A Tinted Perspective

Great Color Inspiration!!

2010-01-26T12:00:00.000-08:00

Susan, a Daly's Paint & Decorating customer, came in with a gorgeous tea towel the other day - she wanted to paint her kitchen with a unique color combination - and her towel was the inspiration. The towel is in greens and browns, with a hot pink accent thrown in at the edge.

She didn't want to play it safe, she was ready for some fun. Color is such a great way to make a change, and I loved what we came up with, and I wanted you to see her fabu colors.

Here are the 3 hot C2 Paint colors that will make her kitchen absolutely pop:
'Plantain'
'Fetish'
Chocolate Therapy'

Yummmm!!!!

Fun Fremocentrist Blog Feature on Larry (who works in our Seattle Daly's Paint & Decorating store!!)

2010-01-26T11:18:00.000-08:00

Fremont, where the Seattle Daly's Paint & Decorating store is located, is a great neighborhood that celebrates individualism and actively promotes it's unique qualities. Where else on earth will you find the Troll Under the Bridge, The Center of The Universe (really!), and other wacky symbols that let you know this is a different place?

It is also populated with colorful people that help make this a neighborhood to enjoy. The 'Fremocentrist' blog is powered by Kirby Lindsay - if you want to know what's going on, who's doing what, and where things are happening, she's your Girl Friday.

Kirby recently wrote a nice piece on Larry - who just happens to work at Daly's and live in the neighborhood. He's a real Fremonster. We've always enjoyed having colorful people working at Daly's, and it's nice to see that recognized elsewhere, too!

Daly's Paint and Pratt & Lambert - A Colorful Connection!

2010-01-13T11:58:00.000-08:00

I want to share with you an article that just appeared in Pratt & Lambert's Personal Expressions magazine. Featured is our NEW Bellevue Daly's store - we are so proud of it, and very pleased that P&L thought it looked good enough to put in their national publication.

How Times Have Changed!

2010-01-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

This ad was from Cater's Paint, dated 1910. What a difference a century makes!!!

Daly's Paint is now a "Favorite Place" on Google!!!!!!

2010-01-07T14:43:00.000-08:00

What a pleasure and suprise to open the mail and pull out this HUUUGE window sticker from Google designating Daly's Paint as a 'Favorite Place' on Google maps!

How cool to get such nice feedback from out great customers, and 'Thanks' to Google, too!

Now I'm off to go find the best spot to display the sticker...

The Twelve Days of Decorating

2009-12-15T16:42:00.000-08:00

Christian Ursino and I wrote this little ditty last year, and I think it's the perfect time to ressurect it for the holiday season:

The Twelve Days of Decorating

Instead of rehashing the same old holiday decorating tips again and again (okay, okay... here’s your tip: just use candles – lots of them!), we thought it would be more fun to lighten up and celebrate the season with a group sing-along. So pour yourself a hot cocoa or a hot toddy and get ready to sing The Twelve Days of Decorating.

~ On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a bright shiny crystal chandelier.

~ On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 2 accent pillows and a bright shiny crystal chandelier.

~ On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 3 pillar candles, 2 accent pillows and a bright shiny crystal chandelier.

~ On the forth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 4 antique bowls, 3 pillar candles, 2 accent pillows and a bright shiny crystal chandelier.

~ On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 5 watercolors, 4 antique bowls, 3 pillar candles, 2 accent pillows and a shiny crystal chandelier.

~ On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 6 yards of cashmere, 5 watercolors, 4 antique bowls, 3 pillar candles, 2 accent pillows and a bright shiny crystal chandelier.

~ On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 7 handmade tassels, 6 yards of cashmere, 5 watercolors, 4 antique bowls, 3 pillar candles, 2 accent pillows and a bright shiny crystal chandelier.

~ On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 8 Louis armchairs, 7 handmade tassels, 6 yards of cashmere, 5 watercolors, 4 antique bowls, 3 pillar candles, 2 accent pillows and a bright shiny crystal chandelier.

~ On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 9 shutters shutting, 8 Louis armchairs, 7 handmade tassels, 6 yards of cashmere, 5 watercolors, 4 antique bowls, 3 pillar candles, 2 accent pillows and a bright shiny crystal chandelier.

~ On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 10 cans of paint, 9 shutters shutting, 8 Louis armchairs, 7 handmade tassels, 6 yards of cashmere, 5 watercolors, 4 antique bowls, 3 pillar candles, 2 accent pillows and a bright shiny crystal chandelier.

~ On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 11 painters painting, 10 cans of paint, 9 shutters shutting, 8 Louis armchairs, 7 handmade tassels, 6 yards of cashmere, 5 watercolors, 4 antique bowls, 3 pillar candles, 2 accent pillows and a bright shiny crystal chandelier.

~ On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a break from all this #%$#%$@ decorating!

Happy holidays to one and all!

Facebook | Daly's Paint & Decorating - Quick spruce-up Tip from Daly's

2009-11-30T17:13:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick spruce-up tip from our Daly's Facebook page:

Facebook Daly's Paint & Decorating: " In-laws coming? Uninspiring guest room? Blah bathroom? Here's my favorite spruce-up trick...The Feature Wall. Instead of repainting an entire room, find a lovely color and paint it on one wall only. This is a great way to create a focal point (and a favored trick to redierect the eye from flaws in the room) and it adds... a fresh look without too much effort. (I'm all about avoiding TOO MUCH EFFORT during the holidays!)"

Evolution of a Paint Store

2009-11-17T16:44:00.000-08:00

This spring we moved from Downtown Bellevue (where we have been since 1961) over to the Northup neighborhood. We looked for almost 2 years before we found the right place to call 'home'. But it was worth the wait!

We love our new digs and our new neighbors. What we weren't sure about was how moving a business that had been on the same corner since 1978 would transpire.

Luckily, no major disasters occurred. Well - we lost one of our tint machines because the movers tipped it over while unloading it. Oops.

But we kept our sense of humor and got the new store up and running. The worst part? Cleaning up 30+ years of crusty tint room build-up in the old place!

Tips and Tricks - The Best Way to Choose Interior Paint Colors

2009-10-28T16:29:00.000-07:00

Finding the right color can be tricky, and for reasons that aren’t quite obvious at first. Your trip to the paint store will be much easier if you keep a few things in mind:

Most paint chips aren’t made from paint. Shocking, isn’t it? With the exception of C2 Paint, most national brands have their chips printed with ink – and ink is a transparent medium while paint is an opaque one, and light interacts differently with these two mediums. Therefore it is almost impossible to replicate the color on the sample chip to the color that comes from the can. If you have ever wondered why the color on the chip didn’t match the color on the wall, now you know.

Color chips have another disadvantage – they are small. When you look at the size of even a single wall, you quickly realize that a paint chip is too small to accurately give you an impression of how the color will play in a full-scale setting. If you understand that color chips are very handy tools to take you to the next step, they can be very useful. Color chips provide a very quick method for winnowing out the obviously wrong colors and finding those three or four colors that might work. Your next step is to sample the actual color.

Before we roll on some color, let’s look at one more issue: Lighting. If you are trying to make a color choice while standing in a busy paint store or staring at some samples on a computer screen, you are at another disadvantage because you are not looking at your color under the correct lighting conditions.

Preferably, you want to see what happens to your paint color in a series of lighting situations – morning, noon and evening. Each of these different times of day affects the way the color reads, and you want to make sure you like it at all times. Sometimes a color will ‘mud out’ at night (we can spend a lot of time discussing tinting recipes and why this happens… but later), or intensify to the point of looking neon, or wash out and look almost white when you thought it would be a soft taupe, or you find that charming coffeehouse color looks heavy and sluggish. Color does not always do what you expect it to. And if you live in a grove of trees or near the water, testing becomes imperative.

Ideally, you want to try your color with the other design elements that are going into the space like sofas, rugs, art, etc… C2’s Ultimate Paint Chip, which is a poster-sized chip made from real paint, is one option if you aren’t ready to get paint on the walls, or you can try a 16 oz. Sampler or Test Quart of paint (depending upon the brand you are using). Paint AT LEAST an 18’ x 24’ patch on the wall. More if you can. Apply the color on the darkest wall, the lightest (usually opposite a window), and in a corner. This allows you to see your color in all room and lighting situations.

Another major benefit of testing your color - it keeps those unfortunate color mistakes from becoming landfill. And we can all feel good about that!

No Need To Cry Over Spilt Red Wine!

2009-10-19T14:07:00.000-07:00

We had a total Krud Kutter moment this weekend.

Imagine being comfortably ensconced in a big overstuffed chair on Saturday night, surrounded by great conversation and good company. Red wine, of course. Now, imagine the spectacular impact of that newly filled glass of wine that didn't quite make it when placed back on the coaster, which was there to protect the table...

Oops.

Now imagine the surprise of the kitty who suddenly got a wine bath - when moments before she was lazing about on the floor between the chair and the table, hanging out with the humans.

Did you know that long haired cats make very efficient Mobile Wine Distribution Vehicles?

(Cue heroic superhero music) Krud Kutter to the rescue!

Carpet SAVED! Relationship with Mother-in-law, SAVED! Feline pride... Well, two out of three ain't bad!

"Mostly Sunny" weather means Squeeze In One Last Outdoor Project In Seattle!!!

2009-10-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

This week is shaping up to be 'mostly sunny' - that's good news if you want to winterize the deck or get that front door painted before the rainy weather hits.

Ideally, you want to paint outdoors when there is lower moisture, medium temperature and indirect sun... Luckily, today's exterior paints are formulated to be applied in less than ideal weather.

Some things you want to keep in mind:
Just because the paint is dry to the touch does not mean the entire paint film has cured. When you are painting in these shoulder seasons, you will have a longer cure time. In other words, you might need to wait longer between coats.

It is best to paint when the morning dew has evaporated - this might mean waiting until late morning (or later) for better painting conditions.

We Are Kick-Starting the Fall Decorating Season!

2009-09-09T16:36:00.001-07:00

Daly's wants to help you get your fall design projects off and running. So we are waiving our normal $75/hr consultation fee for the month of September!

Our staff designers work with you one-on-one to create paint color schemes, window treatments, wallcovering and upholstery projects. Normally we charge an hourly rate of $75, so call us by the end of the month to set up you appointment.

The details:

Expect your consultation to last from an our to an hour-and-a-half.
Travel fees apply outside of our normal trade area (sorry!)
It's fun and takes the stress out of decorating!

Doing Good Feels Good!

2009-09-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

Daly's and Pratt & Lambert Paint are involved in not one, but two local projects in our community:

Thornton Creek Elementary, a Seattle public school, received new flooring and window shades from the district - but guess what? The new floors made the walls look extra dingy. Our superheros at Pratt & Lambert stepped in and graciously donated the paint! The school parents volunteered their time and efforts to apply the paint, and now the school is sparkly bright and ready for the new school year.

