Our September Job of the Month was close to home – literally! This gorgeous apartment was sold by members of the Blue Door Painting team, but not before a modern interior refresh.

The Avondale apartment already had a lot going for it – a great location, tons of space and natural light, as well as owners who had cared for it – but the key to fetching a good price from a buyer was presenting all the positives of the space itself.

Aside from choosing clean and attractive colors like Grey Cloud and Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore to update the rooms, the Blue Door Painting team was careful to stage the home to highlight all the wonderful attributes that a new buyer might enjoy. Especially for those transitioning from renter to owner, the pride of ownership extends far beyond being able to choose paint colors, so it’s important to showcase all the elements that make your house a home.

When staging a home or apartment, don’t forget the basics – make sure the space is clean, organized and inviting before hosting an open house. Our interior design contacts would be the first to tell you to keep the details in mind; pillows, plants, curtains, even candles or fragrance can create a cozy, attractive atmosphere for potential buyers.

Sticking with bright neutrals wasn’t just about staying on trend – this also allows for buyers to better visualize their own tastes when viewing the rooms. Overwhelming reds or dark blues or any color that’s striking and bold might work for you, but your buyer might be turned off by the daring choice.

The formal dining room started off as a playroom, but you would never know! It was reverted back to its original purpose after clearing away clutter and setting up a more natural flow of traffic through the home.

Buyers are looking for a great bedroom, so it’s savvy to focus a lot of energy on staging an impressive master suite. In this space, the bedrooms were tricky because of the attic ceilings, but the team was still able to set up a demonstrative room with appealing aesthetics.

Don’t be surprised if you have to spend a little money on staging – pictures, posters, rugs and other decorative pieces might cost a few bucks, but they will add measurable value to your home. Because this space was attractive and move-in ready, it took only one day in the property listings to pull in numerous offers. Better staging = more offers, more offers = more demand and value.

Aside from paint and decor updates, it can’t hurt to refinish floors, touch up trim and update kitchen cabinets and other hardware like bathroom faucets. Lighting fixtures need a facelift? Invest in some updated options that cast the room in the best light.

Keep in mind the kitchens and bathrooms can make or break a sale. Swap that old bathroom vanity for a modern sink and add a beautiful backsplash to your kitchen for an instant revitalization.

All set on the interior? Don’t forget curb appeal. Freshly painted front doors and finished decks can present a tidy image of a home that will look great for years to come.

Selling soon? Contact us today for a FREE estimate so we can help you present the best version of your home to potential buyers. Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirations and read our 5 STAR reviews on Yelp, Angie’s List or Houzz.

Gray and beige are two of the Blue Door Painting team’s favorite choices for interiors, so it’s not surprising that we adore ‘greiges’ – mixes of both gray and beige shades. If you can’t decide which neutral to use, get the best of both worlds for your interior updates with our top five greige shades!

1. Perfect Greige SW 6073

This rich, intense color makes a statement while still keeping things neutral. This version of greige is warm and cozy, creating a perfect atmosphere and backdrop for bolder pieces.

2. Mega Greige SW 7031

Step up the intensity of Perfect Greige and you have Mega Greige. There’s so much drama in this shade! It’s gorgeous and pairs will with both light and dark touches, but shouldn’t be used to lighten a room.

3. Sticks and Stones SW 7503

This warm greige has lots of brown undertones and we absolutely love it in kitchens with rich wooden cabinetry and/or decor. White trim and accents work perfectly with this shade.

4. Alpaca SW 7022

Looking for something softer? This light and lovely shade is a cooler take on the greige phenomenon. If you have a darker room that needs to be lightened or a space with natural light that you want to enhance, this is the ideal choice.

5. Agreeable Gray SW 7029

Contrary to the name, this shade is actually in the greige family based on the noticeable beige/brown undertones. It’s light and neutral, and can be paired with a wide variety of colors to accent or brighten a space.

Our Top Five series is brought to you by Blue Door Painting’s design partner, Jasmin Reese Interiors. Looking for design ideas or color inspiration? Contact Jasmin and her team for an unparalleled professional opinion.

If you’ve already found the perfect greige and want to get started, contact us today for a FREE estimate so we can help you create the home of your dreams. Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirations and read our 5 STAR reviews on Yelp, Angie’s List or Houzz.

At Blue Door Painting, we love using neutrals in decor and design. That said, we’re not afraid to take a home like our recent Ravenswood revamp and up the color quotient for a bolder interior look.

Our August Job of the Month started as a drab multi-level home that relied too much on beige and brown tones throughout the entire structure. Walls, floors, even decorative elements were so neutral that they all blended together. We teamed up with Jasmin Reese Interiors to create a color scheme that could make this home’s decor and style stand out.

To complete this interior job, we painted the living room, formal living room, staircase and the kitchen. The main color theme was a beige and dark brown side-by-side combination that stretched the entirety of the walls. We updated this to one color – Hazy Skies OC-48 by Benjamin Moore – to streamline the room and make the space look cleaner and more spacious. To do this, we first had to remove the chair rail separating the two sections of wall to open up a clean, cohesive surface.

