Tag: Bedroom

Meet Jared and Jason: The Pros of Destination Restoration
April 18, 2023Are you looking for inspiration for your next home renovation project? Look no further than Destination Restoration, a new mini-series from KILZ that celebrates the power of restoration. Meet the talented Pros, Jared Foster and Jason Lai, who bring their expertise in design and painting to restore a fourth-generation family home. With their unique blend of skills and passion for craftsmanship, they transform old and outdated spaces into something new and beautiful using primer and paint.
Jared Foster is a master painter, builder, and business owner with over a decade of experience in the industry. He’s known for his attention to detail, his skilled craftsmanship, and his ability to turn even the most challenging of spaces into beautiful homes. Before finding his passion for home improvement, Jared was a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, traveling the country and touring with some of the biggest names in the music industry. Now, he channels his creativity into building projects that are both functional and beautiful.
Jason Lai has over 15 years of experience in the design industry and owns his own design firm. He’s worked on a wide range of projects, from contemporary homes to traditional spaces, and everything in between. Jason’s clients appreciate his adaptability, relatability, and humility while also acknowledging his confidence in standing by his recommendations. Having worked with such a variety of clients and spaces, Jason brings a unique perspective to each restoration project he’s a part of.
Together, Jared and Jason make an unstoppable duo, with skills that complement each other perfectly. Throughout the series, viewers get an immersive behind-the-scenes look at each restoration project, from painting over water stains to painting bathroom cabinets using KILZ primers.
Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or simply looking for home inspiration, Destination Restoration is a must-watch series that showcases the beauty of home restoration. Jared and Jason bring their passion, expertise, and eye for design to each project, and show viewers how to transform old and outdated spaces into something incredible. Tune in to Destination Restoration and start your journey to creating your dream home today.

From Stained to Stunning: Restoring a Primary Bedroom
April 17, 2023On this episode of Destination Restoration, we show you how to restore a room that’s suffered a bit of damage. Older generational homes can accumulate imperfections over time, especially stains from things like water damage. In the case of today’s refresh, not only do we take a standard primary bedroom and update it for a new era, but we also tackle how to restore unsightly, odorous stains using primer and a fresh coat of paint.
This series demonstrates how you can breathe new life into an older home (in this case, a 4th generation family home), while keeping its structural integrity intact.
Once again, our fabulous design duo—Jason Lai (interior designer) and Jared Foster (contractor/pro painter) —found a way to update this modest room while addressing the large yellow stain that had leaked its way around the sliding glass door. Our goal was to both cover it up and ensure it wouldn’t show through, which we achieved with a thorough coat of primer and a new coat of paint. Due to the lack of storage in the room, we also wanted to install a custom unit, with ample cabinets to make the space more functional and a modern haven for the parents of this lovely family home.
Covering up stains takes a little extra effort but is totally doable with the right tools. Make sure you choose a sturdy primer that’s right for the job, like KILZ RESTORATION® Interior Primer when tackling a similar project of your own, and follow along to see how our pros approached this room makeover. We’ve also included a step-by-step guide on how to paint over water stains using primer.
Stain Coverage
The main goal of this room refresh was to remove any trace of the water stain and get rid of its foul odor at the same time. To do this, we primed over the water stain using KILZ RESTORATION® Interior Primer then painted the walls, ceiling, and molding with Rio Rust, a color by Behr Paint.
Extra Storage
To replace the lackluster closet, we added a custom, built-in closet system with a hidden TV display, perfect for unwinding after a long day. We primed the unit, and then painted it with Forest Edge, a color by Behr Paint, for its ability to stand out and complement the color of the rest of the room. Together, these colors elevated the room and gave it a warm, modern, and cozy feel.
Other Changes
We wanted to update the existing lighting to complement the new design and bring more warmth to the space, so we added a modern chandelier by Kichler Lighting, as well as additional recessed lighting fixtures on the ceiling. We also replaced the door hardware, updated the electrical throughout, and added carefully chosen décor to bring this refined boho-chic look together.
Why Do You Need to Prime?
Priming is essential for proper surface preparation for any paint project. It’s the difference between a job done and a job done right. Priming helps solve a wide range of problems, including highly porous surfaces, stains, odors, uneven surfaces, texture differences, and adhesion problems.