The University Heights Community Center building is the recipient of a United Way project where they have 80 volunteers for a day, but needed about 100 gallons of paint to keep those volunteers busy. Again, our friends at Pratt & Lambert stepped in and donated a substantial amount of paint, and for the balance of the project gave them a great deal on the rest.

So, if you have a minute, check out Pratt & Lambert's website. It is so nice to see a national company giving on a local level and participating in the community where they sell their wares.

Our Bellevue Crew is Serious About Helping You!!!!

2009-07-21T12:49:00.000-07:00

Can I Touch Up a Swedish Finish Floor?

2009-07-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

Many people have what is typically called a 'swedish finish' on their floor; it is known to be very durable and beautiful. But sometimes that floor starts to show wear and in the past there weren't many options - except refinishing the entire thing. This has been one of the biggest drawbacks to the swedish finish approach, it is an all-or-nothing proposition. Also, the chemicals used to make the finish are very strong and for safety reasons only contractors are supposed to apply it.

Today I was working with a customer who has a kitchen floor that desperately needs attention, but refinishing wasn't an option. Luckily, we have a good solution, and I want to share it with you, too.

The product we recommend is Daly's Satinthane. Satinthane is a ure-alkyd, meaning its a combination of urethane and alkyd (modified with oil), instead of the typical straight alkyd. This allows the product to adhere to the existing finish where others can't. All urethanes are not created equal.

KEY POINT!!:
You must open up the existing finish first. This is where most people make mistakes, and this can result in failure, regardless of the top coat product.

We suggest 220 sandpaper or screening paper to 'scratch the back' of the Swedish finish. This gives the new product something to grab onto and helps to keep it from peeling or blistering off. Make sure to vacuum and damp mop any dusty residue. You want your surface to be as dust-free as possible for the best possible finish.

The Daly's Satinthane is applied with an pad applicator, and then you can tip it off with a brush on the edges. 2 coats is best, 6-8 hours between coats, 24 hours to walk on and a couple weeks for full cure. Don't forget to work in a well-ventilated space.

Like any oil finish, Satinthane may amber over time.

The best thing about switching to Satinthane is that going forward maintenance is much easier and it can be refreshed with more Satinthane or Daly's FloorFin. When you get to that point, scuff it up, dust off and apply a thin coat of finish. Done!

Do You Know What Color I Am Seeing Around Town?

2009-06-26T15:41:00.000-07:00

Teal.

Teal!! Can you believe it?
I believe it. It took a loooooong time for it to show up again!

The Tastiest Paint Store in Bellevue!

2009-06-26T15:39:00.000-07:00

Window Treatments, Deco Hardware and Area Rugs

2009-06-26T15:38:00.000-07:00

The Bellevue Design Department

2009-06-26T15:37:00.000-07:00

The NEW Bellevue Daly's!!!

2009-06-26T15:35:00.000-07:00

There Is a Difference...

2009-06-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

... between a handyman and a professional painter.

I am trying to help two difference customers navigate the murky waters of trying to decipher what happened and why 'the painter' is at fault, not the paint.

A professional painter will take the necessary steps to properly prepare the surface being painted. A professional painter will stop and look at the can to ensure it is the correct color. And sheen. A professional painter knows how to box the paint, and not paint in direct sunlight, use the correct primer, proper tools, and on and on and on.

Too many times I have seen customers want to save a few bucks and hire the services of a jack-of-all-trades - but how much are you saving when you have to spend extra time and money rescuing the job? How much more hassle do you go through? How much easier to just have it done right the first time?

Okay. I am done ranting for the day.

Customizable Caulk

2009-06-05T10:57:00.000-07:00

I fielded an interesting question today - and I thought more than one person might appreciate the answer.

In this particular situation, there was some newly installed stained base moulding at the floor. Imperfect walls being what they are, there were very visible gaps between the moulding and the wall.

What to do?

Customizable caulk to the rescue!

With this product you are able to choose any paint color and have it mixed into a caulking tube. How cool is that? You no longer need to be stuck with a beige, brown or white stripe of caulking on your project, you can have "Sea Salt" or "Postal" or even "Fetish" caulking to make all the finishing details complete. Tasty!

What Do I Do With Left Over Paint?

2009-06-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

No matter how close you are in estimating your paint needs, it seems there is always some left over once the job is complete. But what do you do with it?

Pass it on:
You might find you can 'paint it forward' by finding a new home for your unneeded product. FREE is a word that is very effective when you are going the Craig's List route and need to get rid of something. Or maybe there is a small household project that needs spiffing up and your paint can be creatively used in a new way.

If you'd like to keep it for touch-up and future needs, here are a couple tricks:
1. Float a layer of plastic wrap (or even sturdy card stock) on top of the paint inside the bucket before resealing the lid. This keeps a skin from forming on top of the paint.

2. Take it one step further buy cleaning the inner rim of the bucket of any messy paint drips, then stretch plastic wrap across the opening and seal the lid well (pound it down, baby!). Then flip the can over so the top of the lid is now resting on the shelf. This creates a tight seal. Just make sure you have secured the lid firmly... or look out!

When you are ready to repaint again, make sure you remove the plastic. Paint stores usually happy to put your old can of paint on the shaker and remix it for you, by the way.

What if it's time to get rid of some paint?
We like this great product called Paint Hardener. This is amazing stuff. You take your bucket of LATEX paint, sprinkle in the packet of paint hardener, stir it in - and voila - it begins hardening before your eyes.

Once your latex paint is hardened, it is considered inert and you can throw it away in your regular garbage. Remember, it must be dry to toss it out. Leave the lid OFF so the truck drivers can see its dried paint.

If you have the space and patience, you may also leave the lid off your paint bucket and let it air dry. You can also mix in kitty litter to absorb the paint and help speed up the dry time, but paint hardener is especially beneficial when you'd like to be quick and get it GONE. I think of it as one of those miracle products.

You may dispose of OIL paint (also known as ALKYD) by bringing the remains to a hazardous waste collection facility. Again, if you have dried paint, you can throw it in your normal garbage.

Here are a few resources:
In King County, call King County Solid Waste
206-296-4466 or 1-800-325-6265, ext. 6-4466
www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd

Seattlites can call:
206-684-3000

Almost-For-Certain-Probable (We Hope!) Store Opening Date is Set: May 26th

2009-05-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

What a roller-coaster ride it is to relocate a store. Of course, our 'perfect' location required a change-of-use with the City of Bellevue - to the uneducated, that means more permits. Previously, the space housed a Safeway Training Center. Our use is retail, not office, so the changes need to be very carefully addressed.

I never knew it could take sooooo many different permits to get a place remodeled. However, we are almost through that knothole, and it looks like we are getting so close to having everything signed-off that this move might actually happen.

The fire alarm installers (also known as The Major Holdup In The Project) are finishing today, maybe even with their final tests. Then we get the Bellevue Fire Department in for final inspection, then the Building Inspector, then we can close up the ceiling in the warehouse and start moving in product.

Luckily, we are hiring a moving company to help with the project and it's a multi-day gig. I can already tell it is going to be well worth the inve$tment!!!

It look like this Memorial Day weekend will be very memorable for Daly's.

Robin and Christian Hanging with HGTV's Vern Yip

2009-04-28T17:42:00.000-07:00

Here we are at the 2009 Eye On Design event at The Seattle Design Center. Christian was on a design panel moderated by Vern, and we were lucky enough to have had a loooong interview with him about a month ago in preparation for this event for the two publications we write design articles for: 425 Magazine and The Journal Newspapers.

Yes, Vern is as cool and hip as he seems on TV!

The New Lights Over the Front Counter

2009-04-28T17:36:00.000-07:00

View of New Bellevue From Front Door

2009-04-28T16:06:00.000-07:00

We are getting sooooo close!!!! You are looking in towards the new decor department. The wall of shelves you see in the back will display wallpaper books. Next to those will be our color centers for both C2 Paint and Pratt & Lambert paint.

What Makes a Color Work?

2009-04-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I met with a color specifier at the (soon to be old) Bellevue store. She was thrilled to learn about our different paint lines and she made a comment that got me to thinking...

She wanted to know MORE about what makes certain colors our 'go-to' colors in the palette. In other words, when we help someone choose colors, we often start off with our favorite shades to help facilitate the process of winnowing down the choices.

But what makes them our favorites, and why do they work?

It's more than a lucky guess, of course. As I am writing this, I keep flashing to C2 Paint's "Labrador". It's yellow. But it's not yellowy-yellow because it possesses a red undertone.

This hint of red pigment keeps the yellow from going too acidic, plus it contributes to uniting the color to other shades, ensuring that 'Labrador' will coordinate with a large variety of hues. And interestingly enough, 'Labrador' is ideal both as an exterior yellow (imagine a yellow farmhouse on the middle of the country with tons of crisp white trim and a deep green or rich red front door) and it plays exceptionally well as a kitchen yellow. Very unusual thaqt a single color can span both directions, when you think about the way a color reads outside compared to inside.

Yet, if you look at it in relation to the color chip rack or fan deck, you might think it's too peachy at first. But get it off the rack, and the color really starts to shine. Of course, there are other great yellows, too! Some of my favorites include: C2 'Moxie', 'Polenta', 'Shine' and 'Sugar Cookie' when you want that pretty pale hue.

When looking at any color, don't forget to try the color in the environment it will be used - ultimately, it's the relationship of your new color with all the other factors that make it work.

Getting Closer to Move-In Day!!!

2009-04-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

It looks like we will be fully functional in our new space by the middle of May. The store is really starting to take shape, and I gotta tell you, it looks GREAT!

The sign was installed on Friday. It was interesting to see the process, of course it had to be raining, poor guys...

Spring Fashion Trend?

2009-04-06T16:20:00.000-07:00

This 'dress' is actually constucted of Antonina Vella "Selene" wallpaper that is covered in a delicate filigree design made from gorgeous glass beads and subtly colored background paper. Tasty! (And yes, you can get it from Daly's!)

To Paint or Refinish? That is the Question!

2009-03-04T14:23:00.000-08:00

I just fielded a great question (the customer was actually referred to us by another paint store!) - in a 1950's house, is it better to strip and refinish the base trim or repaint it?

While there is never a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to aesthetics, the caller had some interesting value choices to ponder.

Would the trim be worth the effort of stripping? Being a 1950's era house, the trim is most likely Mahogany, but not that cheapie 1970's Mahogany we are still trying to erase from memory.

