A BRUSH WITH GREATNESS : DETAILS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PAINT JOBS.

Byline: Charlyne Varkonyi Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

How many times have you taken tiny paint samples home and tried to match them to fabric or a color in a painting?

Even when you take a fabric or picture into the store for computer matching, the color rarely turns out the way you envisioned.

The paint looks too dark or too light. The terra cotta that appeared sensational in a small chip looks disgusting on a big wall.

So how can those chic decorating magazines and designer show houses use unusual colors that work perfectly?

Selecting the right paint is complicated. A recent seminar for interior designers at the Design Center of the Americas in Dania, Fla., showed that the way a finished paint job looks can be affected by the preparation of the wall, quality of the product, how it is applied and how much light is in the room at different times of the day.

``There is no such thing as bad color, just bad taste,'' said Ken Charbonneau, director of color marketing for Benjamin Moore & Co., a sponsor of the event with the American Society of Interior Designers Industry Foundation.

Simple enough. But the difference between what works and what doesn't can be separated by a hairline crack that many of us can't see.

Charbonneau illustrated his point with a watercolor sketch of a dramatic New York City tearoom - bright blue walls, purple draperies and wood trim painted gold.

``Why can't you do the same thing in your living room?'' he asked. ``First of all, you will only be sitting in the tearoom for a short time. You have to live in your living room. You can't live with something like this unless you are a very special person like Diana Vreeland (former editor of Vogue), who loved red walls. And you have to know exactly what you are doing. If you don't know what you are doing and step over the line, it's disastrous.''

If you don't have professional design expertise, it's better to limit those vibrant colors - red, cobalt, purple and periwinkle - to accents, Charbonneau said.

Sometimes, he said, no color is the best color. But neutral doesn't have to mean white paint, which still accounts for 50 percent of paint sales. New neutrals include colors like rose, peach or celadon. They are soft, pleasing to the eye and reassuring. Like white and beige, they whisper rather than shout.

Once you settle on a color family, you still face the paint chip quandary. Because there are so many variables that affect how paint looks, Charbonneau suggests buying three quarts of varying shades. Go to that forbidding color chart and select three colors in the same range. Start with what you think the color should be and pick others above or below it or to the left and right on the chart.

Color is only part of the paint equation. The same color can look different because of the type and quality of the paint.

First, decide whether you want to use a latex or oil-based paint resin. Today's oil-based resins are typically alkyd-based. They are more water-resistant, faster-drying, more durable, more abrasion-resistant and more glossy than unmodified oils. But oils are being phased out because they are more harmful to the environment than latex. Charbonneau said they are used most often today as a primer on raw, unfinished wood.

Latex paints are easier to apply, have less odor, dry faster and are easier to clean up. Unlike oils, they are resistant to yellowing. The one exception is styrene butadiene latex, one of the first commercial latex paints that is now limited to interior primers and sealers.

Whether you select latex or oil depends on your situation and the surface you are painting. Paint store sales people can help you determine what is best for your needs.

A 100 percent latex will adhere to oil, he said, but be sure to sand the old oil paint before repainting.

Because oil-based paint is slightly more yellow than latex, be careful of improper matches when you use latex on the walls and oil-based paint for the trim in the same color.

And there's one place you should never use oil-based paint - on acoustic tile. Oil is more likely to fill in the holes in the tile that allow the sound to be absorbed. ``Give the tiles one quick kiss coat of a flat paint and get out,'' Charbonneau suggested.

The most important part of the paint job - the primer - is often skipped by both amateurs and professionals. Many do-it-yourselfers think primer is a waste of money, but Charbonneau showed examples of how a good primer can change the entire look of the paint job.

``The primer seals the surfaces and gives the paint an even sheen,'' said Dale Tocci, a Benjamin Moore representative. ``If you don't use primer, the differences in color will be absorbed into the (wallboard).''

Do not avoid using primer even if you own a brand-new house. Builders typically use the same inexpensive construction grade paint in all homes, Charbonneau said.

``I don't care how much money you put into your house, pretend there is nothing on the wall and start with primer,'' Charbonneau said. ``The flat paint hides a bad job, but the primer will immediately play up the imperfections. That's when you go back to the builder and get him to make corrections.''

If you have an older home and need to hide imperfections such as water stains, magic marker or smoke damage, you will need to ask your salesperson for a specialty stain-suppressing primer, designed to hide stains and seal at the same time. One caveat: It has a shellac base and has a strong odor.

Although primer also can be used on raw wood trim, it cannot fill in the open grain properly. The experts said it's better to prepare the wood with an enamel underbody to provide an even gloss level.

``So often, even the professionals skip this primer step,'' Charbonneau said. ``But the primer is everything. If you put latex over a Coca-Cola stain, it will bleed right through the paint.''

When you are ready to start your project, apply the primer and let it dry thoroughly. (If you don't want to paint the walls, use a primed section of wallboard or poster board.) Carl Minchew, Benjamin Moore's director of technical services, said a good quality latex primer will generally dry in four to six hours, and oil-based primer should be allowed to dry overnight. How long it takes will depend on the humidity, temperature and porosity of the wall surface.