Because this room required stain coverage we used, KILZ RESTORATION® Interior Primer for its superior, water-based sealing and stain blocking formula. It can tackle tough stains from heavy water damage, rust, smoke, nicotine, grease, tannin, ink, pencil, felt marker, pet stains and more. It’s also a champion odor blocker and can be used on many interior surfaces including drywall, woodwork, plaster, masonry, brick, painted metal, ceramic tile, glass, and most other glossy surfaces.
Step-By-Step Guide to Stain Blocking and Priming Walls:
Painting over water stains requires a few basic steps from start to finish. Here’s an easy guide to follow for your next project:
1. Patch any holes from damage and sand smooth to prep the surface (if needed)
2.Thoroughly clean your surfaces with a damp cloth to ensure they are clean and free of dust. Allow to dry.
3. Tape around the baseboards, trim and moldings.
4. Protect your floors and furniture from paint and primer by covering it with a drop cloth or plastic sheets.
5. For major stains like water, grease, or smoke, select a heavy-duty stain blocker like KILZ RESTORATION® Interior Primer.
6. Now it’s time to prime! Using a brush first to “cut in” around the edges and small crevices, then use a roller to fill in the larger areas.
7. Allow to dry for 1 hour.
8. Once the primer is dry, apply paint of your choice using the same application process at the primer.
9. Remove the painter’s tape before your paint is fully dry.
You Will Need:
• Dust mask
• Pole sander with sandpaper, 60-80 grit
• Extension pole for prep and painting, 3’-7′
• Step ladder for hard-to-reach areas
• Rags to wipe dirty and dusty surfaces
• Painter’s tape
• Drop cloths, canvas, or other reusable material
• Plastic sheets, for protecting furniture
• Spackle and applicator
• Paint roller, brush, and paint tray
• Paint of choice
• KILZ RESTORATION® Interior Primer
We hope this episode of Destination Restoration inspires you to tackle your own bedroom remodel this year. Be sure to keep KILZ® products in mind for your next project, and come back for more ideas, tips, and project inspiration.
If you loved this restoration, be sure to check out the other episodes of Destination Restoration. Jason and Jared took on the Kitchen, Living/Dining Room, and Primary Bathroom.
Always remember to refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products. Check out our Coverage Calculator to understand your estimated paint needs for your upcoming project.

THE CASTLE COLLECTION: THE BEDROOMS
February 22, 2023In case you missed it, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines® has released ten brand new colors, The Castle Collection, specially designed for Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Castle renovation in Waco,Texas. Featuring a beautiful range of warm neutrals to moody accents, these deep and rich colors will turn any space into a timeless classic.
This year on The Perfect Finish, we will be highlighting specific rooms to showcase the Castle Collection in detail. And be sure to check out the newest season of the Gaines’ hit TV show Fixer Upper: The Castle to catch these colors in action.
Today, we are highlighting two of the featured rooms inside the Castle project: the Girls’ Room and the Boys’ Room, each painted in one of the Castle Collection Colors.
THE GIRLS’ ROOM
This bedroom is painted Rosy Pink, a dusty, subtle pink with a nostalgic tone, which was specifically created with this room in mind. Paired with clean white trim and white light fixtures, this room becomes a soothing and inviting space.
With natural light streaming into this room from the large windows, Rosy Pink gives the space a warm glow. Named after Joanna Gaines’s grandmother, this paint color is bound to make any child (and adult) excited to call this room their own.
“This color is inspired by my grandmother, Agnes Rose. It’s a subtle pink with a vintage style.” – Joanna Gaines
Metal accents and vintage style décor add to this nostalgic vibe and make the timeless tone of the color really stand out.
This bedroom also features a fireplace, just one of seven throughout the Castle project. Coated in Rosy Pink with a moody mauve tile surround, this becomes a centerpiece of the space.
THE BOYS’ ROOM
The Boys’ Room features Castle Collection color, Estate, a deep sage with a soft gray undertone. With Estate cascading up onto the ceiling and trim, over the fireplace, and onto the doors, there is a grandeur and sophistication that envelopes this room.
