As the cold weather descends upon many parts of the country, you may be wondering: How cold is too cold to paint? By Diane Franklin If you’re trying to get one final painting or staining project in before the onset of winter, you may be wondering what the experts say about how low the thermometer [...]

Today’s wallpapers give you an opportunity to show your contemporary side. By Diane Franklin In the new millennium, wallpaper has been saddled with an unfortunate mischaracterization of being tired and old-fashioned. In actuality, today’s wallpaper patterns are anything but! New digital printing capabilities have made it possible to achieve a full array of pattern and [...]

Deciphering the home décor color trend cycle can help you choose your home’s color palette. By Tammy Adamson-McMullen If you shop for home furnishings this autumn, you may notice that the color palette has shifted. It’s not easy to findproducts in some of the colors of yesteryear, such as a blue-based sage, bright red or [...]

Your staircase can be absolutely gorgeous with the right painting and staining techniques. By Diane Franklin A staircase can be one of the most dramatic areas in your home, but the wear and tear inflicted by daily household traffic can certainly take its toll. Fortunately, with the right paint and staining techniques, you can revitalize [...]

If you’re tired of your kitchen backsplash, you don’t have to tear out the tile. Paint it instead. By Diane Franklin If your backsplash is old and tired, your first thought may be that you have to tear it out and start all over again. The expense of the tile and the installation—as well as [...]

Protect your deck this winter so that your springtime deck prep is less of an ordeal. By Diane Franklin As the days get shorter and the temperatures get cooler, it’s time to prepare your deck for the coming winter. The better job you do right now, the easier it will be for you to revive [...]

After centuries of decorative embellishments spanning cultures around the globe, faux painting is still cool. Consumers who did sponge painting in the 1980s and 1990s have segued into consumers who love Venetian plasters and metallic effects in the 2000s and 2010s. Here’s a synopsis of several types of faux techniques to transform your walls, ceilings, [...]

Not all paintbrushes are created equal, as a perusal of the paint applicator aisle at your local paint store confirms. There are natural bristles, synthetic filaments, flat, angled and various widths. Certainly, you face a decision when you purchase a brush: which one for which paint and for which purpose. Here’s a quick and handy [...]

Autumn arrives this month, which means that winter isn’t far behind. While the weather is still cooperating, now is the perfect time to make sure your siding, decks, porches, patios and other outdoor areas are “battened down” for the wintry months ahead. We’ve provided a checklist for you to tackle as you weekend-warrior this month: [...]