Color Me Home by RepcoLite

Color Me Home, Episode 002: Choosing Colors You'll Love!

2016-04-02T13:28:00.002-07:00

In this episode, Betsy and Dan discuss several ways that will help you make sure that the next colors you choose are colors that will be perfect in your home!

Color Me Home Podcast, Episode 001: Finding Inspiration for Your Next Color Scheme

2016-04-02T13:25:00.002-07:00

The Eyebrow Incident

2016-04-02T13:21:00.003-07:00

The wheels started to come off right away this morning when I moved a little slower than normal while getting ready. A little delay here, a little delay there and I found myself in a time crunch. And that's never a good thing.

But, I figured I'd be OK. That I'd make up for lost time by moving a little more quickly than usual. And that's when the wheels came off entirely.

See, here's what happened: I was shaving. Quickly. And as I stood there in the bathroom, whipping the razor over my face in manic, almost jack-the-ripper-like fashion, I happened to catch a glance of something curious in the mirror. I brought the blade to a standstill, leaned in and, sure enough, there it was: a long, wispy hair shooting out of my eyebrow at a crazy angle. Hmmmm. Getting older seems to produce more and more of these.

Dress for Success: 3 Tips for Your Next Paint Job!

2016-03-17T13:33:00.002-07:00

A number of years ago, in the middle of the night, we heard something that sounded like gunshots outside our window. Well, needless to say, the second I heard the “shots”, I hopped out of bed, ready for action. Fight or flight, right?

Anyway, I was standing there, running through all the potential scenarios in my head when I looked down and realized I was in my underpants.

Well, this wouldn’t do.

READ MORE...

Painted Glass Bottle Project

2016-03-08T11:06:00.000-08:00

If you're into decorating and if you've got even the slightest amount of creativity, you're always looking for a project. Something outside the norms, something a little different, little things that will set your home and your decorating apart from everyone else.

Well, if that's you--if you'd love a quick project with a huge payoff--then read on!

Popcorn, Get Your Popcorn!

2016-03-07T07:44:00.000-08:00

White, yet iridescent snow hovers lightly over the streets and surrounding homes of west Michigan, resulting in a pictures phenomena. A canopy of matured, snow-covered trees lines the drive leading to our home, and is accompanied by a creek that acts as a point of reference to visitors who have made it to the bridge. Right now the bridge still has a thin layer of ice on it, while beneath, the creek, glistening by the cold winter's rays, still runs quietly past the snowy banks.

By early February, rumor spread that Spring may be traveling north earlier than expected, and for myself, the earlier the better. I've never really have been cut out for cold temperatures. Although Winter brings beauty and relaxation, with warmth comes the opportunity for easier transportation and the psychological persistence and motivation to accomplish greater tasks.

But Spring's not here just yet. And there's plenty of work to be done in our home renovation.

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Chalkboard Paint Tags in 5 Easy Steps

2016-03-01T06:57:00.000-08:00

Benjamin Moore’s Chalkboard Paint is a versatile product that can really bring out the “creative” in us! Here’s an interesting project by Betsy Thompson from our 17th Street Store that might get you thinking about some different ways you can use Chalkboard Paint in your own home!

The Great Flaking Paint Disaster of 2016

2016-02-29T06:53:00.000-08:00

In our home, the previous owners painted a 4” wide border around the ceiling in the living room. On that border, there were a few small spots where the paint was flaking off. On a Saturday morning a couple of weekends ago, my wife was out of the house for a couple of hours, so I thought I'd surprise her by touching those spots up.

I grabbed some sandpaper and set out to accomplish what I should have been a 5 minute job only to find that wherever I touched the sandpaper to that border, the paint fell off. In huge patches. It was terrifying. Everywhere the sandpaper touched, a silver-dollar-sized section of paint came loose from the ceiling and fell to the floor like huge a snowflake. I would sand in ever expanding circles, expecting (hoping) to find some section of paint that was still stuck to the ceiling, but no. No matter where I sanded more and more flakes started falling. At that point, the kids came in, saw the mess on the floor and all the missing paint on the ceiling, and said “Mom’s going to kill you when she gets home….”

