With you as a client, the goal, from the first meeting with you, to the time the job is completed, is to be in constant communication with you. All costs are discussed up front and everything is in writing. Stock Sample Boards and color fans are provided for you or your client to browse possible choices.

During the design phase there are usually three meetings. The first meeting is for us to get to know each other, and to get a sense of the scope of work. You will get to see a portfolio of work so you can see some finishes close up. We’ll talk about your tastes, color preferences, look at pictures and discuss the possibilities. Measurements of the spaces to be painted are taken to get an idea of price range.

From there, some colors schemes, finishes and general concepts are put together and presented at the second meeting. We’ll try to narrow down costs and you will be given a written estimate. This way we know we’re on the right track before your sample boards are done.

Finally, sample boards are created of your chosen finishes and colors. At the third meeting boards are approved, a contract is written and the job is scheduled.

Some clients come to a decorative painter or designer knowing exactly what they want, and others don’t even know where to start. Most people fall somewhere in between.

Before the first meeting you should dig around. You can look at other websites, but this is a great excuse to go to the bookstore. There are tons of magazines and books on home decoration. You should look at books about faux finishing, but take a look at some of the more inspirational books and magazines. A coffee-table book on Tuscany is much more likely to have the “room of your dreams” than a how-to book. Instead of trying to find the perfect finish look for things that “feel” right. Take note of colors you like. Look at different styles of homes from different countries… you may discover you really like a contemporary Japanese look.

The decorative painter’s part in the decision making process is to interpret the look and feel you want and you’ll be provided with a small selection of sample boards to choose from.

 Of course you can! Most decorative painters started out by painting their own home. Here are a few reasons why NOT to DIY:

Cost - It ALWAYS costs more than you think it will.

Patience - It will always take longer than you think it will. At least 50% of any project involves preparation, which is pretty tedious. Because preparation is so boring corners are frequently cut and the results can be disastrous.

Experience - Consider it takes a tradesperson around 4 years to perfect their skills and learn the tricks of the trade. It’s relatively easy to learn how to do something the right way, it’s experience that teaches us to know when something has gone wrong and how to fix it.

Insurance - A painting company is required to carry liability insurance to cover any damage. Your homeowner policy may not cover the chandelier you just smashed with your ladder.

Injury - A study in Australia detected a link between the increased popularity in television lifestyle programs and accidents around the home. For instance hospital admissions for ladder falls increased 12% and injuries from power tools increased 16%… both of which are potentially life threatening.

Want to try anyway? For those inclined it can be a very rewarding experience. Be sure to start with a small project (powder room) before committing to the whole house. Don’t cut on costs by buying cheap materials (it will cost you one way or another) and be patient.

 It depends. The quality of the basecoat can directly affect the finish applied over it and we can’t guarantee the work of another painter. The price given for a job always includes the base coat. If your walls are in good condition you can save on the cost by picking a finish that works with your existing color.

As far as texture, many finishes require a smooth surface and unfortunately, almost every newer home West of the Mississippi comes with textured walls. The most common is the knockdown texture but you’ll also see orange peel textures and in custom homes you’ll sometimes see a skip trowel texture. There’s nothing wrong with texture, but it can limit your options. If you like the texture you have there are ways of accentuating it. If you don’t care for it, there are ways of hiding it. If a totally smooth surface is required the walls can be skim coated for a nice smooth finish. (We can provide this service or you can hire it out.)

 One thing experience teaches us is not only how to do what we do, but how to do it quickly and efficiently. When working with us you can count on punctuality and constant communications in regards to progress.

Naturally, it depends on the size of the job and the type of work being done, but you will be given the best estimate possible. When doing finishes, keep in mind many finishes require more than one coat and typically each layer has to dry overnight. Two days is usually the minimum, but we have done a few one-day jobs.

 There is a $380 labor minimum on all jobs. Mininum does not include materials.

Bids are typically done by the square foot with finishes starting around $2.50 per square foot for a simple glaze or color wash. Textures and plasters typically fall between $5 and $13 per square foot. Gilding and murals start at $15 and on up. In some cases square foot measurements aren’t applicable in which case the bids are based on time (typically $380/day) plus the cost of materials. Sometimes there is an added cost for ceilings and very high walls.

Time to do sample boards is billed at $35 per board and color consultations are $65 per hour. The cost of selected and approved boards, and up to two hours color consultation will always be applied towards the price of any work done. Jobs involving custom murals, stencils or ornamentation will incur a $75 per hour design fee. A 25% deposit is required before scheduling a job and on larger jobs a $500 retainer is requested before doing sample boards.

Straight interior house painting, skim coating (smoothing out texture) and minor wall repair are also provided to our clients. These services are all competitively priced.

Though there is an attempt to keep everything formulated, no job is the same.

We’re very generous with our time and the best effort will be made to work within your, or your client’s budget.

We won’t.

Accidents do happen though and ARTESANOS Design Group carries a general liability insurance policy covering up to 1 million dollars of damage. In 18+ years there hasn’t been a single claim.

 Job preparation depends on the condition of the areas to be treated. A.D.G. can also provide wallpaper removal, repair of major wall damage, removal of personal items and the moving of very large, heavy furniture.

We can do all prep including repair of minor wall damage, including skim coating or texturing, priming and base coating. Certain paint jobs require priming and base coating, and are always included in the net bid. We can also provide any straight interior house painting you might need.

On the other hand, if you have a drywall or paint contractor you like to work with we’re more than happy to work with them.

We will handle all protecting and masking of floors trim etc. and will mask and protect anything that cannot be removed from the room.