Color Me Home Episode 10: Inexpensive Kitchen Updates

Posted on June 8, 2016August 6, 2019

On today’s episode, Betsy and Dan discuss some inexpensive projects you can tackle to update your kitchen! They discuss a quick way to make your old cabinets look new again, a way to cover up those old, dated tile backsplashes, and much more!

View our Pinterest Board for Episode 10!

Episode Outline

The Gel Stain Fix! (0:52)
Can I Lighten My Stained Cabinets With Stain? (5:49)
Painting Your Cabinets (7:10)
Get Creative! (20:42)
How Do I Apply the Paint? Do I Spray It? Brush It? Roll It? (24:08)
Replace the Hardware! (27:01)
Update That Dated Tile Backsplash! (28:50)
What Finish Should I Use on the Cabinets or the Backsplash? (33:16)

The Gel Stain Fix

Betsy started the episode talking about an easy way to update old and scratched cabinets. Yes, it takes some work. And yes, you need to do the right prep work . . . but if you do, this can be a great way to update your cabinets very quickly and for very little money. Here’s a blog post that explains the process in detail. And below are some of the photos sent to us by our customer who had such great results!

Painting Your Cabinets

A second solution we discussed for updating your kitchen is a pretty basic one: painting the cabinets. It’s not a complicated process, but it does take some time and it definitely requires that you do the proper amounts of prep work to make sure the finished product holds up well. Here are the steps we discussed in the podcast and a brief description. For more information, listen to the podcast and/or check out our blog post on painting kitchen cabinets!

STEP ONE: Remove the hardware and hinges and label the doors with their location.

STEP TWO: Clean the surfaces thoroughly using TSP.

STEP THREE: Scuff-sand the surfaces you’re going to paint.

STEP FOUR: Prime the cabinets with STIX Waterborne Primer.

STEP FIVE: Topcoat with a Benjamin Moore’s Advance or RepcoLite’s Hallmark Ceramic.

Those are the basic steps we cover in the podcast. Again, listen to the episode for more details or check out our blog post on painting your cabinets! (Or, better yet, stop out at any RepcoLite, Port City Paints, or Snyder Paints location and we’ll walk you through the whole process!)

Painting An Old Tiled Backsplash

Another topic we discussed on the episode was painting an old, tiled backsplash. The backsplash in a kitchen can often look dated. And usually, people have no idea how to easily fix it. After all, ripping out the tile involves a lot of demolition, sweat, and (in my case) blood. But, there is a quick fix if you’re looking for an easy solution that will buy you some time. And of course, we’re talking about paint! Here are the basic steps. Again, if you’re looking for more detailed info, please check out our blog post on the topic!

STEP ONE: Clean the surfaces thoroughly using TSP.

STEP TWO: Prime the cabinets with STIX Waterborne Primer.

STEP THREE: Topcoat with a Benjamin Moore’s Advance or RepcoLite’s Hallmark Ceramic.

Color Me Home Episode 9: Tips For Selling Your Home Quickly!

Posted on May 28, 2016August 6, 2019

On today’s episode, Betsy and Dan discuss some tips for those of you who are thinking about putting your homes on the market. Even though homes are selling faster than they have in recent years, there are still some things that you can do to make sure your home sells quickly AND for as much money as possible….

View our Pinterest Board for Episode 9!

Episode Outline

First Impressions Matter (0:52)
Start Outside (2:58)
Organize, De-Clutter and De-Personalize (11:56)
Make Those Small Repairs (19:58)
Paint the Walls Neutral? Or Go Bold With Color! (23:42)

Color Me Home Episode 8: Repurposing Your Furniture

Posted on May 20, 2016August 6, 2019

This week, Betsy and Dan talk about repurposing furniture. Specifically, we focus on a variety of uses for those old entertainment centers that don’t fit modern HDTVs. We also highlight some interesting uses for old dressers. (And if you’re really interested, check out the BONUS CONTENT feature below. So many of the projects we talked about involved removing the drawers from the dressers. Well, what do you do with those extra drawers? Is there a creative way to use them? Of course! We talk about 4 different projects in the BONUS CONTENT, so check it out!)

View our Pinterest Board for Episode 8!

Episode Outline

Repurpose Your Entertainment Center (1:07)
- Diaper Changing Station (2:00)
- Potting Station (for you gardeners out there!) (4:58)
- Coffee Bar (7:15)
- Betsy’s Shoe Display Center (10:04)
Repurpose Those Old Dressers (14:57)
- Storage Shelves (15:10)
- Kitchen Islands (17:25)
- Dan’s Little Throne (or Seating and Storage and Things Like That) (19:50)
  - Dan’s Voice Breaks while saying “Bop” and Betsy Makes Fun (24:16)

Bonus Content and Outline

Repurpose Those Drawers
- Under-the-Bed Storage (0:35)
- Drawer Dollhouses (4:15)
- Shelves and Shadow Boxes (6:08)
- Make Tables (9:31)

Anaglypta Wallpaper

Anaglypta wallpaper is a textured, paintable wallpaper. In this episode, we talk about using it on the backers of entertainment centers to provide a unique, interesting backdrop.

However, these papers can be used anywhere. They are reasonably priced and look great on walls, on furniture, on stair risers . . . and on and on and on.

Be sure to check out our Pinterest page for this episode for a variety of photos showing painted and faux-finished anaglypta paper. We have books you can look through in our Lakewood, Plainfield, and 17th Street RepcoLite locations. If you have any questions at all, please stop out, email, or give us a call!