The Fabric Softener Fix for Stripping Wallpaper

2016-01-28T06:50:00.000-08:00

On August 28, 2015, we finally closed on our home in Fruitport, Michigan. Being a short sale, Patrick and I had been waiting since late February of that same year to sign the documents, solidifying the closure. I knew it would be months before we could move in, even after the closure, but that was the least of my worries. We were inching closer to our ultimate goal of remodeling a home. Standing two stories tall, half brick-half vinyl siding, attached garage, on just shy of an acre, seven bedrooms, and three and one-half baths, we were eager to start our adventure in reconstructing and cosmetically reconditioning a three thousand square foot, 1970's retro home.

Simply White: Making Home Feel Like Home

2016-01-12T07:37:00.002-08:00

Bessler_2014

It's old news, I know, but the color of 2016 is white. Yeah. White.

Oh, technically it's #OC-117 Simply White from Benjamin Moore, but, for all practical purposes, it's white.

And that seems so profoundly... boring. White? The Benjamin Moore color system is home to over 3,500 bright, soft, wild, calming, deep, muted colors and the best they could come up with for 2016 was white?

A few months ago when the news came out, I thought it was crazy. The bold joke of some group of color professionals at Benjamin Moore who just didn't care anymore. A group of people who, while sitting around sipping designer drinks, decided collectively: "let's go into that meeting tomorrow and tell them white and see what happens! It'll be hilarious!"

Yet, instead of being laughed out of whatever official color meeting took place, nobody got the joke and white was officially enshrined as the color of the year.

White?

That's what I thought, anyway.

And then I saw some of the photos Benjamin Moore was using in their promotions. I read some of the explanations, the stories, the Narrative (with a capital "N"). And it started to make sense. Here are 3 reasons why I've changed my mind on Simply White.

Read the rest on our blog at repcolite.com

Win a PlayStation 4 Star Wars Battlefront Bundle

2015-12-07T12:26:00.000-08:00

We just drew the two winners and have sent out the emails letting them know the details. Congratulations to Jim Saxe and Nick Hallenbeck!

We'd also like to thank everyone who entered the contest and everyone who posted comments here and helped make this such a successful event for us! Thanks also to Benjamin Moore Paints for working with us to make this giveaway possible!

We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Save $5 per Gallon with Benjamin Moore Color Samples Purchase!

2015-09-11T05:22:00.000-07:00

Don't just guess. Know what colors you're getting before you buy. Benjamin Moore Color Samples will show you how our colors will look on your walls, house, porch, or anywhere else you want new color. It is the best method to make sure you're satisfied with your color selection before picking up a brush.

And now, until the end of September 2015, you'll get a coupon worth $5 off your next gallon of Benjamin Moore Paint* (up to 5 gallons per coupon!) with every Color Sample purchase at all RepcoLite, Port City Paints, and Snyder Paints locations.

The coupon can be used anytime from now until December of 2016, so even if you're not ready for paint yet, it's a perfect way to save some cash on your next decorating project!

If you're contemplating a project and aren't sure exactly what color is going to be best, stop in at any RepcoLite, Port City Paints, or Snyder Paints store and purchase a Color Sample pint or two. You'll be able to find your perfect color AND you'll take home some serious savings at the same time! It's perfect!

*Savings is good on any of the following Benjamin Moore Paints: ADVANCE, ARBOR COAT, AURA, BEN, KITCHEN & BATH, NATURA, and REGAL SELECT.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Coupon valid for $5.00 off retailers suggested retail price per gallon of up to 5 gallons of Aura, Regal Select, Natura, Ben, Arbor Coat, Advance, and Kitchen & Bath. Must present this coupon to redeem. Only original offer will be honored, no photocopies or faxes will be allowed. Limit one offer per customer at participating retailers. Products may vary from store to store. Subject to availability. Retailer reserves the right to cancel this offer at any time. Cannot be combined with other offers. Coupon expires December 2016.

Win Everything You Need to Completely Re-do a Room!

2015-09-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Repainting a room in your home is the cheapest and most effective way to bring about a dramatic change. And now, this month only, RepcoLite and Benjamin Moore are working together to make it very inexpensive for 2 lucky winners!

