Friday, 15 March 2013

00:39 - 1 comment

Gift voucher

Clare and I have now completed the assessment to be accredited by Dulux Select Decorators.

We have undergone a strict assessment in order to be issued this very worthy accreditation. In short it ensures you receive the highest standard of decorating practice.

As a Dulux Select Decorator we can guarantee you are getting the best service available on the market and it makes choosing the right decorator for your home much easier as you can always put your trust into a Dulux Select Decorator.

To celebrate we are offering a reward! For every one of your recommendations that turn into actual contracts we will give you a free £10 shopping voucher to spend at the metrocentre.
Kind regards

Clare and Paul
www.hodgson-anderson.com

00:36 - No comments

Wallpapering twist

There are many styles of wallpaper and it is usual practice to hang the wallpaper in a conventional vertical manner.

However, you are not obliged to paper the wall vertically. You can also paper the wall horizontally. This method of hanging wallpaper gives your room a much larger and open feel. Like in fashion, if you wear vertical stripes it makes you look thinner, well this applies when decorating your room too. If you hang your wallpaper vertically it gives the impression your room is smaller!

When you paper a room horizontally rather than hanging the wallpaper vertically you create the illusion that your room is bigger. It is also much easier to hide the joins when butting up because the light will not create shadows as it runs ALONG the joins rather that hitting them.

This method of hanging wallpaper is of course not for the faint hearted as it is very difficult to do. I would recommend you get a trusted professional to do the job. Getting it done professionally is definately worth it as the effect is amazing. It really does make your space look bigger!

View the blog at www.hodgson-anderson.com/blog

Saturday, 23 February 2013

00:32 - No comments

Which painting and decorating brush?

IMG_0974 As master painters and decorators, it is very important to us to use the best equipment when painting and decorating. We need equipment that we can trust over and over again as it is no good if our tools compromise our finish. We have many tools and product that we cherish and at the top of the list are the brushes we use to paint and decorate.
Painting and decorating is indeed an art-form. A well trained decorator can work wonders, almost magic when they decorate your home/office compared to a DIYer and give that decorator a brush that outshines all the others, the results will be outstanding.
Allow me to introduce the Picasso. Since I have used this brush I will not be looking back. They are light and springy and responsive. You can cut in line after line and it holds it shape giving you precise control. I don’t agree that you could cut in a line 7 feet long in one dip but I do agree that this is an excellent brush!
Hodgson and Anderson Painting and Decorating
Painting and decorating with a Picasso
Washing out the Picasso is easy as the paint simply glides off the bristles and once it has dried it holds it’s original shape as if the bristles have a memory.
This brush is a must for anyone about to embark on a painting and decorating project for emulsion or gloss/eggshell, both solvent based and water based paints and I strong recommend to any professional wanting to up their game!

Saturday, 16 February 2013

05:04 - No comments

2 Decorators are better than 1 !


Why you should choose Hodgson & Anderson Decorating Services?
We are a very efficient decorating partnership and our expertise is vast. We have the skill sets and every tool in the book to providing you with the best possible service available.
Because we are a team of two it means:
  • The time it takes to finish a job is quicker meaning you can get your room(s) back to normal faster and enjoy your new improved space sooner.
  • We have more eyes on the job, resulting in a better finish as we always check over each others work in case one of us has missed a bit. It is very easy to overlook things when you are under pressure to get a job done in a short time.
  • Because we are thorough, the benefit of cost is obvious. For example, if it takes one decorator 2 days to finish a room, it would only take us just over a day without compromise on quality of workmanship. The savings inevitably end up in your own pocket.
Are there any another important aspects to consider when employing Hodgson and Anderson Painting and Decorating? Yes! We do not cut corners to complete a job quickly. Every inch of your room/office is approached with utmost care and attention which is important to us. We do not have a proven track record and a loyal customer base because we drink tea all day.

It is not cheaper to employ a sole trader and the benefits of employing two master decorators will always outshine one.

Friday, 15 February 2013

00:59 - No comments

Colour Now by Kevin Mccloud

Have you ever wondered what your room would look like in different colours but have never had the time, encouragement or money to experiment? If so then I have the perfect solution for you. It's a book called Colour Now by Kevin Mccloud. It is a book full of beautiful colour schemes enhanced with thought provoking images.
Each image gives an example of a room with furnishings and accessories. Every colour that has been used in the image is represented by a swatch colour so you can easily identify the name of and purchase if you so wish. As a professional painter and decorator www.hodgson-anderson.com we use Colour Now on a regualr basis with our customers so they can visualise their room better. It works and I cannot recommend it enough.

