Tips and Tricks to Hiring a Paint Contractor

Happy Thursday! Did you check out the first day of the #DefineYourHome series? Since this series is all about inspiration & information on all things home, home decor, and home improvements, why not keep the series going with some tips and tricks for home improvement?! {say that 10x fast} I had the opportunity to sit down with a local painting contractor here in Charlotte, called Cardinal Pro Painters and pick their brains on everything house painting.

For those of you who just don't have the DIY skills, or maybe even the time to get up on that ladder and paint your home... this one is for you! If you aren't local to Charlotte - I've had Cardinal Pro Painters spill the beans on how to find a painting contractor and what to look for in one. If you are local to Charlotte - You're in luck! Cardinal Pro Painters has offered Defined Designs readers a 10% discount on all jobs! All you have to do is mention to your estimator that you saw this post after you have received your estimate. (Offer valid until 1/1/16 and only on jobs over $1,200.00) Offer will be applied on estimate sheet.

Check them out here!

{photos via Cardinal Pro Painters}

DD: Tell us a little bit about Cardinal Pro Painters. What sets you apart from other painting contractors in Charlotte?
        Cardinal Pro Painters: Cardinal Pro Painters offers it's customers peace of mind. We are fully insured, licensed, EPA lead certified, BBB accredited, and offer our customers a written 2 year warranty. I believe that any homeowner hiring a painting contractor should ask to see these documents before starting any work on their home. We also give our customers a detailed and specific estimate outlining the prep process involved for their job, the number of coats that will be applied on all surfaces, and the type of material that will be used.

Our customers look to us for our craftsmanship, cleanliness, and professionalism. If these are the traits someone is looking for in a painting company, then the should always read online reviews from past customers and not the self-published "testimonials" on the company's own website. Unlike other painting contractors, CPP does not ask for upfront deposits to start a job. We only ask for payment after the entire job is finishes to our customer's complete satisfaction.

DD: How often should a homeowner repaint their home exterior?
        Cardinal Pro Painters: This depends on many factors. One is location. If you live near the coast, then the harsh elements (sand, salt, wind, and intense sun) will cause your paint to fade much quicker and you will likely need repainting every 2-3 years to look it's best. Here in the Carolinas, the cold winters and humid summers make paint start to look tired after about 5-6 years. Another factor is the quality of the paint used. If your house does not have much shade to protect it from the sun, then we strongly suggest going with a higher-end product to have a long lasting paint job. Finally, the labor involved makes a big difference too. Using the best paint will not do you much good if adequate surface preparation is not done to your exterior. This involves power washing, caulking, sanding down where needed, and replacing any rotted wood. Your painting contractor should be able to do all of that for you and then apply two coats of paint. Two coats is always recommended. Applying only one coat may save you some money and look fine when you put it up, but it will degrade much faster and require another paint job sooner. This will cost you more money in the long run.

DD: How long should they expect the painting process to take?
        Cardinal Pro Painters: This is a very good question to ask your painting contractor. And the answer is very different for every home. Your contractor should have the manpower needed to get the job done on your schedule and time constraints. Our crews typically consist of 3-4 painters. Full interior repaints usually last 5-6 days, and full exterior repaints usually last 3-4 days. This is considering an average size house and painting all previously painted surfaces with 2 coats. If our customers have a tighter schedule, than we will get the job done faster by using 2 (or more) crews for an additional fee.

DD: Do you provide color selections? If so, how do you go about helping a client select colors for their home?
        Cardinal Pro Painters: It is ultimately the homeowner's responsibility to choose colors as not everyone likes (or even sees) the same colors. Our estimators do bring a color book for our customers to browse through. We can suggest which colors to use on what walls and how to choose accent walls so that they can compare the colors and decide which ones they want to go with.

{photo via Cardinal Pro Painters}

DD: What should homeowners do around the house to make sure they are prepared for your company to come paint? Interior/ Exterior?
        Cardinal Pro Painters: We only ask that pets be kept away form the areas we will be working in (for their safety) and that no other contractors be working in the same area. We figure in moving a customer's furniture and wall decorations to the center of the room in our estimates.