The focal point of the main living room was a beautiful stone fireplace that was being vastly underutilized. We took the plain white framing and made a bold, black accent piece out of the entire portion of wall that housed the fireplace. The bright, contrasting decor added afterward really makes the accent stand out.

You’ll notice in the “after” pictures that the homeowners have impeccable taste in both art and furniture. This home is incomparable in its decor, with gorgeous paintings and art pieces, along with modern, stylish furnishings. Even their plants worked with the room when we were done with it!

Next, we brightened the staircase walls with Hazy Skies OC-48 by Benjamin Moore for a cleaner look.

Blue Door Painting is a five-star rated, highly experienced professional interior painting contractor that has been pleasing customers in the Chicago area for over 35 years.

We are experts in complete, full-service interior house painting for existing homes, gut rehabs, home renovations and new construction projects.

We hope you enjoyed this installment of our monthly Job of the Month Series. Stay tuned for more Chicagoland painting projects by Blue Door Painting!

Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirations and read our 5 STAR reviews on Yelp, Angie’s List or Houzz.

Stellar home decor is about more than just paint and color schemes – small details and accents can really bring a room together. One of our favorite details gets overlooked so often – the cabinet pull! These small pieces of hardware might seem purely functional, but they can add a flair to your home or subtly bring a design scheme together. Take a look at a few of our favorite trendy options for your cabinets.

1. Richelieu Contemporary Recessed Metal Pulls. Available at Build.com for $10.97

We love this contemporary option because it’s not fussy and provides a clean, modern look. These make us this of kitchens in lofts and other updated, sleek spaces. These pulls are available in Oil Rubbed Bronze or Brushed Nickel.

2. Satin Copper Edgecliff Pulls. Available at Schoolhouse.com starting at $34

We love the clean lines of this pull; it’s simple yet striking. The rose gold and copper tones are growing in popularity for kitchen color schemes, and this option is right on the cusp of that trend. The shape alone will provide an immediate update to any kitchen and the color will pair well with white cabinets as well as with darker, more saturated colors.

3. Italian Designs 6 1/4 Center Bar Pulls. Available at Wayfair.com for $12.99

Center pull bars still remain a popular choice for kitchens of all styles. They’re a versatile option, as they work on both cabinets and drawers. This style works well for a traditionalist who wants a classic, sturdy choice that will last for years to come. They’re available in a variety of sizes and three finishes: Bright Chrome, Matte Brass and Satin Nickel.

This list is brought to you by Blue Door Painting’s design partner, Jasmin Reese Interiors. If you’re looking for design ideas, contact Jasmin and her team for an unparalleled professional opinion.

Thinking about upgrading your kitchen or bathrooms? Contact us today for a FREE estimate so we can help you create the home of your dreams. Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirations and read our 5 STAR reviews on Yelp, Angie’s List or Houzz.

Out with the old, boring kitchen colors and in with the new, vibrant tones! Blue Door Painting wants to upgrade your kitchen with these interesting and on-trend color options.

Neutral Grays:

– Kendall Charcoal (HC 166)

This luxurious shade pops perfectly against vibrant metals or when paired with bright counters or trim. This versatile neutral would work nicely with most palettes.

– Hazy Skies (OC 48) 

Subtlety is key with this delicate option. Hazy Skies evokes a misty, soft feel in any room that reminds us of lazy Sundays in summertime.

Greiges:

– Stone Hearth CC-490

Photo by Benjamin Moore

A seemly unorthodox choice, this version of greige can accentuate other colors or pair well as the featured shade against bright white cabinets or counters.

– Tapestry Beige BM OC32 

You can’t go wrong with off-white! This color is a part of the Benjamin Moore Off-White Collection, and looks amazing against a range of tiles, granites and beautiful backsplashes.

Cool Colors:
– Down Pipe

Dark moody blues are showing up more and more in kitchen designs and we are in love with these saturated rich colors. This shade has deep blue undertones and is a wonderful way to create a dramatic and chic look with your cabinets.

– Van Deusen Blue HC-156 

This blue will pair well with white or grey cabinets for a fresh look. A white marble countertop with grey veining would be the perfect finishing touch. For a contrasted look, paint lower cabinets blue and uppers in white or a light grey. Another blue that would work well is Downpour Blue 2063-20.

– Forest Green 

We absolutely love the patterned tile to accompany this bold choice. Some other color options to give the same dramatic effect include: Green Bay and Hunt Club.

This color inspo is brought to you by Blue Door Painting’s design partner, Jasmin Reese Interiors. Looking for design ideas? Contact Jasmin and her team for an unparalleled professional opinion.

If you’ve already found your dream cabinet color and want to get started, contact us today for a FREE estimate so we can help you create the home of your dreams. Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirations and read our 5 STAR reviews on Yelp, Angie’s List or Houzz.

Gray is anything but bland – it continues to shine as a popular choice in interiors, from interior walls to cabinets and veining in marble choices. The Blue Door Painting design team expects this trend and its “greige” color cousin to stick around.

Thinking about updating your interior with some trendy neutrals? Check out some of our favorite grey and “greige” options, as well as some beige wall colors that combine beautifully with gray decor elements.

