Like a Fresh Coat of Lipstick for My House

We're planning to paint our house this summer, so I'm deep in the research phase of choosing the right colors. I recently asked some readers their opinion on my plan to paint my front door red. The response was overwhelmingly "yes!" Lisa Holmes mentioned that a red front door is supposed to bring prosperity to the house. Kamille Caple mentioned that studies show houses with red doors sell faster. In addition to the enthusiastic thumbs up I received from readers, I read somewhere that in China, it's tradition to paint the front door red before the new year, to invite good luck and happiness. And then the kicker was this endorsement from Suzanne Tucker in a House Beautiful article "The Best Colors for your Front Door:

"I wanted to draw people to the door like bees to a flower, and this luscious red did the trick. The color has such clarity. It's like the most kissable lips. It's like the best manicure you've ever had."

How can I resist? Red it is.

I'm partial to Benjamin Moore's Aura line of exterior paint because it's low VOC, they have beautiful colors, and the paint is easy to apply. I'm also partial to Benjamin Moore because they have an iPhone app that allows me to take a picture of something that's the perfect shade of red, then it will recommend the closest paint color to match that item.

Now I'm off to find a beautiful manicure or some kissable lips. Whichever I encounter first.

New Paint or Mittens in the House?

JP's and my first house was the typical starter house with the cheapest, non-washable paint in existence. We learned quickly that the washability of interior paint is as important as the color. Maybe more important.

Little did I know that the abuse a newly married couple can inflict on painted walls is nothing compared to that of three kids and a dog. For as long as I've had children and pets in my house, I've had fingerprints on my walls. Sometimes footprints. At a glance, my children appear to be very clean. Katie and Jack both love water, and Andie seems to shower about three times a day. However, from looking at my walls you might think they never bathe at all. And Jasper seems to pace up and down the hall, rubbing himself along the wall as he goes.

There are many paints on the market that are low VOC (see post "where can I get a cute gas mask that goes with my decor?" 6/4/08) and many paints that are washable. Finding a paint that's both is the challenge. Benjamin Moore's Aura Line is my favorite paint that does both. This video shows how Aura stands up to the standard abuse inflicted by children, demonstrated by the video host's 2 year old daughter Emma. If that doesn't convince you, nothing will.


Now, if anyone has any useful advice for me on how to keep my floors clean, I'm all ears.

I AM Like My Home Office-Helpful and Colorful by Guest Blogger Andie Furber

Well, it's not really a home office. It's just a desk in a corner of my room. But still, it has many uses and I love it. It's not just used for studying and projects. It's the central collecting area for all my stuff in my room.

I have the PERFECT desk for someone in their last year of middle school. You have WAY too much stuff to know where to put it all! You have your textbooks, your papers, handouts, homework, supplies, and also just books to read. Normally, I'd think there's no WAY that I can put it all in one little desk. But mine, is perfect to hold all these things.

This desk is from Pottery Barn, and is the same one that I have. It's perfect for everyone.

My desk has 9 little square compartments on each side, so I have 18 places to put everything!! I put all my school supplies in one side, and all my other things in the other. The thing that takes up the most space, believe it or not, is books! I have 7 compartments all devoted to books!

But sometimes, there isn't enough room to hold everything! If that happens, put some jars on top! I have 3 that hold markers, pens, and other things on top of my desk.

And also to organize everything, use colorful bins to hold everything, like these, from PBteen:
For everyone who likes color, these are perfect!

My desk is good for everything: storage, school, books, and supplies. The best thing about my desk is that next year, when I go to high school, it will still be super great. I may replace my markers with ballpoint pens, and my Harry Potter books with more serious literature (no, maybe not), but I'll still spend many hours hunkered over my fun desk, working, thinking and reading, just like now.