Are you feeling claustrophobic in your home? Tiring of your shoebox-sized apartment? Is your home’s old-world charm no longer making up for its tiny living spaces? In New Orleans, a city full of historical homes dating hundreds of years, protecting the integrity of space is always a priority. However, in century-old home design, some rooms dwarf in comparison to their modern equivalents. Pint-sized bathrooms, cramped kitchens, and barely-there bedrooms force us to juggle historical integrity and modern needs for space. Before you start tearing down walls or browsing classified ads for a new housing situation, consider maximizing your space with paint! While painting your walls does not actually increase square footage, using the right shades and techniques can make your space appear bigger.
New Orleans celebrated its 300th birthday this year. In the city’s 300 years of history, several distinctive styles of architecture found their way into the Big Easy. Grand, off-white homes with undertones of grey evoke the beauty of French chateaus. Warm brickwork, broad porches, and towers nod to the British Queen Anne style of architecture. Rectangular, towered homes in shades of earth tones characterize the Italianate style. And crisp, true white, columned mansions speak to Green Revivalism. With century-old homes, care, expertise, and a very gentle touch help us preserve history. In a city built on a swamp that has survived hurricanes, floods, and dramatic temperature changes, historical preservationists work hard to combat the elements and preserve the character of historical homes.
Are you stuck on the shady side of the street? Or maybe you can’t seem to find blackout curtains effective enough to block out all of your natural sunlight? As painters and color specialists, we know how much lighting affects your overall paint color. And your mood. Brighter spaces tend to create more positive feelings, so social rooms with natural sunlight are generally the preference. However, in spaces for relaxation such as bedrooms, the overabundance of natural light may hinder your activities. In this case, darker rooms generally promote relaxation and restful sleep. Instead of drilling through your walls to create new windows, or hiding your natural light through thick curtains, try repainting! The clever use of color can actually help mitigate the effects of difficult lighting. Did you know that use of paint color can actually help brighten your dark spaces or cool down your sunny ones?
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