Using What You Have to Paint Property Face-Lifts

Most facility painters’ budgets are set at, or close to, maintenance level.  Little room or flexibility exists for creative license. Or the budget to buy new paint to “get creative.”

Still, many facility painters are masters at utilizing what they have available. With skill and a keen eye, they add creative touches where they are needed, will draw attention, and enhance the property’s physical and aesthetic value.

To liven up your property, try one or more of these face-lifts.

* ROOMS/AREAS: Guest rooms.

** What you have: Two gallons of paint in a color no longer used.

1. Select ten of your economy rooms with walls painted in the same color.
2. Tint the paint two-to-three shades darker.
3. In each guest room, paint a 4-inch to 6-inch border on the wall opposite the bedroom, or bath vanity, mirror.

* ROOMS/AREAS: Game Room.

** What you have: Two gallons of paint in colors close to each other, or to the color(s) on walls.

1. Create block grid border at top of two or more walls.
2. With pencil, lightly mark – color code – alternating blocks. Ex: G (green); B (Blue.
3. Using a small brush (1-inch, 1 ½ inch) with angled edge, cut-in the corners and outer edges of all blocks with same color code. Ex: G (green).
4. Start at your first cut-in block. Use the same, or wider (2-inch) brush to paint in each block.
5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for the blocks marked with the second color code. Ex: B (Blue).

TIPS:

1. This project can be done in stages: One color/one wall at a time; one color/two walls.
2. Project can be done around your work orders, regular projects and emergency calls.
3. Project can be done in public area, during lower traffic times.

* FURNISHING/ACCESSORY: Stored pictures and frames.

** What you have: 2-1/ 2 gallons latex semi-gloss: off-white, beige; 2 spray cans of clear gloss.

1. In furniture storage, find 20 “abandoned” framed pictures. Choose odor/stain/mold free pieces.
2. Get written okay from Rooms Manager to recycle these stored pieces.
3. In paint shop, remove the picture from each frame. Clean off dust and residue.
4. Lay pictures side-by-side on a large clean dropcloth.
5. Coat pictures. Proceed with “A” or “B” below.
6. Lightly spray each with clear gloss paint.
7. Pour one-third of off-white paint into a small plastic bucket. Thin with 1/ 8 cup, or 4  tablespoons, of warm water. Stir well. Use small roller and lightly coat all pictures.

  NOTE: Parts of each picture should show through the paint. Let dry thoroughly.

8. Clean dust and residue from all frames. Lightly sand each with No. 120 sandpaper, or 220 for varnished wood. Lay them side-by-side on a large clean dropcloth.

9. If you have a spare can of primer, lightly coat each frame to enhance durability of new finish.

10. Use 1-inch to 2-inch brush, and coat each frame with the off-white paint.

11. Let both picture inserts and frame dry thoroughly.

For Faux-Frames:

1. On another day: Pour 1/ 4 of beige paint into small disposable container. Add small amount of remaining off-white paint. Mix well.
2. Lightly “spot” brush, dab or sponge new paint color on each frame, onto the edges of inserted pictures. Let dry thoroughly before hanging.

 

* ROOMS/AREAS: Public restrooms

** What you have: Two double rolls of obsolete wallcovering.

1. Measure the running length of each bathroom’s alcove walls around sinks and mirrors.
2. Cut wallcovering vertically – in 2-inch or 3-inch wide strips. Regardless of pattern or texture.
3. Install wallcovering strips HORIZONTALLY along top seam of each wall.
4. TIP: No need to match pattern. You’re after the SURPRISE effect – and reaction!

CREATE-A-GALLERY PROJECT

 * ROOMS/AREAS: Corridor with variable-width narrower walls.