How would the caller determine if it's the good stuff? Remove a piece of trim from as inconspicuous an area as possible, and see what's under five decades of paint. If it's good quality wood, then the choice can be made to remove the paint layers and refinish. If not, no harm done - re-install the trim, patch the wall if needed and repaint.

When it comes to the 'look', which is better? In this case, I'd suggest stripping and refinishing because the caller is painting his walls a pale white. This means the exposed wood trim will add some architectural detailing to a potentially very plain room.

If painting is the option, I suggest a color that adds some depth and richness to the trim. Perhaps a rich mushroom color or even a velvety cream - anything to add some interest without becoming distracting. In very few instances should trim become the room's focal point, but it can go far to add character and interest.

New Magazine

2009-02-23T17:03:00.000-08:00

I received a new magazine today; Decorative Concrete Retailer.
And I thought Daly's was a niche business!

More Input Regarding One-Coat Coverage

2009-02-17T17:05:00.000-08:00

Here is some more feedback on the question of One-Coat Coverage. This comes from Randy, one of our great designers in our Bellevue store. He has a lot of hands-on experience with paint, so his input comes from a user perspective. I think it illustrates why the idea of One-Coat Coverage seems to set up people with unrealistic expectations:

"Hi Robin,
I appreciated your blog post about paint hide. I wanted to comment that there is another flawed assumption behind the idea of one coat coverage. One coat coverage assumes that that the paint will hide in one coat but also that the application is perfect, which is hardly ever the case. It assumes that the painter is putting on a perfectly consistent film with no variation and no holidays. The only time this happens is with spraying.

One example is the many times as a painter I would be rolling out a wall, and the paint looked like it was completely covering only to come back the next morning to find small pin hole sized holidays where the paint film had shrunk back in drying that I couldn't see when it was wet.

The other issue is the performance...thicker paint film means better performance.

The paint industry has shot itself in the foot by putting this idea out there in the first place, creating an unrealistic expectation and disappointment and frustration, though it is what people would like to hear.

Anyway, my two cents.
Randy"

Our New Store

2009-01-27T12:33:00.001-08:00

Here is an exterior shot of the new Bellevue store. Last week was when demo started, so now the space inside is very open (and somehow manages to look both larger and smaller at the same time).
This week, the guys are busy chipping off the old vinyl tiles. We are hoping the concrete is in good enough shape to stain and polish... keep your fingers crossed!

Our Most Recent 425 Magazine Issue

2009-01-21T15:35:00.000-08:00

Here is the cover shot of 425 Magazine - of which Christian Ursino and I regularly write a design column. This issue (as you might guess by the cover) has a bridal focus and our article specifically addresses combining two separate households into one.

One of my favorite tips that we share is that we give you permission to let go of items that no longer suit you - even if it's a family heirloom! It can be a bit scary to let go of something that other family members have placed great import upon, but if it doesn't work for your new life, it's okay to let it go to another home.

We love writing for 425 Magazine, it's beautifully designed and focuses on Eastside living.

Is There Such a Thing As One-Coat Coverage with Paint?

2009-01-07T16:20:00.000-08:00

I had a conversation the other day with a customer who had expected the paint he had purchased to cover his walls in one coat. His frustration and disappointment got me to wondering: is there really such thing as one-coat coverage?

Here at the store, we generally steer people from this concept. The quick answer is that while one coat may 'look' like it covers, that second coat is where the magic happens. The second coat gives you a thicker film build, which means you have more of that color for the light to reflect from.

But I wanted to dig a little deeper. So I contacted Tom Hill, president of C2 Paint and general paint chemist wonk, and asked him for some more clarification. Here is his input:

One Coat Hiding in Paint

To try and simplify this, hiding in paint is determined primarily by refractive index and absorption properties of the pigments used in the paint formulation.

Light passing through a media is refracted (bent) depending on the
refractive index of the specific media. The refractive index of air is
1.0008. Light is essentially not bent in air. The refractive index
of titanium dioxide is 2.7. The only material with a higher refractive
index than titanium dioxide is diamond. A pigment with a higher refractive
index hides better than a pigment with a lower refractive index. The
refractive index of bright yellow colorant is 1.4 and thus a color made from
primarily bright yellow colorant and zero titanium dioxide does not hide very
well.

We use Titanium Dioxide as the prime hiding pigment in paints because
it has the highest refractive index of the pigments available for use to produce
a white color. However, there is a practical limit to the amount of TiO2
one can use in a gallon of paint. Increasing the amount of TiO2 beyond
this practical limit actually reduces the total hiding of the paint.

At this practical limit…with reasonable volume solids, PVC and dry film
thickness…we expect hiding to be at a minimum of 98% but less than 100%.
The definition of one coat hiding in the paint industry is 98% coverage over a
black and white contrast ratio chart. To increase the hiding of a white
base from 98% to 100% we must add a color pigment that absorbs light as well as
refracts light. The pigments that do this are black, yellow oxide, red
oxide, burnt umber, etc. Once there is a sufficient loading of these
pigments plus white true one coat hiding can be achieved. The colors are
all muted and earth tones but they will cover in one coat.

An interesting side note is that adding bright yellow or bright red to
a white base will reduce the hiding of that base. These pigments do not
absorb light and their refractive index in significantly less than TiO2 (1.4
versus 2.7). The blend of these two pigments yields a refractive index
that is less than that of the untinted base and thus poorer in hiding.

Conclusion, in normally formulated paints (i.e. proper PVC…volume
solids…and film build), one coat hiding is not possible to achieve unless the
paint is tinted with a light adsorbing pigment.

I hope that clears it up!

It Must Be the Benite!

2008-11-25T15:02:00.000-08:00

This weekend, Herb Paulson, president of Daly's, celebrated two milestones;

1) 60 years at Daly's

2) His 80th birthday

All we can figure is that it must be the Daly's Benite running through his veins. For years he's been telling us what a great product it is... maybe he's right!

Recognize Anyone?

2008-11-25T15:01:00.000-08:00

This set of cartoons was used in the late-80's/early-90's as part of our marketing.
The top row were staff from our Seattle store, the bottom row were from Bellevue. Interesitngly, a number of these folks are still involved in the industry (and a few of us are at Daly's!).

Color Consultant Humor

2008-11-25T14:49:00.000-08:00

There Is A Trade Magazine for Almost Every Industry

2008-11-04T16:04:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to an article featuring women in the industry (including me!)
Check it out if you want to take a break from election day results.

Back Side of Daly's Wood Staining Instructions, circa 1951

2008-11-04T15:34:00.000-08:00

and Here's the Front Side...

2008-11-04T15:24:00.000-08:00

A Little Daly's Wood Finishes History

2008-11-04T14:55:00.000-08:00

I received a piece of mail today from an anonymous customer. Apparently her parents have been customers of Daly's since the 50's - they even kept some of the literature from that time...
She sent us a couple old brochures and an instruction sheet. It's a great peek back into time.

Sadly, this information was sent to us totally anonymously, and I have no way to personally thank the customer.

I'd like to add that it's totally cool to see some old Daly's literature. And to think that someone saved this stuff for so long!

Speaking of Color: Men Drawn to Women in Red | Science Blog

2008-10-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

Color perception is an interesting thing. The fact that a simple color can change your perception of someone without being conciously aware of the fact - interesting. I know that red rooms affect you, too. Red walls encourage more alchohol to be consumed, and time passes faster. That's why red dining rooms are not only lovely to look at, but great for entertaining and encourages guests to linger over dessert.

I suppose if you are looking for a mate (or just a hot date) this information below can come in handy. I'm not saying that the idea of manipulating a man is somthing that should be encouraged... but if the red dress fits, wear it!

Men drawn to women in red Science Blog
http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/men-drawn-women-red-17674.html

robin@dalyspaint.com sent this using ShareThis.

Would You Like To See What It's Like To Be Color Blind?

2008-10-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

Do you know anyone who is color blind? Have you wondered how they see things compared to you? I just learned of this website that simulates color blindness. You can even try it using your own images.

I Saw it Again

2008-10-28T12:10:00.001-07:00

One of the things we have always said about C2 Paint is that it's formulations create colors that are 'luminous'. Well. What does that mean?

Yesterday I went to a client's rather large home that is perched on a steep hill overlooking Puget Sound. The house was a very dated pukey-beige (for lack of a better description), and the clients were looking for a more sophisticated scheme. We found a color that bridges between a rich gray and saddle brown. I got to see the final results yesterday, and it is really true. The color possesses a luminosity - almost a shimmer. It plays with the changing light conditions, picking up different characteristics over the course of the day.

It also made the house feel very up-to-date and fresh.

How does a simple paint do this? A lot had to do with how the color is formulated. Lets say you want to make a brown. In the world of paint, you can get there in more than one way. You can create a formulation that uses the fewest number of colorants (or pigments) or you can make it a bit more complex by using more colorants to add up to the same color. The more colorants, the more play with changing light conditions. This is a bit simplified, but the basic concept is there.

And it makes a difference to the eye. You actually perceive the color differently. I love it when paint become more than just 'paint'. It is not a static film, but a mutable tool that can highlight and evolve. Pretty soon I'm going to think that house paint is poetic, so I'd better stop for all of our sakes... (But the house looked very pretty in the light!)

Exterior Painting in the Northwest - aka Is it Too Late to Paint My House???

2008-10-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

Yes.

That being said, of course not. Can both statements be true at the same time? Sort of...

If you are contemplating getting the whole house repainted before the rainy season, it is most likely TOO LATE. If you need to squeeze in a touch-up area or two, go for it.

A lot has to do with the unpredictable nature of Mother Nature. Today for example, is currently misty with a rainy afternoon approaching. But tomorrow and Wednesday should be clear, so that means some good last minute exterior painting weather.

Ideally it should be at least 55 degrees and dry. What happens when its not as dry? It takes the paint film a lot longer to cure (softer paint film, more difficult to add that 2nd coat). And we don't want you painting in the direct rain - it could wash off.

By mid-October you should be finishing up your projects outside - just in time to head indoors and repaint the dining room for the holidays!

Wallpaper

2008-10-07T16:40:00.000-07:00

Recently we moved to a new home, and I've been thinking about what to do in my daughter's room. For some reason, painting the walls seems a bit bland and predictable. I've been toying with wallpaper.

Now, most people don't even think of papering anymore. I think we have this image in our heads that wallpaper is old fashioned and worse, difficult to handle.

The last time I hung paper, I was seven months pregnant and yes, it was challenging going up and down the ladder all day. I don't necessarily suggest that as a decorating plan (however, it's equally difficult to stand in the way of a woman who is nesting!). Swollen ankles aside, the results were very pretty - and impossible to achieve with paint alone.

