CAL Painters & Decorators

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 explore the client’s ideas than follow his instructions to the letter without question.

What I aim to achieve is a solution that the client is completely happy with, even if it involves ideas he would never have dreamed of.

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.

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 had had DIY or improvement disasters that had cost hundreds of pounds to put right.

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 in both modern and traditional homes and acts as a classic base shade for more adventurous colours.

If you’re a fan of pastels, then pastel greys with soft colours, muted whites and warm neutrals may appeal to you. To give an especially sophisticated yet simple look, you can accessorise with pale wooden furniture and flooring, such as ash, beech or maple.

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.”