Tuition Painters Information

Author: Davinos Greeno

My first thought was how can paint be organic? Isnt that for vegetables?

I did some more research and found that the term organic can be a highly misleading term when applied to paint so many companies dont use it and tend to use the term eco or natural instead. Unlike the food and textile industry, there is currently no legally defined standard or recognised certification scheme in place for organic paints just like soap pods (what are soap pods I hear you ask?).

It is possible for some organically grown plants to be utilised in the manufacture of some of the natural paints and to obtain organic pigments from some plants and insects, but these are not ideally suited to use in paint because they tend to fade.

It has been found that ingredients such as the solvents, acrylics and acrylic softeners used in most conventional paints are hazardous both to health and the environment as paints consist essentially of pigments (the colourant), the binding agent (which binds the colourant to the surface) and of solvents, (which keep the paint in suspension until applied). As the paint dries the solvent evaporates and leaves the dried paint on the surface. This process is the same with all paints.

But as the paint begins to dry, components called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released into the air causing toxic air pollution (that nasty smell) and increasing your chances of becoming chemically sensitive. These and other chemical compounds can cause chest complaints, aggravate allergies, contribute to the greenhouse effect and pollute the environment.

Most paint manufacturers set out to make a paint that is non toxic and doesnt give off VOCs so it will be a safe paint for humans as well as environmentally safe. Unfortunately, research has found that most organic paints and components release VOCs.

The vital difference between conventional paint and eco/natural paints lies in using as many eco friendly and natural ingredients as possible as pigments, binding agents and solvents.

People should also look to buy paints made in their own country as not only does it reduce the pollution caused by the transport of the end products and sometimes the raw materials, it also supports a more local approach to buying goods and services.

Author: Lee Dobbins

Decorating your kitchen can be a fun and rewarding task. One of the first things you need to decide, however, is what color to paint or wallpaper the room in. Since the color has a huge effect on the look of your design, you should consider this carefully. Here’s some tips on what colors you might want to use for your chosen kitchen design style.

French Country

French country style is both rustic and elegant at the same time. Since the furnishing and accessories highlight this style, it is often best to go with plain walls. Try using a light colored paint in pale blue or yellow with crown moldings on the walls, or if you want something different go with stenciling. For an aged look try faux painting the walls to look like aged plaster or use plaster with a warm golden shade.

Tropical

There are a couple of variations on the tropical style. One is the traditional “Florida” tropical that uses corals or pinks and turquoise. These colors can be rather bright on the wall so you might want to stick with white walls and use these colors as accents or include them in borders and stencils. The other variation is the more modern “palm tree” tropical which uses more earth tones in khaki tans and greens. Painting the walls a sage green or tan and using palm tree borders is great - you can even get a nice palm tree wallpaper with matching border if you want. You could also consider having a tropical mural painted right on the wall, or you can buy wallpaper murals - there’s even a cute one of a faux window overlooking the beach!

Tuscan

Tuscan walls should have an age old look. Try a golden mustard yellow or earth tones as a paint color. Consider a faux plaster with an aged patina on the walls, or use faux painted walls that look like cracked plaster. A mural of a window looking out on the Tuscan countryside could really add some interest to this type of kitchen.

Victorian

When I think of a Victorian kitchen, I think of a simple black and white motif. White walls with black and white checked tile. You may want something a bit more colorful and in that case you can go with a floral print on the walls or plain paint in a white or off white and accent the walls by hanging antique plates and other assorted items.

Mexican

The Mexican motif is about deep rich colors - reds, cobalt blues and dark yellow. You can use any of these colors successfully or try using a stucco on the walls, or maybe go with faux paint that resembles plaster. Think about adding some colorful Mexican tile to the back splash to really get liven things up.