1) Repose Gray SW 7015 

This Sherwin Williams shade is the perfect gray base with warm undertones. It immediately creates a comfortable and warm feeling of home. There’s nothing flat or dull about this gray!

2) Gray Owl BM OC-52

Scared gray walls may be too overwhelming? Consider this soft-as-a-cloud option. It features cooler tones and is gentle on the eyes. The adaptable shade is approachable and picks up the tone from the surrounding environment.

3) Timber Wolf BM 1600

Not for faint hearted, Timber Wolf by Benjamin Moore is a bold saturated color that provides drama without draining the light from the room. Embrace the gray and make a daring statement with this moody and deep color. Bonus: It plays well with gold touches.

4) Mindful Gray SW 7016

This versatile and warm gray is in the same family as Repose Gray. This shade is a perfect neutral that works beautifully with any color combinations because it has enough coolness to transition. Mindful is not only great for walls, but makes for a classy cabinet color.

5) Classic Gray BM OC-23

Names can be deceiving – this color is actually part of the Benjamin Moore Off-White collection. It’s a subtle nuance off-white with just enough gray to make our top five. Classic Gray walls create a tranquil and serene environment, so this is the perfect base to create a restful space.

Our new Top Five series will join our Job of the Month series as a regular facet of the Blue Door Painting blog. It is brought to you by Blue Door Painting’s design partner, Jasmin Reese Interiors. Looking for design ideas or color inspo? Contact Jasmin and her team for an unparalleled professional opinion.

If you’ve already found your perfect gray and want to get started, contact us today for a FREE estimate so we can help you create the home of your dreams. Follow us on Instagram for daily inspirations and read our 5 STAR reviews on Yelp, Angie’s List or Houzz.

Let Jasmin and the pros from Jasmin Reese Interiors fill you in on the fall trends.

The recent fall chill has us wanting to snuggle up with a glass of wine and a book at home, now that the season of bike rides and rooftop barbecues has come to an end. We’re inspired by the power of the color red to bring vitality and warmth to interior spaces this season. Take a look at some ways to use the bold hue around your home for dramatic and beautiful effects!

Reds works well in the coziest places in your home, such as libraries, bedrooms and dining rooms. The cheery red paint on this living room gallery wall creates a stunning contrast for the white matted photography, simultaneously adding a touch of formality and warmth. You can use red in larger rooms to warm up a space and unify a design, rather than cooler tones you might choose for smaller spaces to make them appear larger.

This lavish guest bedroom’s muted red and gold patterned wallpaper is complemented by the sumptuous velvet headboard and luxe fur bed cover, and is given an extra touch of class from a classic red leather ottoman.

We absolutely adore the unapologetic luxury of these crushed red velvet chairs, adding warmth and style to this cool, airy Paris conservatory. The romantic red furniture paired with the sharp contrast of the simple black and white tile floor is fabulous. You might take this inspiration to your kitchen and get a similarly striking effect by pairing vibrant red cabinets with a geometric black and white tile backsplash, and of course lots of plants!

In the feng shui tradition, red is said to be best for dining rooms because the fiery color can raise one’s blood pressure and heart rate, and may serve to stimulate conversation and connection. We couldn’t agree more with this theory, and have found that reds work especially well in social spaces, like this formal dining room with deep berry walls and dark wood furniture. The gentle glow of the wall sconces complete the inviting feel.

Pantone’s Color of the Year in 2015 was a lovely soft purplish red called Marsala, which offers a strikingly elegant backdrop for this gorgeous white stone hearth.

Here are our paint selects for autumn reds: Sherwin Williams Real Red is a great selection for a brighter tone, or Benjamin Moore Mediterranean Spice for a softer shade.

sherwin-williams-real-red

benjamin-moore-mediterranean-spice

There are lots of powerful ways to use red in your interior space to create a daring contemporary look or a homey, welcoming vibe. If you’re not ready to dive in by painting your entire walls red, try painting just the molding and trim in a room, or adding some pieces of red furniture and flowers around your home!

Need help finding just the right red? Call us for a free color consultation.

Looking for professionals to do the painting for you? Call Blue Door Painting today.

Some people look at beige and see…blah. But don’t write off the versatile neutral that quickly.
An article from Houzz put the color back into perspective for us when we realized that, yes, beige has taken a backseat. The nineties color trend has faded in recent years, but its merits have not. Take a look at some of these gorgeous rooms with a focus on the mellow shade.

Janet Dunn at Houzz got it right when she said, “It can be soothing, sophisticated, flattering, rich and mellow, formal or casual, and a perfect launching pad for bolder decor choices. It is also never clinical or cold, an accusation often leveled at gray.”

The neutral, unassuming color opens up unlimited decor possibilities while still seeming inviting. These pops of blue perfectly balance this setting:

These rich, vibrant tones are right at home against a beige backdrop:

Even better, with a color like beige, you can get a little crazy with patterns:

No matter how you use it, beige can be the best laid plan for a modern, sleek new look in any room.

Want to bring back the beige trend? Call us for a free color consultation.

Looking for professionals to do the painting for you? Call Blue Door Painting today.