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Why Durable Paint Matters (Especially at Christmas!)

The festive season is a time for family, food, fun… and a lot of foot traffic. While we’re busy decking the halls, hanging wreaths and welcoming guests, it’s easy to overlook the toll all that Christmas activity takes on our homes. Hallways, kitchens, dining rooms, and living areas are at the centre of the action — and they can take quite a bashing.

Home Décor Tips to Make Your Home Cosy This Winter

As the days get shorter and temperatures drop, there’s nothing better than coming home to a space that feels warm, inviting, and comforting. While summer décor is all about bright colours and airy spaces, winter is the season to create a snug, welcoming atmosphere.

uPVC Spraying of Windows and Doors – The Affordable Way to Refresh Your Home Without Replacing When it comes to upgrading the appearance of your home, windows and doors play a crucial role. They’re not only functional but also form a major part of your property’s kerb...

New Year, New Look: Refresh Your Home or Workplace with CAL Decorators As the festive season will soon be over and the New Year approaches, many of us start thinking about resolutions and fresh starts. While personal goals often take centre stage, the spaces we live...

Traditional Windows Restore or Replace? When it comes to maintaining the charm and authenticity of period properties, traditional windows play a significant role. Many homeowners with heritage or older properties are faced with the decision with traditional windows,...

Creating a Tranquil Bedroom: The Dos and Don’ts of Decorating Welcome to the CAL Decorators blog! At CAL Decorators, we understand that your bedroom is more than just a place to sleep—it's your sanctuary, a retreat from the world where you can unwind, relax, and...

Top 8 Summer 2024 Decorating Trends: Fresh Ideas from CAL Decorators As the warmth of summer approaches, it’s the perfect time to refresh your home’s interior and exterior with the latest decorating trends. At CAL Decorators, we pride ourselves on staying ahead of the...

According to Country Living Magazine, there are 7 emerging key colour trends for 2022 coming through in terms of decorating our homes in the coming months.  Key colour trends for 2022 are set against a backdrop of the last 2 years of uncertainty during the Covid-19...

Using wallpaper to transform a space is very 'on trend' right now!  With advances in technology and production, interior designers have gotten their creative juices flowing, and are coming up with stylish, and quite frankly, stunning designs that can bring even the...

At CAL Decorators we know that small spaces can be the hardest to decorate. They can easily feel cluttered and messy, and it always feels like a struggle to make them feel bigger or get them to look right. But it is not just what furniture you put in a room that can...

With many people spending the vast majority of their time this year confined to the home, 2020 has been a year of decorating. This has allowed for a range of creative, colourful and interesting trends to occur in the decorating and home-wear industry this year. Nature...

Did you know that the number of people doing DIY has increased by 28% during the Coronavirus outbreak, according to rare consulting? If you’re looking for a do-over after a DIY disaster, why not contact us? The most popular DIY activity that have been taking place...

I hope we have seen the last of the really bad weather and a bit of sunshine is hinting that Spring is well and truly on its way. No doubt thoughts of Spring cleaning are uppermost in your minds but it is also an excellent time to think about having the exterior of...

I expect you have noticed the plethora of articles and blogs about the best/worst things of the decade that have been appearing since the turn of the year. Not wishing to buck the trend, here are 10 of the worst decorating trends, according to Ideal Homes anyway! 1....

Checkatrade recently conducted nationwide research to see what UK homeowners are thinking about the current housing market, what with the election and Brexit looming. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the majority (68%) of homeowners are expecting to be staying put for the next...

Unlike many technical trades, hanging wallpaper is something that many people think they can do themselves. In most cases, they succeed but I can always tell if a professional was involved or not. There are notoriously tricky areas of a room, such as chimney breasts...

t may be an old cliché but to my mind, when it comes to decorating, it is spot on! Prepping a room for decorating is the major factor that separates a professional decorator from an amateur. An amateur is prepared to cut corners to rush to get a job finished. I and my...

I recently spotted an article on The Spruce website proposing the 9 best colours for painting each room of your house. They even supply a bit of psychology to back up each of their choices. 1. Best for Kitchens – Yellow. A yellow kitchen will increase your motivation...

I regularly talk about domestic decorating but don’t forget that we are also commercial decorators. We have recently carried out some work for the Keir Group. Now you may know that they are a leading property, residential, construction and services group. They invest...

I have talked before about my admiration for Farrow & Ball paints and wallcoverings. I really do think they are some of the best available. It isn’t just the quality, but their whole ethos. They are passionate about conservation and using environmentally friendly...