Then paint the separate sections of the wall in your test colors. Allow the paint to cure. Minchew said latex will continue hardening for a week or two, but oil-based paint generally cures overnight. Compare your samples in early morning, at high noon and at night under incandescent lighting. The same color will look different depending on light, sheen selected and who is looking at the wall.

Selecting the right paint can be just what you need to freshen your home and give it a new look without spending a lot of money.

``Painting can make quite a difference, but it won't perform miracles,'' Charbonneau said. ``It won't make a place in bad condition look like the Sistine Chapel.''

Troubleshoot the hazards

Want your paint job to be as trouble-free as possible? Here are suggestions from Benjamin Moore and Reader's Digest books:

Humidity: Pick your painting days carefully. Avoid painting if the humidity is above 85 percent. High humidity will ruin the gloss uniformity in oil paints and cause latex to sag and take longer to dry. Don't paint exteriors during rainy periods.

Keeping it clean: Punch holes in the groove of the can so the paint can drain and not accumulate. A paper plate attached to the bottom of the can with a couple of loops of tape will catch drips. Slip an old pair of socks over your shoes to absorb paint splatters.

Paint disposal: Never throw paint out as is or dump it down a drain. If you have some latex left, add kitty litter to the can and allow it to dry for two to three days. Then throw it out. Oil-based paint should be taken to a recycling center.

``Picture framing'': This paint problem means you will see a darker color frame close to the ceiling and borders. Make sure you cut in these areas with your brush or sponge close to the time you paint the rest of the wall with a roller. Do not cut in with a brush one day, allow the paint to dry overnight and paint with the roller the next day.

Wallpaper removal: Allow time for the wall to cure after removing wallpaper. If you don't get all the paste off, your paint will eventually yellow and crack like mud. Make sure the mixture of paste remover is proper, and allow the walls to dry 14 days before you paint.

SOURCE: - Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

Do research so you won't paint yourself into any corners

Where to find more information on painting:

The National Paint & Coatings Association offers free paint and decorating booklets on selecting paint colors, refinishing wood furniture, painting interiors and exteriors, as well as information on proper paint disposal. Write: National Paint & Coating Association, 1500 Rhode Island Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, and include a self-addressed and stamped business-size envelope. For more information, see the association's Internet site at http://www.paint.org.

Benjamin Moore stores have free booklets on painting tips. Some stores also sell a FAUX Finesse video. The video and accompanying booklet concentrate on nontraditional painted surfaces such as floors, cabinets, counters, paneling and furniture as well as new techniques for walls. The cost is $19.95.

Dutch Boy Paints has a toll-free help line that offers free advice and booklets. Experts will answer questions on a variety of topics, such as painting techniques, product compatibility and surface preparation. Booklets are available on children's rooms, exterior and interior painting, and kitchens. Call [phone].

The Glidden hot line (800-663-8589) will answer basic painting questions and will send you the free ``Painter's Companion Guide,'' a color chart of paint colors, pictures and decorating tips. The guide comes in two versions - one for interior and the other for exterior painting.

SOURCE: - Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

The chips are down

Both alkyds and latex paints come in a variety of sheens or lusters. Here are the differences:

Flat. Commonly used on ceilings and in new residential construction by paint contractors, these lower-quality paints are coarse and become dry and porous within a few months. The look is soft and uniform with less glare.

Eggshell. Requested more often than flat by architects for commercial projects, it's washable, has good color retention and protects against the drying effects of fluorescent lighting.

Pearl. Developed at the request of the design community, this sheen is shinier than eggshell but softer than satin. It is extremely scrubbable and can be used on walls, doors and trims. Designers like to use it in bathrooms and kitchens.

Satin. Slightly shinier than eggshell, it is often used on doors and casings. Because it contains oil, this paint will yellow in time.

Semi-gloss. A midrange sheen paint with excellent scrubbability. It is a good choice for public rest rooms, hospitals and surfaces exposed to constant scrubbing. It is often the starting point for faux finishes.

High gloss. Often called the ``wet look,'' it produces a wonderful mirrored finish that many designers preferred in the 1980s. Used in contemporary settings or to highlight architectural detail, it offers good scrubbability using nonabrasive products. One caveat: The higher the gloss, the more defects will show.

SOURCE: - Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

CAPTION(S):

Drawing, 2 Photos, 3 Boxes

Drawing: (Cover--Color) Giving your ho use the brush-off 

Painting - with just the right color, mind you - can be the pause that refreshes

Miami Herald

Photo: (1) Before applying that first stroke of paint, be sure you've taken into account all the factors that could leave you seeing red instead of some more cheerful color.

Gus Ruelas/Daily News

(2) Unless you've considered such factors as sun exposure, surface condition and paint sheen, the color could look a lot different on the wall than on the paint chip.

Hans Gutknecht/Daily News

Box: (1) Troubleshoot the hazards (See Text)

(2) Do research so you won't paint yourself into corners (See Text)

(3) The chips are down (See Text)