Tag: Brown

Inspiration

Magnolia Home: Modern Breakfast Nook

April 19, 2021

Gathering with family or friends for a meal is one of the best ways to connect, and the experience is made even richer with a cozy and inviting environment – like this beautiful breakfast nook. A combination of modern tones and natural textures, this space proves that neutral colors can still make a design statement. The muted browns and golden grays in this eating area are a perfect recipe for a relaxing space.

“These grays bring a warm, grounding color to the walls, giving this breakfast nook a modern yet natural feel.” – Joanna Gaines

Modern Breakfast Nook

The impact of neutral paint colors is often determined by their undertones. A white shade with cool undertones might evoke a feeling of renewal or energy, while a neutral hue with a warm undertone can instill a welcoming coziness to a space. In this breakfast nook we used Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines® paint in Gatherings, a golden gray with warm amber undertones, for the walls.

Modern Breakfast Nook - Joanna Gaines

The built-in bench was coated in Reclaimed Wood, a muted smoky brown that added just the right amount of depth to the dining space. Looking for more neutral paint pairings? Explore the palette below of six shades, all picked to coordinate with Gatherings and Reclaimed Wood. And for additional color inspiration, explore all 150 colors in the Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines paint line on kilz.com/magnolia.

Modern Breakfast Nook

Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines paint is available at select Ace Hardware store locations, and online at AceHardware.com and Magnolia.com.

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Inspiration

Dining Room Debate: Light or Bright?

August 11, 2020

Is your dream dining room serving up pops of bright color, fun fabrics and fixtures? Or perhaps neutral tones and coastal inspired textures are your preferred dining room design menu? That is the question of this post, as we look at dining rooms styles from light to bright. No matter your style, we’re pretty sure there is one you will love!



Our dining room debate arose as we started a project to refresh an adorable dining nook. We knew we wanted to take the walls from the current dirty brown shade to an airy white hue, so first it was time to prime. To cover the light brown paint color, we chose KILZ 2® All-Purpose primer. This water-based primer offers excellent adhesion and easily covers light to medium colors. After properly priming the walls (and allowing them to dry!), we top coated with KILZ Complete Coat® Paint in White Wing. This sugar white shade has a cotton underdone and appears as a soft white in most light. For full step-by-step directions on covering both light and dark paint colors head over to our post Pro Tips for Painting Over a Dark or Light Wall.

The fresh white walls created a perfect blank canvas that could easily be the backdrop for a variety of color palettes. Inspired by the existing table and chairs, we started with a California Casual design style and played with neutral tones and textures. A new jute rug under the table anchored the space, while a fun basket-weave chandelier, sea-glass colored vase and ocean-inspired accessories completed the look.

Next up, it was time to turn this style on its head and go from light to bright! We brought in a bright white table and chalk-painted blue wooden chairs and an over-sized teal rug. Striped cushions and colorful brightened up the dining bench, while an array of three playful chandeliers came together to create a fun statement chandelier.


The newly primed and painted walls were the perfect backdrop for these two design styles, proving that white walls are far from boring. From bold and colorful, to sophisticated and neutral, the right white shade on your walls can open up a space to a myriad of design possibilities. Which style spoke to you?

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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Inspiration

Cool & Calming Kitchen Makeover

July 1, 2020

A dark and dated kitchen gets a much-needed makeover in this coastal inspired kitchen transformation. In this large and open kitchen, the endless brown cabinets and busy backsplash were an unattractive focal point. To lighten up the space it was clear that the kitchen cabinets needed a refresh.