I think we can just about agree that summer seems to be with us. That being the case here are some of the latest colour combination trends. • Black & Metallics. Now, black may not be everyone’s first thought of a colour for the warmer months, but it is definitely...

I am as concerned as anyone about the future of this planet and always looking for ways to improve our environment. Often it is little things that we all can do to help bring about change. Here are four simple tips to make your decorating and interior design more...

I read survey results recently that revealed 95% of us suffer procrastination problems, putting off or postponing something we should be getting on with. When it comes to DIY I think procrastination is totally understandable. A growing to-do list combined with the...

You may not be aware but I have prepared a glossary of terms used in the painting and decorating business. Here are a few of the more unusual ones that you may not have come across before: • Alkyd – an oil based paint made from a synthetic resin rather than natural...

I know that Spring is traditionally the time to think about redecorating but this year don’t forget your kids. Don’t they deserve a special nursery, bedroom or playroom? These days it is very easy to theme a room to meet the dreams of a child. There are plenty of...

I am going to surprise you by saying that grey is not necessarily the dullest of colours for painting walls. In fact it can be quite inspiring. These days grey is no longer associated with dull industrial environments, school toilet blocks or hospital corridors. It is...

Now there’s a question for you. Which is best? Gloss (shiny) vs Satin (satinwood or semi-gloss) vs Eggshell (flat matt) Here’s a breakdown: • Gloss – a shiny high sheen finish that is almost reflective in effect. Always popular because of its hard-wearing nature but...

I have thought this for a while and now an official study has confirmed that fewer than half of the adult population are confident undertaking DIY projects in the home. The study was carried out by Local Heroes, a home improvement and repair service backed by British...

As you know, I am a strong supporter of Farrow & Ball’s excellent range of paints. They have recently added nine new hues to their total of 132 different colours. Each of them has a wonderful story behind them – here are some to whet your appetite. • Yeabridge...

Stainless steel has proved to be a real boon to kitchen design. Not only does it have a smart, modern look and feel it is also long-lasting and easy to clean and maintain. Not only that, you can match it with a host of essential kitchen accessories made from the same...

I know that a lot of people gain great satisfaction from carrying out home improvements and general DIY jobs. However, there are inherent dangers for the amateur and if things go wrong you could become one of the estimated 222,000 DIYers who end up in hospital each...

We’ve all seen them on the TV programmes about rogue traders and incompetent workmen. They are the cowboys that get us professional and reliable tradesmen a bad name. Here are 5 typical mistakes to help you spot the John Wayne’s from top quality decorators. 1. Cheap...

As you are no doubt aware Father’s Day is almost upon us. I spotted an interesting survey carried out by the MyBuilder website asking Dads what they actually wanted as a present for their special day. Now, I know that many people have an image of Dad as a DIY expert...

I am pleased to say I am, having successfully completed an Asbestos Awareness course with training provider High Speed Training. Asbestos is an extremely hazardous substance which can cause serious health problems to those who handle it. It is vital that anyone likely...

I am pleased to confirm that my team have recently been working with major construction company Kier on the Shire Hall recladding and refurbishment project. Not only that but we have received a letter from Jeremy Mann, Kier’s Contracts Manager, complementing us on our...

I was interested to read recently about a new scheme called ‘Paint Safe’ which aims to promote the safe use of paint and provide best practice for decorators during preparation, application and drying. The initiative is the brainchild of the British Coatings...

A recent report by AMA Research has revealed that the market for paint, wallcoverings and wood care products was worth a staggering £925m in 2017. Having hit an all-time low in 2009, the upturn in the construction sector in 2014 stimulated demand...

I read recently that national property maintenance specialists Novus Property Solutions had begun restoring the exterior of a magnificent baroque mansion in York. Beningbrough Hall is an 18th century Italian-style baroque mansion house set in beautiful landscaped...

I was very interested to read the results of a recent survey which found what I have always maintained – good workmen value their reputation for good service over the money they receive for a job. Last month Dulux Trade published the results of a survey of...

As anyone who knows me or has read any of these blogs will know, I am a great believer in getting the preparation right.  This applies to internal wood care as well. Older or recycled wood will often have cracks, drill holes or other damage which needs to be attended...

Dulux has recently announced that their colour of the year for 2018 is one called Heart Wood. That’s all very well, I hear you say, but what colour is that? Heart Wood can best be described as a delightful heather-grey.  Apparently it is intended to evoke the concept...

Take a look at these facts: •    Britons spend £244 a year per head correcting DIY disasters adding up to a staggering £6 billion for the nation annually •    There are currently 31.7 million unfinished DIY jobs in the UK •    One in ten Britons has injured themselves...