Enter Here:

To enter the contest, use this form. But don't forget to check out the complete prize package spelled out below!

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The Prizes:

From now until September 30 at 11:59 PM, you can sign up to win a Room Repaint Package! The package includes the following high quality tools and paint products:

(2) Gallons of ANY Benjamin Moore Paint we regularly stock!

The Room Repaint Package starts out with 2 gallons of your choice of ANY Benjamin Moore Paint. You can choose Aura, Regal Select, Ben, or any of the other high quality Benjamin Moore Paints that we regularly stock. If you're not sure which product to pick, tell us what room you're repainting and we'll let you know which product is best suited for your situation!

(1) 2.5" Corona Excalibur Chinex Brush!

(1) 9" Wooster Metal Paint Tray and (2) Tray Liners

(1) 9" Wooster Roller Frame

(1) 9" Wooster Micro Plush Premium Roller Cover

(1) 1" Roll of Scotch Delicate Surface Masking Tape

(1) 4' x 15' Canvas Dropcloth Runner!

Win 2 Gallons of Benjamin Moore Paint!

2015-08-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

a Rafflecopter giveaway Enter to win 2 gallons of ANY Benjamin Moore paint that we carry! (Contest opens on Saturday, August 8 at 12:00 AM)

June Paint Giveaway!

2015-06-05T10:37:00.003-07:00

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Win 3 Gallons of Natura from Benjamin Moore!

2015-04-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

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Now through April 24, RepcoLite Paints and Benjamin Moore are giving away 3 gallons of Natura to 2 winners. See the entry form above for all the different ways you can enter to win. The only stipulation is that winners must be able to pick up their products from one of our retail locations!

Not sure what Natura from Benjamin Moore is? Well, here's a quick overview: Natura Waterborne Interior Paint demonstrates Benjamin Moore's commitment to providing the safest, most environmentally friendly paint possible. Natura goes beyond zero VOC to offer zero emissions, making it a safer paint for your family and the environment, all without compromise to performance or color selection.

Features:

Virtually Odorless
Zero VOC and zero emissions
One hour recoat for quick return to service
100% Acrylic
Provides a durable, washable film
Spatter-resistant
Self-priming on most surfaces
Voted 2015 Product of the Year

Win 2 Gallons of ANY Benjamin Moore Paint We Stock!

2015-03-06T06:19:00.002-08:00

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It's time for a change! Winter is dragging on, but Spring is right around the corner. Now's the time to completely change the look and feel of any room in your home . . . for FREE! From March 6 until noon on March 20, RepcoLite Paints is teaming up with Benjamin Moore to give away 3 prize packages each containing 2 gallons of any regularly stocked Benjamin Moore paint. That means you could pick Aura, Regal Select, Satin Impervo, Advance, Ben or any other Benjamin Moore product!

No matter what project you're thinking about tackling or what room you'd like to update, Benjamin Moore has the right paint for you!

Enter Our "Bring the Paint Store Home" Contest!

2015-02-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

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Standing at a color display in a paint store can be overwhelming. But how about looking at all those colors from the comfort of your own home? It's well known that our perception of a given color changes in various lighting conditions. That's why we always recommend that our customers take some paint chips home and look at them in their own lighting before they purchase paint. However, that's not always convenient.

We want to make that a little easier for 6 lucky winners! Now through February 20, RepcoLite and Benjamin Moore Paints are partnering to give away 6 sets of Benjamin Moore Color decks. Each set includes Benjamin Moore's Color Preview Deck, their Classic Colors Deck, their Affinity Deck, and finally their Williamsburg Collection.

No purchase is necessary (though you do need to be able to pick the prizes up in one of our store locations!). Check out the entry form above and enter as often as you like. The more you enter, the more chances you have to win! Winners will be announced on February 20!

Win 2 Free Gallons of Aura from Benjamin Moore!

2015-01-08T07:28:00.001-08:00

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Beat the Winter Blahs with a new color in your living room! And do it for FREE! January 9 through the 30th, RepcoLite and Benjamin Moore Paints are giving away (3) prize packages containing 2 gallons of Benjamin Moore's Premium Aura Interior Paint.

