Month: May 2024

Choosing Interior Colors? Read This Advice from Designer Ellen Maranca

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Are you choosing new interior colors? Read our Q&A for some pro tips from interior designer Ellen Maranca of EZM Interiors, Lambertville, NJ! Ms. Maranca’s designs are showcased in the accompanying photos, which includes painting by our team at Greenleaf Painters!

Home office painted in a light blue by Greenleaf Painters

What do you like most about your design work?
What I like best about being an interior designer is working with different people. Each person comes to the table with interesting ideas, lifestyles, needs and desires. My job is to mesh all the family members’ wants in a cohesive and interesting way. It’s a puzzle that needs to fit together.

Choosing wall colors is a big decision. Any tips for choosing wall color to go with existing furniture and flooring?
Wall colors change dramatically in a space from day to night and with different colors that surround them. It’s one of the most challenging pieces in my business to get it right. It takes time and energy to “see” each color in the environment. Looking at painting samples is a must.

Greenleaf painted this bedroom in a soothing brown.

Accent walls are becoming popular. What are your thoughts on these?
Accent walls should be the focal point of the room.

What interior wall colors do you find popular right now in our area for living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens?
Popular wall colors change depending on the location. Clients in Florida want “cool” colors, Northeast clients want “warmer” colors, but in general most clients want light muted colors.

White cabinets paired with soothing earth colors make this kitchen inviting.

Do you have any favorite uses of color to share?
Paint is a game changer in so many ways. Example: my client purchased a home with a huge chandelier that they really disliked, wanted to replace BUT didn’t have the budget.

I convinced them to paint it a vibrant color. They LOVE this piece. We saved thousands of dollars; it’s a showstopper now.

Any other favorite design tips?
Advice: hire an interior designer; they save you money, explain where to spend, and where to cut back to get the home that reflects your unique personality and needs.

What got you into the interior design business?
Friends, wanting interior design advice after seeing my home. In the early part of my work career I was a display director for large department stores. Great training ground for spatial relationships.

To read more about Ellen Maranca’s work, please visit: www.EZM-Interiors.com.

Dining room painted by Greenleaf

5 Reasons to Have Your Home Painted This Summer

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Did you know that summer can be the best time for painting your house? Whether you’re looking to have your home’s interior painted, or you want to freshen up the exterior, late spring, summer and early fall are great times to do it.

If you’re interested in updating the color of your home, here’s 5 reasons to do it this summer from Greenleaf Painters!

Best Time to Fix Winter Wear & Tear

With the bright sun exposing areas of your home that were left shaded and hidden during the winter, it’s a chance to take notice of the wear and tear left over from the colder and wetter weather. This can include cracks, chips, peeling paint, and even wood rot.

Summer allows you to prioritize the much-needed upkeep and maintenance of your home alongside your painting project, allowing the contractors to focus their efforts to bring your home back to a pleasing aesthetic.

Increase Curb Appeal & Attention

Whether you simply want to update your home, or you’re planning on putting it on the market, having your home painting project completed in the summer is a great way to show it off to the neighbors and potential buyers. Since the weather is warmer, there’s more foot traffic that can admire the work outdoors. And if you entertain in summer, you’ll have a fresh look for those special gatherings.

Let Us Complete Your Project While You’re Vacationing

Did you know that can have the work done while you’re away on summer vacation? Our trustworthy crews have done this countless times for customers. While we work on your home, you can have your feet up elsewhere. How nice to return home and see the finished, new look!

Note: We also provide this service all year long for interior painting. Winter snowbirds and other vacationers enjoy being away while their home is being updated!

Using the Temperature to Your Advantage for Interiors

The warm weather provides some benefit when it comes to having the interior of your home painted. While we also think wintertime is a great time of year to paint (see our video about that), you might prefer summer, when you can throw open your windows. Even the lowest VOC paints can have a faint odor for a few days. So if you or a family member is extra sensitive to scents — or if you just like the feeling of open windows during and after a paint job — then late spring, summer and early autumn are your sweet spots!

What About Exterior Painting on Rainy Weeks?

There’s a reason people say, “If you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes.” During especially unpredictable weather weeks, we use caution in working on your outdoor painting project so that it dries properly and remains fresh-looking for years to come. This is where our 18 years of experience of working around rainy days comes in handy! If you’re concerned about the effects of weather, please give us a call to discuss your project.

Rest assured, we are invested in you being happy with your final results and in your paint finish looking great for years into the future.

Have Your Home Painted by Greenleaf Painters this Summer

If you’re interested in updating the color of your home or getting some much-needed work after the winter wear and tear, Greenleaf Painters can happily help you. We can assess your home and provide an estimate to give you a sense of the cost and timeline of the project.

Interested in having the interior or exterior of your home painted? Contact us today!