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Every home suffers a few negatives, but not every solution requires pricey structural changes.   Paint   is a frugal remodeler’s go-to solution to perk up a problem room. Here’s how to pick paint colors to give any room a facelift: Choosing Paint for a Room That’s Too Small Painting walls white, cream, pastels, or cool colors (tinged with blue or green) creates the illusion of more space by reflecting light.  White or light colors on walls lifts the ceiling, bringing your eyes up, which makes you feel like you’re ina larger room. How to use paint color to make a room seem bigger: Paint trim similar to walls to ensure a seamless appearance that visually expands space.  Use a monochromatic scheme to amplify the dimensions of a room. Select furnishings in the same color. Lack of contrast makes a room seem more spacious. Extend wall color onto the ceiling an additional 6- 12- inches. This will make the room seem taller. Paint vertical or horizontal stripes. Vertical stri...

There’s a basic rule of thumb to follow when choosing paint sheens: The higher the sheen, the higher the shine — and the higher the shine, the more durable it will be. Flat paint has no shine; high-gloss is all shine. In between are eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss, each with its own practical and decorative job to do.  Here’s how to choose the right paint sheen for your painting job: High Gloss The most durable and easiest to clean of all paint sheens, high-gloss paint is hard, ultra-shiny, and light-reflecting. Think appliance-paint tough. High gloss is a good choice for area that sticky fingers touch — cabinets, trim, and doors. High-gloss, however, is too much shine for interior walls. And like a Spandex dress, high gloss shows every bump and roll, so don’t skimp on prep work. Practical application:  kitchens, door, and window trim Durability:  very high Semi-Gloss Good for rooms where moisture, drips, and grease stains challenge walls. Al...

This weekend temperatures plunged far below zero in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont as residents hunkered down and tried to stay warm. Mount Washington set a record for coldest wind chill ever recorded at minus 108 degrees!  As a landlord, my phone was non-stop yesterday.  Unfortunately, these record low temps resulted in some frozen pipes at my apartments buildings.     The best way to deal with freezing pipes is to prevent them in the first place.  But if the unthinkable does happen, you’ll have to act fast to minimize the damage and cost of repairs. Why Freezing Pipes Burst Not all freezing pipes burst. But when one does, it’s because water expands when it freezes, adding considerable pressure on unyielding plumbing pipes. That pressure can cause a tiny leak at a joint or crack on a length of pipe, unleashing the full flow of water inside your home. How to Identify Freezing Pipes A water line coated in frost (or bulging like a well-...