White paint on trim, doors, lends definition to a room

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There are as many preferences as there are men.” Quintus Horatius Flaccus, (65 B.C. to 8 B.C.), known in the English-speaking world as Horace, he was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus, Satires (35 B.C. to 30 B.C.)

Q: I have painted the inside of my house and now I need to paint the baseboards, door jams and doors. I am not sure what color to paint them. I do not want to paint them white. My question is do I paint them a lighter color or a darker color of the wall paint? I would appreciate any suggestions.

A: Several questions come to mind. It would be helpful to know what color, or colors, you painted the interiors. And, the age of your house.

When I think of colored doors and trim, I usually envision an older home. Older homes may not have the crisp baseboards and trims found in newer homes, and the only reason I can see for painting a door is that it is damaged and paint is used to cover up or minimize damage.

However, if you are sure you want to paint the door, baseboards, etc., go for it; I just wouldn’t recommend it. Keep in mind that if you should ever change your mind and want to strip the paint, it will not be an easy job.

As far as what shade to paint, I couldn’t really say without knowing what color you put on the walls. But, if the paint you chose was in the beige, ecru or cream family, I would go a shade darker for the trim.

If, on the other hand, you have chosen a darker paint color, I would think twice before going darker for the trim. My fear for you is that your house will take on a childish, playhouse feel when everything is painted.

One of the main reasons for white trim and doors is to make the walls stand out and to give definition to the lines of the room. Painting the trim and doors will draw attention to them, making the walls recede and having the doors and trim the focal point.

Q: We are doing a modified remodel of our kitchen, including new appliances, new faucets and cabinet hardware. I have heard a lot about the faucets over the stovetop for filling large pasta pots, etc. Do you have any knowledge about their usefulness?

A: There are several wonderful features to the pot fillers, as they are called in the trade. The most useful reason to have one is the most obvious — it gives you the ability to fill a huge pasta pot on the stove and not have to lug it across the kitchen and risk throwing your back out, spilling hot water on yourself or creating a serious slipping hazard, etc. You get my drift. Hot water flying through the air is not good on any level.

The secondary reason to have one is that they are very cool looking. Originally conceived for the professional chef, pot fillers are making their way into residential kitchens at a fast pace. Most are also adjustable, allowing the faucet to fold up against the wall when not in use.

Other than the necessary plumbing to accommodate the new faucet, the installation should be relatively painless and a joy to use. Jaclo (www.jaclo.com), a premier manufacturer of faucets, puts it very succinctly in its press materials: “Perfect for the epicurean, Jaclo’s pot fillers are a culinary luxury, eliminating the need to hoist 20-pound pots of water onto the stove, which allows more time for preparation and creativity.”

So get busy and creative, and enjoy your new kitchen. I think the pot filler will be a great addition.

Carolyn Muse Grant is the editor of Southern Nevada Home & Garden magazine. Her Inside Spaces column appears weekly in the Home & Garden section of the Review-Journal. Check out other decorating tips in Southern Nevada Home & Garden magazine, which is published the first Saturday of each month. Send questions to cgrant@reviewjournal.com.