The Connections Bridgewater-Somerville Edition April/May 2026

HOME & DESIGN

PAGE 30

Fair Street Interiors Design for Interiors & Home Modifications

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HINTS HOME FOR THE Understanding Paints By Gail Bicknell, ASID, CAPS

most exclusively acrylic latex to withstand weather. Proper prep before painting can’t be over emphasized. Walls and trim need to be patched, taped, spackled and sanded smooth, then wiped completely clean before paint is applied. I always recommend my clients use an experienced professional painter. It’s easy to minimize the prep steps with a DIY project because seeing the finished color on the walls seems so exciting, but the final out come is highly dependent on the quality of both the prep and application. Remember oil-based paints? These were used extensively for interiors until about the mid-1990’s. Extremely durable, oil-based paints dried harder and were excellent for high traffic, high wear areas. Clean up, how ever was messy and time consuming, requir ing turpentine vs latex paints, which clean up with water. And oil-based paints were found to have extremely high VOC’s. Envi ronmental regulations began in California in the late 1970’s and were widely adopted as time went on. Obviously, all paint contains chemicals. VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) are harmful to the environment and to humans. Low and zero VOC paints are widely used today because they are less toxic, better for interior air quality and the environment, dry faster, give off less fumes and odor and are safer-particularly for people with asthma or

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have always been thrilled with fan decks…those amazing collections of thou sands of shades of paint, grouped by color and hue, offering unlimited opportunities to create beauty and mood. But selecting the perfect color is just the first step. Where the paint is to be applied, the quality of the surfaces, the use of the space, durability and luster, or finish, are all components of select ing the proper paint. Finish applies to the sheen, or level of shine, of the finished paint. Sheen affects both the appearance and performance of the paint. Interior paints are classified on a con tinuum from Flat to High Gloss. Flat is the least reflective finish which hides imperfections best. It provides excel lent coverage. Best applied where durability is not a factor, flat paint is used extensively on ceilings; the original “Flat White”!

Matte finishes are soft, elegant and dusty, used in bedrooms and living rooms~ tradi tionally lower traffic areas. Eggshell & Satin are the two most popular paint finishes because they provide a smooth finish that is durable and easily washable and will withstand a lot of scuffing and wiping. Family rooms, hallways and kids rooms are usually painted with eggshell or satin paints. Semi-Gloss and High Gloss paints are the most durable and used for window and door trim, doors, crown and base molding, cab inets and painted furniture. These finishes are the hardest and shiniest, but tend to show imperfections. Special formulas are available for kitch en and bathrooms that are highly stain and moisture resistant. Pearl finishes have a sub tle shimmer which can be lovely in hallways and powder rooms. Exterior paints are al

allergies. Technically, to be labeled a Low VOC paint, the formula must contain less than 50 grams per liter of chemical solvents that vaporize at room temperature. Zero VOC paints must contain less than 5 grams per liter. Your designer or professional painter can help navigate and advise you when it comes to selecting the proper paint. It’s okay to start with a color you love, but defer to the pros before you begin your project! Gail Bicknell, Owner/ Designer Fair Street Interiors fairstreetinteriors.squarespace.com

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