I was surfing on an internet site called LinkedIn yesterday and came across a question that I felt compelled to answer. The person wanted to know whether or not color could help alleviate stress. So I ask, do you think color makes a difference in the way we feel?

Part of my answer to this question was:

Sure it can! People are always spouting off the well-known phrase, “You are what you eat”. Similarly, I believe we are what we see, we are who we choose to spend time with, and we are what we choose to do WITH our time. We’re influenced by everything in our environments. Color (among other things) can be a powerful tool when used properly.

When I walk into a room painted with a beautiful color, it has a definite effect on me. It makes feel more relaxed, and I often don’t want to leave the space! I know color affects other people, too, because they often tell us so! Our clients are often looking to make their homes feel special, not just for their guests, but for themselves. We spend so much time at home. Shouldn’t it be a place we love?

Think back to when you were young. As kids, we all had favorite colors. It was one of the standard questions we asked other kids as we got to know them. How old are you? When is your birthday? What’s your favorite animal? What’s your favorite color? Color was a big deal. Adulthood isn’t any different, most of us are just busy thinking about other things like families, jobs, or money, and have forgotten how important it is to surround ourselves with the things we love, color included.

So I ask, what’s your favorite color? And how does it make you feel? How can you integrate it into your life?

Okay, so we’re not exactly famous, but we have had one of our beautifully transformed spaces published in a book by local author, Sally Fretwell. “Growing Green: A Garden of Natural Paint Colors” showcases Sally’s latest vibrant paint colors.

The featured space is a typical 1950’s Virginia home with traditional white walls and gray trim. Dramatic Changes was hired to apply one of Sally’s paint colors, faded stucco, to the walls to make the space feel warm and inviting. The result is a warm glow that draws the sunlight into the home, infusing the space with vibrance and vitality. We were flattered that Sally used an example of our work in her book. What a compliment — Thanks, Sally!

Sally’s book is available at her store in Richmond’s West End, Power of Color, at the corner of Ridgefield and John Rolfe Pkwy in the Ukrops shopping center. Drop by to visit, or you can find her online at www.SallyFretwell.com.

To achieve a Dramatic Change in your own home, feel free to contact us for a free estimate.

On March 6th, Dramatic Changes was on-site to help with the Habitat for Humanity Women Build. If you’ve never been a Habitat volunteer, I highly recommend it. It was so much fun! At the end of the day, I wrote a blog entry for the Richmond Times Dispatch, who is following the progress of the build. I’m including it here, as well.

A Floor to Stand On

As I stood at the Women Build site this morning, I couldn’t help but to smile in anticipation of the day to come. Sixty-five degrees and sunny, 20 of the most friendly and able-bodied volunteers anyone could hope to work with, coming together to make a lucky family’s dream of home-ownership a reality…Oh, and mud. Lots and lots of mud. It was quite the recipe for fun, if I do say so myself.

Bill (one of the project managers) filled us in on the day’s plans, which included putting a floor over the home’s crawl space. We were quickly put to work heaving sheets of plywood onto the foundation and nailing them into place. The sound of hammers echoed through the air, sprinkled with the occasional, “Owww!” as volunteers accidentally connected their tools with their fingers instead of 3-inch nails. The women and men chatted happily as we worked to lay the floor on which our Habitat family will stand in just a few short weeks. I think we were all very thankful for the opportunity to be part of such a special project.

Because our group of volunteers was SO incredibly awesome, we finished laying the floor by around lunch time, which meant that we could move onto the next stage of the project, framing the walls for the house. Our last 2 hours of the day were spent preparing materials for the front steps and porch, as well as building a frame for the rear wall of the house.

Our project managers, Bill and Jerry, have this process down to a science — I was amazed at how quickly we were able to get things done with their guidance. At the end of our 7 hours, I smiled in satisfaction at our progress, and chuckled at the sight of our crew. Every volunteer was painted with a fine layer of mud, sawdust, wood glue, and doughnut glaze. In my case, I even had a bit of a sunburn! We left with smiles on our faces, having learned some new skills and made some new friends. When I arrived home, I collapsed in bed for a much-needed nap.

Thanks to Bill and Jerry for their help today, and thank you Robin Smith for help getting us all involved in the project! I look forward to seeing how the house progresses in the coming weeks!

We are fortunate, in this day and age, to have access to just about any product we want for home improvement and repairs. The national chain home improvement warehouses offer the convenience of one-stop shopping that help to make the most of our busy schedules. There are some things, though, that can only be found at the smaller, locally-owned hardware and specialty stores that are worth a trip across town.

Sally Fretwell is a local business-owner whose product, Natural Classics Paint, came out of her need for a healthier alternative to traditional interior paint. Sally has allergies that prevent her from being able to use most paints, which was a big problem in her line of work as a color expert and feng shui consultant. Another quality that makes her paints unique is her palette of warm, uplifting, and inviting colors inspired by nature.

To see Sally’s beautiful colors in person, visit her store, Power of Color, in Richmond’s West End. The store is located in the John Rolfe Center, 2200 John Rolfe Parkway at the intersection of Ridgefield Road in the Ukrops Shopping Center.

Sally’s “Natural Classics” paints are available at several Virginia locations and through her online store. You can call the store to schedule a home color consultation with Sally, (804) 726-5091, or come by for color samples you can take home with you.

Dramatic Changes spent the last two weekends at the local home and garden shows, and we fielded a variety of questions about our services. One of the most popular questions was, “Do you give free estimates?” Yes, we do provide free in-home painting estimates. So, what will you learn during one of these appointments with us?

Estimates give us a chance to talk to you about what you want your home to look like. They also provide us a chance to thoroughly evaluate your space. We’ll be able to tell you how much the project will cost, and whether there are any non-paint related repairs that are needed. At Dramatic Changes, we have craftsmen that can meet most of your needs. If we’re able to complete the repair for you, your project estimate will include that as part of the quote. If the needed renovation or repair is beyond our abilities, we can recommend someone who’s impressed us with their work in the past.

Our clients often report that they chose to work with Dramatic Changes because of the respectful way Ken (the owner) treated them during the estimate. Our relaxed, straightforward approach to doing business will leave you with a written quote that you can discuss with your family to determine if our company is the right one to beautify your home.

If you are interested in receiving a free painting estimate, feel free to call 804.601.2628. Thanks for considering us!