Chalkboards used to just be a thing of schoolrooms,our teachers tapping their white chalk along the board's smooth green surface, erasing in a frenzy to make space for our next lesson... But a strange thing has been happening lately, chalkboard paint has been lending its erasable power to walls all across North America, including some of the trendiest interior design magazines, businesses, lofts, nurseries... And now, chalkboard paint could be bringing the magic to you! Right? Maybe? Well, keep reading and find out at least 5 cool ways you can use chalkboard paint to make chalky fun like never before. (We've included chalkboard painting tips for residential and commercial design.)

Ah the sun is shining in Vancouver! The summer sprawls ahead and everywhere I go there is light, light, light! Now that I can properly inspect the paint colour on my interior walls in this brilliant spring light – I crave a sunny palate of paint colours to match my shinny mood! Why so enthusiastic over good-fresh-happy paint colour you might ask? They say colour has a strong influence over mood - but I say mood has a strong influence over colour! I want my interior walls to act like a mood ring - signalling through saturating, gorgeous colour exactly the emotion I feel. And the emotion I feel right now is shouting for joy that finally the long, hibernating, gray winter is over! I'm now ready to chill out, BBQ, have a glass of vino (or a pint of ale), and just watch the clouds go by. So this leads me to my current paint colour investigation - what exactly are my best colour options for painting right now, for summer 2010?!

Design

Painting wood furniture is a great way to transform your interior design. The possibilities for painting wood surfaces in your residence or business includes an endless variety of paint colours for your cupboards, headboards, shelves, tables, chairs, dressers, armoires and more. While in this article we will talk mainly about painting furniture, keep in mind that the needs for staining wood furniture differ from treatments for other wood surfaces in and around your residence such as floors, doors, panels, decks, fences, etc. (Mainly, exterior painting requires specific treatments for weather proofing.) When painting any kind of wood surfaces, do keep in mind that like brick,once wood has been painted it is very difficult if not impossible to reverse. If you are unsure of your painting choice try consulting a local professional painting contractor or interior design for feedback.

Small businesses stand to gain great benefits from good painting and on the flip side; can also suffer the most from a poor paint job. Here Pure Painters shares 5 simple tips for business owners undertaking commercial painting renovations. Remember, your painting choices reflect company priorities, decision making process and budgeting creativity. Smart painting can re-vitalize your small business and generate excitement and prosperity among your staff and clients. Take time to plan ahead for your commercial painting project and see your vision come to life.

The experts on interior painting and design are all predicting that 2010 kicks off a new decade with an infusion of the stuff of dreams. From pure comfort to pure fancy, the focus is onwards and upwards with trendy painting styles making a comeback.  People are regaining confidence in their finances and some of the inclinations of the past few years to make safe decisions are going to the wind as fun steps it up a notch. 'Why not live a little' could easily be the motto for painting in 2010. Design will be more light-hearted and hopeful. Never the less, the classic beauty of simple, neutral paint colours for interior painting are also more of a staple then ever.

And of course, eco-friendly paints are no longer going to be viewed as a new trend, but as an absolute necessity.

Here is how we would define the three major moods of paint colours for 2010:

When it Rains, it Pours

Here on the Wet -- er… West Coast we all know a thing or two about keeping dry during the rainy season. Bring on the rain boots, ponchos and umbrellas right? Well, what about protecting the exterior of your homes from the rain? Did you know that the right application of exterior paint to your home or business can act just like a good rain coat? Makes sense!

Proper exterior painting can prevent the moisture that causes damage and mold from seeping through the walls of your home. Climate attuned paint can even help insulate your home -- saving you money on electrical bills and helping protect our environment (reduced energy waste/lower carbon footprint).

With Greater Vancouver BC having heavy rain warnings all month (November and December average 160mm/month yearly in rainfall in Vancouver, BC) now is the time to start considering the importance of exterior paint in weather proofing. We have put together a little info to help you get ahead in the battle against water. After all, we live in a rainforest so we can't pretend like the rain isn't going to pour!

How to Find Inspiration in Unlikely Places

You've probably heard a similar story to this one before...

Suzie and Dave have the most amazing sense of interior design. Although not career designers, they always seem to be raising the bar with their sense of style. When asked where their inspiration came from for their new dining room renovation, Suzie said, "It was simple really. I had this antique rocking horse painted a dusky coral and just knew right then this dining room would be perfect with cool gray walls, French-country furniture, a vintage three-tier chandelier and coral accents like this table cloth I found three years ago at the Vancouver flea market."

Right.

So the next question is, how do the rest of us -- we who are not naturally imbued with style savvy clairvoyance -- gather inspiration from everyday objects around us for our renovation and painting projects?

Before you begin dabbling in interior painting, think about what your overall design will be. The easiest way to ensure you have a consistent look is to choose a design style such as Industrial, Country, Asian, French, Eclectic, Contemporary, Retro, Traditional etc., and plan your furnishing, décor and painting from there.

The great thing about Vancouver painting is that anything goes! With such diverse cultural influences, interior painting in Vancouver is about personal style. We love to see variety, but still appreciate when a room or household is well put together. Knowing just what look you are going for will help ensure your interior design feels welcoming and enviable, rather than disconnected and distracting.

Here is a list of interior paint decorating ideas (and do's and don'ts) that can add style to your west coast home.

At Pure Painters we provide the most hassle free painting service, taking care to handle every step of the process for you, including preparation. However, many of you may wish to learn more about how you can prep your interior painting successfully on your own. For those of you who wish to venture down this path we have put together some painting prep tips with an eco twist just for you!

All across Metro Vancouver, from Kitsilano to New Westminster, people are feeling the change of season. From an unusually hot summer with much time spent outside, we are starting to head back inside for work and play. This means re-examining our indoor spaces and thinking about a color change.

Though many of us choose paint color based on instinct, color is a very powerful stimulus that says a lot about our personality, mood and even the social trends going on around us. For instance retail designers have cited the recession, increasing environmental awareness and pop fads (like the recent comeback of the 80s), as having a major influence on their 2009 product design.