Now we are in a very contemporary home, and so the idea of wallpaper takes on a different tone. Unless you are aiming for design irony (a trend I find interesting. Usually pursued by people in their 20's who never lived through the era they are exploring), wallpaper in a contemporary space can veer into 1970's-land unless there is very careful planning.

I have been in too many homes that were plastered with paper from the 70's (a very good decade for both disco and flocked paper) that all we want to do now is rip it off. A sort of horrid fascination with the tastes of the day linger around, sort of like a bad hangover.

Back then, the more paper, the better. And one room did not necessarily have anything to do with any other room. Patterns could be wildly different. And bold. Nowadays, we tend to 'flow' with our colors - not so much then.

In my daughters case, I want to use the wall treatment to create a sense of openness and airiness. Plus she's a very modern girl with her own developed style (how'd she get that at seven?). Whatever we decide, I know that while walls will never do! Or pink. I'll keep you posted.

Just Added A Couple Things to the Blog

2008-10-06T12:14:00.000-07:00

I have no idea who all of you are... but I just added this "Followers" gadget on the sidebar of the blog. It would be fun to see you too, so add yourself! While I can't make you do it, how sad if NOBODY did (sniff, sniff!).

Also, I've added a video that will probably be interesting only to C2 Paint partners, but you can see for yourself why we are unique in the paint industry. Uh.... yeah, 'unique' should cover it!

So Much is Happening Right Now

2008-10-06T11:37:00.000-07:00

And I don't mean the tanking economy... and although the economy is cause for concern, decorating must go on!

So to enable our Eastside clients in their design pursuits, we are in the midst of negotiating a lease for a new store in Bellevue. Did you know that there's been a Daly's on the same block since 1961? That's a long time. We've relocated 3 different times since then, but always on the same block. Way back when (or so I've been told...), there were 5 different paint and decorating stores within a 3 block radius.

Both the industry and the neighborhood have changed. Many of our earlier competitors are gone and downtown Bellevue is COMPLETELY different. Where there was once a small outdoor mall, there is Bellevue Square. Arby's is now the location for a huge apartment complex. Safeway - gone. Etc, etc, etc... The face of downtown Bellevue is lovely, cosmopolitan and simply no place for a paint & decorating store these days.

But far from being upset at the prospect of moving, we are so excited! We will be moving near some great retailers like Pande Cameron, Ambiente Tile, Fireside Hearth & Home, ecohaus and others. So shopping will be more convenient with more options in the neighborhood. Even more paint stores (but we won't go into THAT!)

Once we get the legal paperwork out of the way, I will let you know where we will be located, and I'll be giving you regular updates on our build out. We are estimating the new store to be up and running around May 2009.

It's Never Too Early...

2008-09-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

... to begin using quality paint products for your projects!
Pictured here is a worm bin decorated by the students from Crystal's kindergarten class at Thornton Creek Elementary School in Seattle.
We love to help schools with their projects - best of all, we love seeing what they create!

Standing Out - Like an Accent Color

2008-09-18T16:44:00.000-07:00

I have a great job.

Its (mostly) fun; we make and sell things that can actually make your home better, and we give people answers to their needs. All in all, pretty cool.

I also get to delve into a larger scale world by my involvement with C2 Paint - with the added bonus of being one of the people who actually gets to NAME those paint colors! Again, pretty cool.

Recently I had the honor of being interviewed for an article in one of the independent paint store trade journals (betcha didn't even know there was more than one of those magazines out there, did you?). The topic: the changing role of women in the paint industry.

Over the years, I have met (and worked with) women at all levels; chemists, CEOs, store managers, sales staff and receptionists . Some of us have been on a more traditional trajectory, while others of us have not. Interestingly, even though there are many, many women in our industry - apparently we are still a bit unusual. Or perhaps not so unusual anymore, but our roles have evolved and that makes us stand out, even today.

I don't mind standing out. Like I said, I have a great job.

Help! Stain On the Tile!

2008-09-10T16:22:00.000-07:00

I just got an email from Texas, apparently she accidentally ended up getting some oil-based stain on the bathroom floor tile - wanted some advice. What would you do? Here's what I suggested:

Okay. Stain on tile. Is the tile sealed or unsealed? Does it have a glazed finish or is it more porous? The reason I ask is that we want to take the approach of doing the least amount of harm possible to try and remedy the situation, and believe it or not, but an unglazed tile might actually fare better in this situation.

I am guessing that good old soap and water did nothing. So, the next step is to try a product called Krud Kutter. This is my favorite miracle product. You might see some de-glossing of the finish - that is always the risk, but this stuff can work wonders. I use it for a myriad of cleaning tasks - and its non-toxic.

If that doesn't work, your next option is to try paint thinner. Again, we are starting from least harmful steps first. A nylon scrub pad and the paint thinner might be just the ticket.
If THAT doesn't work, you could try lacquer thinner, but you will definitely be affecting the tile itself. So I would avoid this if possible.

Finally, keep the lights low and don't look too close!

If I hear what happened, I'll let you know.

Had a Great C2 Moment Last Night

2008-09-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was on a color call and we were creating an exterior color scheme for a house built in the early 1900's. The facade has lots of fun detail to play with; stucco, lap siding and tons of trim. It's going to look great.

As I was walking down the street back to my car, I noticed a very attractive house. The color wasn't dark or moody, but light while still looking rich. It just so happened that the owners were standing outside, and I couldn't resist complementing them on it.

The first thing out of his mouth, "Have you heard of this paint company C2?"

I held up my C2 Designer Kit, still in my hands from the color call, and said "I am C2!"

"The color is C2's Outback"

"No way!" (It looks completley different outside)

They were very gracious, gave me the Grand Tour of the house (great art, fabu kitchen and great paint colors!) and were even kind enough to send me photos of their home. How cool is that?

What is the Ideal Way to Choose Exterior Paint Colors?

2008-07-28T16:18:00.000-07:00

Every day I see it happen - people wander in looking for paint colors, but they don't really know how to go about doing this. Soon their eyes glaze over after looking at the chip racks, they grab a bunch of chips or brochures and leave. Ack.

Unless you have a very clear idea of what color you are looking for, it can be a very stressful exercise to search for the perfect exterior paint color. The outside of your house is so darn visible to the rest of the world, so the pressure to not make a mistake rises. Plus, it's not like you are picking up a gallon or two to redo a room, but likely fifteen or twenty gallons are needed to complete the job. So the cost adds up.

Here's what I do:
When it gets near the time for me to repaint the house, I start touring neighborhoods of similarly built homes. This way I can see what other people have done, and take inspiration for my own abode (or avoid the mistakes that someone else has already made!).

You can even bring a fan deck with you, so you can make color notes of different color schemes you see along the way. Or snap a few pix.

Next, go to the store armed with a few color concepts that you'd like to try. At this point, you probably don't have anything set in stone, so think about being open to new color combinations and ideas that the staff might suggest.

When I am looking at exterior colors, I ALWAYS bring the chips outdoors to look at. Find an area out of the direct sunlight, though. The direct sun is not ideal for looking at paint colors - it lessens the contrast of colors and strains the eye. Yes, I know that the house will be in direct light for much of the time, but when looking at colors, go for indirect light.

Look at your colors in combination with each other. If you are choosing a body color, trim and accent, you'll want to view them as a grouping. Color is all about relationships, and individual colors can be very influenced by the way they are used together.

Here's another tip: Choose the body of the house to be deeper that you might think you want. Color is reflecting out into the atmosphere (as opposed to an interior space where the color reflects upon itself), and lessens in intensity outside by about 2 full shades. So, go a bit deeper. Otherwise, it'll look wishy-washy once its painted.

Once you have pulled together a scheme or two, its time to test the color at home. Those small chips you see in the store? Won't work. You need real-scale samples of the color to see what is going to happen.

Many paint companies offer sampling programs, often times I even suggest investing is a few quarts. You'll want to paint the color on more than one side of the house, and view it in many different lighting conditions. How does the color look in the morning compared to the evening? The sunny side of the house versus the shady side? What does the postman think (mine was very ready with an opinion!)

What about the paint itself? You get what you pay for. There really is a difference in high quality paints compared to their lesser brethren. The best paints include high quality resins and raw materials that means a better paint film is left on your siding. Plus the color retention is better, too. So it will look better and last a whole bunch longer than the cheap stuff, and the price difference isn't that much compared to what you are getting in return. At our store, we sell mostly the good stuff, so naturally I suggest this. But some of my favorite customers are those who have had experience with inexpensive paints first - because once they try a quality product they NEVER go back!

Good paint won't spit on you either. It actually spreads easily. And stays on the house, not on you. Paints without fillers means the film weathers better. Who can complain about that?

Flat or Eggshell sheen?

It depends. I love the look of flat painted houses, and I love the durability of eggshell-sheen homes. If you live nearby a busy road, go for eggshell, by all means. That's what I did, and it was so easy to hose off. But if you have a home that's all about drama, then flat might be your choice.

When it comes to trim I like a Satin or Semi-Gloss sheen. I LOVE front doors in GLOSSY sheens. It adds that extra touch. Varying the sheen levels also creates some visual interest, even in a monochromatic scheme.

At our store, we have a color board that we have created to help get the conversation started. It shows a number of different color combinations ranging from the tasty taupes to the racy greens. We have Color Consultants who make house calls - and that is the best. It helps us to see your home, its surrounding and understand the lighting conditions. Then we work with you to create your ideal color scheme right then and there. All told, it takes about an hour to an hour-and-a-half for the consultation and then you are well on your way. Helps take the stress out of the process.

Color is very important, and we understand the need to make the best choice possible. I love arriving home and being greeting by my house - and the combinations of colors can do a lot to create that 'curb appeal' or even camouflage 'character' issues. Not an issue to be taking lightly is it?

Great Website that Digs into Color Theory

2008-07-22T11:33:00.001-07:00

I found this great website that spends a lot of time on color theory - and even though it's summer break, I thought you might enjoy some 'Color 101'.
Unfortunately the page isn't transferring to the blog, but it's totally worth it to click on this link to get there and get the full information.

Hammerite Question

2008-07-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

A former Daly's customer emailed me today from Hawaii - her local paint store wasn't giving her the answer she was looking for, so she emailed us.

She wants to know if she can combine 2 different colors of Hammerite to make a custom color. Hammerite is this great direct to metal, rust covering, thick as a milkshake paint that has a hammered metallic look. I did a little digging, and the Hammerite United Kingdom website says its not recommended. But no reason given as to why not!

My guess it that is has to do with the metallic particles suspended in the paint not inter-mixing very well. But now I want to know why!?! (And the rebel in me wants to do it anyways, and see what happens)

Ah. Living life on the decorating edge...

Know Anyone Who is Looking for a Great House in Seattle?

