Coved Ceilings Charm

Coved ceilings are a unique architectural detail found in many old homes and in some newly built homes, too. Sometimes coved ceilings are set off by molding, which can be added to accent this architectural feature. Contrasting colors can be used to paint the highest point of the ceiling, and a faux finish can accent a coved ceiling beautifully, drawing the eye upward to appreciate this architectural detail and making it a focal point in your home.

Refinished Attic Spaces Shine

Refinished attic spaces make charming bedrooms, offices and guest rooms but can pose a challenge when it comes time to choose paint colors. Pitched roofs, long rooms and low ceilings are just a few of the challenges attic spaces pose for homeowners. Warm colors and neutrals make refinished attics cozy places to read, work or study. Or, ask your painting professional about choosing contrasting colors, stripes or using other painting techniques to highlight unusually shaped attic spaces.

Dormers Sparkle with Accent Colors

Dormers are a charming addition to any home, providing extra space and a spot for a window. When you’re thinking about having dormers painted, consider accent paint colors to emphasize your dormers. Yes, continuing the paint colors used in the rest of the room will work, but it’s a safe choice.  Draw attention to dormers by having the wall painted a contrasting color. If there is a window in the dormer, the molding can also be painted with an accent color. These don’t have to be shocking paint choices- an off-white room is balanced with a taupe or pale yellow wall and bright white molding around the dormer windows.

Emphasize Arched Walkways

Arched walkways between rooms are a charming addition common in many vintage homes. Take advantage of this architectural detail by having the wall with the arched walkway painted a contrasting color or by using a patterned paint technique, like a stencil. In Arts & Crafts homes, vivid reds, greens and blues are not at all uncommon- ask your Sundeleaf painting pros to give you more tips for having unusually-shaped rooms painted in your home.

Add Elegance to a Formal Dining Room with Painted Stripes
Infuse elegance into a formal dining room by using vertical stripes that combine a flat paint and a gloss or semi-gloss paint that are the same color. Using the same color paint for stripes is a subtle effect and works especially well with ivory, taupe and slate blue. For a formal dining room, try same color stripes in widths of eight to twelve inches.

Paint Stripes in Children’s Bedrooms for a Fun Effect
In a child’s bedroom, paint fun stripes in varying shades of color and in varying widths. A girl’s bedroom painted with shades of pink, from pale pink to fuchsia, might be overlaid with stencils of flowers. A boy’s room comes alive with painted vertical stripes of aqua, green and sky blue.  In children’s bedrooms, the stripes don’t have to be completely symmetrical and in fact, using different widths and colors adds interest to a room.

Accent Adult Bedrooms with Painted Stripes
Painting stripes in bedrooms doesn’t have to be relegated to the kids’ bedrooms. Paint the wall behind the headboard of the bed in bold horizontal stripes from floor to ceiling to create a focal point in the room. If you have a desk or a chaise lounge in your bedroom, highlight that wall with painted horizontal stripes.

Brighten Up a Basement with Painted Stripes
We often think of basements as gloomy after-thoughts, but they don’t have to be dark or dreary. One of the biggest trends right now in painting interiors is to use a solid color around the room, and then accent with stripes. Start with a bold color, and ask to have a 2-foot section in the middle of the walls all the way around the room taped off for stripes. Use contrasting colors for the stripes and consider adding a stencil to break up the stripes and to add interest to the room.

Ask our expert staff how we can help you brighten up your home with painted stripes.

So what makes Sundeleaf Painting so unique anyway, and why do people hire us?

First, Sundeleaf Painting is a local painting company. We service the Portland area only and have so for 77 years. We love the neighborhoods in which we ourselves live in and want to serve our community by providing excellent painting services. Our customers like the fact that we are local, available and responsive. By staying in Portland and our beautiful surrounding communities, we will continue to provide faster and more reliable services.

Second, we are honest. When you hire Sundeleaf Painting, you will feel a sense of trust and security from our estimator, our office staff and our painters. You will always receive outstanding customer service from people with the highest level of integrity.

Third, we are responsive and dependable. Sundeleaf uses the latest in technology. When you call or email our office to schedule an estimate, you won’t be put on hold to listen to repetitive music. You will talk to a live person about your painting needs, receive a scheduled time to meet with Sam and will be kept informed during the entire painting project. We make painting your home easy!

Finally, our painting work is beautiful. You will not have to explain how you’d like your home to look when we finish your paint project. We are professional painters. The owner, Sam Sundeleaf, is very involve with each painting project, and you will see just how detailed he can be! He expects everyone working for him to have the same goal: to do very quality work and exceed customer expectations.

Our Portland clients hire Sundeleaf Painting because they don’t want an average paint job. They appreciate our straight-forward and honest way of doing business and are not just looking for a bargain. Finally, our clients appreciate good value. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Talk to Sam today and experience why Sundeleaf Painting has been in business for 77 years!

