Builders Care Beauty

Builders Care did it again!   I was very impressed with the work of the landscape company, Renfro Jackson, who provided the mature plantings and labor to install them all around the house.  The owner chose the door color, and I chose three colors to compliment the door and home color on the stone.  She was thrilled with the results!  

Exterior facades

Last week at the Builders Care extreme home makeover I volunteered to help improve the exterior facade on the home.  On Friday stucco was being applied, but the lower three feet of the front of the house were covered with concrete molded to look like large stones.  This surface had been painted turquoise.  On Wednesday I will use the new color of the house and trim, plus two additional colors, to create a realistic look to the existing stone facade - an easy and effective faux fix!  I am excited to be able to use my passion for painting to help out!

Time for Fun!

I'm going to spend a wonderful weekend away not worrying about work, chores, or cooking!  I saw this quote and it made me laugh, so I want to share it with you.

"Some days its just not worth chewing through the restraints."

Have a great weekend!  Laugh freely!

Yippee!

Next Wednesday I get to put my faux finishing touches on the Builders Care home!  On the lower 3 feet of the exterior of the home there is a stone facade which is currently painted a bright, Florida color.  I get to make it look like stone!  Yippee!  I'll be sure to take a before and after photo and post them next week.  

Builders Care volunteering

Tomorrow I'm going to lend a hand with the latest Builders Care project, a total renovation.  I'll only be helping to set up for lunch for the guys, but it's a great feeling to lend a hand to someone in need in a small way.  I'd love to say that I am painting, but the contractors they use have bigger paint contractors who go in and spray on this type of project.  Someday.....

The last time I helped I met the sweetest older woman as I was trying to help her go through years of stored items in order to choose what to keep and what to let go.  Another time I cleaned, another I moved stuff out to a storage unit.  They often just need muscle, and I can lend mine.  :)

Check them out at www.LeeBuildersCare.org.  

How hiring someone else saves you money

Okay,  okay, I know this sounds like a sell.  And I guess in some ways it is.  But how many times have you tried to do something yourself and were disappointed in the results?  or found that it simply was too tricky? or took too long? or the directions you found on-line didn't tell you how to approach that corner or work around that plumbing?  

Then you understand the saying, "Time is money."  We are all busy people, with more than enough to do on any given day.  We don't like to waste our time.  Hiring a faux finisher can get you the results you want without wasting your time.  Not only that, a good business person will explore different finishes and looks with you if you are having trouble making a decision, work with existing fabrics, colors, and art work in your home, and customize a sample board for you if you desire.  

Perhaps you think it will cost too much to get the finish you desire.  When you are holding your initial meeting with a faux finisher, be sure to let them know your budget.    They will show you finishes that are more likely to fit into your budget; even that keeps from wasting time, both yours and theirs.  If the finish you really want is a bit too costly, maybe they can devise ways to enlist your help, such as base coating, which saves them a step and could reduce the cost a bit. Or maybe they can work with your current base coat.  Perhaps just painting an accent wall would make enough of a change, and would be a more budget-wise option.  It doesn't hurt to ask.  

Another huge money saver is having your wood cabinets refinished instead of replaced. Although this is a multi-step job which requires an extended time period, the difference could be tens of thousands of dollars!  The client whose cabinets are pictured above was told it would cost $40,000 to put up the new cabinets she wanted, but I refinished them for less than $6,000!  Definitely worth it, don't you think?  If you click on the flickr link on the right, the before picture of her kitchen is in my faux picture set, and the change is quite dramatic. 

Think again about creating a special finish for that room you keep changing.  Don't be afraid to contact me and get a quote or two or three - you might learn that together we can achieve a beautiful look within your budget. 

Communication is key

Here we go!  I'm beginning this blog in an attempt to communicate with previous and future customers about my business, faux finishing news, and new finishes I'm learning.  I plan to include ideas for custom finishes, tips for saving money, pictures and links, and anything I think will be of benefit to my readers.  

I'm excited to be attending the SALI convention again in July, taking classes in cabinet finishing (one of my favorite new things to do that saves thousands over buying new cabinets), unusual finishes using unusual mediums,  and finishes for countertops (cool!).  I can't wait to share what I learn with you!

Last month I learned how to use paint to apply layers of color with a trowel, creating an "old world" look with inexpensive materials.  The rough look is very attractive, and some blending of color naturally occurs.   This is a picture of my sample boards from class - my favorite is the blue and yellow one.  Notice that on the one to the left there are two effects, a striae on the left side of the board but not on the right.  I was experimenting!  :)  A colored wash looks awesome over either of these boards, also!

 I'll be back with more thoughts in the near future!