Color Me Home Episode 7: Creative Kids’ Rooms (The Chalkboard Paint Episode)

Posted on May 10, 2016August 6, 2019

This week, Betsy and Dan discuss specific projects that will help you design remarkably creative kids’ rooms! They discuss ways to use your kids artwork on the walls of their room to add color and interest! And then they shift gears and talk about a number of interesting projects involving Benjamin Moore’s Chalkboard Paint. Also, (and perhaps most importantly), Betsy finds herself unable to say the word “great”, and in the process makes great radio memories….

View our Pinterest Board for Episode 7!

Episode Outline

Using Your Kids’ Artwork in their Room (1:26)
- Betsy Can’t Say “Great” (1:40)
- Empty Frames (2:33)
- Corkboard Frames (4:56)
- Clipboards (5:52)
Chalkboard Paint Projects (7:25)
- There Are Some Dumb Projects Out There (8:02)
- Paint the Wall (but not in the boring way you’re thinking!) (10:42)
  - Paint Random Shapes (11:08)
  - Replace Your Wallpaper Border with Chalkboard Paint (12:45)
  - Cityscape (14:07)
  - A Tree (15:47)
- Paint some furniture! (16:35)
- Chalk Markers (This is Awesome!) (22:21)
- Various Accessories (27:43)

Frame Their Artwork

We had a lot of fun with this topic and really, we only scratched the surface. This is such a great project for a kid’s room or playrooms because it gives you the chance to put some of their creativity on display, give them some input in the room, and bring in some (typically) bold, vibrant colors without letting them overpower the room.

The ideas we talked about were designed to be easy to change out. When your kids create new art, you (or even they) can swap out older art for newer. The walls can be updated regularly, often, and best of all, easily!

Check out the ideas in the podcast and then, if you come up with something even better, be sure to let us know! Email your photos to colormehome@repcolite.com!

Benjamin Moore Chalkboard Paint

We spent a fair amount of time in this episode talking about Chalkboard Paint from Benjamin Moore. And that’s because we really believe this to be one of the coolest paints available! If you’re even mildly creative, it’s not going to take you long to dream up hundreds of uses. And remember, as we mentioned, Benjamin Moore’s Chalkboard Paint is available in ANY Benjamin Moore color. So, say goodbye to black chalkboards! (Unless of course, that’s what you want.)

Chalk Markers

Betsy made a remarkably bold statement when we started talking about Chalk Markers. She declared that chalk markers were, and I quote, the “greatest invention ever.” Yes. Not one given to overstatement, Betsy firmly places Chalk Markers above electric lights, automobiles, moving pictures, and even computers on her list of “Greatest Inventions of All-Time”. Sorry Edison, Benz, and all you other thinkers and inventors. Sure, Betsy enjoys driving, having lights that go on with the flick of a switch, watching movies, and using her new Mac. But all of those things pale in comparison to doodling with Chalktastic Markers.

I, on the other hand, am a little more grounded and would likely place chalk markers just slightly further down on the list. Still, they’re pretty cool. And they’ll keep a lot of the chalk dust and mess off your floors. Click here for a link to purchase your own set from Amazon. (These are the ones Betsy uses and recommends. And remember, she says they’re the “greatest invention ever.”)

Color Me Home Episode 3: Curb Appeal on a Budget, 1

Posted on April 11, 2016August 6, 2019

This week, in honor of the beautiful weather we all experienced over Spring Break, Betsy and Dan discuss some simple exterior projects that will help you increase the curb appeal of your home without breaking the bank!

Episode Outline

Front Doors (1:55)
What If I’ve Got a Storm Door? (7:34)
Careful With Your Color, Though! (12:12)
Garage Doors (12:39)
Shutters (13:40)
Vinyl Safe Paint and Colors (15:20)
How to Paint Your Shutters (18:20)
A Quick Miracle Fix to Revive Faded Shutters (21:51)
Mailboxes (25:40)

Before and After Homes with Shutters!

As we mentioned in the podcast, adding shutters to a home can make a tremendous difference. And while I’d love to share a large gallery of photos making our case, I don’t have the rights! So, I’m doing the next best thing: Here’s a google image search that will allow you to see exactly what we’re talking about!

Check it out! And we’re betting that if you don’t already have shutters on your home, after seeing those photos, you’ll move that project to the top of your list.

Vinyl Safe Colors

Benjamin Moore’s Revive is available in a wide variety of vinyl safe colors. Check out the full palette!

Penetrol Fix for Shutters

We talked about this at the 21:51 mark on the podcast and if you didn’t hear it, you should listen in to know exactly what these notes refer to. At any rate, I was able to dig up the photos that I took when I applied Penetrol to my shutters early last Spring. The first photo shows the shutter before application–faded and chalky. The next two obviously show the shutter in process. The final photo of the house shows the shutter finished and the surrounding trim cleaned up.

It’s definitely a project to try if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to restore the color of the vinyl. Just be aware, it’s not a long-lasting fix. You’ll typically get anywhere from 6 months to a year out of it. A full paint job is going to last much longer!

Color Me Home Episode 2: Choosing Colors You’ll Love

Posted on April 1, 2016August 6, 2019

Welcome to Color Me Home! This week Betsy and Dan discuss how you can make sure that the next colors you choose are colors you love! See, in our first episode we talked about ways to find inspiration for your next color scheme. That’s all well and good, but finding interesting, intriguing color schemes is one thing . . . finding colors you LOVE is a little different. Today, we’re going to discuss some concepts that you can use to make sure that the next gallon of paint you purchase looks perfect in your home.