2008-07-10T15:55:00.001-07:00

Our old house is 'officially' on the market as of yesterday - This house is in the heart of the Ravenna neighborhood - walk to Third Place Books, go around the corner to grab a slice of pizza at Zeeks or a bagel at the Bagel Oasis. Take the kids to the community center, just down the alley. Total neighborhood lifestyle. The greatest neighbors, too! We miss them a lot!Updated kitchen. Gas range, convection oven. TONS of storage. Quality cabinetry, custom sized.

Cute!
This is probably the BEST basement update I have ever seen (really.) The ceilings are full height, we repoured the concrete pad - so it's a solid 4 inches thick, it's earthquake retrofitted, stained concrete floor in the utility room and bath. Sniff, sniff - it was had to give up this space!

Here's the MLS number, if you want to see more: 28117333

Check out the listing on www.windermere.com

Feedback Frenzy

2008-07-10T15:40:00.000-07:00

I just LOVE feedback from our great customers!!!!:

"Just wanted to thank your company for always being so responsive in sending me paint supplies when I ordered over the internet. Your website is very well laid out. Also, the people at Daly's have been very courteous and helpful when I have called. Today, I just wanted to get a little advice on color choices for C2 paint, and Nedra was very kind and very helpful in helping me. Actually, I guess that I wanted some assurance from an expert that I was not too off base in the choices that I have already made. I feel much better after talking with Nedra.

Normally, I do not like to take people's valuable time, but I do feel better for calling.
It is amazing how the desire to find the right paint colors can become almost an obsession. However, it is so important, because the choices will impact the quality of my home environment. In any event, your company made the adventure a little smoother.

Good luck in the continued success of your business."

I have to agree - finding the right color EASILY can move one into the obsessive category. But that's totally okay, it just shows us how important our home and surroundings are. I have always said that color is a universal language that we ALL speak (granted, some people have different accents) so it makes sense that finding the right color becomes important to the home improvement project.

Speaking of home improvement projects, one of the new terms I have seem bandied about lately is "Stay-cation". In other words, you stay near home for vacation instead of traveling. I wonder if anyone sees painting projects as a desirable stay-cation activity? Hmmmm...

I few days ago, I was poetically (if you can call it that) praising Krud Kutter for it's performance. Apparently the folks at Krud Kutter found the blog post, and they liked it too. While I'm pretty sure I'll keep my day job and leave the world of poetry to those who actually posses some degree of wordsmithing skill, it was great fun to receive a letter from them (and the handy cup koozies/t-shirts!). Thanks Peter and Allison at Supreme Chemicals of Georgia!

More Fabu Customer Feedback!

2008-06-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

Regarding Richard (again!):
"Just a quick note of thanks to tell you how delighted we were with Richard Cunnington's service. Your in-home consultation is one of the best kept secrets in Seattle. As someone who spent a month buying paint samples all over town, only to score a series of 'near misses' for our exterior job, I was thrilled with how quickly Richard was able to get to the right answers, and to develop solutions we had not previously considered."

2008-06-27T17:11:00.000-07:00

An Ode to Krud Kutter

A single squirt is all it takes
To make me look like I worked all day
Painting woodwork, walls and doors
When what I really did was sponging chores
Smeared with fingerprints, dust and grime
Getting the house on the market, who has the time?

Step in Krud Kutter, tho spelled so wrong
It makes we want to bust into song!
Non-toxic - and biodegradable to boot
It makes my house look good and it’s good for me, too
A favorite tool to rely upon
My secret weapon to help me along

My only wish, if truth be told
Is that it be packaged in a style less bold
Perhaps add a scent to make me happy
While I slog through the grime that looks so crappy
But branding aside, I’ve one final thought
I really love Krud Kutter a lot!

Great Daly's Customer Feedback!

2008-06-10T15:52:00.001-07:00

Nothing makes me happier than hearing from our fabulous customers about their positive experiences with our staff. Here are a couple quotes from two letters that arrived yesterday (Two in one day! How cool is that?!?!?!)

This one is about Richard Cunnington, one of our Seattle designers:
"He listens so well, gives advice thoughtfully, is practical, unpretentious and, most importantly, enthusiastic, fun and positively brimming with good ideas.
Actually, we miss seeing him! We'll have to find another project!"

I think we shall have to start calling him 'Saint Richard'!

Here's another excerpt from a letter praising Bill Davis, our Seattle Contractor Sales manager:
"I recently experienced incredible follow through and service at your store."..."I wish to thank Bill for his attentiveness and assistance. Bill's approach and expertise exemplifies what I expected when I went to Daly's. I always prefer to do business with a local store like Daly's and felt comfortable going there based on a recommendation from my contractor"

That's high praise, indeed.

Almost All WHITE Walls!

2008-06-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been distracted with a new adventure - we are buying a new house (well, new to us) and the walls are almost all painted white! Okay, one taupe wall in the main living area - but it's not what you would call 'risky' in its taupyness.

I have made a decision about this... I am going to embrace the white. Currently, the only thing white in our old house is the trim, so this is a complete shift in thinking.

Not only that, but the architecture is contemporary, the house is filled with great angles and ceiling lines. Interestingly, the home was designed, built and inhabited by the single-owner architect couple, so the space feels very pure - maybe white won't be so bad after all.

I wonder if anyone is taking bets on how long it will be before the white is gone...

Sophie the Stylish Daly's Dog!

2008-05-15T11:47:00.001-07:00

Sophie the Dog comes in to work a couple days a week with her human Courtney. So when it was time to order spring shirts for everyone, of course she was included!
Sophie has three different Daly's outfits, so she can mix it up a bit depending upon her mood.

C2 LoVo Fun

2008-05-15T09:11:00.000-07:00

I wast to share a couple cool C2 LoVo pix of my friend Mark Robinson's new Smartcar for Robinson's Paint & Wallpaper in Collington, Ontario.

LoVo Your Walls!

2008-05-14T15:52:00.000-07:00

Just a few weeks ago, C2 Paint introduced LoVo - luxurious Low VOC paint.

It has all the features and benefits of the premium C2 paint; it's available in all 496 colors, it's infinitely customizable (custom colors are even available in 16 oz. Sampler pots), it has the unique color system that nobody else uses in North America, 18x24" Ultimate Paint Chips made from real paint, etc, etc, etc. - and now these colors are available in Low-VOC. How cool is that?

I am so excited to report that LoVo now constitutes 24% of our interior paint sales. And in only 10 days of sales. Who doesn't want to feel good about doing good? And look good at the same time?

I See Orange Everywhere

2008-05-14T15:36:00.001-07:00

Orange. It must be the new 'hot' color - bright, knock-your-socks-off orange.

I stopped at the University Village this morning (I am ADDICTED to Jamba Juice smoothies, and I seem to need one for breakfast at least twice a week) (They are so good!) (I like them for lunch, too), and the display designers over at Crate and Barrel were busy painting some window walls orange.

"Hmmm...", I thought. "Who knew?"

I remember when orange was the color of change at Nordstrom a few years ago, and it kinda flopped. It's Clinique's Happy perfume, too.

Then I noticed that the outdoor umbrellas (the U-Village is a high-end outdoor shopping mall) on tables scattered about were also, guess what, orange. And, the awnings on another storefront. Thank goodness the Apple store had a display that featured a pink flower - must be a hangover from Mother's Day.

I do think orange is a color of excitement and newness. It says 'let's mix it up and be different'. No more staid, boring burgundy! Or safe navy. Or bankerly green. Nope, orange.

I like that we can communicate through color - as I've said before, it's a language we all speak. Personally, I wouldn't invest in large orange objects or even clothing that I plan to keep for long periods of time. I would use the color in changeable items, like placemats, scarves or accent pieces. Unless of course you are Jamba Juice, and you want to keep it fresh!

Earth Day Birthday: LoVo Paint!

2008-04-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

It's official now - LoVo is on the shelves!

Quality Paint Equals Better Coverage

2008-04-15T21:40:00.000-07:00

Today at a staff meeting we somehow got on the topic of paint coverage (if you think THAT's thrilling, you should see us get excited over dry time variances!). Anyhow - here we were discussing paint coverage - and it occured to me that I have never really shared with you a little fact: Quality paint actually goes further.

If you are using an lower grade finish, you can expect to get about 300 square feet of coverage from a gallon of paint. Better paints will give you about 400 square feet. So even if it costs a bit more - you get further.

Nice!

First Day of Spring Increase

2008-03-24T17:20:00.000-07:00

I have heard there is power to using the correct keywords in the headline of your blog... and now I have seen it firsthand. Last year I had a post titled the First Day of Spring. Well this year I had 100 times the amount of hits I usually do - but just on that day.
Wild!

What a Nightmare!

2008-03-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

Someone sent me this image in an email... this DID NOT happen to us! However, I couldn't help sharing!

Neither Rain, Nor Snow...

2008-03-10T14:23:00.000-07:00

I just heard a great story about a lodge restoration going on somewhere in Idaho. Apparently Daly's BenMatte is one of the only approved wood finishing products that can be used on the structure - and because this lodge is in the middle of almost nowhere, guess how they product has to be delivered to the lodge by the retailer?
By snowmobile.
6 gallons of product strapped onto the snowmobile for a 35 mile trip, to be exact!
I think this is cool - it's a great visual, and it reminds me that not every place has been homogenized to pieces.

New Product Coming!

2008-03-04T16:17:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I was back East (remember how thrilled I was to tour a paint making facility?). I saw a line of area rugs at a friends paint store - and they really caught my eye: Company C.

Interestingly, the colors in these hand-tufted rugs coordinate beautifully with the C2 Paint palette. Not only are these all natural fiber rugs, they are hand-tufted and hand finished on the edges - plus cotton-backed. But the coolest thing is that they are primarily made in factories in India where no child labor is allowed, and the factory provides schooling for the employees kids.

So not only do the rugs feel good to your toes, you feel good knowing you are buying a product that doesn't give you a 'bargain' to the detriment of someone else.

The pricing of these rugs is very comparable to pricing I've seen in catalogs and in stores - plus the designs are not cookie-cutter, they have a very unique design perspective with their products.

As a bonus, they also make decorative pillows and bedding. Nice!!!

I'll let you know when we are up-and-running with these. The rep was showing us the samples yesterday, and we had customers ripping them out of our hands, wanting to get going. That's a good sign.

We Just Can't Post It

2008-02-18T15:39:00.000-08:00

One of the fun things the staff has been doing lately is come up with creative headlines for the reader-board on the Seattle Daly's sign. Being a creative staff, the sayings aren't always... shall we say, 'tasteful'. The challenge is to use a C2 Paint or Daly's Products reference in the headline.