Repainting your kitchen cabinets is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to transform your space, and with a little patience and proper preparation you can DIY your way to a professional looking kitchen makeover. Read on to learn how we took this boring before to a beautiful after in this cool and calming kitchen makeover. One thing the professionals know is that priming your cabinets prior to painting can make all the difference in how the final paint job appears – and how long it will last. When choosing the right primer for your kitchen, it’s important to look for a product that offers exceptional durability and mildew resistance. KILZ 3® Premium is a heavy-duty water-based primer that offers excellent adhesion, superior durability and provides a mildew resistant coating – ideal for moisture-prone areas like kitchens. After property preparing the cabinets, including sanding and priming with KILZ 3 Premium, it was time to paint! To breath some lightness into these dark and heavy cabinets, we chose KILZ® Tribute in Brushed Metal – a cool silver with hints of blue and violet. The new airy and soothing paint color was complemented with brushed gold hardware, new white countertops and an all-white backsplash. For step-by-step kitchen cabinet priming and painting instructions, check out our post on a Colorful Kitchen Cabinet Transformation. The large size of this kitchen offered the chance to have a bit more fun with the layout and design elements. We started by grounding the wide-open space with a new island, painted in the same color as the cabinets, and adding new light wood floors. Natural textures and tones in the light fixture, rug and window shade brought a subtle coastal vibe to the space that fit perfectly with the new light bluish-gray cabinets.

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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Inspiration

Accent Walls that Wow

May 29, 2020

Looking for a way to add some wow-factor to your walls? In need of bedroom paint ideas? We’ve got both of those covered in this post, looking at three unique accent wall projects that were all completed with just primer and paint! While the typical accent wall is simply one wall in a room that is a different color than the rest, we took it a step further and created three accent walls that are their own works of art. In each project, we primed the walls with KILZ 2® All-Purpose primer prior to painting to ensure the colors chosen really popped!

We tapped into three different bedroom paint color palettes for the accent walls, the first being calming blue hues. Our inspiration for the first accent wall was a beautiful, misty mountain range. We used KILZ Complete Coat® Paint and layered lighter to deeper blues to create a stunning mountain-inspired mural. The colors chosen were Alaskan Ice LE180-01​, Humid Weather RD190-01​, Water Splash RD160-02​ and Stormy Sea RC140-02 and were painted by hand in an organic mountain shape. Light blue bedding, pops of metallic and faux fur perfectly complement the calming misty mountain accent wall.

Alaskan Ice

Water Splash

Humid Weather

Stormy Sea

For our next bedroom painting project, we took an imaginary trip around the globe to Greece and chose the colors of a summer sunset in Santorini to create a stunning ombre accent wall. The accent wall was painted using KILZ Complete Coat in Nouveau Apricot LB160-01​, Soothing Ocean RD160-01​, Coral Myth LA190-01​, and Brickwork LB110-01. The paint colors were layered from lighter to darker, painting with a brush to blend from one to the other. Minimalist furniture, grey and purple bedding and black accents finished the space and let the ombre accent wall shine.

Nouveau Apricot

Coral Myth

Soothing Ocean

Brickwork

The third accent wall project took a neutral color palette and added a dash of jungle-inspired fun, for a painted wallpaper look. After priming, the wall was painted with KILZ Complete Coat in White RJ110​ as the base, followed by freehand sponge painting using Caramelized LC250-02 to create a unique patterned accent wall. The faux wallpaper wall was the perfect backdrop for natural toned bedding with pops of dark green, and a statement chandelier over the bed ​completed the space.

White

Caramelized

An accent wall is fun and easy way to use primer and paint to totally transform a room. We hope you enjoyed these three accent walls and are inspired for your next painting project!

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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Primer Tips

Top Primers for Kitchen Projects

May 1, 2020

The key ingredient to a successful kitchen painting project is the right primer. KILZ® makes a family of hardworking primers for use on a variety of surfaces and substrates, and for best results it’s essential to choose a primer that’s specifically formulated for your type of project. Today we’re talking all about kitchens and the top primers for kitchen cabinets and walls.

One fundamental benefit of most primers is that they make your paint job more durable. Kitchens are typically high-traffic areas and are often exposed to fluctuating temperatures, which can have an impact on the life of your paint job. Using KILZ® 3 Premium Primer before you paint, a product known for its exceptional adhesion and durability, can help ensure your paint job lasts.

When painting your kitchen cabinets and walls, it’s important to keep in mind that kitchens can often be exposed to high humidity and moisture. These factors can negatively impact your painted surfaces if they’re not properly primed first. Using KILZ® Kitchen & Bath Primer on both cabinets and walls creates a mildew resistant primer film, and also offers excellent adhesion to most interior surfaces.

