I did my first paint job about eight years ago. Before that, I considered painting a room to be an expensive undertaking, and the idea of doing it myself was intimidating. When I finally painted a room myself I was amazed at how easy it was, once I mastered a few simple tricks.
Since then, I paint everywhere I go. There is no easier, more effective, or more efficient way to enhance a space.
The obvious discussion about paint is normally regarding color. But there’s another, equally important aspect, and that’s the finish. All brands have at least three finishes, based on the shininess of the paint once it dries. The names can vary among brands, but they basically go from “flat” to “eggshell,” to “semi-gloss.” Each one has its place, but I favor a flat finish in pretty much any situation except a kitchen or bathroom (where the scrub-ability of semi-gloss is more appropriate).
The Williamsburg apartment started out with white semi-gloss on every wall and every ceiling. If you look back at this picture, you can see how incredibly reflective those walls were. There is nothing intimate, or charming, or inviting about super-shiny walls, in my opinion. They give a room an institutional look.
You can see the difference for yourself on the two walls in the above picture. The one on the left is so shiny that you can see the reflection of the ladder’s rungs. The one on the right has been painted a soft silver color with a flat finish. If you look at the long diagonal shadow that runs across each, you can see that the shadow on the glossy wall is harsh and strongly defined, while the one on the right is softer and more diffuse.
Next up: one of my favorite words in the English language.