This color was specially curated and designed for this room in the Castle, like many of the colors in the Castle Collection. With Estate covering every crevasse in this space, it’s easy to see the depth of this regal color.
Complemented by a black leather chair, brass bedframe, an antique desk, and décor accents with a classic style, this room’s design will make anybody swoon.
A special edition of Fixer Upper: The Castle is available on the Gaines’ Magnolia Network, Discovery+ and HBOMax. The season follows Chip and Joanna through six episodes of the renovation journey, including the development of The Castle Collection color palette.
Don’t forget to check back here at the Perfect Finish to read more about specific rooms and paint colors featured in the Castle project.
Inspired by these bedrooms and looking for complementary colors for your own space? The curated palette below offers shades that complement and coordinate with Estate and Rosy Pink from Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines.
ROSY PINK COMPLEMENTARY PALETTE
Moody Fig (From the Castle Collection)
Garden Party
Rocking House
Solid Wood
Silos White
ESTATE COMPLEMENTARY PALETTE
Vintage Crown (From the Castle Collection)
Renewed
Coffee Nook
One Horn White
Vintage Weathervane
These paint colors are available at Ace Hardware, Lowe’s and Magnolia.com/shop.

Our Favorite Projects of 2022
November 17, 2022The end of the year is right around the corner, which means it’s time to look back on some of our biggest accomplishments of 2022. What better way to recap the last 12 months than to revisit some of your favorite projects? From kitchens to bathrooms to living spaces, 2022 did not disappoint. When it came to updating, revamping, and overhauling, the year was full of inspiring home makeovers, so let’s recap some of our biggest standouts, and get excited to tackle another year of home improvement.
1. How to Prime Kitchen Cabinets for Color That Pops
You may remember this gorgeous kitchen update from earlier in the year. This project featured three different kitchen inspirations, all using KILZ 3®PREMIUM Interior and Exterior Primer, which came to life thanks to varied design concepts and paint combos that gave the original space some much needed personality. Two toned kitchen cabinets were a theme for this project, and using subtle, yet distinct colors that played off one another, we achieved a polished effect that would make any pro proud. See the full project.
2. Pro Spotlight: Angela Cacace Creates a Spacious and Fresh Feeling Bathroom
This outdated bathroom was in desperate need of a makeover, and pro designer and contractor, Angela Cacace, took everything from budget to aesthetic to difficulty into consideration. She used KILZ® Mold and Mildew Resistant Primer to start, and then finished the room using light and airy paint selections from the Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines® collection to make the bathroom feel fresh, bright, and spacious. Achieving the creamy and neutral result was no small feat considering the hot pink “before” color of the walls and the heavy black cabinets. Primer was an absolute must for this project, and the true star of the show. See the full project.
3. Restoration vs. Original – What’s the Difference?
For this article, we talked to John Golamco, Project Manager and Primer Category lead with the KILZ® brand. His 25 years of experience gave him critical insight into this category. He explained the fundamental differences between the primers and compared them in more detail. According to John, KILZ® Original is an oil-based primer that works great for blocking severe stains and odors. It also has a more pungent solvent odor and requires mineral spirits or paint thinner to clean up. KILZ Restoration® on the other hand is a water-based primer that also blocks severe stains and odors but has lower VOCs and meets all national regulations. It’s a low-odor primer and can be cleaned up easily using soap and water. See the full article.
4. PRO SPOTLIGHT: Make A Front Door Pop with Jared Foster
We know a thing or two about details, which is exactly what we wanted to highlight with this front door refresh. Carpenter, Jared Foster, sought to complement the already calm vibe of his front porch with an equally relaxed color scheme, and he walked us through his process in bringing it to life. “Once I laid on the primer and allowed it to dry, I was able to spray the door and trim using BEHR® paint, remove all the paper and tape and enjoy the new look. All and all, this project was completed in 48 hours. Having used KILZ 3® PREMIUM Interior and Exterior Primer,I knew this door color would pop,” said Jared. See the full project.
5. Creating a Family Room that Brings People Together
This chic, yet cozy family room makeover was all about encouraging togetherness. Using a modern farmhouse look as inspiration, we crafted a similar feel with soft white paint, dark accents, and intentional décor. Taking the room from light to dark meant priming the walls for the best possible paint application, so we used KILZ 2® All-Purpose Primer, which made the job a breeze thanks to its great adhesion and fast-drying formula. The finished room breathed new life into a familiar space and created a relaxed, yet sophisticated atmosphere, perfect for spending time with loved ones. See the full project.
