Wall Finishes:

PAINTS:

How does one choose the colours?
Choosing paint color can be as fun and as easy as surrounding yourself with what makes you happy. Always consider the space and the impact your selection will have on that space. Dark, rich, and vibrant colors may prove to be tiring in rooms you spend a lot of time in — the kitchen, breakfast room, family room, or any room where family and friends tend to gather and linger. A palatable, easy-to-live-with neutral shade would be a good choice for these lived-in areas. Dining rooms, hallways, and studies, however, are spaces where deep and vibrant colors can work —and work well. Powder rooms and bathrooms are also spaces where you can let loose with color. Keep in mind that everyone wants to look good, even if it's only in his or her own mirror. Corporate offices looks look better in neutral shades with pockets of interesting corners in loud themes. Restaurants and other commercial are more dictated by their functions and themes.

What kind of a finish i should choice for?
There are basically three paint finishes to consider: flat (least reflective), semi gloss (slightly reflective), and high-gloss (very reflective). Each of these finishes has its own characteristics, and your need for durability will often dictate where these finishes are used.

A flat paint, for example, might be classified as washable but won't hold up well in high-traffic areas and will show where it has been washed. It makes a poor choice for areas with lots of traffic. Even with its maintenance drawbacks, a flat finish is still the most desired finish for walls. This finish doesn't reflect glare and is easy on the eyes, especially in rooms with lots of natural or artificial light.

A semi gloss finish has a soft satin sheen that works very well when you want durability and little light reflection. Walls and woodwork with this finish are easy to maintain, hold up well to hand traffic and moisture, and give a velvety appearance.

High-gloss is the shiniest, most durable finish as well as the easiest to keep clean. It is especially well suited to woodwork. When used on walls, a high-gloss finish in any color can be very appealing and dramatic. However, if you're considering this tale-telling finish for your walls, be sure they are as smooth as glass because imperfections are sure to stand out.

Wall paper:

Evaluate your project needs. A high-traffic hallway may require a durable, washable material. However, design and style may be the motivating factor for a dining room. In a child's room, you may need strippable wallpaper that can easily be changed when the time comes for a makeover. Wallpapers are offered pre-trimmed and untrimmed, pre-pasted and paste required, wipeable, washable and non-washable, peelable, strippable and non-strippable, machine-printed and handprinted. Select your wallpaper wisely according to your particular needs.

Useful terms:

Washable A wall covering that can be cleaned by using a mild soap (nothing with ammonia) and a soft lint-free clothe or sponge.

Wipeable A wallpaper that can be wiped with a damp (water only) lint-free cloth or sponge.

Drop Match A half-drop match is a wall covering in which the design runs diagonally and the ceiling line is the same with every other strip. A multiple drop match is a wallcovering that uses four or more strips before the vertical design repeats.

Random Match A wallcovering in which the pattern of each strip is the same no matter how adjoining strips are positioned.

Machine Printed A modern method by which a wallcovering is produced using high-speed rotary presses and a series of cylinders.

Handprinted A wallcovering manufacturing process that employs an individual to place printing screens and dyes on paper manually.

Matching Hanging strips of wallcovering so that the design will be in the correct relation to the preceding strips. The types of match are random, straight, and drop.

Peelable A wallcovering that can be dry-peeled from the wall leaving only the substrate.

Strippable A wallcovering that can be dry-stripped, leaving a minimal amount of residue on the wall without damaging the surface.

Untrimmed A wallcovering that has selvage edges (with no design) that need to be trimmed by installer before installation.

Pre-trimmed A wallcovering that has the selvage edges removed and is ready to be installed.

Pre-pasted A wallcovering with an adhesive backing. Dipping a strip at a time in lukewarm water will activate the adhesive

Unpasted A wallcovering without adhesive that requires paste to be applied before hangi