Monday, 11 February 2013

00:30 - No comments

To posh paint or not to posh paint?


Fashion changes from year to year in home interiors and sometimes it's very expensive keeping up with the trends. Posh paints are now flavour of the month and in most cases rightly so because the range of colours are so beautiful. With regards to feature walls, it was only a short while ago that we were papering a feature wall every other day and now, only once in a while. So as feature walls are on the way out and coloured walls are on the way in, it is important to consider what paint to use. There are many posh paint companies who provide us with very sophisticated swatches suitable for turning a bland room into a room that will benefit ones sense of well being.
At hodgson & anderson decorating services we can provide you with any posh paint colour, with a match that is amazing but for the fraction of the cost. Please do not assume that you are obliged to purchase your colour from an expensive paint company because you chose from their swatch. Every colour comes with a unique code and it is this code that identifies the colour mix, therefore you can choose any colour you wish. So the next time you need some painting and decorating make sure you contact us first for some money saving advice and quality painting and decorating. Why pay between £40-£60 for a tin of paint when you can actually pay £20-£40 for the same colour!
Choosing us to apply your perfect colour combination guarantees you get the results you dream of. You don't want an inexperienced decorator ruining your desired look leaving you deflated and uninspired.

Sunday, 3 February 2013

02:19 - No comments

Painted ceilings

It's easy to see why we paint our ceilings white. White lifts the room giving us a sense of space and light. I couldn't agree more as all of the ceiling in my house are white. However there seems to be a shift in trend because I have been asked a lot in the last few months to paint the ceiling in a colour and to paint the coving in white or even eggshell. I must say it does look very nice and intimate even in the smaller rooms. I am going to give it a try myself and if I'm not keen, simply paint it white again.

Saturday, 2 February 2013

03:35 - 2 comments

The problem with painting and decorating.

We all know not to slap the paint on. You need to prepare each surface to be decorated first and the more time you spend on preparation the better the result. There are many products to help a trained decorator achieve this.
Unfortunately the painting and decorating trade is the easiest trade to copy which is why you usually see a spike in the amount of decorators available when there is higher unemployment, much to the dismay of the professional decorator. I have seen advertised 23 decorators in the same local area at the same time. It takes 10 seconds to talk like a decorator, 10 minutes to dress like one but 10 years to become a decorator.
I have been on jobs where people pretending to be decorators have charged just £80 for a large living room, stairway AND banister rails (65 in total). I don't really need to comment on the finish, but it was pathetic.
How do you tell if the decorator is worthy of employment? Well, if I were employing a decorator to enter my home, work hard and do a good job, I would expect them to turn up clean in appearance and with a friendly and professional approach. I would expect them to have a portfolio of work with photos of their own work and not images downloaded from the internet. There are many decorating websites that use american images to promote their UK interior painting and decorating services. I would also like to see testimonials and references of previous projects.
You do indeed get what you pay for, so if you require a decent job then it's probably best to pay a little extra and feel safe in the knowledge that you will receive a better service.

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

00:22 - No comments

The Importance Of Colour


Believe it or not, using certain colours can help us feel good. Some colours can influence our mood, such as to motivate, calm and excite while others can depress, impose and warn. The colours used on packaging are cleverly put together to influence our decision example to make a product seem tasty, expensive or in fact unsafe.
Warm colours like reds, orange, yellows have what's called a long wavelength which requires us to use more energy to view them. That's why those colours seem to pop out at us as they stimulate our brain and raise our pulse. However cool colours like blues and greens have a short wavelength which produces a calming and relieving effect that slows our metabolism.

The colour of our rooms also speak volumes. Would you be more relaxed with a decorated room painted in white or black? Would you feel safer with a decorator wearing a navy tie or a bright orange one? Who would you choose as your decorator, a woman in a blue suit or one in hot pink? The colours we wear can hypnotise, enlighten or energizing and while there are no good or bad colours, we can make a selection to help us convey ourselves effectively.

Some examples of the use of colour in our society:
Are your guests yawning at your dinner party? It may not be the company they keep if your dining room is painted in lavender, a colour that encourages daydreaming and drowsiness.

Due to high visibility red makes ideal for catching audience eye in advertisements and safety products from Campbell soup to fire extinguishers and exit signs. The dynamism of red also makes it the most commonly used colour in national flags.