This was a great year for DIY home makeovers, and even though the year is ending, we’re not slowing down. Whether you’re taking a little break or busy planning next year’s projects, we hope this inspirational list gives you the motivation you need to make your vision come to life. Thanks for spending the year with us. We can’t wait to see what new ideas you’ll bring to life in 2023.
Always remember to refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products. Check out our Coverage Calculator to understand your estimated paint needs for your upcoming project.

Pro Spotlight: Kenny and Kate Transform Historic Tin Bedroom Ceiling
August 31, 2022Hi there! We are Kenny and Kate-Home Renovation/DIY husband and wife duo based in northern Alabama. Although most of the time you will find us renovating a space or DIYing a project, on the weekends we can often be found on a hike at our nearby state park with our daughter Remi. Whether playing fetch with one of our three dogs, Kessa, Scout, and Lola or snuggling our guinea pigs, Kipper and Gus, we are also huge animal lovers. Our DIY journey began when we purchased our little 1972 fixer-upper home in 2019. We began renovating the home room by room and ultimately fell in love with the process of transforming each space. When most of the world was shut down in 2020, we found comfort in making our home a place of peace and restoration. We loved it so much that in January of 2021 we started our own local home remodeling business, Kaleidoscope Home Co. LLC, to help others embrace and improve the spaces that make up their homes. As the business grew, so did we. By the end of 2021, we had decided to sell our 1972 fixer-upper home and purchase an 1800s downtown brick mercantile building to live in/operate our business out of. That building is currently where we reside. Our business is located on the ground level and our living space is located on the second floor.
Because the decision to purchase and move into the building was made rather quickly, we did not have the time or resources to renovate any of the spaces before moving in. Our daughter, Remi, has been sleeping in a makeshift closet area for the last seven months. It is finally time to give her the room she deserves!
As mentioned above, this is a commercial property (now zoned for mixed-use). This means it does not have designated bedrooms. We have quite literally built Remi’s “big girl bedroom” from the ground up in a portion of the upstairs loft. Now that the walls are up, the closet and bed are built, and the hardwood floors are sanded, it is time to paint the ceiling. The beautiful, crimson red ceiling color works wonderfully in the rest of the building, however, it is just not the vibe in this room. We are painting the walls green and we’re afraid it would look like the holiday season threw up in here. So, as you might have guessed, we’ve decided to paint the ceiling a creamy white color. The historical tin ceilings in this building are worth preserving, and we believe a creamy white color will help accentuate all of the intricate details.
Although the ceilings were previously painted, there are spots where the paint has been chipped or scuffed. Because of this, we need to prime the ceiling with an oil-based primer to prevent the tin from rusting when painted. Priming is fundamental for completing any paint project. It is the difference between a job done and a job done right. Quite simply, primers create an ideal surface coat for the topcoat paint to perform and look its best: paint delivers color and makes that color and beautiful finish last as long as possible, while primers do the “dirty work” underneath. Of course, we would use no other primer on this project than our favorite KILZ Original Interior Primer.
When painting over an existing color, thick, high-hide primer formulas like KILZ Original Interior Primer are important for preparing surfaces, blocking color bleed-through, and covering surface imperfections. And believe us, these 100+-year-old tin ceilings have some imperfections!
First things first, we need to cover the recessed lighting with plastic bags and lay drop cloths over the hardwood flooring. We will be spraying the primer over some areas that also need to be primed (like the walls and bed), so there is no worry of overspray on these areas.
We always, always make sure to stir KILZ Original Interior Primer before painting because it is very common for the ingredients to separate while sitting in the can.
Now that our primer is stirred and the bedroom is fully prepped and ready, it is time to start painting. Always be sure to use proper PPE when painting with oil-based paint. We like to gear up with a face respirator mask, a hooded paint suit, and protective eyewear.
We have found that slow and steady is the best method for even coverage with KILZ Original Interior Primer. It dries quickly, but not so quickly that the process needs to be rushed. Back and forth motions are the easiest way to get in all the grooves of this super detailed tin ceiling.
