January 7th, 2011 by Suhaiba Neill
Have you grown tired of the look of your kitchen, but don’t want to spend a fortune to remodel it? We have a wonderful alternative option for you.
Almost all cabinets in good working condition can be re-stained, re-painted, or faux finished to completely change the look of your kitchen. This is much less time consuming and much more cost effective than replacing your cabinetry. Keep in mind that the cabinet color should contrast with the wall color (dark walls – light cabinets, and vice versa) unless you’re going for a monochromatic look.
For more information on simple kitchen updates (and a great Gazpacho recipe), see our Summer 2010 Newsletter. And if you do decide to make some changes, be sure to stop back and let us know how things went.
Posted in Kitchen Remodeling | No Comments »
December 30th, 2010 by Suhaiba Neill
So on our way back from a planning meeting for an upcoming commercial spot that we’ll be running in the new year (more about that next time), we passed a paint store that my father “hadn’t been to in years.” Of course, that meant we had to stop, and I felt like a teenager all over again remembering all of those afternoons when he picked me up from school and “had a few stops to make” on the way home. Guess some things never change. 
This time though I was armed with my iphone and checked my email while he wandered through the store.
As this year comes to a close, I hope it leaves behind plenty of great memories that you can look back on with a smile in the years to come. And may the New Year be filled with new beginnings and new opportunities for us all.
Posted in The Painter's Daughter | No Comments »
December 21st, 2010 by Suhaiba Neill
As I was standing in the checkout line at the grocery store last night surrounded by tabloid magazines, something caught my eye. It was the Better Homes and Gardens “Color Made Easy” Spring/Summer 2011 issue. I couldn’t help but pick it up, and ended up purchasing it too. While it was a little pricey compared to a regular magazine ($12.99), it is jam packed with helpful information about understanding and using color and how to mix and match colors to create your perfect look.
If you’re not ready to part with the thirteen bucks, you can visit the Better Homes and Gardens website and browse through hundreds of inspirational photos for free. If you don’t mind giving them your email address, you can create an account and use their free “color-a-room” online tool too. It allows you to choose a “beige” photo (or upload your own) and then change out the colors on all of the elements in the room until you find a combination you like. And if you still need help with your final selections, we’re only a phone call away. So, here’s to a brighter and more colorful 2011.
Posted in Color Trends | No Comments »
December 15th, 2010 by Suhaiba Neill
So several people (including myself) have asked my daughter what she wants for Christmas this year, and she’s given us all the same answer “I don’t really want anything.” Lucky me, right? Despite her current state of contentment, I’ll be sure to pick up some things that will make her smile come Christmas morning (and hopefully she won’t change her mind and hand me a long list two days before hand).
My wish list, on the other hand seems to be getting longer instead of shorter. I still have quite a few things on my carpentry to do list, and thanks to a leak in the roof I now have a spare bedroom that needs repairing and repainting. Not sure if Santa will be able to help me out much this year.
So what’s on your household wish list? With an interior designer, carpenters and painters on staff, there’s no project too big or too small. So make your list, check it twice, and then give us a call so we can take care of the rest. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season spent in good company.
Posted in House Painting | No Comments »
December 1st, 2010 by Suhaiba Neill
Tis’ the season of giving, but what do you get for that certain someone in your life who already has everything or is a bit difficult to shop for? The latest version of an iPhone/iPad/Kindle, a gift card, an IOU.
Why not give them the gift of painting or decorating the room of their choice?
We all love choices, and for about the cost of an iPad you could repaint your entire powder room. If your budget’s a little bigger, for about the cost of a MacBook Air you could repaint the walls in your living room or install wallpaper in your dining room. And if you were thinking of splurging on a new big screen high-definition television you could refinish your kitchen cabinets for a fresh new look instead. Just a little something to think about as you begin your holiday shopping. It may even save you one dreaded trip to the mall.
Posted in House Painting | No Comments »
November 16th, 2010 by Suhaiba Neill
While it probably is too late to update your dining room for Thanksgiving, there is still time to add a fresh new color to your dining room walls before your Hanukkah or Christmas celebration. The key is to call now and reserve your space on our schedule.
“So, I have to say my dining room is gorgeous. I’m loving it and so is everyone that is seeing it! They can’t believe the difference! I wish I had before and after pictures. O well, better to live in the moment. I love the work you did, and the patience you had with me trying to figure out what color to choose. It was a real pleasure working with your company. Thanks. A slice of heaven having my dining room look so nice.”
– Sharlene Barber, Bryn Mawr, Pa.
Posted in Special Event Planning | No Comments »
November 11th, 2010 by Suhaiba Neill
So I’m not sure if it’s the fast approaching holidays or just a sudden urge to get all of the little things done, but yesterday I found myself walking through my house making a carpentry “to do” list. Once finished, I was very surprised to discover how many little things need to be taken care of around my house.
- Fix the hinges on the back gate
- Hang sconces in the Dining Room
- Fix the door knob to the Playroom
- Hang new pictures in various rooms
- Replace the medicine cabinet in the bathroom
The list goes on and on, but I think you get the idea.
Could you use a handyman for a day or two at your house to tie up all those loose ends and tighten up all the loose screws? If so, why not make your own list and then let us take care of the rest. My goal is to have everything on my list checked off before the start of the New Year, and if you start now, so could you.
Posted in Carpentry Repairs | No Comments »
November 1st, 2010 by Suhaiba Neill
Ever wonder which rooms get re-painted most often? Or what colors are the most highly purchased for interior painting?
Well, the most frequently painted room is the bathroom, and the most highly purchased paint colors for the year include Mascarpone and Urban Nature by Benjamin Moore and Latte and Portabello by Sherwin Williams.
To see the complete listing of the most frequently painted rooms along with tips for redecorating, visit the Interior Painting page on our website.
To see the top ten most purchased Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams interior paint colors, visit the Color Trends page on our website.
Posted in Interior Painting and Decorating | No Comments »
October 18th, 2010 by Suhaiba Neill
This past Saturday, we completed our second “Painting The Town” community project for the year under perfect exterior painting conditions.
The students participating in the Radnor A Better Chance program live in a 100-year old Victorian home in Wayne, Pa., which was in great need of an exterior paint job. There were about a dozen of us in all (including John in his “whites”) and in a truly collaborative effort, we worked our way around the house, painting all of the trim, porch ceiling, railing and floor, and the decorative corbels and front door a gorgeous new shade of red called “Copper Mine“ by Benjamin Moore. The house was truly transformed by the end of the workday and all those present left with a smile on their face and a little extra bounce in their step.
We also had the opportunity to have lunch with some of the current students, all academic scholars from New York who are attending Radnor High School in preparation for entering the college of their choice. The president of the Radnor program showed us their “Wall of Fame”, which boasts the photos of more than thirty students who have successfully completed the program and gone onto obtain college degrees in various fields. As a non-profit organization with no outside funding, she and the vice president (who submitted the request) were truly grateful that we were able to donate services that they were in dire need of, but could not afford. We at John Neill Painting were grateful for their request, and always look forward to the opportunity to give back to the communities who have made our business successful over the years.
Please visit Radnor A Better Chance to learn more about the program.
Please visit the Painting The Town page on our website to learn more about other completed projects and to download a project request form.
And be sure to check back soon to see before and after photos of the project and John Neill in action.
Posted in Painting The Town | 1 Comment »