Leaves after the rain
Today I read an article about how how more people are renovating or redecorating their current homes rather than buying new ones, as the housing market struggles to recover. Michael Juliano, staff writer for the Stamford Advocate, wrote, quoting remodeler Anthony Crisculio:
A few years ago, about 80 percent of his work stemmed from clients that wanted to modify recently purchased homes to their tastes… “Today, it’s reversed… homeowners are more inclined to stay where they are and renovate what they have…”
There are many ways to refresh or update your home without spending too much money. Even more inexpensive than remodeling is re-painting and changing your wall artwork. It’s amazing the huge difference that painting your walls a new color will make. Some home lend themselves to using different colors in each room, which can be a lovely way to add interest. Even contemporary homes with rooms that flow into one another can use different palettes in different areas. The key is choosing the right colors.
One way to guide you in your color choices is to think about how colors evoke emotions. A book I read suggested picturing your favorite locales, place you go on vacation, or places you dream of going. If you were told to close your eyes and picture an ideal, peaceful place that brings you joy, where would it be? The seaside? The southwestern desert? A New England woods in autumn? Marrakesh? Take a moment to explore the scene in as much detail as you can. Then, choose colors from that palette, and those colors will evoke the same positive emotions in you. You can use different colors from the same palette in different rooms or areas.
Painting is a big job, and you may want to have it professionally done. Proper painting involves priming, sanding, and putting down at least two layers. Plus there’s all that work moving furniture and covering everything. But when it’s finished, you’ll be astounded at what a difference it makes!
After the painting is completed, you will probably want to think about new wall art for your rooms. Local fine art outdoor shows can be a good place to start looking. You may find that photographic art can be a cost-effective alternative to traditional media fine art.
Beth Madison Photography offers an extensive catalog of fine art photography. Much of it is displayed at the fine art gallery on my website, but for even more, go to www.BethMadisonGallery.com
- Red Barn
Trees Japanese