What type of home improvements are on your spring cleaning list this year? How are you going to define your home?

This post is a part of the #DefineYourHome series by Defined Designs. The series is meant to bring inspiration, knowledge, and ideas to you for getting your home in top notch shape and ready for entertaining this summer. I encourage everyone to share a space in your home or something you took home with you from this series on social media using the hashtag #DefineYourHome

365 in 365

Warning: This is going to be a long post!

Happy New Year!! I hope everyone had a great NYE and had a great time welcoming in 2015. I feel like most New Years Resolutions become daunting lists of things that become really easy to set aside and forget about until December 31st comes around again and you rethink all the things you told yourself you were going to do. This year I'm taking a different approach to those New Years Resolutions and creating a 365 things in 365 days. 1 year to do and accomplish oh so many things.

I've been following Mackenzie Horan of Design Darling and her list of 101 things in 1001 days. She says it best describing her list as a happy medium between a to-do list and a bucket list. Her list has inspired me to create my own, however I'm making one for one year. 365 days. I'm going to think of this as a different approach on New Years Resolutions. I'll be keeping track of the list here, and you can keep track of my progress too! The image above will be in my sidebar {working on that this weekend} for you to keep tabs on my list throughout the year if you would like! I've separated my list into two sections {blog & personal} Here it goes...

Note: This list is a work in progress & I plan on completing coming up with all 365 things {see #1} within the next week or so! I'll also try to document as much as possible on my Instagram with the hashtag #DefinedDesigns365 {see #29}

1. Come up with 365 things
2. Post about my progress every month
3. Post about the completion/ almost completion on December 31st 2015
4. Inspire someone to create a list of their own
5. Successfully complete all 365 things

6. Work on adding more content{i.e. lifestyle/ hosting/ travel posts}
7. Write 10 how-to posts
8. Write 10 DIY posts
9. Create a complete media kit
10. Start an Etsy shop
11. Send out blog Christmas cards
12. Use Hootsuite for social media scheduling for an entire week
13. Refurbish a piece of furniture
14. Participate in a Loop Giveaway
15. Comment on 5 blogs a day for a month straight
16. Collaborate with a local photographer
17. Collaborate with another blogger
18. Host a giveaway
19. Start a new blog series
20. Design and manufacture my on product
21. Start a design & decor look book
22. Upgrade my camera
23. Have my next apartment professionally photographed
24. Reach 1,000 followers on Instagram {yes, really}
25. Reach 500 followers on Facebook
26. Buy a Pantone color book
27. Participate in the One Room Challenge
28. Start a video series
29. Start a hashtag {#DefinedDesigns365}
30. Get invited/ accepted to RewardStyle {i'm trying!}
31. Go to Spring High Point Furniture Market
32. Go to Fall High Point Furniture Market
33. Create a Charlotte Shopping Guide
34. Buy 5 new coffee table books
35. Read 5 new books
36. Attend a networking event
37. Start a 'services' page to start working with clients
38. Take on an Interior Design client
39. Decorate & document my office at work
40. Help a reader with a blog post
41. Create a gallery wall & document it for the blog
42. Start a 'How to Host' blog series
43. Use my sewing machine for a DIY
44. Write Moodboard Monday posts for 5 weeks straight
45. Compile all of my Moodboard Monday posts from 2014 into one post
46. Schedule and prepare all my blog posts for an entire week ahead of time
47. Start using an editorial calendar
48. Write a list of future post ideas
49. Design my dream apartment & post about it
50. Have a Holiday Photoshoot
51. Post about my Blog Business Cards
52. Host a blog/ brand event
53. Attend a blog conference
54. Attend a local blogger meet-up
55. Publish an e-book
56. Host an Instagram giveaway
57. Post a home tour
58. Post a holiday home tour
59. Learn about Wine glasses & write a post about it
60. Learn about Beer glasses & write a post about it
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175. Be featured/ published on a blog/ website/ magazine

