Clean A Paintbrush in Ten Seconds

Believe it or not, I still have a few tips to share with you from the Greater Kansas City Home Show held in early February.

The first of those comes from The Wall Wizard himself, who has the formula to clean a paintbrush in 10 seconds--and yes, it really works!

The Wall Wizard's Painting Secrets

In addition to hundreds of exhibitors, the annual Greater Kansas City Home Show and Flower, Lawn and Garden Show offers several seminars including painting and faux finish techniques from Brian Santos, better known as The Wall Wizard.

One of his favorite sayings? "When you can't move, you improve," and paint is one of the easiest ways to dramatically change your home's interior. Santos, a fourth generation paint and wallpaper contractor, has channeled several decades spent in the industry into a wealth of knowledge and experience. Some of his top tips include:

Best Low and Non VOC Paints

New York Times writer Stephen Treffinger has the patience to do what few of us would find time for: road-testing non-toxic paints to determine which brand reigns supreme.

Although non-toxic interior paints (defined as such because they have little to no Volatile Organic Compounds that contain toxic chemicals) are celebrated as a more eco-friendly paint option, they've also been widely criticized for quality and durability that are inferior to traditional interior paint varieties.

Organize Your Paint Collection With Free Labels

Even if you paint only one or two rooms a year, you'll still inevitably end up with a stash of half-filled paint cans that become harder to identify as time goes on. And after a big project like a renovation, the problem multiplies exponentially.

Stain Instead of Paint Your Hardwood Floors

Painting hardwood, concrete or tile floors can open up a new world of color palettes that add just the right amount of panache to your home's interior. Yet some, like designer Stephanie Wirth, question the durability of painted hardwood floors, complaining that the paint has a tendency to chip.

The alternative?

As Wirth shares in the Jan/Feb 2010 issue of Chicago Home + Garden, stained floors are her go-to method, and not just any stain: a deep, dark ebony that imbues a richness and depth to any room.

Pantone 2010 Color of the Year: Turquoise

From runways to furniture showrooms to home interiors, the 2010 color the year, as selected by Pantone, will exert its pervasive influence on a variety of fabrics, objects and surfaces.

This year's pick, Pantone 15-5519 Turquoise, is a bright, tropical hue that combines "the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green," according to a Pantone-issued press release. "Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of well being."

To inject turquoise into your abode, consider any of the following paint colors: Behr's Jamaican Sea (510B-5), Sherwin-Williams Maxi Teal (SW 6769) or Benjamin Moore's Un-Teal We Meet Again or Harbor Side Blue.

Inventive & Colorful Home Exteriors

Thanks to our friends at ReadyMade for re-posting dornob's compilation of crazy home exteriors, which not only display a creative use of paint, but also add a splash of devil-may-care curb appeal to the streetscape.

Which one is your favorite?

Photo: Dornob