**  What you have: Under one-half gallon of three different pastel latex paints.

1. Use white 8 ½-inch by 11-inch paper, create your own 8 ½ by 11 paint chip of each color.
2. To decide which color to put on which wall:
3. Tape one chip on each wall. Tape so the side of each chip is arranged close to adjacent one.
4. Stand in different spots, at least 1 foot away from wall-grouping. How do they look?
5. Rearrange paint chips onto different walls. Stand back again. How do they look?
6. Rearrange chips until you find the right look. (Get a few other opinions before you paint.
7. Once color placement is decided, dust off each wall with a wide paint brush on extended pole.
8. Mix one color paint at a time.
9. Then paint each color on its selected wall. And let entire area dry.
10. Walls can be used to display paintings, framed hotel community volunteerism awards, etc.

 

SPECIAL PROJECT: CHILDREN’S ART GALLERY PROJECT

* ROOMS/AREAS: Children’s indoor activity area.

** What you have: ½ gallon each of two pastel paints, and two medium shades, semi-gloss latex.

1. Lightly sand, and dust clean at least two adjoining walls in the children’s activity area.
2. Paint both walls with one or two coats of the same pastel color. Let dry thoroughly.
3. Measure and draw a 4-to 6-inch border completely around the enjoined wall area.
4. Add a small amount of black semi-gloss or gloss latex to one of the medium shades. Mix well.
5. Paint a fake picture frame in the border space.
6. While the paint is wet, take artist brushes. Make lines, swirls, dots, etc. through the paint.

** TIP: Work through existing surface paint. OR, detail/“highlight” with different color.

7. Paint a large “Children’s Art Gallery” sign in the top outside corner of one of the walls.

** TIP: Remember to “hang it” from the wall, by painting in a “Hook” and sturdy cord or rope.

NOTE: Ask teammates to advertise the GALLERY. Travel/reservation websites; front desk, guest rooms, restaurants, food court, pool gazebos, information boards/kiosks throughout property.

* ROOMS/AREAS: Guestroom bathrooms. Color of walls: Mint Green

** What you have: Three gallons of bath latex in obsolete color. Example: Light blue.

1. Select five bathrooms to start.
2. Decide where to place the border. Examples: Horizontally along the ceiling line; vertically along the edge of the door frame; around mirror, along wall corners.
3. Lay out the border – 4 to 6 inches wide. Lightly mark with a pencil, or chalk.
4. Choose your design and colors.

Example: One color: Light or medium blue-green.

Example: Sponging – Base coat: Lt. blue. Sponging over-coat: Lt. blue-green.

Example: Jacguard effect – 3 colors: Lt. blue, med. blue, lt. blue-green.

Example: Stencil. Base coat – Lt. Blue-green; Stencil coats: light blue and/or mint green.

SPECIAL PROJECT:  Reviving 250 used wood-framed vanity mirrors.

“What are we going to do with these?” asked my chief engineer. He pointed toward a room full of 250 used wood-framed vanity mirrors. “Any ideas?”  “OH YEAH,” I smiled. And, as soon as I could find the time, I started to refinish every piece.

1. Working on twenty at a time, I cleaned and dusted off each mirror and fiber-molded frame.
2. Next, I masked off the glass using masking paper and tape.
3. The mirrors were placed side-by-side on a large, clean dropcloth.
4. Each molded frame was sprayed with grey primer – and let to dry thoroughly.
5. The primed frames were not sanded before finishing – fragile frame composition and design.
6. Last, I applied a Metallic Gold finish to each frame.

The effect?  Book a few rooms, or suites, at the SERALAGO HOTEL & SUITES, KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA.

See for yourself!  (Ask for a room or suite with a gold-framed mirror.)

Paint Shop Tip: Most products and materials have limited shelf life. So, the adage “Use it or lose it” can turn out to be true.

Use what you have to redecorate, rejuvenate, revive, and restore. It’s fun! It’s cost-conscious! It’s environmentally conscientious!  And, it’s an awesome thing to do.

* * * * * * * * *

Have fun. Paint a Project. Thanks for visiting “Painting with Bob.”