Paint 101

To choose a wall color, pick out one of the least used shades in a painting or area rug to complement that inspiration piece.

Here are some basics about paint and how to use it:

• Paint is pigment, a resin (binder) that holds it all together plus water or oil. Latex (water-based) paints are more popular today because application and clean-up are easier.

• There are many kinds of finishes, ranging from flat to high gloss. Usually, a flatter finish is more forgiving and hides blemishes. A glossier paint is more durable and resilient to wear and tear. Eggshell and semi-gloss finishes give a warm luster, especially on trim.

For a truly monochromatic look, don't forget the floors. Look for paint specifically designed to resist the wear and tear this surface endures.

When making an extreme color change, such as white to a bright color or vice versa, use a tinted primer so that the white or bright color doesn't show through the new one.

Be sure to look at a white shade carefully and consider its surroundings. For example, light white walls in a room with a red rug will turn pink.

To decide on a color, start by purchasing a couple quarts in the various shades you're considering and paint large swatches on the wall to live with them for a few days.

Designer Jamie Drake chose many shades of the same yellow color to decorate his city bedroom and painted the ceiling the same as the walls to completely envelope the room.

This color block ceiling and wall treatment boldly uses several different colors within one space.

Guests
Carl Minchew, Director of Color Technology
Benjamin Moore Paints
185 East Hackensack St.
East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Contact: Eileen McComb, Director of Marketing
Phone: 201-573-6620
E-mail: eileen.mccomb@menjaminmoore.com
Website: www.benjaminmoore.com
--or--
Allison Marcus, Marketing/ Public Relations
Phone: 201-802-6213
Fax: 201-573-6617
E-mail: Allison.Marcus@benjaminmoore.com
Website: www.benjaminmoore.com

Jamie Drake
Principal, Drake Associates, Inc.
315 E. 62nd St., 5th Floor
New York, NY 10021
Phone: 212-754-3099
Fax: 212-754-4389
E-mail: jamiedrake@drakedesignassociates.com
Website: www.drakedesignassociates.com
Also in this Episode

Smart Design : Episode SDN-306
•	Paint 101
•	Global Tabletops
•	Marvelous Decorative-Design Mosaics
•	Candlesticks