Aura is the best paint money can buy. It covers better than any other paint you've ever worked with, no matter what color you choose! It applies well, doesn't spatter or drip, and has virtually no odor! Except for the new color on your walls, nobody in your home will even know you've painted!

Hurry and sign up for this giveaway and then keep checking our facebook page to see who wins!

Q-Tip Touchups!

2014-11-07T11:50:00.001-08:00

Here's a shortcut you can try next time you've got to touch up a few nail holes or wall dings in your home. Rather than get out a brush or a small roller and a tray, pick up a Q-Tip. Yes. I really mean one of these things:

Here's the scoop: a Q-Tip is perfect for small touch up areas.

Read the rest on our blog at repcolite.com

My Shortcut to the Movie Theater

2014-11-04T12:35:00.005-08:00

"Century Theaters" by taviamcgrath is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Hey, we all love shortcuts, don’t we? At any rate, I love shortcuts. I love the idea that there’s a path, a way–a quicker way–to get from point A to point B than the path that everybody else is taking. Yeah . . . shortcuts are cool. At least, they’re cool when they work. When they don’t . . . we’ll that’s another story.

Years ago, I was attending a seminary in Kentucky and for the first time in my entire life (at least since I graduated from elementary school)–for the first time in my entire life since elementary school, I was cool and people actually wanted to be around me–even girls. Of course, it was all because I was one of the few people there who had a car and therefore that meant I could drive them places and drop them off at malls and restaurants and come back and get them later so they wouldn’t have to ride the bus or just stay home . . . but hey, like I said, girls wanted to ride in my car with me and whatever their reason, I wasn’t arguing.

Read the rest on our blog at repcolite.com

Cleaning a Deck is EASY with Benjamin Moore's RESTORE and BRIGHTEN!

2014-08-06T13:46:00.000-07:00

Every now and then I stumble into a project that is easy and remarkably rewarding. This was one of them! We found an old deck that was slated for demolition and we decided to try out some of Benjamin Moore's wood cleaning and brightening products. I expected the products to work, but the results were amazing!

The Inevitable Forgetting of Important Things

2014-07-23T11:14:00.001-07:00

Andrew is a habitual "Forgetter."

My family and I just wrapped up another Little League season and among all the wonderful things that baseball season brings into our lives, there's one thing that I could do without: the Inevitable Forgetting of Important Things.

There are a number of Capital Letters in that phrase, so let me explain: Whenever there was a baseball game on a week night, our evening would devolve into chaos quite quickly. I'd arrive home from work five minutes after the time we should have left. To get back on schedule, I'd typically eat dinner without chewing it while I changed my clothes and brushed my teeth. This was a multi-tasking miracle in regards to the number of tasks accomplished at once. However, because of the diverse nature of the tasks, it was also messy and somewhat disgusting. Still, it's what was necessary to get to the game on time. So I did it.

Once that strange combination of eating/teeth brushing/clothes changing was done, I'd run out to the van, hop into the driver's seat, turn the key and then, for the first time in the entire evening, I'd pause. Turning around, I'd stare each of the kids in the eye, hold their attention for a second or two, let the import of the moment sink into their little heads, and then I'd ask: "Do you have everything?"

It was a simple question. A question meant to jog their little memories. A question meant to make them ask the question in their own heads: "Do I really, truly have everything I might need for tonight's athletic event?"

Instead, every time I asked the question, they'd respond immediately, with absolutely zero thought (and with some exasperation): "yes, dad".

Well, I've got five children and the oldest two are13, so this isn't my first rodeo, so to speak. And so I would never let them off that easily: "You have everything? Really? How about your glove? Your hat? Your bat bag? Your bat? Your cleats?" I'd rattle off every single piece of baseball gear I could think of as they answered with an immediate "yes" to each item.

Finally, after what felt like a 30 minute deposition, I'd turn around in my seat, ease the van out of the driveway, and begin the journey to the baseball field. And every single time, after I was far enough away from home to make going back frustrating, I'd hear it start: the scuffling of their little fingers as they clawed through their bat bags looking for something.