176. Host a Dinner party

177. Host a Super Bowl party

178. Take an arial yoga class

179. Visit New York City

180. Visit California

181. Watch the sun rise

182. Visit a city I've never been before

183. See a comedy show

184. See a play

185. Treat a friend to dinner

186. Buy coffee for a friend January 2015

187. Go to Las Vegas

188. Go on a hike

189. Try Pure Barre

190. Visit Asheville, NC

191. Visit Wilmington, NC

192. Visit Nashville, TN

193. Attend a themed bar crawl

194. Attend a sporting event

195. See 5 live concerts

196. Take a weekend road trip for fun

197. Complete a 5k

198. Read all of the Harry Potter Books {i only made it through the first one back in the day}

199. Visit a zoo

200. Go to a friends wedding

201. Get a blowout

202. Go camping

203. Donate a bag of clothes I don't wear

204. Visit a flea market

205. Organize all of the business cards I've collected over the years

206. Refrain from shopping for myself for a month

207. Donate to a cause/ fund/ charity

208. Visit a shooting range

209. Go fishing

210. Go on a cruise

211. Go to a NASCAR race

212. Tour a vineyard or brewery

213. See Garth Brooks in concert

214. Throw a surprise party for a friend

215. Take a self defense class {my dad will really appreciate this one}

216. Take a stay-cation in Charlotte

217. Invest in grown up luggage

218. Eat gluten free for a month

219. Try 10 new restaurants

220. Travel outside of the country

221. Play in the Pacific Ocean

222. Play in the Atlantic ocean

223. Pay for a strangers coffee

224. Learn how to make candles

225. Volunteer at an animal shelter

226. Read a new book series

227. Try 10 new Pinterest recipes

228. Reach my goal weight

229. Refrain from eating fast food for a month straight

230. Send 10 'Just Because' gifts

231. Send 10 'Just Because' cards

232. Get personalized stationary/ note cards

233. Take a calligraphy class

234. Get a mani/pedi

235. Get a gel manicure

236. Take a vacation with friends

237. Go on a family vacation

238. Make & Drink 'green' smoothies everyday for a month

239. Make a one pot pasta dish

240. Save $100 in loose change

241. Find and maintain a skin care routine for 2 weeks straight

242. Get my car detailed

243. Pay more than the minimum payment towards my student loans 3 times in a row

244. Apply for a credit card with cash back bonuses

245. Make my lunch for work for an entire week straight

246. Purchase an investment piece of furniture

247. Purchase an investment piece for my wardrobe

248. Have fresh flowers in the house for a month straight

249. Buy a plant for my office at work

250. Start a gym routine & go for 14 days straight

251. Take 2 gym classes in one day

252. Go to a Farmers Market

253. Go Pumpkin/ Apple/ Berry Picking

254. Go to a fair

255. Go to a music festival

256. Finish an entire TV Series on Netflix

257. Find a way to document all the places I've traveled

258. Start a retirement fund

259. Read a book before seeing the movie

260. Re-read a book series

261. Subscribe to a magazine

262. Send an edible arrangement to someone

263. Send flowers to someone

264. Update & organize my iPad

265. Host a second annual Friendsgiving

266. Host a Holiday Party

267. Get my eyebrows professionally waxed {i'm a sad excuse for a girl}

268. De-clutter my life, throw out or donate things I don't use or need

269. Invest in a new set of towels

270. Visit 2 new coffee spots in Charlotte

271. Get enough miles for a free flight

272. Get my car detailed

273. Make a gift wrapping kit

274. Find out my credit score

275. Go tubing on a river

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And last but not least:

365. Put $10 into my savings account for each item completed!

Christmas

It's Here, It's Here! Christmas is this week! I'm so excited to see my family this week and share such a happy and festive time of year with them! Today's moldboard touches a little bit on the red and green but also shares a little peek into my holiday style... festive, rustic and simple. I hope everyone enjoys their week and time spent with friends & family.

