Lighting Drama vs Task

Lighting is necessary for so many things that we do in our house - reading, cooking, crafts - but why not also make it interesting!

This client added under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen as well as track lights for ambience; and also recessed lights in living room and hallway. There are multiple lights on two separate switches along with a dimmer. Lights for every mood!

Porch Decking

Paul puts the screen into the frame.

Re-screening a porch deck way up high!

Adding a bit of stain...

Looks like new

Painting Tips

Proper tools can make a big difference.
Always use a tapered brush. Use a good quality paint. Load up your brush, don't be skimpy with it!
If your walls are dirty, they should be cleaned. Paint sticks better to a clean surface.
It's not always necessary to paint a primer coat. But it's just as easy to use 2 coats of paint as it is to use a base coat plus the paint color!

Cut in at the baseboard and trim.
Load up your brush and make one pass about 1/2" from the trip,  then with your second pass, get right next to the trim.

Cut in at the ceiling edges.

You can use a wide scaper at the edge of the wall and ceiling to "protect" the ceiling as you are painting. It is especially important to protect the ceiling when you have a textured ceiling that you will not be repainting.

Cut in around windows and doors.
Paint around edge of windows or doors about 1/2" from glass and door frame. At the second pass, put your brush right next to the window. Let the brush bristles touch the glass just slightly so the paint seals between the wood and the glass.

After you cut in, you can roll the paint on the walls.

Try to complete the painting while all the paint is still wet. When it stays wet, it blends better and you won't be able to see brush strokes or overlapping roller strokes.

Paul loves to paint. Most people dread it.

If you need help with your next paint project, he's your man!

Top 5 Winter Remodeling Ideas

Since you're stuck inside anyway, why not work on your interior spaces and cozy things up a bit!

Here are our top 5 winter remodeling ideas:

1 - Bathroom ~ Your older house can have a dramatic change with the addition of new flooring, tile back splash, cabinetry, and fixtures. And remember that your bathroom is the room that all of your guests use, so it deserves some TLC, don't you agree?

2 - Flooring ~ A lot of people are switching to hardwood flooring, have you noticed? I'm old enough to remember when everyone was getting carpet, and was so excited myself to be able to pick out red shag carpeting for my own teenage room. (Can you imagine my parents letting us pick out our own carpet, whatever we wanted?!) Now the trend seems to be moving to hardwood and tile because of all the allergens, and for cleaning ease. Paul can install various types of hardwood so ask for some samples and choose something for your house. You can do room at a time to minimize the remodel "mess".

3 - Painting ~ What a dramatic difference a paint color can make! Choose your favorite shade and let Paul, a professional painter, come in and paint while you take a weekend trip.

4 - Lighting ~ Have you been wanting a new light in your kitchen? or perhaps your master bedroom needs a bit of drama? Exchanging fixtures is a quick way to make an impression.

5 - Finishing basements/garage space/bonus rooms ~ If you've been waiting for the right time, this might be perfect to give you and  the family some extra space for the winter months. A game room, a theater room, a play room, a guest/office room... so many options!

The possibilities are limited only by your imagination (or perhaps by an idea you see on Pinterest!).
So snuggle up by the fire and dream... then let 7ofUs give you a free estimate and start making your dream come true. :)

Brammer Kitchen

It was time to upgrade from builder-grade kitchen to a more customized look. Changing out the counter tops and adding a tile backsplash with some custom glass tile and accents has certainly made a huge difference for the family in this eat-in kitchen.

Duncan Hardwood Floor

One of the challenges with this project was matching up existing hardwood in the hallway with the new room. After some detective work and savvy shopping, we found a good match, not perfect, but good blending. We think it turned out very well!

Archer's Bathroom Project

 The bathroom had already been gutted, so now it was time to rebuild.

Tile shower and bath surround with a whirlpool tub.

New vanity cabinet, double sinks and recessed mirror cabinetry.