And without further ado…drumroll, please… it is time for the final reveal of the painted tin ceiling!
We finished this project by coating the primer with Behr Premium Plus Interior Ceiling Flat paint in the shade Warm Marshmallow. The ceiling now has a soft, warm glow to it, and all of the scuffs, scratches, and imperfections are covered. We could not be happier with this finish. If you have ever wanted to paint a tin ceiling of your own, KILZ Original Interior Primer. is the way to go. It can be used on wood, drywall, plaster, paneling, wallpaper, masonry, brick, painted metal, and properly prepared glossy surfaces. It is, however, not recommended for mold or mildew-prone surfaces or flooring. You can learn more about preparation, application, and product specifications HERE.
Thank you for following along on this project!
Kenny & Kate
*This is a paid partnership with Kenny and Kate
Always remember to refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products. Check out our Coverage Calculator to understand your estimated paint needs for your upcoming project.

Kids Room Refresh with Oak Hill Millworks
August 10, 2022What’s up, guys? Christy here with Oak Hill Millworks and today I am recapping a home renovation project that I just wrapped up for my kids! Before we dive into the details, let me introduce myself. I am a small business owner in New Brighton, PA and my family is relocating to Kokomo, Indiana.
So, I recently found myself wanting to brighten my kids’ room up and expand it a bit. Are any fans of demolition reading this? Our house had a 2′ x 3′ foot bump out in the corner of the kids’ room, and we knew there was a chimney behind it. We assumed it was leveling off in the attic, considering there wasn’t a chimney coming out of the roof. I went against my better judgment and started what should have been a simple refresh with primer and paint with demolition instead.ͭ
ͭ Behr Paint Company strongly recommends the use of highly skilled professionals when undertaking a project that requires demolition.
Was it worth it to go through all that manual labor to gain an extra 6 square feet of floor space in their room? I vote yes! I love to challenge myself and taking a chimney out on your own, reframing a wall, hanging new drywall, and finally doing the FUN DIY work of painting was a great challenge for me to say the least. Once I finally got the room cleaned up and the walls wiped down, it was time to prep for primer!
The dark red walls needed a high-hide primer formula to prevent color bleed-through and, because of its thicker formula, help fill in any small dimples or imperfections in the wall. For the majority of the room, I chose KILZ 3® Premium Primer to get the job done well, rather than just getting the job done well enough.
Priming is foundational for any painting project for good adhesion and just in case you missed things like pencil marks or greasy fingerprints when you were cleaning your walls at the beginning, KILZ 3 Premium Primer will act as a stain-blocker to prevent those marks from showing up.
My room prep this time around was minimal, I taped around windows since I tend to go rogue with my rollers! I did not use drop cloths because I knew I was also going to rip out the carpet and install new flooring, otherwise I would 100% recommend drop cloths. I almost ALWAYS spill paint one way or another!
After rolling on 2 coats of KILZ 3 Premium Primer, it was time to see the room take shape by painting with BEHR® Premium Plus Interior paint in Silver Drop. I have always felt that painting a room is truly the best and most cost-effective way to really allow a space to become something new. A great tip, if you are rolling paint on, is to wrap your roller in inters’ tape and then unwind it and watch some fuzzies come loose — this prevents those fuzzies from getting in your topcoat! Beyond that, though, don’t skimp on the roller. Spend a couple of extra bucks and get a nicer one; you won’t regret it. It truly does make a difference in the finish.
Drumroll please… here it is!
Priming was a necessary step to block that deep red color from breaking through since we went so light on the topcoat color. Not priming could cost you time and money in the long run, so don’t skip that step. I am so happy with how this room remodel turned out. Although I did some major renovations to add to the overall transformation, priming & painting were ESSENTIAL in making it look like a brand new, light & bright space.
Doesn’t it look so much bigger too? Hard to deny that primer is key for Instagram-worthy photo finishes. Time to chalk this one up as a win and get started planning my next DIY project! Cheers!
*This is a paid partnership with Oak Hill Millworks
Always remember to refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products. Check out our Coverage Calculator to understand your estimated paint needs for your upcoming project.