So in that spirit, here is my favorite saying that you WON'T be seeing on the Daly's sign:

We Don't Take "Shiitake" From Nobody

See what I mean?

Getting Ready for LoVo

2008-02-05T12:56:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I had the opportunity to tour the paint factory where C2 Paint's LoVo will be made. LoVo is C2's Low-VOC offering - set to launch around Earth Day in April.

From my perspective, one indicator that I'm probably in the right business is that I was actually looking forward to watching paint being made! Yes, that's right up there with watching paint dry in some people's book, but this was cool.

This factory, located in Massachusets, was even designed with input from MIT. As I understand it, it is considered a no-waste facility - meaning they utilize, recycle and incorporate every ingredient that enters the plant into the products they produce. Truely state of the art facilities, and really- if we are going to the effort to make quality, environmentally sound product, it just stands to reason that the facility should operate under the same guiding principles.

They even have a dust collecting system, so that any particulates that aren't blended into an architectural coating are recollected and used in industrial products. They use the dust in air!

Made me feel good to know that LoVo is in good hands. And, no, you can't make any snarky comments on the 'stylish' safety glasses!

Design Drama, Act 2

2008-01-29T10:50:00.000-08:00

Blogs are amazing. They really do work sometimes. Find a topic that means something to someone, and you get feedback.

I posted my feelings about this bill last night before going home, and already I have received feedback. I want to share this comment with you, because I think it helps further the conversation along.

If the information shared below is true, then I certainly can't find any logical objection. My objection all along has been about the work we do with our customers and the threat of not being able to provide our services wherever the need is.

Creativity and design takes on so many guises and roles. As I said earlier, I think there should be room enough for all of us.

Hi Robin,
As a board member with IDCW, and a designer focusing mostly in commercial design this type of bill would impact the type of work I do on a daily basis. We definitely understand the diverse nature of the interior design industry and realize that not everyone wants to reach the highest level of certification in our field or offer public/commercial design services. We've had quite a challenge to make sure the bill language does not intentionally put designers in our state out of business. Unfortunately to most, the bill language is confusing so let me attempt to show you that the design services your staff participates in would still be allowed under the practice act. You would not be limited to offering services within your business or office; rather you would still be able to meet customers in their homes.

Direct from the current bill language: [Sec. 10 (2)]This chapter does not apply to an employee of a retail establishment providing consultation regarding interior decoration or furnishings on the premises of the retail establishment or in the furtherance of a retail sale or prospective retail sale, providing such persons do not refer to themselves as a registered interior designer.This chapter does not apply to a person who provides decorative services or assistance in selection of surface materials, window treatments, wall coverings, paint, floor coverings, surface-mounted fixtures, and loose furnishings not subject to regulation under applicable provisions of jurisdictional codes, regulations, or the jurisdictional fire codes, providing such persons do not refer to themselves as a registered interior designer.

To sum that up, as long as the design services you offer do not need to be submitted/reviewed by the building department, you do not need to be a Registered Interior Designer or have a Registered Interior Designer on staff to perform those services.

If you have additional questions or comments, feel free to contact me directly. khanna (at) gglo (dot) com
Thanks,
Kristi Hanna
IDCW VP of Allied Organizations

Design Drama

2008-01-28T16:35:00.000-08:00

Lately there has been a kerflap over legislation proposed here in Washington State regarding the professional licensing of Interior Designers.

To catch you up:
Designer have often battled a reputation as 'Dolly Decorators' when, in fact, the truth is quite different. The outdated image of a rich housewife who has a 'knack' for decorating is long gone.

Designers are involved in many different facets of work that affects both residential and commercial situations - which often requires years of training and experience.

Here's what's happening:
The ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) is proposing legislation to licence the profession of interior design.

They feel that other professions, like architecture, accounting, doctors, etc. all require this and that design should have professional practices and standards also that require testing and peer acceptance and continuing education.

Who can argue with that?

Unfortunately, I am. Why? Because I feel they are going much too far in their restrictions, and it affects the kind of service we offer our customers here at Daly's. There is no room for compromise the way the bill is written, and that's the problem.

For example, Daly's would no longer be able to offer in-home services. We would be able to help customers choose paint colors, window treatments, etc. only within the confines of our doors, but we wouldn't be able to meet our customers in their homes, under their own lighting conditions, to help them make appropriate choices.

And that is a problem for our customers and having the ability to give them the best service we can.

There has got to be room for us all.

I also think that there are many consumers of home and design products that do not feel comfortable hiring a 'credentialed' designer - or even need their services. Overkill, if you will. Why is the act of choosing a paint color or making some window treatment decisions requiring an accredited professional? This would most certainly cost the consumer more money and effort to hire them, as well.

I find this very upsetting, because I don't disagree with many of their viewpoints, just the sledgehammer approach - I do think professional standards are important, especially in commercial situations. And I do think that those designers who want to reach the highest level of recognition in their field should have those professional options available to them. But the argument of safety just doesn't fly with that type of design my staff participates in! That's the rub.

Well, the designer fur is sure to fly!

Interesting reading:
http://www.wa-ppdf.org/
www.idcwashington.org/

Announcing.... LoVo!

2008-01-09T15:50:00.000-08:00

In December I had the opportunity to go to NYC on behalf of C2 (with partner Shaun Clark from Waters & Brown and PR Rock Star Jill Logiudice) to meet with magazine editors at some great design publications to introduce C2's latest paint development: LoVo.

What is LoVo? It's C2's wonderful Low-VOC paint. Being from Seattle, we get inquiries ALL THE TIME from consumers who are looking for a 'green' product (although Seattle is no longer the place of Birkenstocks and fleece - we do have a bit more fashion sense!)

LoVo will be debuting in April (on Earth Day), and I can't wait! Just like the rest of the line, it will be unlimited in color offerings - You will be able to get every single C2 color, in all typical finishes.

Not only that, but we will be offering LoVo in 16 oz Samplers, too. So you can try out the product (in any color, even custom colors) and see for yourself what a great Low-VOC paint is like.

Most of us feel better using a product we know will have less of an impact on the Earth... and I am soooo pleased that we are doing this with C2!

Here are a couple images from our NYC trip:

These are the LoVo 16 oz. Sampler pots that we shared with the design magazines. You should have seen us tromping along the streets of New York, hauling Samplers, a portfolio of UPCs and color tools. Since most magazines are located within the same geographic area, it was so much faster to go by foot than by hired car or taxi. Let's just say these boots were made for walking!

Oh, and we stayed an the Hotel QT. Your 'hipness quotient' goes up just by staying there!

I know it's rather silly, but we were so excited to be visiting these great magazines - so we simply accosted strangers and made them take our picture at these different places. Some tourists go for Times Square, were were thrilled with Conde Nast.

... and Domino magazine was cool.

This Takes Downsizing To a New Level

2008-01-09T10:03:00.000-08:00

I couldn't help but share this...

Toronto's Smallest House is Up for Sale!
This house, located near the intersection of Dufferin Street and Rogers Road is believed to be Toronto's smallest house. Occupying what used to be a driveway, it's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom house that sits on a parcel of Land 7.25 feet (2.2 metres) wide and 113.67 feet (34.6 metres) long and has an interior area of just under 300 square feet (under 28 square metres).The asking price is $179,900.!!!!

And my thought.... Imagine how spectacular this space could look with the creative use of COLOR. Who wants to live in a white box? Color could be judiciously used to help define space and make the rooms more visually interesting. Especially the Living Room, don't you think?

Off and Running with 2008

2008-01-07T16:18:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy time.

In the world of retail paint sales, this is definitely the slow time of year (take note: if you don't like to wait in line, now is the time to come by). But behind the scenes, we are a busy company.

Housekeeping issues are addressed - We are FINALLY getting rid of the 1980's wallpaper in the reception area of the Seattle store! Goodbye 'varicose vein' marbleized vinyl! While it was a soothing peachy thing with soft violet and green veining, we aren't gonna miss ya. At all.

Instead the walls are being painted 'Beachbum' and 'Sea Salt'. Tasty and updated.

My husband Daren officially started his new role at at Daly's last week. While we have co-owned the company for a good eight years, he is now here on a daily basis to help us grow. He comes to Daly's with a lot of experience in finance and operations, so it will be interesting to see how we will apply these skills to our own little universe.

And, yes, for those who are curious, I am THRILLED he is here. We have complimentary skills, not competing. And combined with our partner Herb's experience (about 50 years at the company) and Daren's financial acumen, I think we will be creating some fun momentum in the future.

Bellevue, where our other store is located is rapidly changing. We are looking to relocate the store in the near future. I'll keep you posted as we learn more...

I took a little trip for C2 Paint in December. NYC at Christmastime. Pretty sights and very cold!

Holidaly Fun!

2007-12-20T16:47:00.000-08:00

It's Been a Loooong Time Since My Last Post!

2007-12-11T10:49:00.000-08:00

My how time flies when you are crazy-busy!

We found our two Christmas trees this weekend: one for the family room with colorful kid decorations, and one for the living room with sparkly, more formal decor.

This year, the kids hung their own tree - and it looks totally great. Oh sure, there are lots of branches where my 6-year old has clustered 3 ornaments on the same low branch, in exactly the same spot - but that adds to the overall effect and charm. And nobody was able to get to the uppermost branches - so it's a touch sparse at the top. At night we've been singing carols around the tree before bedtime.

I ask you, how much more "holiday" does it get than that?

I'm getting ready to head out to New York on Sunday for a Deskside Media Tour to introduce a new C2 product to a bunch of great design and home magazines. I am so excited! NYC at Christmas-time.

So in preparation for the blitz, I needed to visit the salon to get my hair done. I've been visiting Gene Juarez for about the last year, and they just relocated the salon to a new space.

About that space...

On first blush, it's great. Contemporary, but with an approachable aesthetic that helps inform clients that modern doesn't necessarily mean "cold". However, the more I really looked at the details (and when you are getting your hair colored, you have time to look!), the more the details weren't appropriate for the function of the salon (At least from my point-of-view).

In design school you learn "Form follows function", meaning that if it looks great but doesn't work well, you have not successfully accomplished your design goals. Well, the salon looks GREAT. I LOOOVE the curtain of ball-bearing chain beads behind the front counter. You just want to play with it.

And the fireplace in the waiting area - nice touch. Especially during the months from October through March.

But the banquette-styled sofas were a bust. Not comfortable and nowhere to support myself and rest my arms. Not comfortable is not a feature I am looking for when paying a premium price in a salon. No, no, no, I want to feel LUXE (which happens to also be a great C2 color, #361, by the way).

Apparently, the row of hairdryers is a real problem. They are also situated in a row with banquette seating, instead of individual chairs. My concern was that clients personal space would feel violated because there is no real designation between drying stations. And I saw a woman try and balance her lovely cup of tea on the seat, because there was no place to set the cup.

