Interior design maven and host of HGTV's "Myles of Style," Kim Myles, will answer a question submitted from an ESSENCE.com reader every day. Kim believes that interior design should offer a lifestyle that's chic,
vibrant and attainable for every homeowner or renter. "My goal is to
offer simple solutions that help the average person achieve the look
that they want without going into debt. There is absolutely no reason
for great design to be overly expensive or exclusive," she declares. Today's topic: Painting the living room Read more: For more "Life, Style & Design" stories, click here.Kim Myles: Before and After"Myles of Style" Makeovers
Interior design maven and host of HGTV’s “Myles of Style,” Kim Myles, will answer a question submitted from an ESSENCE.com reader every day. Kim believes that interior design should offer a lifestyle that’s chic, vibrant and attainable for every homeowner or renter. “My goal is to offer simple solutions that help the average person achieve the look that they want without going into debt. There is absolutely no reason for great design to be overly expensive or exclusive,” she declares. Today’s topic: Painting the living room Dear Kim, I am interested in painting my home this spring but I am not sure what kind of paint to use. Our walls are textured so I don’t know if we need to use a gloss, semi-gloss, etc. Also in our living room we wanted to do an accent wall, but should the accent wall be darker or lighter than the other walls in the living room? –LaQuita Marshall KIM MYLES: The first rule of painting texture is that you need to use the right tools. Make sure that your rollers have a high nap to get into all of the nooks and crannies, and the job will be much easier. As far as which finish to use, it depends on your preference: gloss and semi- gloss will reflect light, so the character of the walls will be highlighted. Flat finish will appear more velvety, and will soften the texture. As far as accent walls go, I prefer that they be darker than the rest of the room because I find that the darker the color, the bigger the statement. Read more:
Need help selecting furniture for your space? Have a disagreement with your spouse on a color to paint your walls? Toddlers making your home look like a storm rolled through it and need help adjusting for their mess? Send your design question to webmaster@essence-online.com. Please keep the questions brief and as detailed as possible. Remember, the more information you offer, the more Kim will be able to help!