There’s nothing better than bringing a new dimension and experience to your life by transforming your home with new fresh paint. So before you head down to the paint store I’d like to share this video with you – explaining how to choose the right paint colors for your home.

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Please leave your questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2011 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

Granted there are some home improvements projects that may not require permits. But having said that, different cities and States do have their own requirements, so make sure to check with your local Building Department before you start. A visit to your local permitting office is the only way to know for sure if you need a permit or not. The officers there will be more than happy to discuss these issues with you so they can avoid future code violations.

In this video I give you THE starting point for when you have decided to go ahead with a renovation.  I would highly recommend starting here

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Please leave your questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2011 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

Planning a home renovation project can create an extremely stressful environment particularly when it comes to setting a budget.  Knowing what you want and need in advance is the key to a successful home design project and planning ahead will undoubtedly save you time and money – making sure you don’t make expensive mistakes or waste time.

Without pre-planning disasters can occur.

Whether you’re gutting your kitchen or adding on on new master bedroom suite, I’d like to share a quick  tip with you.

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Please leave your questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2011 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

If you want to start your renovation off on the right foot and set the tone for the next several months or more, then consider a few of these surefire ways to win over your design team, and make your renovation experience a great one.

In this video I give you some tips on how to not only survive a renovation but maybe even enjoy it! Have fun!

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Please leave your questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2011 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

Freshome is a fabulous online interior design and architecture magazine for design savvy enthusiasts. It spans the design world from furnishings, interiors and architectural properties from across the globe. The inspiration here is endless.  

Thank You Freshome! I am very honored to be featured here today.

Click here to check it out!

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Please leave your questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2011 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

When it comes to renovating, redesigning or decorating your home, you’ll see that if you follow a systemized plan of action, you can achieve a relatively stress free and highly successful design project.  At this early stage, you may not have a firm grip on the overall direction of your project – but most likely you have a basic notion of which projects will enhance your family’s quality of life.

Pre-planning, doing your research and being well organized is the key to a successful project!

One of the most important factors for a successful design project is in this video! It’s definitely a MUST WATCH

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Please leave your questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2011 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

We are back again with another Renovation Reality.

If your home renovation project involves tearing down walls, building new ones, or relocating and supplementing any plumbing and electrical systems…then you will definitely need to hire a general contractor.

Deciding on that perfect person is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make during the entire renovation process. While most contractors do fabulous work and come highly recommended, I’ve found there are still a lot of unscrupulous characters out there.  The last thing you want is to be totally let down by the very person you entrusted to deliver your ultimate dream home.

So do your best to find the right contractor for you, so all the time and money you spend planning, budgeting and designing your home will be placed in the right hands.

So when you are interviewing contractors here is one quick little tip that will go a long way!

Stay Inspired!

Please leave your questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2011 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

A little paint goes a very long way and gives you the biggest bang for your buck – and no matter how large or small your project, knowing how much paint to buy in advance will save you valuable time and money.  It’s an easy process involving 3^rd grade math skills – which I know we have brushed up on over the years while helping our kids with their homework.

To find out how much paint you’ll need for your specific room, first determine the overall square footage of the area you intend to paint – from walls – ceilings – windows – doors and trim.

Measure the length of all walls you intend to paint (from end to end) and multiply them by their overall height (from floor to ceiling) to determine the wall’s square footage and repeat the process for each a surface.

Paint Tips

• Typically a gallon of paint will cover a surface area of 350 – 400 square feet. (Check the manufacturer’s recommendation on the label)
• A standard size door occupies 20 square feet of space.
• A single average sized window typically occupies approx.15 square feet and an average of 7.5 square feet of paint to cover the trims and sashes.
• New drywall and unfinished materials will require a primer and at least one finished coat– as unprepared surfaces are porous and will absorb most of the first coat.
• To ensure a quality job always specify a primer plus two coats.
• When painting over a dark color factor in two coats of paint.
• Buy more paint than you think you’ll need.  It will help with dye lot consistency and leave you with extra material for those invariable touch ups.

Estimating and Measuring

• Measure the length of all walls you intend to paint (from end to end) and multiply them by their overall height (from floor to ceiling) to determine the wall’s square footage.
• Subtract the square footage of any doors and windows in the space from the room total.
• Now that you’ve determined the paint-able wall surfaces, divide that wall area by 400 (the square foot coverage from each gallon) to determine the number of gallons you’ll need to paint your walls.
• Remember to double the amount for two coats.
• Do the same exercise for the ceiling (tip: your floor area is the same measurement as your ceiling area).
• Measure the length of all trims, baseboards, coves and moldings in linear feet – and multiply it by .5 for a safe (6”) measurement of coverage. (Paint goes a long way here).

Next decide which finish, brand and color to buy.

Paint Finishes

Flat Finish.

• Absorbs light and is very forgiving in hiding small wall imperfections.
• Suitable for low traffic interior spaces.
• Poor choice in kitchens, baths playrooms and children’s bedrooms as it doesn’t wipe down well.

Eggshell Finish.

• Similar to matte with a slight sheen as it dries.
• Great choice for interiors and washes down much better than flat.
• Can show slight imperfections in the walls.
• A better option for kids rooms.

Satin Finish.

• Has a smooth shine and is very bright and reflective.
• Wonderful in contemporary homes with perfect wall construction.
• Shows every imperfection.
• Works well for trims, baseboards and moldings.

Semi-Gloss Finish.

• Quite glossy and are used mostly in kitchens, baths since they cleans very easily.
• The higher the sheen the more wipe-able and durable the material.
• Typically used on all trims, doors, baseboards and moldings.

Glossy Finish.

• Used in high contemporary interiors and on modern cabinetry and furniture.

If you still need some extra help or want to double check your calculations, The Benjamin Moore Paint Calculator will help you out.

Stay Inspired!

Please leave your questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2011 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

Outdoor living spaces are gaining in popularity particularly in parts of the country with more temperate climates. If you love entertaining your family and friends, what better way to make that happen than by transforming your backyards, patios and decks into spectacular living spaces.  It instantly expands the architecture of your home and seamlessly connects you to the environment.

In this video I share some extremely valuable tips on how to create the ULTIMATE OUTDOOR ESCAPE for your home. It’s all about outdoor living spaces these days!

Stay Inspired!

Please leave your questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2011 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.