Painting (and Painting Around) Built-ins

When you imagine painting a room, you probably imagine that room as a bare, uniform surface. You think that painting it will be much like painting a board or a canvas. 

That's not how it is in real life. Consider these lovely rooms from a painting job we at Courtney & Wise did a few years ago. The room above has numerous beautiful details, from the trim around the doors and fireplace to the chandelier and its ceiling rosette.

The kitchen below has plenty of trim, too, as well as built in cabinets and appliances, not to mention marble countertops that touch the painted walls.

The first thing to do is to remove anything that is in painting range and that can be removed.If there's a pelmet on the windows, for example, it may be practical to remove it. 

Also remove anything that can be removed and will be painted, such as the doors of cabinets or the door of a room. In cases where the doors will not be painted or stained -- that is, they're being left as they are -- and they have elements that can't be removed, such as mouldings or cabinetry, leave them.

Consider using a stain or a glossy enamel for the trim to give a real contrast with the walls.

Paint built-ins the same shade as the trim to make them stand out from the walls. Built-in shelves can have a different shade of the wall colour painted at the back, the shelves themselves or the visible edges of the shelves can be painted in a toning or contrasting shade, or several close shades of the same colour can be used for a dashing look.

Cover everything that's left and tape it very carefully. A really clean line is the hallmark of a good paint job. Cover light fixtures such as chandeliers with cloth and tape them if they can't be safely removed before painting. You think the fact that they're not touching the walls means there's no danger of getting paint on them, but that is not the case. 

One more thing to consider: when you're working in a room with lots going on, the spaces you'll actually paint can end up being fairly small. You must paint them in a uniform way, or you'll end up with a patchwork look, with brushstrokes in different directions. Not a nice look. 

The truth is, it's hard to paint a room with lots of built-ins and trim. If you're in Sydney, call Courtney & Wise at 9958 1099 to discuss a professional paint job. You'll love the results.