Set the Table

Instagram

Just in time for the holidays... mainly Thanksgiving in my book because personally, I can't wait for turkey and stuffing! The Crate & Barrel Set the Table sale is here! it's running til 11/10 so you don't want to miss out! Grab all of the items you might need to set that table and host the holidays with friends and family at 20% off select, full price items! Check out my favorite items below.

And who could pass up on these Olivia Pope wine glasses... yes, long stems and all!

6 Steps to Staging a Coffee Table

Photos: Andi Perullo

I'm so excited to finally be sharing this with you all! Last week, I had the chance to hang out at the West Elm here in Charlotte and play around in the showroom styling things. To say I was like a kid in a candy shop is an understatement. Now, This {I think} is one of the easiest and most fool proof ways to decorate a coffee table to ensure it looks nicely put together. Good thing is... most of these items you may already have - but if not, they are very easy to find!

First things first, You're going to need about 7 items. Why am I calling it the 6 Steps to styling a coffee table?? Well, that's simply because I'm going to assume most of you already have #1 covered. Whether it's grandmas old wooden coffee table, or it's this storage friendly coffee table from West Elm {pictured} Any coffee table will do!

1. Coffee Table: West Elm {similar}

2. Tray: West Elm {similar, similar, similar}

3. Stack of Books: {see here}

4. Candle: West Elm {love these}

5. Vase or Candle Hurricane: West Elm {love these}

6. Decorative Item: West Elm {love these}

7. Decorative Item: West Elm {Rhino, Reindeer}

Start with the tray, place it smack dab in the center of the coffee table.

Add your stack of coffee table books or magazines to one side of the tray.

Top your stack of books with your favorite candle. Feel free to take the top off for added flair.

Place your hurricane or vase in the back corner of the open side of the tray. Making sure your vase is just a little bit taller than where the candle sits is key to create a landscape within your tray.

Huge thanks to West Elm Charlotte for having me!

Add your smallest decorative object in front of the hurricane. Add an extra decorative object on the edge of your coffee table to give the eyes a path on and off the coffee table. This armadillo was my favorite little object in the store, I just had to include it! Brass animals are so popular and trendy right now, check out this rhino or these reindeer.


What's the verdict? Seems easy enough, right?? Do you think you can pull something like this off?

Inside my Home

I love when my favorite bloggers share a little insight on their personal life. Nothing too personal, just little things. For me in particular I always get a little giddy when I see Instagrams that showcase little pieces of their home.... a new rug, their favorite little decor piece, a properly arranged tray, or even a great angle of their custom kitchen. Call me a nerd? Sure. But I just love seeing those little insights.

Today, unfortunately my home is not photo ready... but why not share some insight into a few shiny and sparkly things that have made their way into my home recently? 

1. Alarm Clock - I've been wanting to paint this little pint sized clock gold since I brought it home.. but the more I look at it the more I like it how it is! Decisions, Decisions..

2. Candlesticks - These white candlesticks are so perfect I bought two pairs - Yes, two pairs! One for my living room and one for my bedroom!

3. Vase - Here's another great white piece that has made it's way into my home. It looks so pretty with bright colored blooms in it too!

4. Sea Urchins - These. Let me tell you, I went through hell to get my hands on a set of these. I searched about 5 or 6 targets to try and get these and I'm so happy I didn't give up! I didn't hand them though... They're topping my books on my nightstands, and coffee table!

5. Task Lamp - This lamp is perfection. It's the best addition to my desk/vanity for when I am working late at night or putting my makeup on for the day.

6. Pear Salt & Pepper Shakers - How adorable are these!? They've been sitting on my dining table for over a month now and I just got around to filling them up. Too pretty to eat? Try too pretty to use!

7. Candles - These candles are the perfect size to fit on top of the candlesticks. They look great and the glass keeps the wax from melting all over the place as bare candles would.

8. Gold Pineapple - I've been swooning over the pineapple trend for a while now and I just knew that I had to have one. When I saw that Mintwood Home was running this giveaway I didn't even think twice before entering! It's pure perfection!

