings can also be painted a completely different color than the walls. For example, bright pink walls with a sky blue ceiling can provide a dreamy effect in a kid or teenage bedroom. On the contrary, an adult room can feel encapsulated with the walls and ceilings in varying shades of the same color.

Your ceilings are a part of the room that should not be neglected. Just because the builder took the easy way out, followed tradition and sprayed the popcorn, star burst or laid the dry wall in white, doesn’t mean you have to live with it. Ceilings need love, too. Show them some love by making them a part of the rest of the room!

Play around with color at this online RESOURCES PAGE. Follow the link to Virtual Color tools and see for yourself!

Tia Woodley is a Certified Color Consultant who uses color to transform lives. She is also co-Owner of Spectacular Painting & Contracting Services, LLC. Please visit Tia’s Web site, for interior and exterior services for your house painting and commercial painting needs. For affordable painting and FREE color consultating in Atlanta, GA to compliment your home call (678) 565-0177.

When I start to create a decorative piece of hand painted furniture, the first question I ask myself is am I going to stain it or paint it? If I’m starting with a piece of new unfinished furniture that has a beautiful wood grain, staining is an excellent option. Staining wood allows the grain to show through and provides additional color and protection for the wood. In order to create a very decorative, colorful, unique piece of hand painted furniture, I may choose to paint the furniture instead of staining it.

In either case, the first and probably most important step is to prepare the wood to take the finish. Whether you are painting or staining the wood, you will want to sand the furniture until the surface is smooth and ready to accept the paint or stain. Always sand in the direction of the grain. I like to use a 220-grit sanding sponge on unfinished wood and follow that up with 320 and finally, a micro sanding grit that really makes the wood satiny smooth to the touch. Once the sanding is finished, you need to vacuum up the sanding dust with a clean brush attachment and then wipe with a lint free soft cloth or brush the surface with a soft brush to eliminate any debris without damaging the wood pores. I don’t recommend using a tack rag because even though it may collect all of the sanding dust, it can interfere with some water based stains or finishes. As long as you’re using an oil based stain, you can use a tack rag if you do it gently so that you don’t damage the wood pores. Now you are ready to either paint or stain.

When you paint a piece of furniture, you will first apply a good wood primer. Valspar makes an excellent wood primer for furniture (Valspar Enamel Undercoater). It dries quickly and sands easily. Did you think you were finished sanding? Not if you want a good finish. After the primer dries, you will notice some rough spots in the wood that the primer has raised. You will want to use a very fine grit to sand these spots smooth. I prefer micro sanding sponges for this step. When all the rough spots have been sanded away, you are now ready to paint. I suggest a good latex paint that takes about 2-4 hours to dry. Most colors require at least two coats of paint on top of the primer to achieve the color you are expecting.

If you are staining the furniture, select a stain that will enhance the grain of the wood. I like to use an oil-based gel stain. It goes on easily with a chip brush or lint free rag, and then you wipe it off gently with a soft lint free cloth so that the wood doesn’t appear wet but only colored. Unlike paint, oil based stain takes much longer to dry, and if you want a darker stain, you need to wait about 24 hours before applying another coat. For many stains, one coat is sufficient.

The last step to achieving beautiful results is to finish the piece with a satin, a semi-gloss or gloss polyurethane. If you used oil-based stain, you should use an oil-based polyurethane. I use a gel poly over the oil-based gel stain and I usually apply three coats. If you have painted the piece of furniture, you still need to finish it with a poly for lasting protection and years of use. The difference is, you must wait about three weeks to let the paint cure before applying the poly. My favorite topcoat for paint is called Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish. Polycrylic is a waterbased topcoat that results in a beautiful finish that will not yellow or change the color you have painted the wood.

Finally, the secret to a really beautiful finish, whether you choose satin, semi-gloss or gloss is to gently sand away any rough spots with a micro sanding sponge between each coat of poly. The results will be beautiful!

As a small business owner and crafter, Marilyn Mocker is accomplished in the art of wood finishing and has developed a distinctive style in both staining and painting furniture. She has produced colorful designs, utilizing faux painting as well as traditional staining on the pieces she creates. She considers each piece of furniture a blank canvas and when finished, it is one of a kind, a colorful, functional piece of art. Marilyn creates small colorful and often whimsical stools, table and chair sets and hand painted rocking chairs for children. The pieces she creates are shown and sold at craft shows in Pennsylvania and online at http://www.anglerandsillysalmon.com/index.php?p=page&page_id=Hand-Painted-Furniture.