Archive for March, 2010

WSVN 7- Room for Improvement: Young at Art

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Tonight a special edition of Room For Improvement as makeover maestro Martin Amado channels his inner Picasso and helps out a local children’s museum!

WSVN — Martin Amado: “That’s right guys, We’re at Young at Art Children’s Museum in Davie, a special place where kids come together to get a hands on experience in creativity.”

Our assignment today, to redefine play areas in this children’s room. It’s where kids and their parents come to play and do art projects. The playhouse is outdated and out of place and the other areas need to be spruced up.

Martin Amado: “Now because there’s lots to do in so little time, I actually have a co-designer to assist me today.”

Jennie, a furniture specialist.

Jennie: “Hi Martin.”

Martin Amado: “I need your help badly. The biggest issue I have is with the house structure, do you agree it has to move?”

Jennie: “Definitely.”

Martin Amado: “Let’s make it happen.”

We can make the playhouse more fun by turning it into a tree house. All it takes is a special paint job to make the walls look like they’re made from wood.

Martin Amado: “If you want to create the same effect at home the trick is to use one of these wood grain tools, it is so cool. Use a darker base color, a lighter paint color on top and it’s that easy.”

Martin Amado: “Wow Jenny! I love it here in the center of the playspace.”

Jennie: “It’s definitely now a focal point.”

Martin Amado: “It used to be an abstract house and now we’ve turned it into a treehouse with the leaves and everything. I love it!”

This area is where kids can read, it’s getting a fun new look. Then we’re on to the kids art place.

Martin Amado: “So this is the area for painting and there’s a lot of empty space right above us, and we have the perfect solution.

Jennie: “Yes I do. Go ahead and grab an IKEA lantern, splatter it with paint in the true fashion of Jackson Pollack, hang it up above the table and your set.

Martin Amado: “It’s gonna look great!”"

Next, the couches get a facelift.

Martin Amado: “The best way to get the most out of your sofa is to use a slip cover, especially if you have children or small pets.”

Martin Amado: “And the finishing touch is to use the kids handprints inside a frame and turn it into artwork.”

Martin Amado: “Before, the playhouse lacked a cohesive design scheme. Now, by reorganizing the room around the treehouse and better defining the discovering areas, we created a whimsical environment for fun and learning.”

Martin Amado: “At the count of three. One, two, three open your eyes.

Group: “Oh my God! It’s beautiful!”

Martin Amado: “I think they’re going to love it! all right well thank so much to IKEA for Jennie helping us out. Thank you Jennie, and we’ll see you next time on another Room for Improvement! Bye guys!”

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

IKEA
www.Ikea.com

Non-Toxic Paints by:
ECOSIMPLISTA
www.ecosimplista.com

View the video online at: http://www.wsvn.com/features/articles/roomforimprovement/MI147321/

 

CBS 4 EcoZone: Store Sells Eco-Friendly, Non-Toxic Paint

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

 

Anyone who has painted a wall is familiar with that strong, chemical scent that sticks around for days.

Derek Shambora, owner of Eco-Simplista, used to use traditional, smelly paint until his father got a severe allergic reaction to his newly painted walls. It got so bad that he couldn’t sleep at night. Shambora said that’s when he thought about using “green” paint.

“If you look at the back of a paint can, without knowing anything about paint, if you look at the back of a paint can, you’ll see all kinds of warning labels. Ours is the only paint not required by the government to carry any toxic warning labels,” said Sambora.

Conventional paint can release toxins for up to 6 years even though the ‘paint’ smell goes away in just a week. Mythic paint, the kind Derek used to repaint his Father’s walls, doesn’t release anything. It’s the same paint he now proudly sells in his Oakland Park store Eco-Simplisa where both he and his sister Dana work. The store itself has grown as the interest in “green” products has grown. What once started out as just a paint store has now expanded to include everything from eco-friendly plaster to veggie wash.

Shambora said their customers are not limited to contractors, they’re getting more and more ‘do it yourself-ers’.

“They want quality products, they want to go green, but they can’t afford it with the contractor. So, they’re trying to use the high quality product…and teach themselves how to do it,” said Shambora.

Even the most novice painter can use it, said Shambora, thanks to Eco-Simplista’s weekly classes. They are held every Saturday in the parking lot behind the store. They say that when they move into a bigger facility, they’ll have more education classes indoors.

To view the article online and read the rest of the newsletter click here:http://cbs4.com/greenflorida/eco.simplista.derek.2.1531615.html