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January 9, 2008

Hi Sharon-
Your cottages just look so wonderful! I’m definitely going to use them as the inspiration for our cottage update. Your “studio cottage” looks just like our cottage which is why it’s the perfect inspiration, and I love the cottage décor. You suggested Cabot, so I went to the site and I love the color swatches. One thing that I’m wondering…Did you use that stain on shingles that had already been painted or did you use it on new, unpainted singles? The federal blue looks much bluer then your cottages; I’m guessing you adjusted the color a bit?

Thank you again!
Elizabeth Prybylo
Yarmouth, Maine

Hi Elizabeth,

Thanks so much and glad you like the cottages! and thanks for sending your photos. Looking at them brings up a ton ideas! You're right about the cabot stain. We used the Federal Blue by Cabot color on our garage which is at the foot of our driveway. The Cottages are a little grayer than that but to be honest i really love the federal blue. You should check out a few swatches that are a little lighter/grayer and see how it works. Always do tests before you paint. Buy a few colors that you like (small cans) and test a side or two. Live with it for a few days and see how you feel. Also, we used that stain on raw shingles. We scraped all the old paint off and started fresh. it's a BIG job but important.
Thanks for writing and happy painting! ;o)
Best,

Sharon

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sept 10, 2006

hi sharon,
here's my question.
our tub/shower has some kind of fake black marble from the previous owner. it's fine, except it gets bleached out in spots like where suction cups were attached (from previous owner) or the little froggy mirror (us) gets wet and sticks to the wall. anyway, it's pretty unsightly now - it looks dirty even when it's clean - but I don't want to invest the $15,000 that would really take care of it. we're looking to sell the house in the spring and I know the bathroom should definitely look better than it does. is there a way to "fix" it in the 1,500 (or less!) range?
thanks, bleach stains in tennessee

dear bleach stains,
what a great project! and thanks for the photo. that really helps a lot. here are my suggestions.

1. paint it -

it's inexpensive and will do WONDERS! you can buy special paint and/or spray paint. as for paints brands, check out benjamin moore, kitchen and baths, acrylic based are best and do the whole tub or just do parts of it. experiment on a small portion of it first! when i did my tubs, i silver leafed them and did small experiments to make sure it looked right before doing the whole thing. you can choose to do it in black or try a whole new color, like white. but experimenting is key!

2. gut it -

you can have a whole new bathroom for 2-5K. especially if you do all the work yourselves. plus the advantage to a brand new bathroom will add tons of value to your home. but rest assured, dealing with plumbing and walls is a pandora's box! so if you're going to go for that do your research first and find a good plumber. and of course if you'd like some design consultations you know where to find me! ;o)

good luck with your project and please keep me posted on how it all goes.
best, sharon

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