I'd hope against hope every time I heard this that they were looking for a Mento. But no. After about 30 seconds of frantic scuffling, someone would nervously clear his throat as happened several nights ago:

"Uh, Dad?"

"Yes..." (through gritted teeth).

"Ummm. Funny thing . . . you know when you asked if we had everything and then listed off all the things?"

"Yes."

"Well, you know what you forgot to list off?"

"No. What did I forget to list off?" (through gritted teeth again).

"Well . . . and this really is hilarious . . . you never asked me if I was wearing my cup." At this point the kid usually breaks into nervous laughter and falls silent. No one else typically laughs at this point because they know trouble when they see it.

I try to keep my cool and clinging to a very unreasonable hope, I ask: "Are you wearing your cup?"

"Ummm. Not technically. I actually forgot it. We'll have to go back and get it. But don't worry. I'm pretty sure I know where it might be..."

Every time. Every game. Oh, sometimes they'd forget gloves. Sometimes, it was their bat. Maybe their hat, their sunglasses, their Gatorade . . . it doesn't matter. Whatever it was they forgot, it was always something we'd have to go flying back to the house to retrieve.

And it drove me nuts, stressed me out, and got almost every single game night off to a rocky and uncomfortable start. All because we weren't organized. All because we were starting something without having all the right equipment.

Well, the same thing often happens when we're working on paint projects. We start the work and after we dip our expensive brush into a new gallon of oil-based paint, we realize we forgot to pick up paint thinner. Or we pour our paint into a tray and realize that the roller cover we had isn't the right one for the project. Or--and this just happened to me a week or so ago--we run downstairs to grab that paint brush we've got in the basement only to find that we didn't clean it out well enough the last time. Now it's unusable and we're standing there with our paint can open and no brush to apply it with.

Click here to download the file!

When we forget to amass the right tools for our paint projects, we find the stress level rises quickly. Our schedules are thrown into chaos, and all too often (if you're like me) we try to make things work using the tools we have, not necessarily the right ones. And usually, the results are frustrating and disappointing.

The good news about all of this is there's a fix. At least for the paint project part of it (I don't know how to fix the baseball stuff!). Anyway, the way to make sure you've got all the right tools for your next paint job is as simple as using a basic "Project Checklist".

We've got one that you can download by clicking this link. It's a simple tool that will help you mentally go through your project ahead of time. The list will recommend certain items and most of the time, you'll discover one or two things you would never have thought to gather ahead of time.

Tackling a paint project can be a very rewarding and fulfilling experience. It can even be somewhat of a stress reliever--almost therapeutic in a way. Just make sure you've got all the items necessary before you start and you'll discover how smoothly a project can go!

Meet the Hopsons!

2014-07-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

OK, so you've got vinyl siding on your home in a boring color. What do you do? Well, you can do what the Hopson's did in the video below or, you can repaint it with Benjamin Moore's new Revive Vinyl Siding paint. Watch the video and decide which method works best for you and your family!

After watching the video, if you decide on the Revive option, stop out at any RepcoLite location throughout West Michigan and let us get you started with the right information, tools, and, of course, the perfect color of Benjamin Moore's Revive!

We've Officially Moved Out of the 80's!

2014-06-04T07:58:00.002-07:00

Well, the store remodel at our 17th Street (Holland) Factory Store is finally complete! It took a while and was a little chaotic at times (most remodels are) but things are finally back together!

Here are just a few pics showing the store before the remodel and after:

Here's a shot taken as we were beginning the remodel...

Here's the same area after updating!

Another shot. (We've got a few empty shelves to fill, but we're getting there!)

Another shot of the store BEFORE the remodel...

And a couple of shots after all the work...

It was a lot of work (and we've got a little bit to do yet), but it was worth it. A visit to our Factory Store on 17th Street often felt like a trip back in time to the 80's. Now, with the addition of Benjamin Moore Paints, brand new displays, and, most importantly, the Benjamin Moore Color Chip Rack, we're working in modern conditions once again!

If you live in the Holland area, stop out and see our newly updated store and check out our new line of Benjamin Moore products!