year of jolie: painting exterior doors
Painting the front door is a quick and easy way to change the whole look of your home!
When to Paint
In general, the best time to paint outdoors is during the Spring and Fall when temperatures are mild. You want to avoid painting outdoors in weather below about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, as cold temperatures can affect paint’s adhesion. In the Summer, painting in hot, direct sunlight can also cause paint to crack if the water evaporates from it too quickly.
Spring and Fall are also good times to paint because you are probably doing yard work anyway. Clearing out dead foliage from winter and planting new flowers adds immediate curb appeal. You will want to dress the front of your home, and a freshly painted front door can do just that!
PRO TIP: In addition to painting your front door, you can also paint your stairs or walkway. Jolie Paint loves concrete and absorbs into its porous surface.
Surface Prep
Always begin by cleaning your front door really well to remove any dirt and algae that may have built up over time. You can use biodegradable cleaners, like Simple Green, or some good old fashion bleach and water with a scrub brush. You will want to make sure that the surface is rinsed thoroughly with water and dried well before painting.
You may choose to remove your door or hardware before painting; however, this step is optional. If you do not remove your hardware, we recommend taping it off with painters tape for easy clean-up.
Unlike many traditional paints, Jolie Paint can be applied over existing oil-based or latex paints without priming. While sanding isn’t usually necessary, it can be helpful to give the surface a light sand with 220 grit sandpaper (or the Jolie Sanding Sponge in black) to remove any loose paint or debris and create surface tension, which will help Jolie Paint to adhere better. You do not have to sand to remove the underlying material.
Application
Most doors will require 2-3 coats of Jolie Paint. Apply your paint with a brush, roller or sprayer, taking special care to catch any drips or pooling in recessed areas. We recommend painting with the grain to avoid unwanted brushstrokes.
After painting your door, you may want to apply a topcoat for added protection. You should never use Jolie Finishing Wax outside because the heat can soften the wax or even melt it. Instead, we recommend Jolie Varnish or leaving your door unsealed.
Although Jolie Varnish is water-resistant, it is not water-proof, so it’s best for doors in covered areas. It’s available in two sheen levels. Use Low-Luster for a subtle matte finish, or Gloss for more of a statement look.
If you are painting outdoors and do not have the benefit of a covered space, we recommend using no topcoat and instead leaving your door unsealed. When moisture gets trapped beneath a topcoat, it can push the finish from the surface cause it to peel. Leaving your paint unsealed will allow moisture to move through the paint, and your door will weather better over time. Be sure to check the weather before beginning your project and allow for Jolie Paint to cure at least 5 days exposing it to rain so that it can be more hardwearing. It will take about 3 weeks for Jolie Paint to fully cure and harden.
before and after: complete kitchen at Florida home
Our friend and customer, Tracy Wright with Sotheby’s Realty, took a Jolie Beginner workshop at fivethirty home in January. She quickly realized this was just the paint to redo the kitchen cabinets at her mom’s Florida home.
Here is what Tracy has to say: “My friend and I took a painting class with Erica @ Five Thirty Home and we had so much fun! The class offered lots of ideas and tips on colors, finishes, techniques, and styles. I then helped my mom paint her entire kitchen with the Jolie paint and it turned out amazing. The paint was easy to work with and went a long way. The techniques we learned in class were very helpful as we tackled the project. It updated the kitchen so much after 20 years of being oak. It now looks beautiful and we had a great time doing it. As a realtor I am often helping people update their homes either prior to listing or after a purchase and this is an easy and fun way to add a lot of bang for you buck and the best part is you can do it yourself!”
We did some quick shipping and wo arranged for a drop ship of two gallons of Gesso White from Jolie and sent several 500 mL of Clear Wax from Zionsville to Florida!
The ladies had a successful trip and the cabinets are all done – check out the kitchen now! All the old oaken honey cabinets are now fresh and white….
I love that it has a fresh, crisp look now.
The new paint job makes the appliances look more modern too.
Great job on LOTS of cabinets, gals!!
year of jolie: dining room buffet
A buffet is a great place to start a dining room makeover. Whether you’re planning to give an existing piece a refresh, or you’re on the hunt for something to transform on a budget, painting your dining room buffet or sideboard is an easy way to update your space.
The buffet is a versatile, sturdy piece of furniture typically used for storage of dinnerware, table linens and other items. It also serves as a great place to display your favorite home decor or lay out serving dishes during meal-time. Because buffets often act as an anchor piece in a space, they present a great opportunity to make a statement and set the tone for the rest of the room.
We have refurbished many buffets over the years at fivethirty home. I would say it is one of the pieces we are known for – here are some of our greatest hits!
year of jolie: dining room colors
A few things to keep in mind as you are choosing dining room color palette:
Layout -Dining room configurations can vary perhaps more than any other room in the home. From breakfast nooks, to formal dining rooms, to open-concept living/dining areas – there are quite a few options when it comes to layout. When designing your space, you’ll want to consider how your dining room connects with the spaces around it. If adjoining other rooms, such as the kitchen or living room, be sure to develop a color scheme that complements those spaces. Color schemes in adjoining rooms don’t need to match, they just need to work well with one another.
