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Q: This summer I need to paint my house. I need your advice about a num-

ber of things. First is the color choice. My husband and I are in-volved in a daily cage fight about

the color. I want to go bold. He wants a plain vanilla color. We have

no intentions of moving, if that matters. What paint would you recommend we use? What are a few of the best practices when painting the exterior of a home? Thanks for refereeing the bout in our make-believe octagon! I’m interested in who you think

will win the bout. —Marilyn S., Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

A: All too often I’m called upon to intercede in marital home-improvement squabbles. You should see the messages I get via my “Ask Tim” page at AsktheBuilder.com.

You have provided a very important fact that makes my decision about the color choice quite simple. You said you’ve got no intention of moving.

I’m going to go off-topic for just a moment. About four years ago I discovered the true path to inner happiness. I connected a few dots about observations

I made when out hiking and doing outdoor amateur radio with my best friend here in New Hampshire. He’d ignore me when I brought up topics that didn’t interest him or agitated him. I had always marveled at him being the happiest person I’d ever met. Now I know why. He actively kicked any negativ-ity in his life to the curb. Do that and happiness will flow over you all day like a giant waterfall.

With that said, if painting your house a bold color makes you happy, then by gosh do it.

Be bold when painting your house, and other tipsASK THE BUILDER

TIM CARTER

Please see PAINT, next page

PALE, IN COMPARISONCalm, ethereal pastels are springing up in decorDAVID SYREK | Chicago Tribune

Designers in home decor have infused a new crop of must-haves with cool, calm, pastel colors for spring. This time around, soft shades are showing up in hip, unexpected ways. Take Kim Markel’s edgy Glow line of furniture,

where the designer recycles and reimagines discarded plastic waste into ethereal, translucent pieces that are both sculptural and functional.

Look to designers like Blu Dot to perk up the party with their geometric trio of 100% Trays, powder coated in stormy spring shades of dusty blue, mint and lilac.

This season, the quiet shades are making some noise.

Painting your home a bold color can increase your curb appeal and your happiness.

Artist Kim Markel’s translucent periwinkle blue Glow Chair is made from a mixture of reclaimed

plastics. $1,680, abchome.com

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Blu Dot’ powder-coated steel 100% Trays add a blast of

spring color to your home. $99 for set of three, bludot.com

Dodie Thayer’s iconic Lettuce Ware pottery was wildly popular in the ’60s. The reissued collection includes a teapot, cups and saucers. Available in classic green or pink. $248 teapot, $128 set of 2 cup and saucer, toryburch.com

BLU DOT

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TORY BURCH

Moma’s ombre juice

glasses feature subtle gradations

of spring color. $8, store.moma.

org

Anthropologie’s handcrafted earthenware Sasha vases are glazed in soft spring colors.

$32, anthropologie.com

Aerin’s intricately woven round Raffia tray adds a chic spring vibe to your next party.

$150, aerin.com

ANTHROPOLOGIE

Silken Favours’ Spring Peach silk pillow tells the story of spring with a kaleidoscope of flora and fauna.

$129, amara.com AERIN

SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020