Worse still... apparently the banquette is too high and many women cannot even rest their feet on the ground! Imagine! Sitting there feeling like a little kid. So the short-term solution has been to add some throw pillows for added back support (apparently that not working so well, either), but they are going to have to devise a foot-rest or something to accommodate. And if you are a person of size - you can't stay seated easily because of the design. Yikes. One month into the new space, and that is not fixed yet. Oh boy.

I am going to be watching how the pearlized floor tiles age. They are white with a pearlized glaze and an interesting texture that gives them a lot of surface interest. They are also getting splotches on them where hair color drips onto them. Even with quick clean-up, they are getting ghost stains if you look closely. I noticed that the stylists also have this as their flooring around the chairs - wouldn't that increase leg and foot fatigue for people who must be on their feet all day? This is where "Form follows function" is IMPERATIVE, in my book. Make the staff happy and they will make their clients happy! The traffic areas are some sort of warm wood laminate flooring.

The white walls are tasty. And yes, I can't believe I'm saying that either!

The citrus green accent shots, love 'em.

I found more of that purpley-gray I've been noticing lately. Yummy.

I think it will be interesting to see how things evolve there. Will the salon age well? What changes will need to be made now that it's real-life time rather than just a concept?

Quote of the Day

2007-11-19T11:33:00.000-08:00

"Life is a great big canvas and you should throw all the paint you can on it." - Danny Kaye

Color Inspiration

2007-11-06T10:25:00.000-08:00

Inspiration for color and color combinations happens in the most unusual places sometimes.

This weekend I had to haul myself across the country to Tampa, FL for two nights. It's not a trip I recommend for the faint-of-heart - especially considering that those 7am business breakfasts really happen at 4am Seattle-time! Ouch.

However, as I was traveling home I found some really beautiful uses of color. Specifically, when I was going to Terminal E at the Tampa airport, I noticed a large WPA mural (originally painted in the 1930's by artist George Snow Hill. They were restored decades later by the artist himself) over the security line. The subject of the mural was the first flight landing in Tampa - but it was the use of color that really stood out.

The colors were all from a palette that was both colorful and muted at the same time. There were reds, blues, browns, golds and such, but none of the colors were "pure" or "clear". It created a harmony between all the colors and let the artist use a large variety of color without it looking like a mish-mash.

The same skills can be applied when using color in a home. This is how some people are very successful in having different colored rooms that all seem to flow together harmoniously. If the colors were "acid" or "bright", they would stick out like a sore thumb and not feel very good to live with.

My other experience happened on the airplane. The movie "Evening" was the selection on the way home. Starring Claire Danes, Vanessa Redgrave, Meryl Streep, Mamie Gummer, Toni Colette and Natasha Richardson (whew! what a cast!).

I chose not to watch the movie (too tired for an emotional film), but I ended up watching the colors used in the different scenes. They skillfully used color to help define the different times and eras that took place in the film.

I got sucked into looking at the color combinations, without the sound. It was pretty cool to watch a movie without being involved in the story. You certainly notice different things.

The scene where Meryl Streep's character visits the dying Vanessa Redgrave character is all done with white. White suit, white pearls, white sheets, white nightgown, white light and white hair. In unskilled hands this would have been the most boring, washed-out scene imaginable. But every white was different and again, there was no "pure" white - it was all rich and warm. Tough to pull off, but very pretty.

I love these greens. I love the whitewall tires that aren't icy white. I love the intense light on the actors from the sun. A feast for the eyes.

2000 and Counting...

2007-11-05T16:54:00.000-08:00

In June I mentioned we had placed a post on Craig's List that we were giving away our designer scrap paint (perfect high quality paint that was accidentally mis-tinted). To date these astute bargain hunters have picked up over 2,000 gallons.

That's a lot of paint!

It's a win-win for everyone. We aren't sitting on product we cannot sell in our stores and somebody gets a $40-50 product for FREE. Instead of ending up in some landfill contributing to waste, I am so happy to think of this ending up in someones home adding beauty.

How cool is that?

Regarding Fall Exterior Painting...

2007-10-23T14:10:00.000-07:00

Oh sure, the weather is supposed to hit 70 degrees today!

Again, It's Time To Stop Exterior Painting Projects!

2007-10-22T17:10:00.001-07:00

One of the great things about this digital communication format is that I can see how people have found this blog - one of the main searches of late has been Exterior Painting. So I KNOW there are a lot of folks out there wondering if they can squeeze one last exterior painting project in under the wire...

Folks, if you live in the Pacific Northwest, it is time to put your brushes down for the season. Really.

Why? Well, unless there is a terrible storm your paint won't melt off (although that would look very interesting) - but the weather is too risky to predict a long enough dry patch to ensure that you will have the optimum result for your efforts.

Paint contains a lot of moisture, and if it is overcast, misty, drizzly (or any of the other descriptive words we use for rain), the moisture in the air hampers the ability for the moisture to evaporate from the paint and it will be sloooooooow going until the paint film is truly dry.

And if you have a high level of moisture on the surface to be painted, even worse. Trust me, this happened at my house and we had to have a whole side repainted in just a few short years due to moisture. This Paint Princess knows of what she speaks!

Paint may dry to the touch in a few hours, but it is not dry all the way through for quite a while afterwards - we call this the cure time. Cooler temperatures and moisture inhibit this cure process. So don't paint outside anymore (unless you really have too!) (And I understand this happens to the best of us!).

Instead, let's chat about some lovely interior color trends and turn our attention inside for a while...

Firing Our Customers

2007-10-18T16:05:00.001-07:00

Yes, it happens - we have to respectfully break-up with our customers sometimes. It's never fun, and it upsets everyone. But you have to know where your line is in the sand.

Yesterday, I was called upon to do just that. A small mix-up in communication (from our perspective, no mix-up, but that's a story for another time!) resulted in the customer yelling, swearing and carrying on to the point where he not only alienated our two Design Resources staff, but the installer also insisted he would NEVER do work for that client.

I called the gentleman and as he was going on about our lacking service and attention to OBVIOUS details - I had to inform him that it was not acceptable to swear at THREE of our people over the relatively small issue at hand.

This is my favorite part, and the reason I wanted to share this: He hotly replied, "I swore at TWO of your people, not three!". (Isn't that like the sibling who tells his Mom, "Yeah, well he hit me back first!")

... Sending him a refund... (and besides, nobody refers to my momma as "THAT woman!")

Color Perception

2007-10-17T15:52:00.000-07:00

We had a customer come in to pick up a color chip from a color consultation she had earlier. She was looking for the color "Chutney" by C2 Paint. When she pulled it out of the rack, we could see that she was a bit surprised at how intense the color appeared.

Luckily we have a small wall painted that color right in the showroom - what a difference! The color on the chip looked a lot stronger than when applied on the wall. However, when you compare the little chip to the wall, they match.

This is a good reminder about why we often stress the importance of trying a new color out in sample form before making a final decision. If she hadn't seen the color in a larger example she probably wouldn't have felt the "Chutney" was the right color after all. Seeing a life-sized sample allows the eye to read the color itself, and not the contrast of the color against it's surroundings. Color is all about relationships, one color to the other...

Northwest Designers Showcase Event

2007-10-08T14:21:00.000-07:00

Friday night I attended the opening party for a designer showcase event called The Northwest Designer Showcase, presented by Glenn Richards.

Glenn Richards is this great store in Seattle featuring a huge space filled with antique Chinese and Japanese furniture, architectural elements and accessories from all over Southeast Asia. Downstairs you'll find a very cool furniture designer, Rom Lee, who uses many reclaimed items and beautiful wood elements in his custom designs.

The itinerant proprietors of Glenn Richards (pictured above) John and Laurie Fairman have decided to create a gallery space within their store, and from now through November 17th, you'll find different rooms decorated by local designers:

Lisa Staton, Kathleen Williams, Rachel Marez of Fix Design, Rom Lee, and of course Christina Ursino!

Each installation in their gallery space will be quite different, with plans to feature specific artists and let them have a run at the space.Kudos to that!

Here are some more images from the showcase (and yes, we happily provided the designers with all the C2 Paint they desired! We LOVE designers!)

Here's Lisa Staton in her luxurious living room (a little alliteration on a Monday never hurt anyone...). Note too, that Lisa just had a baby 8 weeks ago AND pulled off a showcase room...

Christian outdid himself AGAIN designing a dining room - I think my favorite touch is the leopard pattern on the dining chairs.

Speaking of babies, Rachel Marez of Fix Design Studio was worried that her baby bump wouldn't look good on camera... as if that is a worry! And look at the cool bathroom she created too!

Kathleen Williams created a romantic bedroom that just GLOWED - I only wish my camera could do justice to these spaces! Sigh...

Isn't This Pretty?

2007-10-04T14:14:00.000-07:00

We have lots of great, creative people here at Daly's. Sarah, who works our of our Seattle store is also an artist. She whipped this out for fun the other day - it was also quite lovely in it's simple black and white phase before she laid on the color.

Click here if you'd like to see more of her work!

Whirlwind Weekend

2007-10-02T13:47:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a great weekend spent in Chicago at the Hard Rock Hotel. It was a mid-year meeting of all the C2 Paint partners from all over North America. Hanging out in a hotel that is constantly playing great music, has hip furnishings and good company makes for a fun event.

As you have probably guessed by now, I'm pretty immersed in C2 culture - I feel so fortunate to connect with other independent paint retailers from all over.

Here I am with Jeff and Harry. Jeff is from Milton, Ontario and Harry from Providence, Rhode Island. We make up the marketing committee for C2 - so we communicate on an almost daily basis. Fun, fun, fun. We have a lot of work in the pipeline that is getting so close to being launched, can't wait for the fun to begin!

Of course it's not all play and no work! What is Chicago without a little action in the blue's clubs? Blue Chicago isn't too far from the hotel... and it reminds me of the night the color committee went out to Kingston Mines - inspiration for a number of C2 color names.

Pictured here is our spot-on marketing team:
Jeff, Kim (marketing & branding), Tia (ditto), me, Harry, and Jill (PR maven). Tia is located in Atlanta, Kim and Jill are Chicago-based. I think there is something to the fact that we aren't all based in the same geographical region - gives us a broader spectrum to operate within.

When I left Chicago on Sunday afternoon, the weather was in the upper 70's. Came home to mid-50's and rain!

It's End of Season Project Time!

2007-09-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

It's the time of year when we can almost predict the traffic count in the stores by the way the weather plays out. If the sun pops out from behind the clouds, more people pop into the store!