Green not only represents life and growth. It is the most relaxing, comforting colour in the spectrum.
The reason is physiological. Unlike other hues, green focuses directly on the retina without being refracted, making it especially easy on the eye. It is also thought to have great healing powers and the ability to relieve and refresh.
The lighter green is more calming. That is one of the reasons hospital walls are often painted sea foam, to literally affects worried patients and visitors. Then there's the use of green rooms backstage at theatres and television shows to reduce tension to performances.
The calming quality of green has made the official colour of safety worldwide as in safe to go traffic signals.

Greens send a variety of messages, depending on the shade. Greens bring to mind spring and the outdoors, conveying happy, youthful feelings. But that can also suggest immaturity and inexperience, such as a newcomer being too green to succeed.

In decorating many shades of green show harmonious through of house. Bright greens bring the feeling of nature inside and can create a smooth visual flow between the indoors and out. This hue has a refreshing quality making it particularly appealing in kitchens and dining rooms.

In interior design, brown is considered grounding, a base for all the other colours. In a lush garden, earthy brown is the perfect backdrop for nature entire palette, whether warm or cool. Although it is the colour of wood, brown is practically visible in every room setting.

Muted neutrals are often favourites in living rooms, studies, and family rooms because they appear simplicity and peace while creating intimacy. A rich mix of textures keeps the naturals from being boring and can offer a relieving sensuality. Farrow and Ball have a beautiful collection of natural hues.

Pale neutrals make a room feel large and less cluttered, while darker browns create a sense of warmth and security. Chocolate brown walls can be particular rich and sophisticated.

It just goes to show how difficult it is to choose a colour for your room. Many people spend a small furtune on tester pots before a decision is made. At Hodgson and Anderson Decorating Services we offer advice on this matter to help you decide.

Tuesday, 29 January 2013

01:19 - No comments

Shabby Chic

Shabby Chic is a beautiful effect that really enhances a room with its soft and artistic presence. Improving the aesthetic quality of our home life can be achieved easily by buying one or two pieces of select shabby chic furniture.
However it does not come cheap. Most stores sell shabby chic at a premium and you will probably notice the poor quality of the factory finish. Put simply they make a compromise on the quality of finish because they are massed produced and I personally feel a little cheated. As a master decorator specialising in shabby chic<\a> I can see through the veil of style over content. They pretend to offer shabby chic but really it's just damaged.
If for example you enter a store and you see a large chest of drawers in shabby chic you would be expected to pay between £500 -£900 depending on the store. Our service provides a much improved painting process with customised styling for a lot less. Typically this would cost you £300 - £400 for a bespoke one off piece of furniture that will last you years.
An old piece of furniture can be given a new lease of life with www.hodgson-anderson.com
I recently saw a lamp stand that would have cost me £105! I wouldn't mind but it looked absolutely rubbish. Alternatively, we guarantee brilliance with the furniture we paint.

Monday, 28 January 2013

01:09 - No comments

New year mean new brushes.

We have been using Purdy brushes for a while now and we think it's time for a change. There are bucket loads of brush types, brands, sizes and shapes to choose from and it can be a bit confusing on what to buy. We have decided that Hamilton Acorn are far superior to the vast majority. This year we will be mainly using the Hamilton Perfection range as they hold their shape much longer and do not leave streaks in the paint after application.

Saturday, 26 January 2013

01:18 - No comments

Water based paint

Due to EU legislation, oiled based paints have changed. What that mean in a nutshell for customers is a yellowing effect regarding whites. This occurs after a few weeks once the paint has dried. The yellow is slow and in most cases unnoticeable but in others it is obvious. Water based gloss and eggshell can offer a longer lasting white but overall, it's finish is not as easy to achieve as it was with solvent based paints. It takes an extra two coats on average to get a decent finish and still it does not compare to solvent based paint. The solution, well I suggest spending money on a very good brush as cheaper brushes tend to drag and leave your finish streaky. If you are after that flat, smooth finish accustomed to solvent based paints, you will need a set of very good brushes. You will also need to apply a water based undercoat. On application it really helps to damp the area with a cloth and make sure your brush is damp prior to dipping. After each coat, it is extremely important to sand each coat once it has dried. The benefits out way the efforts involved if you desire the best finish. Still the finish is not as good as solvent based paints and if, as a customer you prefer water based, then you have to understand that it will take twice as long to administer to a surface.

Thursday, 24 January 2013

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

00:33 - No comments

New Website

My first post and I would like to introduce our new website http://www.hodgson-anderson.com

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