Pick right paint for the job FORGET YOUR color scheme for a moment and take a_ closer look at the paint. you intend to buy. They’re not all the same. The properties that you don't see can make or break your paint job -- and your happiness with ‘your finished rooms. J: The area you plan to paint will ‘ ‘partly determine the type of paint ~ -fyou will buy, } exterior of the -house must be able {- to’ withstand the heat of the sun fe and the pounding of the rain, A’ kitchen wall needs a paint -tough enough to withstand finger- prints and spatters. A ceiling ‘paint won't. have to put : up with hard use, but you ‘may. want a. dripless. variety to make it easier to apply. ‘The..selection- ‘of paint should begin with choosing the type you “want sto! work with: latex or oil ‘Latex paints ‘are a mix of water, “pigments, and resins. The best “paints have -no more ‘than 50% water. .. Latex paints are nearly odorless, ‘ast-drying, .easy.to use and clean --c 2. “up with soap and water. Oil-base - paints,’ also. called alkyd “paints;- are~ made ‘of pet- 5 ‘oleum : ‘distillates,’ pigments, and _Tesins. .. The : best. paints. have no more “than 30% solvent. . - Oil-base paints are. more dura- ‘ble-than latex paints but require a paint. thinner. come cleaning time. They : are, also “more diffi cult to From, page 7 : = “blue. ~An appealingly unifi ied and: ‘harmonious color scheme is based “On just one color. When different. textures are used to add variety,. the simplicity of the scheme reates elegance and serenity. You might cringe if I suggest range, but imagine cream- colored marble with light orange eins, a hand-knotted wool carpet . from India, thick and luxurious in creamy white with a subdued : _peach-colored border; walls” “- Washed in several coats of pale ‘- ~~. peach and apricot, and down- A paint that is to be used on the’ Latex paints are usually what you'll want, but oil can be better for trim work. Both latex and oil-base paints come in three types of finishes: high-gloss, semi-gloss and low- gloss (also called flat, satin, eg- gshell or low-lustre), Besides the difference in ap- pearance, the finish will also determine how well the paint will wear, Flat paints generally work well on interior walls and ceilings. Asa tule, they offer easier, better coverage than other finishes and cost less. The duller the paint, however, the less it withstands washing and wear. ; Semi-gloss and high-gloss paints work well. on surfaces ¢x- posed to: hard wear, such as kitchens and bathrooms, and’ on woodwork, windows or doors.. Paints today can easily be mixed to match almost any color from an existing paint chip or have a color custom-blended. By bringing swatches of color to : the store, you can more accurately select a complementary or: con- trasting color, © ¢ Be aware, however, that the olors often look different under the store’s lighting than under your lighting at home. Study your paint chip in the actual place where it will be used, or. buy a small quantity of the color to make sure it’s right. Some stores let. you ‘paint’ -rooms on a computer to study the effects. of different, color .com- - binations. Some of the newest computer programs allow you ‘to feed an a luminous filled leather seating in ochre with exotic, hand-embroidered Indian : cushions. Add apricot-colored silk drapes, recessed down-lighting to give the walls a luminous appearance, and you have'a monochromatic color’ scheme that will not date, unless orange happens to be the “4 color in 1996. Analogous colors are any group of three to six colors next to each other on the wheel (eg, violet, blue-violet, blue and blue-green). | When used in balanced propor-. tions, for instance with dark blue as the dominant color, turquoise as a secondary color and amethyst actual ‘photo of your room or house into the computer, Then, you can test all the colors you want without lifting a brush, For color consistency, buy all the paint you need at the same time and have the dealer mix and shake the cans. ; Once you know what type of paint you want and have picked your colors, you need to know how much to buy. Measure the perimeter of the room and multiply the result by the ceiling height to get the number of's square feet. Round off the figure to the next, full foot. ‘Don't deduct for windows or other openings unless they add up to more than 100 square feet. Divide the total by the number of square feet a gallon ef paint promises’ to cover (this figure should be on the paint label), Round off to the next gallon. Double the amount if you plan two coats, _ A careful estimate will help you ‘cut costs, plus reduce the problem of properly disposing of leftover paint. ; ' Some painting jobs will go more smoothly if you spend a little ‘more’ for a paint designed for the specific job. Some of the types available in- clude _one-coat. paint, texture paint, acoustic paints, paints, and special blends that mix sealers, rust protection, or. water- proofing with pigments of color, ' Reprinted with permission ‘of Remodeling Ideas Distributed by the Los Angeles ’ Times Syndicate. appearance in a variety of tints as accents, —. _they are harmonious and restful, but more lively than a monschromatic color scheme. This is the beginning of the ' stary on cofor. 1 will conclude by saying that - lavender goes with royal blue or deep violet, and with red, if it has a blue, rather than yellow, undertone. Please read more about color in ‘. this space on Dec. 10. - Edith Saatkamp is an interioz de- signer who teaches on the North Shore. dripless - magazine. — Offer good until Dac 10th Your Beam Dealer now stocks bags for EVERY maj or brand of portable or central system | NORTH VANCOUVER | 734 Marine Drive 984-3555 | To ecorate t ACCEPING CUSTOM ORDERS: BLINDS ‘— upto: December: 15th”: DRAPES -— up to: December 20th” oe - MADDISEN-HOWE INTERIORS _ | EXPERIENCED, QUALITY ARTISANS. - 90% “Eatons Custom Decorating” former staff -and contractors ......987-C284 :