Our go-to strategy for beginning to develop a color palette is to select one of the following:
1 light neutral + 1 mid to dark neutral + 1 accent color
Try to take inspiration from existing colors in your home when making your selections. This will give you a strong foundation to build off of, and will ensure that you end up with a pulled-together look.
Consider how this palette works with the colors in nearby rooms. If anything seems to be clashing or at odds, make adjustments. If your home has a very open-concept floor plan, you may want to keep your color scheme fairly neutral. If the dining room stands alone, then you have more of an opportunity to make a bold statement.
Function-
In addition to the layout of your space, you’ll also want to think about how the space is used. If it’s a casual, everyday dining area used for a variety of meals and activities, you may want to go with a color palette that’s more timeless and subdued. On the other hand, if your dining room is more “formal” and the space is used less frequently, it could be a good opportunity to have a little fun. The dining room is a great place to really show the style of your home. Think about the mood you’re trying to set, then revisit your your palette of 1 light neutral + 1 mid-dark neutral + 1 accent color.
Happy Painting!
Year of Jolie: Let’s see your cabinets!!
Year of Jolie: Cabinet Finish & Reinstall
Pick your Finish: Wax or Varnish
And, let’s put the doors back on!
Year of Jolie: Cabinet Prep & Paint
Screenshotting some of the Jolie Cabinet Guide for you to download and peruse. How do you prep?
I have painted both with doors on and off. The more doors you have, the easier the project is if you remove them. Being organized at this point will help when it is time to put them back together! We highly recommend cleaning kitchen cabinets well in order to eliminate anything that may cause adhesion issues.
Starting with paint on the backs of the cabinet doors will help identify any potential issues on the fronts!
Year of Jolie: Favorite Color Options
A white, neutral, gray or green would surely give your kitchen cabinets the update they deserve! White cabinets with a French Quarter Green Island base — yes please! Which color would you choose?
Need help with what you want your kitchen to look like? Stop in for our cabinet guide or take a look at pinterest for inspiration!
Year of Jolie: What color should I paint my cabinets?
It’s a question we get asked all the time? And the answer is not always a piece of cake. Our friends at Jolie put some great thought into what you should consider…
Existing Finishes
When selecting a color, you want to begin by taking into account the hard surfaces in your space that won’t be changing. These may include your countertops, backsplash, wall and floor colors. Are these surfaces dark, light, or mid-tone? Are they cool or warm? If your countertops are stone, such as granite or marble, what colors do you see in the shading or veining of the stone? All of these elements can inform your decision about cabinet color.
Typically, you will want your cabinets to offer some contrast from the other elements in the space – tone is important. For example, if your walls and backsplash are a mid-tone grey, you probably don’t want to paint your cabinets something too similar. Select a color that is either darker or lighter in order to avoid having all of your surfaces compete with one another.
An exception to the above rule is the bright, all-white kitchen. You can get away with having your cabinets, walls and other hard surfaces all the same bright white. However, this rule doesn’t necessarily apply to off-white, as too much of this color can look dated. If most of your hard surfaces are off-white or cream, you may consider a brighter white on your cabinets, such as Pure White or Palace White. The inverse also works: off-white cabinets with bright white surfaces is a classic combination.
Size & Lighting
After taking stock of the existing finishes in your space, consider the size of your kitchen and the amount of natural light it receives. A lighter color on your cabinets is going to give the space a more open, airy feel that can make a small or poorly lit space feel larger. Darker colors, on the other hand, work better in larger, well-lit spaces where you want to create a more dramatic look.
Pick up a Jolie Color Card, Color Mixing Guide, or even a 4oz sample to view color options in person. Be sure to view your samples in the kitchen, and at different times throughout the day, as lighting can have a big effect on how colors appear in a space.
Multiple Colors
Generally, if you have a small kitchen, it’s best to stick with a single color on your cabinets, as this will make the space feel larger. Two-toned cabinets, with one color and the bottom and one one of the top, essentially cuts your kitchen in half, which can make a small space feel even smaller.
For larger kitchens where you want to add a secondary color, we recommend painting an island or bottom cabinets that stop at the counter level. Kitchens with full length cabinets (i.e. floor to upper level) aren’t always the best candidates for two toned color schemes. If you have several floor to upper-level cabinets, for example, cabinet panels on a refrigerator, utility cabinets, or a pantry door, consider doing a wash or a more tonal finish as opposed to a light/dark pairing.
Updating Hardware
Switching out hardware is another easy way to make a kitchen feel like new. If you aren’t able to purchase all new hardware, consider using Jolie Gilding Wax to add metallic highlights to your existing hardware, or paint it a neutral color, such as Noir or Swedish Grey. Keep an eye out for the Jolie Hardware Collection launching Spring 2021!
Year of Jolie planning materials
Jolie has made planning your paint projects as easy as 1-2-3!
Keep your whole house project list posted to stay motivated and on budget.
Use this individual project plan to get into all the details. From a place to capture your sketch to a materials list and more, this tool will be invaluable as you get capture and organized the items you need.
Year of Jolie kicks off in the Kitchen!
Jolie Home has some exciting plans for 2021! Each month, we will bring you details as you Jolie helps you plan to paint through your home. 2021 is kicking off in the kitchen — we will tag all of our posts in the series under 2021 #yearofjolie…