Now that you’ve found the right primer for your kitchen renovation, it’s time to start cooking up color ideas! For a look at our favorite calming and energizing paint colors, check out this recent post.

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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Military Makeover Header

Inspiration

A Military Makeover for Grandpa’s Office

December 17, 2019

A grandfather’s military service is honored in this beautiful office makeover.

Before painting, smoke-stained walls needed to be addressed and KILZ® Original Primer does the trick. Trusted by pros for over 40 years, the powerful formula blocks most heavy interior stains including water, smoke, tannin, ink, pencil, felt marker, grease, and also seals pet, food and smoke odors. In this surprise room renovation, meaningful memorabilia become the focal point, showcased on dark-hued walls primed with KILZ® Original and painted with KILZ® Tribute® Paint. Want to recreate this look at home for yourself or someone you love? KILZ can show you how!

Office with cream colored walls and a floral chair Office with blue walls and military decor on the walls and on the desk

To begin and prepare for priming, wipe down the walls with a damp cloth to ensure they are clean and free of dust and allow to dry.

Next, tape around the baseboards, trim and moldings. To seal and block stains and odors, apply KILZ® Original Primer to the walls. Stirring prior to and during use, apply primer using a brush first to “cut in” around the edges, then use a roller to fill in and allow 1 hour of dry time. Once the primer is dry, apply KILZ® Tribute® in Oceans Deep using the same application method as the primer – using a brush first to cut in around the edges 4 to 6 feet at a time, then use a roller to fill in those sections before moving along. Remove tape prior to paint fully drying and admire the stain-free walls.

Person wiping a wall down Person priming a wall Person painting a wall the color Oceans Deep

To complete this surprise room renovation, an old desk is given new life! Primed with KILZ® Original to ensure truer color from the topcoat, the desk is painted with KILZ® Tribute® in Bookmarker – a dark oxblood hue that complements the deep green walls. Want to refurbish a piece of furniture at home? Keep reading the steps below to learn how!

Person screwing off the handle to a drawer

Step 1: Remove drawers and hardware.

*Pro-Tip: Put the screws back into the hardware, then seal the hardware and screws in painter’s tape and label it. It’s always best to put every screw back exactly where it came from. That will put the least amount of stress on the wood.

Person sanding a desk drawer

Step 2: Sand the surface; do a first pass with 100-150 grit sandpaper then finish with a second pass of 180-220 grit sandpaper.

Step 3: After sanding, wipe down the surface with a damp cloth to remove any dust or residue and allow the surface to dry before moving on to primer.

Person priming a desk drawer

Step 4: Apply KILZ® Original primer to seal the surface, moving in the same direction as the wood grain for best results. Allow primer to dry for 1 hour.

* Pro-Tip: When painting wood furniture, you should always use a primer first. Primer will help protect the wood and will ensure better adhesion and truer color from your paint.

Person painting a desk drawer maroon

Step 5: Once primer is dry, apply KILZ® Tribute® paint in Bookmarker with a brush, moving in smooth strokes in the same direction as the wood grain.

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Inspiration

Table & Chairs Makeover

January 12, 2017

Project Checklist: 

Step 1:

For best results start with a properly prepared and previously painted or primed surfaces. Remove any loose or peeling paint and wash off dirt or grease with a non-soapy detergent or a TSP substitute. Rinse well and allow surface to dry.

Pro-tip: For glossy surfaces, scuff sand with the appropriate sandpaper prior to coating.

Step 2:

Tape off areas to be painted. To achieve a geometric pattern we recommend using measuring tape to evenly space tape.

Step 3:

Stir paint before and during application to make sure it is mixed.

Step 4:

Remove the painters tape when the paint is wet, or have a razor to cut the film if you’ve let the paint dry.

Step 5:

Allow to dry. The product dries to touch in 2 hours (at 77° F and 50% relative humidity) or longer in cooler temperatures and/or higher humidity.

Person taping a table to paint it

Pro-tip: Measure peak to peak, as well as the distance between the points along the side of the table.

Person painting a table a certain pattern

Pro-tip: Use a high quality synthetic brush or 3/8”-1/2” synthetic roller for the application. When painting a horizontal surface, like a tabletop, apply thin coats.

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