January 28, 2009

By Ann Marie Scheidler

www.makeitbetter.net

Even if the economy is dull and gloomy, designers and homeowners are creating rooms and home environments that are anything but. The paint colors for 2009 are bright and optimistic. Benjamin Moore’s color experts even chose a zesty citron yellow as a top interior décor color for 2009.

The painters at Hester Painting & Decorating agree. “People are making bolder, richer color choices,” says Jeff Hester, vice president of Hester Decorating & Painting in Skokie. “Rather than safe neutrals, homeowners are selecting colors that make them feel good. Yellows, corals, teals, violets—colors that make a statement. As long as a room has the right type of lighting, there’s no reason to be afraid of color.”

Green, a trend that’s been gaining momentum for several years, remains strong for 2009.  Some of the shades are going more gray or more yellow, but Jeff sees green increasingly used as neutral and paired with almost any other color.

Black paint, once forbidden, has been a choice color for some of Jeff’s clients and is expected to make a strong showing in 2009. “The look is opulent. Especially in faux finishes such as Venetian plasters and our own version of an alligator skin,” explains Jeff. “And when it’s paired with a neutral trim, the final result can be outstanding,” he recalls proudly describing a master bedroom he recently completed.

When Jeff consults with clients about wall treatment choices, he encourages them to fill a room with everything it’s ultimately going to have. “I ask to see the carpet, rugs, curtains, fabric choices for furniture—anything that’s available. It’s easy for me to control the color and come up with a custom solution based on the other choices for the room. I try to help clients understand that it’s easier to find a wall color to match a fabric than to find a fabric to match a wall color.”

With the slow housing market, many homeowners are redecorating rather than moving and that can mean reinventing or working with what one already has.  “We are doing quite a lot of cabinet and furniture refinishing, applying a fresh, new color to what’s there,” Jeff says.  “People are reinventing their homes with paint.”

Whatever the color scheme, Jeff emphasizes the importance of proper wall preparation.  “Choosing the perfect colors for your home is an important part of the process, but so is preparation.  Inspecting, scraping, patching, sanding and priming—whether you do it yourself or hire experts—is essential when you want a dramatic and professional result,” offers Jeff. 

Founded forty years ago, Hester Painting & Decorating provides homes and high-profile commercial establishments with high-end decorating services.  Widely regarded as a leader in the fields of painting, faux finishing, and exterior and interior maintenance, Hester Painting & Decorating utilizes an enormous repertoire of finishes and wall covering techniques to create unique environments for its clients.  More information about franchising opportunities and other services offered by Hester Painting & Decorating is available at (847) 677-5130 or http://www.hesterdecorating.com