Common questions I’m asked 1 What is on trend in the world of exterior world painting? Right now I’m seeing a trend in strong contrasts. People are either painting their house all white or dark gray tones. 2 If my windows are white, can I paint the
trim around it? Yes, but it’s a fine dance. Trim should stay white if you have mullions inside of the window (the white crossed trim pieces). However, if it’s just a surround, you can paint the trim; it’s just a little trickier. Search for “painted trim around white window frames” and see if you can find images you like. That way it shows you an end result without putting in any effort. Don’t be scared to paint your trim a color. Some of my favorite houses are simple and clean with a strong trim outline. 3 Does my exterior have to match the interior of my house? Not exactly, but your home should have a
consistent feeling. Like you would expect, I have color inside my home. But on the outside, it’s used in small punches of color that say—in a casual way—we like color. 4 What if I don’t like it in five years?
You can’t live like that. I get it, changing the exterior of your home costs money. But if you live like that you’ll never do anything. If you are freaked out by making a mistake or doing something too trendy, visit a local paint store and ask about classic exterior colors, or chat with a local painting company. They know what colors most people in the area are choosing and which look best on a house. 5 All of the other houses in my neighborhood look the same. Is it bad if my house stands out? This question depends on who you ask. I am okay if my home is different. If you have a HOA you may not have a choice. But if you do have a choice, it’s okay to shake things up. For me, I’m not a beige
or earth tone person unless I have a client who adores that. So I ask you to be true to yourself. Don’t pick things for others. And have fun! Happy Painting!!
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Xoxo,
Jen
Jennifer Bertrand is the winner of HGTV’s show “Design Star” season three and cohost of “Real Life Design” on cravingtalkradio.com. She resides in Weatherby Lake, MO, with her lovely English husband, Chris, and her happy son, Winston. She has big plans in life to conquer the design world … again. Email pics and questions to Jennifer jblovesdesign@gmail.com Instagram hgtvdesignstarjenniferbertrand Facebook Jennifer Oldham Bertrand Twitter jblovedesign
vintagekc spring 2015
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