MAGNOLIA HOME: TURN YOUR BEDROOM INTO A SERENE ESCAPE
August 1, 2022Our bedrooms should reflect our own personal style. Choices in accents and décor, bedding, or furniture can immediately change the feel of the space you lay your head. Bedrooms serve as the place we escape to relax and rejuvenate after a long day, so making your bedroom a haven for yourself is important. Color can play a big part of the overall vibe of your bedroom and choosing a serene color that will complement your personal style will help you feel at home.
“When you can ground a room in an understated neutral, it allows you to get creative and personalize the space with furniture, textiles, and accents that stand out.” – Joanna Gaines
This bedroom extenuates a sophisticated style, while bringing in natural materials to soften the modern décor. The walls and ceilings are bathed in a featured color from the Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines® paint line, Blanched, a warm beige destined to bring serenity to any space. The neutral color allows for the stained accent wall to be the wow factor.
Adding in other materials is a great way to add depth and texture. The wooden accent wall is colored in Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines’s Interior Wood Stain in an earthy yet warm tone, Woodsy Escape. The interior stain is available in twelve curated colors to enhance the natural beauty of your interior wood surfaces.
Complementing the space with gold accents, like those on the sconces and nightstand hardware, clean bedding, and textured nightstands, bring modern and natural elements together seamlessly, evoking a relaxing and serene bedroom for you to unwind and rejuvenate.
Inspired by this serene bedroom and looking for complementary colors for your own space? The curated palette below offers shades that complement and coordinate with Blanched.
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Priming Your Bedroom for Rest and Relaxation
March 16, 2022If you’ve been putting off starting a new project, you’re not alone. Winter’s increasingly shorter days can make us feel like there’s never enough time to start something new, let alone finish it. But with the arrival of spring and daylight savings, now’s the time to shift your mindset, pick up that paint brush, and get to work. We’re ready to put an end to putting things off and excited to share with you our professional tips for transforming your primary bedroom into the ultimate oasis.
As with any renovation involving a fresh coat of paint, this process starts with a primer best suited to the job. In this instance, we chose KILZ 2® All-Purpose Interior and Exterior Primer for its fast-drying, multi-surface, and stain-blocking technology, as well as its excellent adhesion, mildew resistance—great for humidity-prone homes—and sealing properties. Its ability to hide stains from rust, marker, water, and grease makes it a top choice among DIYers, and an ideal product for painting over any existing color you might have on your walls or cabinets.
For the theme of our relaxing bedroom makeover, we chose ‘minimalist serenity,’ a purposeful contrast to the chaos often lurking outside our homes. To effectively renew the space, we painted the walls and window seat with Tribute Eggshell Ultra Bright White TB-01. This bright white paint achieves a peaceful elegance that’s, at the same time, cozy and welcoming.
To make the transformation from gray to vibrant white paint as seamless as possible, we were careful to prime thoroughly beforehand, lessening the need for multiple coats and allowing our color to shine its truest. For time and convenience, we chose to use specialty paint applicators for wall corners and window edges.
Once our walls were dry, we focused on elements of décor that would elevate the space. Our whimsical interior comes to life with subtle pops of warmth in the throw pillows, blankets, accent mirrors, and lamp bases, as well as neutral-toned furniture, which grounds the space. The black, four-poster, canopy bed frame is a beautiful accent piece and serves as the focal point of the room. An adjacent window seat provides a cozy sitting nook, and a perfect place for unwinding with a book or cup of tea before bedtime.
Transforming an ordinary bedroom into a personal haven is easy to do with the right tools and intention. For a room that feels clean, bright, and tranquil, we recommend neutral tones paired with minimalist décor, but your taste may vary. Gorgeous color that catches your eye and draws you into the space is the first step in achieving a room’s vibe, which is why it is so important to prime up top and cut out any surprises where extra time or money are concerned.
We hope our bedroom renewal motivates you to start on a makeover of your own. Once you see just how simple KILZ 2® All-Purpose Interior and Exterior Primer makes it to lay the foundation for your project, you can have confidence to start and finish quickly. And with that extra time on your hands, you can begin tackling even more things on your to-do list.
Always remember to refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products. Check out our Coverage Calculator to understand your estimated paint needs for your upcoming project.