Will you be able to get that deck stained this weekend? Here is the weather forecast for the rest of the month...

Speaking of decks: You need at least 2 dry days before staining for optimum results. With timing and a little luck - you can still squeeze it in before Halloween!

Saturday's Column

2007-09-10T17:22:00.000-07:00

I just have to share with you our column that was published on Saturday in the Seattle PI. Christian and I wrote a number of definitions we call Designer Speak - it was so much fun to write, and I think a bit closer to the truth than anyone cares to admit...

The Design Files: Love it (or hate it), a primer to Designerspeak
by Robin Daly and Christian Ursino

It's time to learn a new language. Here's a basic primer in Designerspeak:
"There's been a delay in your order." (There's a war in the country where they are weaving the cloth for your sofa.)
"Let's do custom." (There's going to be a lot of time and money spent reinventing the wheel.)
"Let's break the rules." (I have a chair that's been sitting in my warehouse for five years and I want to get rid of it.)
"Oh, it flows!" (Uh-oh!)
"Let me put some ideas together, and I'll get back to you." (Don't sit by the phone. I have no idea what to do with this space and I need to go away.)
"Didn't you get my message?" (Oops, I forgot to call.)
"I'm waiting to hear back from the showroom." (I haven't done it yet.)
"It's a European fabric." (Break out the big bucks!)
"Fine craftsmanship." (Don't put that wallet away yet.)
"One of a kind." (You'll never get your money back out of it.)
"This will be fun!" (You're going to hate this.)
"I love it!" (I hate it.)
"Of course we don't have to replace the sofa." (Hmmmm. Wouldn't it be a shame if something were to happen to it?)
"I'll see if I can find it." (It hasn't been made since 1964.)
"It's just a difference in the dye lot." (It's the wrong fabric.)
"It's in stock." (You're still a month away from it.)
"It's back-ordered." (Oops, I sat on your order for three weeks.)
"They said 8 to 10 weeks." (Expect 12 to 16.)
"It's timeless." (It's boring.)
"It's hip." (It's overpriced.)
"It'll never go out of style." (It never was in style.)
"I'll meet you at the coffee shop." (I don't have an office.)
"Respect the process." (Just do what I say.)
"Evolve." (Wing it.)
"Trust me." (I'll be sweating bullets until it's actually done.)
"It looks fabulous; I knew it would." (I'm as surprised as you are.)
"You are my best client." (You're the one who pays on time.)
"You are my favorite client." (You're my only client.)

Neat-O Blog mention!

2007-09-05T15:46:00.000-07:00

Today is my first official day back from vacation (although I snuck off to Chicago for a 1 nite C2 meeting last week). The in-box isn't toooooo bad, considering.

Found a neat design blog today that speaks about color trends using C2 Paint: http://elementstyle.blogspot.com/2007/09/grey-is-new-black.html - I love it! Plus, grey is one of my fav's right now. Hard to believe I'd feel that way again after the grey and mauve 80's... I think I spent most of the 90's "beiging" out the 80's, come to think of it!

Speaking of grey, while in Chicago I stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel. The spacious rooms are painted an interesting shade of rosy/plum gray - I liked it a lot. It's actually a pretty strong color, not pastel or washed-out. So it made a great statement and was a calming foil to all the rock and roll iconography scattered around the hotel. Plus it looked great with all the chrome (it's the 70's again, baby!!!).

My one complaint - most of the sofas in that joint were UNCOMFORTABLE! How's a girl to strike a pose if she's not sitting pretty?

Customer Feedback

2007-08-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

It's letters like this that make our day...

Dear Robin,
I am wondering if you could pass on my sincere thanks to one of your employees, Larry Wales, who literally saved my day last weekend. I had spilled some purple paint on a van floor that I was borrowing and was in a panic trying to get it off. I pulled into Daly’s and asked if anyone could advise me, thinking this was a lost cause. Larry Wales leaped up and confidently attacked the paint splotch, removing it completely! And all he asked was that I buy Daly’s paint in the future. Which of course, I will do!

You are lucky to have such a cheerful, competent, NICE gentleman working at Daly’s.
Sincerely,
P.C., via email

A lot of businesses talk about the value of Customer Service... this kind of feedback, especially during the crazy/busy summer months truly makes my day. It's not all just lip service to the idea of it.

Interesting Color Adventure

2007-08-08T12:14:00.000-07:00

Over the last few weeks I've been working with a client to find the "perfect" color for her kitchen remodel. Her home is on a hill with a stupendous view of Puget Sound - this means there is a LOT of blue light that floods the room off the water. I have always found water reflections to be the most challenging when choosing colors. The changing nature of the light quality just makes it difficult to find a color that looks true in all lighting conditions, from day to night.

Well, we've been on quite a journey with our color. We decided the C2's "Mortar" was the right combination of neutral/taupe/stone. We then tried the same color but increased the formulations by 150% and 200% to determine which intensity would be the best.

An interesting thing happened. The color started looking "rosy". Not only that, but the other materials being installed, like the floor tile, looked different from the samples. Yikes!!!

So we then "de-rosed" the color. Ack. Too green! We also tried making the color without black tints, using complements instead. Lots of sampler pots and test quarts were flying out the tint room.

Nothing was quite right, and we were getting frustrated. We found a color in the Pratt & Lambert deck that was super close to "Mortar" - it is called "Seahawk", on of the tried-and-true colors that I've used for years. We looked up the formulation... Yellow oxide, low black and brown. Score! Checking the "Mortar" formulation it became apparent why it started giving a rosy cast - it contained magenta as one of the colorants. Aha!!!

However, interestingly enough.... "Seahawk" wasn't right either. Not alive enough. Apparently the magenta interacts with the other colorants in the formulation to make the color read better. So in the end, we pulled back on the magenta just a touch to minimize the rosy cast without getting rid of it altogether.

After weeks of color manipulation, we ended up almost back where we started. My client is getting her home painted this week. I can't wait to see it.

Interesting Conversation

2007-07-26T15:55:00.001-07:00

I was chatting with our Seattle Assistant Manager about my thoughts over what happened during my weekend retail encounters.

We both agreed that there is a lot to giving good customer service - but that it's also simply part of the deal. Especially in an environment like Daly's where we are there to support customers with their projects, provide additional information and education, not to mention providing quality products and tools to get the job done. Right? Right.

Well, she said that when she gets poor service, she just never goes back.

We talked about how we probably never hear of the majority of complaints that people have about our store (What? We get complaints???) And how that is too bad, really, because then we don't always know what needs to be fixed.

That being said, I don't know anyone who finds complaints easy to accept. It sucks. But hopefully, we try to turn them around... except when it's the middle of the summer and there is nobody around to take the complaint anyways, because it's too damn busy!

Retail Reflections

2007-07-23T11:22:00.000-07:00

I had a few opportunities to be the customer this weekend, and I had three very different encounters that left me with impressions of the establishments I was frequenting...

Saturday Morning
I popped into my local bookstore to pick up our copy of Harry Potter - my ten-year old made SURE we were there when the store opened at 8am! Not too hard to do, since the store is only one house away. We practically rolled into the store in our jammies.

Yay! Harry Potter!

While there, I ran into my neighbor across the street. Just 2 days before, she mentioned that the store gave a "Good Neighbor" discount. How cool is that, right? They HAVE been good neighbors to everyone, so this just furthered that warm-fuzzy feeling of supporting the local INDEPENDENT bookstore. That's why I bought Harry Potter there for about 30 bucks instead of at Costco for about 18 bucks.

So after making sure no other customers except my neighbor was in earshot (what retailer likes to have others hear that you are offering a discount that others might not be able to take advantage of?), I asked the guy behind the counter, who happens to be the manager, if we could sign up for the good neighbor discount.

"NO!" We all jumped.

He then said in what I felt was a very terse tone that they only did that for those directly affected by traffic that their store may have caused. I started to say that we were only a door away, on this side of the street ... he was shaking his head NO, and we were basically cut off at the knee for even asking.

We quickly left, and my neighbor was apologizing, etc.

I believe there are skillful ways of saying NO, and he really dropped the ball. It left us all with a bad feeling, my neighbor felt guilty and I felt like he didn't even care to know that I am a good neighbor to his business.

How did this leave me feeling about the business? Immediately I started to think of all the times that I HAVE been affected by their traffic!

If he had simply said "Gosh, I'm sorry, we no longer offer that discount" or something to that effect, it would have been a totally different experience. Instead I felt embarrassed and pissed at being treated like that. Will I go back? Yes, of course. Will I try to engage him? No, I won't.

A great illustration for us here at Daly's.

Saturday Afternoon
Popped into the local Starbuck's to look for a new tea thermos. Found one that met my needs, and went up to the counter to buy it. It's been a few years, but I remembered that I used to get a free drink when I bought a thermos or mug... That wasn't offered, and when I ordered a tea to be put in the mug, I was rung up for the thermos and the tea.

Not a bid deal, especially considering my drinks costs something like $1.50 or thereabouts... But still, I left bemused and wondering... And after the morning experience I had, I wasn't about to ask for anything special again!

Resultant thoughts: Felt let-down that I didn't get my special treat. Next thought was "Oh well, they are so big, who cares?" Next thought after that was, "Why even worry about a single little drink, I don't mind paying for it..." So why was I feeling a little let-down? Because it was there as a policy and now it's gone. More sad for Starbuck's than for me.

Sunday Afternoon
While shopping at Costco, I overheard an employee complaining to another shopper about how AWFUL this woman and her daughter were in the clothes area. They made messes, didn't treat the folded clothes with any respect; not even when the Costco employee was right there, refolding their mess.

My reaction: I didn't want to hear about her problems! In fact, I wheeled away from her table, so make sure I wasn't going to be engaged in her drama.

I think it's because when you are being the customer, it's all about your own personal experience, not the staffs. It doesn't matter if it's the small business down the street or the large behemoth where cost is the name of the game. It is STILL about the customer's experience.

One of My Favorite Four-Letter F Words...

2007-07-10T11:55:00.000-07:00

FREE.

What did you think I was going to say?

Last week we posted FREE Paint on Craig's List. Whaddya know? It works! Like any paint store, we occasionally have mis-tints that we can't sell and after being in business for as many years as we have, those little mistakes can add up to quite a pile of perfectly good designer paint.

We donate lots of our scrap paint to worthy organizations, but since these scraps comes in one and two gallons units, it's not always easy to give away.

Enter Craig's List. In this last week, we have seen cars pull up, comb over the free pile in the front of the store, grab a bucket or two and zoom off. We've probably gotten rid of about 140 gallons so far. Not bad, considering that we have to pay quite a bit to get rid of unusable gallonage or pay rent to store it on our shelves.

I guess FREE is a word that everyone understands!