SEE OUR WORK – Visit the Sundeleaf Painting Portfolio

Many houses built before 1978 have paint containing lead. This lead from the paint, or from peeling or chipping paint and dust can pose the serious health hazards mentioned above. In 1978, the federal government banned lead-based paint from being used in homes and in1996, laws went into effect requiring individuals receive information concerning the property before renting, buying or renovating pre-1978 housing.

The homeowner should inspect paint finishes throughout the home. Generally, lead-based paint in good condition is less of a hazard. However, peeling, chipping, chalking or cracking lead-based paint is highly dangerous. In addition, lead-based paint on surfaces such as window sills, doors and door frames, stairs or railings, porch railings and fences can receive a great deal of wear and tear and can be dangerous for children. If renovations are planned or if there are concerns about paint and/or peeling, there are several other things the homeowner can do:

• Contact the professional paint contractors at Sundeleaf Painting for an inspection and for further information on lead paint and renovation practices and precautions.
• Decrease the possibility of lead dust by avoiding a dry scraper, belt sander or propane torch as these can create large amounts of lead dust and fumes.
• Never try to remove lead paint yourself
• If you are considering renovations, consider moving your family out of the house until after the work is complete.

In April, new standards will be in effect for contractors as they renovate and update homes, daycare centers and other facilities that provide services to children. Look for additional information about these changes in future blogs!

In today’s culture, most people consider their role in caring for the environment and are aware of “green” practices such as recycling and scrutinizing the chemical make-up of cleaning products, personal care products, etc. Many paint manufacturers have also been considering what it means be “green” and both the paint professional and homeowner find the new “green” or “natural” paint choices to be a valid option when selecting paint.

The new paint industry “buzz words” are “low VOC” and “zero VOC. “VOC” is the acronym for Volatile Organic Compounds and these compounds are the organic materials in standard paint products. Formaldehyde and benzene are two of the common VOCs used in paint as solvents and preservatives. Once walls have been painted, there is an odor or a “fresh paint smell” left behind as the paint dries. This odor is caused by evaporation of the VOCs and exposure to VOCs in paint can cause eye burning, breathing issues, dizziness, headaches or asthma attacks.

Today, alternative paints are much more readily available due to consumer demand and government recommendations. Consumers can expect to find the following types of alternative paints: Low Odor or Low VOC Paint; Zero VOC Paint; Non-Toxic or Natural Paint. While there are only recommended guidelines for the Low-VOC and No-VOC paints, the consumer should be vigilant in reading through the marketing information found on paint can labels. Generally, reputable paint manufacturers meet the 50 g/L “VOC Threshold (250 g/L is the EPA standard),”   but many paints have a range of 10-25 g/L. In addition, many paints may meet Low VOC or No VOC standards, but when the paint is tinted, the VOC levels are increased. The darker the tinting, the higher the VOC level. Some paint manufacturers have created newer colorant systems that do not rely on carbon-based solvents, therefore assuring the lower VOC recommendations.

Before beginning the search for the perfect paint color, spend time learning these new paint vocabulary words: “low VOC,” “no VOC” and “green.” Several websites have pertinent information on “VOCs” and recommended paint products. In addition, the paint professionals at Sundeleaf can provide further information on these compounds and paint products.

Sundeleaf Painting was by far the most professional contractor I’ve ever dealt with. They not only did a fantastic job, but they were pleasant, hard working, reasonably priced, honest and kept me informed every step of the way. Not only would I recommend them to anyone looking for painters, but I will use them without hesitation the next time we need work done.

]]> http://www.paintinginportland.com/general-info/apogee-painting-testimonial-from-nw-portland/feed 0 http://www.paintinginportland.com/general-info/sundeleaf-painting-portlands-house-painting-expert http://www.paintinginportland.com/general-info/sundeleaf-painting-portlands-house-painting-expert#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:35:56 +0000 Chuck http://paintinginportland.com/?p=20 When you are looking for a painting contractor in the Portland or surrounding suburbs, the list of painting companies seems to expand almost monthly. Instead of having your choice of three quality paint companies to come out to your home, you are faced with your choice of hundreds of contractors. All say the same thing, “We are the best.” “We are the most competitive in price.” “We do quality work.” blah blah blah.

So how do you find a painter in the Portland area that really is a good fit for you? At Sundeleaf Painting, we do things differently then your typical painting company. Since you came across our website and this blog, we would invite you to experience Sundeleaf in action. Our owner, Sam Sundeleaf, is the person you will meet at your home. He won’t begin by doing a lot of talking. No. Just the opposite: a lot of listening. The more he can learn from you and what you are looking for, the more Chuck can determine if Sundeleaf Painting is the painting company of choice for you! Chuck’s estimates are some of the most detailed in the industry with item by item pricing, making you more in control of what you want painted. Oh and by the way, Sundeleaf Painting specializes in both interior and exterior painting of any size home. Therefore, we can accommodate just about anything related to painting for you. Just ask.

The bottom line is this: we’d love to hear from you. When you are ready, call Sam at: 503-236-9797 or email us today for your free consultation.