A Quick Color Change: Angela Cacace
October 18, 2021The bedroom. It’s the first space on this earth that an individual can claim as their own. There is that pivotal moment in every person’s life when they find themselves covering yesteryears’ painted walls with any cool poster or sticker they can find. And what’s left? A hodgepodge of a room that doesn’t fully reflect their newfound identity in the world as they leave their formative years and enter their tween years. With so much going on in the world today, I can only imagine what todays’ kids are having to cope with as they have navigated through this last year and a half. So as a designer and contractor for a remodeling company, I can’t think of a more deserving clientele in need of a space of refuge to call their own.
After a year of a pandemic that kept her out of school, my tenacious client, Saegan, was ready to tackle a fresh, new beginning. Excited at the prospect of finally being able to throw sleepover parties and hang out with her best girlfriends, she needed a major bedroom update. This room was going to be epic. A full reflection of the young woman she is growing up to be, I was so excited to help her find her design voice and style.
So where to begin? Few projects provide transformation in a bedroom but paramount to the small list is paint. A quick color change is exactly what this makeover so desperately needed to literally set the tone of the room.
Quite on-trend, Saegan wanted a two-tone wall, because why settle for one color when you can have two?! This technique is achieved by painting the area on the lower half of the wall (typically below standard chair rail height which is around 32”+) a different color than the upper half of the wall. This painting technique was not only beneficial in decision-making for a dynamic tween, but it was also a great choice for her dormer-walled room. Dormers are an architectural detail commonly found in the cape-cod style of home that Saegan’s family lives in. Along with a fun window nook, these types of rooms in a home boast steeply angled walls that follow the roof’s pitch. So in addition to providing visual interest, this two-tone technique worked with the shadows and angles of the walls rather than against them.
Sagean knew she wanted to paint colors that were lighter, brighter, and full of girl-power. So, after a quick field trip to the local paint store, Saegan decided on her two colors. She chose “In Bloom” and “Cement Pots” from the Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines® Paint Collection.
Bringing your paint swatches into the space and purchasing a sample to test it out on your walls is a must. Lighting differs from house to house and room to room, so it is crucial in ensuring that you have chosen the right color. However, in Saegan’s room, this step was not so simple because there was no way the reflection of her brightly colored room was going to allow us to see the true color in her space. With bright teal paint on the existing walls and stickers and doodles abound, good prep was a must to ensure a favorable outcome.
With proper prep in mind, we purchased KILZ 3® PREMIUM primer. This is the ideal primer when you are going from a darker to lighter paint color. And in Saegan’s case, we wanted to make sure that her new softer, more mature colors showed true without having to apply multiple coats to cover up the intense teal paint. Also, this primer’s thicker high hiding formula hides surface imperfections like marker artwork! Now, having grown out of wall scribbles and sticky hands, this very low VOC, water-based primer-sealer-stain blocker provided the clean slate we needed for a fresh start.
Kids’ rooms always seem to have a layer of gunk and grime, so a good wipe down of the walls is first on the list. Now, we were set to cover up years of scuff marks, stains, and “artwork”. After scraping stickers, filling holes in the wall, and removing screws and nails, we scraped off loose paint and lightly sanded it for a smooth finish. For the application, a high-quality nylon/polyester roller with a 3/8-1/2″ nap is recommended on smooth surfaces, like Saegan’s. If you are prepping a semi-rough or porous surface, you will want to go with a 1/2-3/4″ nap.
After an even primer application, we were left with a bright, clean surface that served as the perfect blank slate to begin. And best of all, it was dry to the touch in only 30 minutes, and we were ready to begin applying our new colors in an hour!
The break in the dormer walls was the perfect guide for where to separate our two colors. Using painter’s tape and a steady hand, we applied our soft color palette to the primed walls. After the addition of plenty of blush tone furniture and fabrics and gold accents, Saegan’s room transformed. Prepping the walls to ensure a beautiful finish, the two paint colors provided the perfect foundation to bring her lighter and brighter blush tween room to life.
*This is a paid partnership with Angela Cacace.
Always remember to refer to our website kilz.com or product back labels for additional information on which primer is right for your project and detailed instructions on how to apply our products.
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