I’ve mentioned in these blogs before about my admiration for Farrow & Ball’s fantastic range of paints and associated decorating products.  Don’t think they are old fashioned and just concentrate on the traditional, though.  They are very much part of the modern...

If you read my blogs regularly you will know that I am a stickler for good preparation and workmanship.  This is most certainly the case with one of our most valuable tools – the humble paintbrush. Brushes should be cleaned immediately after you have...

I am always interested in the many different shades of colours and constantly on the lookout for new tones. Recently I came across a fascinating blog from Ingid Sundberg.  Ingrid is a children’s book illustrator.  She found simple words like blue or red didn’t...

I spotted a recent report that claimed homeowners in the UK are expected to spend around £35bn to upgrade their homes by the end of the year. It might be a sign of the current political and economic uncertainty in this country or the sheer expense of moving home....

I was fascinated to read of a new education programme launched by paint manufacturer PPG in partnership with the National Space Academy.  Their aim is to inspire young people to consider working in the space-sector or other related Science, Technology, Engineering and...

I do like to do a thorough job when I am painting a room.  It makes for a professional finish and can save money for you, the customer, in the long run. Here are just a few of the ‘extras’ I provide: •    Door handles and window catches.  Wherever possible I will...

I am not one for New Year resolutions myself but I know many people make them and hope I can help some of them come to fruition. It is quite common to think about redecorating at this time of year and this is where I can help.  Whatever you are thinking of having...

I have mentioned before that I am a great fan of the Farrow & Ball range of paints.  This month I thought I’d tell you a bit about the history of the company and why I think their products are so good. John Farrow and Richard Ball first met when they working in a...

I am sometimes asked whether white is a good choice as a room colour. There seems to be some confusion as I have been told it can make a room bland or even clinical.  In my opinion it is an ideal colour for creating a room that reflects the individuality of the person...

In my mind prepping a room for decorating is the one big thing that separates a professional decorator from an amateur.  While an amateur is prepared to cut corners to rush to get a job finished I will always take my time to get it absolutely right. Here are some of...

As you know I am passionate about the environment and recycle whenever possible.  A recent survey by the British Coatings Federation (BCF) highlighted some problems with recycling unused paint. It is estimated that a staggering 55 million litres of leftover paint is...

I am well aware of the old adage that ‘the customer is always right’. It means in effect that you should always carry out the instructions given to you by a client, no matter what you think about them. I am a great believer in communication, however, and would rather...

I don’t know if you watch those DIY programmes on television such as BBC’s Changing Rooms and DIY SOS: The Big Build. I was interested when I stumbled across an article about the father of television DIY, Barry Bucknell. Barry first appeared on television in 1956 on...

I was amused to read a recent survey which confirmed what I’ve thought for a while – much of my work is completing jobs started by over-confident amateurs. Armstead Trade, a professional paint brand, surveyed some 2,000 homeowners and found that three quarters of them...

Or perhaps that should be the new cream or beige, as I’ve noticed grey has become a fashionable colour choice for interior design and decorating. Grey can give a room depth and sophistication, as well as complimenting a variety of strong colours. It works beautifully...

You may have heard of Red Adair who was famous as an oil well firefighter in the 1960s and ‘70s. One of his most famous sayings was: “If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional, wait till you hire an amateur.” Many people are pretty good at decorating but...

Often I am asked to help with choosing colour schemes for rooms. In my book the customer is always right, although some are more right than others! Here is a brief guide to what colours suit which rooms best: • Blue – this is recognised as a calming colour, perhaps...

So which interior paint finish should you choose for your woodwork - gloss, satin or eggshell? Each, of course, has its advantages and disadvantages.  Here’s a quick summary: •    Gloss – this will give you a high sheen that is almost reflective.  It used to be the...

It is a damp, dismal day out there, just the type to get your exterior paintwork peeling! There can be a number of reasons why your paint is peeling, including environmental problems and living in areas with high humidity and rainfall. The problem is easily...

I am always looking for ways to cut down my environmental footprint.  For example, I will reuse and recycle wherever practical and possible.  One thing I am especially concerned about is minimising the risks of VOCs.   VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are...

As far as I am concerned, prepping a room for decorating is one of the most important parts. Anxious amateurs will often cut corners at this stage in a rush to get the job finished but I will always take my time to get it right. Here are some of my tried and tested...

Now I’ve been known to attend a panto or two, but I’ve never actually seen a straw house, whether it’s lived in by the Three Little Pigs or not! However, a terrace of holiday cottages featuring load bearing straw alls has recently been completed at Elmfield Farm, near...