Desk Decor

Happy Wednesday! I've got everything 'office' on my brain this week and it all comes with some exciting news... I'm getting my office at work painted and better yet, I get to pick out the color tomorrow! I'll be sure to keep you updated and post back with pictures and colors but as for now, these are a few of the desktop items I can't get enough of! Which ones will make it to my desk?

Shop these items:

Hosting & Toasting: Part 1 {GIVEAWAY}

Hello and Happy Friday! I'm so happy to finally be able to announce this exciting collaboration I have been working on with the girls over at The Blush Label! If you have not heard of them yet, please drop everything and go check out their website - These two sisters are amazingly talented and their shop is filled with bright and beautiful products to make your home THE best place to entertain!

For the month of August, I will be here every friday with a new post for this Hosting and Toasting mini series. When the girls at The Blush Label announced that they were releasing a new line of placemats, I couldn't help but squeal like a little girl on Christmas morning when I saw the designs they had put together! In 2 weeks, {Friday, August 15th} I will be announcing the lucky winner of a set of placemats from the Blush Label's new collection! The winner gets to choose which design they would like a set of - So don't forget to enter to win below!

What do I love so much about these placemats..? Well, besides the fact that they are the prettiest things in my kitchen currently - They are made of a cotton/linen blend {that's right, machine washable!!} And better yet, they're made right here in North Carolina! Check out how I styled these beautiful Aqua and Orange placemats for a wine night with my roommate!

Shop the Look:

Below are the 4 beautiful designs that The Blush Label is offering and the lucky winner gets to choose which design they would like! Don't forget to enter below for your chance to win a set of these! You've got 50 entries waiting for you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Moodboard Monday

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend, I loved being able to lay around and relax a bit {I also enjoyed the pool and caught some sun with some friends} I was so excited to be in Charlotte this weekend especially to see the fireworks this year! With the new Knights stadium opening up earlier this summer I knew the fireworks were going to be amazing!! I'm a sucker for some fireworks too.

I'm sure since everyone's weekend was full of color between hanging out with friends and family, & catching some rays and seeing the fireworks... Who's ready for a calm week {even though we've got to go back to work} Let's calm things down from the wild weekend with my favorite neutral color..

Creating a Vanity | One Kings Lane

I'm so happy to be working with One Kings Lane today bringing you my vanity essentials! One Kings Lane is hosting a blog campaign called "Reflect Your Style" where a variety of bloggers are given a selection of mirrors to choose from and design their dream vanity surrounding it! Sounds fun right? Well, this campaign hit home for me particularly because as most of you know I recently moved into a house.  Yes, not an apartment in the city like most post grads, an adorable little duplex in Charlotte within walking distance to the city and everything! The only thing about a house is not having the luxury of oversized walk in closets and each roommate having their own bathroom. So while there has been some compromises, I love my little house with a close up view of the Queen City Skyline.

I've been torturing myself with actually getting down to it and putting together my vanity in my bedroom {a compromise of sharing a bathroom} I have a writing desk and a vintage looking table lamp.. but how do I complete the look I want is the question I ask myself daily when I sit there to put on my makeup each morning. One Kings Lane's Reflect Your Style campaign was the perfect opportunity!! And not to mention how much I love One Kings Lane..

Here's my dream vanity inspired by their Line Mirror:

I love mixing vintage looking items with boho chic accessories and decor. And just can't get enough of these colors! This vanity would be my little oasis! Can we talk about this amazing ginger jar? If you ever find yourself stumped on how to incorporate a mirror into decorating a space, One Kings Lane has put together 7 great ways to help you out!!

See other great wall mirrors here & shop this look from One Kings Lane:

One Kings Lane has also worked with me to create an invite link for Defined Designs readers! Click here to sign up with your email and get your $15 credit! You don't want to miss out on the amazing items that are up for grabs!!

{All views and opinions are my own. I will not accept or review anything 

that does not represent myself or the foundation of Defined Designs.}