This is a question I've been asked a lot this week from clients. "Do I really need to prime the walls? It's an extra step, I want it done now!"
It may take some extra time and money, but to get results like the pros, PRIME!
Here's why:
Primer seals the walls. It creates a layer that allows your next layer of paint to lay on thicker, richer and allows your final coats to look smoth and uniform. You'll block stains and odors, prevent peeling, and have an easier time top coating.
Getting a Professional look:
Spot Prime: If your walls only have a few imperfections, than you can spot prime. This means hitting the few areas on the wall that needs sealing. I.E crayon stains, bare Sheetrock, patched walls.
Sand Glossy Surfaces: You'll need to hit any surface that had semi-gloss, or gloss on it. By scuffing it, you'll give the surface some tooth for the paint to adhere to. You may even want to hit it with primer to add even more adhesion.
Dramatic Color Changes: To get the color you see on the chart, the correct primer is needed to achieve that. When trying to achieve a rich, dark, vibrant color, have the paint store tint the primer around the same color that you're painting. This will cut down the number of coats that you'll need and will give you an amazing final look! It's similar when going dark to light. You'll want to prime the walls with the correct primer, usually just white to achive the correct color.
There's no way around it. PRIME! Here's 2 of my favorite primers that have always given me the best results.
"Need an environmentally preferred primer for walls and trim?Harmony is made with an exclusive zero-VOC, low-odor and formulated without silica."
Multi-Purpose Latex Primer from Sherwin Williams:
A general-utility primer ideal for both interior and exterior applications. Its wide versatility and strong adhesion properties make it a universal favorite – plus it works without the solvent odors and high VOCs common with most stain-blocking primers.
Just in time for a weekend painting project... prime, paint and ENJOY! Happy Painting!
Most homes now are faced with the challenge of planning colors for an open floor plan. The most common question then is "How do you add personality into different areas while having an open floor plan"? For this home, that has no clear division lines, to split up the straight painting, we turned to the ceiling to add personality.
The one thing that's been tough living in the Mid-Atlantic region has been the lack of snow, which means a lack of playing in the snow, AND playing in the snow is the best thing in the world... so this decorative painter got her fill on playing in the snow. 
Overcoming fears of heights, has to be done when you're attempting to paint a center piece in foyer... here's the ceiling...
I hope that everyone has a wonderful day filled with friends, family and happiness... and maybe even on this Thanksgiving Day, there will be painting fun!
What does your wall say to your guests when they walk into your home? This home greets their guests with a splash of energy and sophistication. The min guests walk into the house, they know there welcomed.
One may ask what faux finish product was used for this wall. The answer is simple. Pure paint, and good old simple products that you can't find on the shelf of sophisticated faux finishers. I'm an artist, who pushes products to get results that aren't right out of the can... and that's the way I like it...
This was an interesting challenge. Since it's an older home in the Homeland area in Baltimore, I didn't want whatever we decided to do, jump out and clash with the style of the home. The final result was to do an embossed painted look, that picked up the banister colors. When you look closer there is a hint of gold to add some light in this somewhat dark hallway.
Everyone one needs a little recharge every once in awhile. Well up in PA on a farm was where I found that recharge to happen for today. Regardless of the clouds and grayness outside, the fresh air and autumn scenery was just what the doctor ordered for this decorative painter.
