All cleaning supplies fit perfectly in their own spot and hidden by beautifully ivory glazed melamine cabinets Donna Siben/ Designer
Small elegant ceramic tile laundry room photo in Chicago with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops and a stacked washer/dryer

Raquel Bianca Creative
Inspiration for an eclectic kids' room remodel in New York

Leger Wanaselja Architecture, Kiera Marie Condrey
Inspiration for an eclectic deck remodel in San Francisco

Key decor elements include: Art: Illumination Yellow by Betty Merken from Sears Peyton Gallery Desk Lamp: AJ table lamp from Design Within Reach Desk chair: Beetle meeting chair by Gubi from Design Public Group Wallpaper: Bang Dem Sticks wallpaper from Drop it Modern

Barry Grossman Photography
Living room - contemporary white floor living room idea in Miami with white walls

Example of an eclectic formal dark wood floor living room design in Baltimore with a corner fireplace and a stone fireplace

When we embarked on designing this Santa-Barbara style townhome located on Craig Ranch’s prestigious 17th green, we immediately started visualizing the modern improvements we would make to reflect the clients’ true style. Lighting throughout the home was first on the list, then came floor coverings, wall coverings, and furnishings! Introducing brighter colors, modern frames, and bold patterns were key to balance out the heavier dark wood elements of both the home’s original architecture and some of the client’s existing pieces. Whimsical touches, elegant appointments, and sophisticated style are prevalent throughout this new modernized abode. creating a fresh feel in each room.

Steve Wolfe Photography
Living room - rustic dark wood floor living room idea in Philadelphia with a wood stove, a metal fireplace and beige walls

Photo by Nat Rea
Beach style beige floor sunroom photo in Providence

Our Town Plans
Elegant exterior home photo in Atlanta

Nat Rea
Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal open concept living room remodel in Providence with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a concealed tv

French country exterior home idea in Houston

Example of a mountain style medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Richmond with white walls, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround

Ever notice how your iron fence looks worse every spring after another Chicago winter? That slow deterioration is not cosmetic - it is active metal failure that compounds every freeze-thaw cycle until replacement becomes the only option. Windy City Painters works with homeowners across the Chicago North Side and Near West Side to restore original iron fencing on greystones, two-flats, Victorian brownstones, and coach houses before that point is reached. PROJECT OVERVIEW This iron fence restoration involved a classic Chicago residential property with original wrought iron fencing showing surface rust across the majority of pickets, flaking previous paint coats, and localized deep pitting near the base rails. A structural check identified two loose pickets requiring welding before any surface preparation or coating began. Total linear footage fell in the mid-range for a standard Chicago residential lot. MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS Windy City Painters selected Ospho rust converter for chemically neutralizing active iron oxide before priming. Ospho reacts with rust to form a stable phosphate compound that stops corrosion progression rather than simply sealing over it. Sherwin-Williams DTM rust-inhibitive primer was applied to all bare and converted surfaces, followed by two finish coats of Rust-Oleum DTM in satin black. DTM - direct to metal - formulas provide corrosion inhibitors built into the coating matrix, which matters significantly in Chicago's climate. THE PROCESS Step 1 - Structural Assessment and Welding Coordination. Before any surface preparation begins, Windy City Painters inspects every picket and rail connection for structural integrity. Loose or cracked iron must be welded before coating. Paint applied over a compromised joint will fail within one season as movement continues to break the bond. On this project, two pickets were tack-welded by a coordinating welder before prep started. Step 2 - Wire Wheel Grinding and Needle Gun Descaling. All rusted sections were ground to bare or near-bare metal using wire wheel attachments and needle gun descaling tools. This step removes loose scale, flaking previous coatings, and surface contamination that would prevent primer adhesion. Skipping mechanical prep is the single most common reason iron fence paint fails prematurely on Chicago properties. Step 3 - Ospho Rust Converter Application. Ospho was brushed into all pitted and converted areas and allowed to cure fully. The phosphoric acid chemistry converts iron oxide into iron phosphate, arresting active rust and creating a surface that accepts primer more effectively than bare metal alone. Corroseal is an equivalent alternative used on projects with heavier pitting. Step 4 - DTM Primer and Finish Coat Application. Sherwin-Williams DTM rust-inhibitive primer was applied across all prepared surfaces. Two topcoats of Rust-Oleum DTM in satin black followed after full primer cure. DTM finish coats add a second corrosion-inhibiting layer and provide the UV and weather resistance needed for Chicago exterior iron work. CHICAGO-SPECIFIC CHALLENGES Chicago iron fencing faces conditions that accelerate corrosion faster than most US markets. Lake humidity keeps metal surface moisture elevated through much of the year. Road salt splash from winter maintenance reaches fencing along parkways and sidewalk edges, introducing chlorides that aggressively attack iron. Freeze-thaw cycles expand any rust pocket that has formed under paint, lifting coatings from the inside and creating the classic bubbled-paint appearance homeowners notice every spring. WHAT TO EXPECT LONG-TERM With Ospho conversion, DTM primer, and two DTM finish coats properly applied over mechanically prepared surfaces, most Chicago residential iron fences hold 5-8 years before needing significant touch-up. Annual visual inspection for any chips or bare spots, with immediate touch-up using Rust-Oleum DTM, extends that window considerably. PRO TIPS Tip 1 - Address any bare metal spot the same season you notice it. A pinhole of exposed iron becomes a rust bubble within one Chicago winter and a flaking section by the following spring. Tip 2 - Never paint over active rust without a converter step. Ospho or Corroseal is inexpensive insurance against a complete repaint two years early. Tip 3 - Check picket bases at grade level every spring. Ground contact accelerates corrosion at the base faster than anywhere else on the fence. Catching it early keeps welding out of the equation. Contact Windy City Painters at windypainters.com for a project estimate. FAQ Q: What does iron fence painting cost in Chicago? A: Residential iron fence painting with proper rust prep typically runs $300-$900 for standard lot footage. Windy City Painters provides itemized estimates based on linear footage, rust severity, and whether structural welding is required before surface preparation begins. Q: Do you paint over rust or remove it first? A: Windy City Painters always addresses active rust before priming. Ospho or Corroseal rust converter chemically neutralizes iron oxide, and wire wheel grinding removes loose scale - coating over unaddressed rust guarantees early failure on Chicago iron fences. Q: When does an iron fence need welding before painting? A: Loose pickets, cracked rails, or connections with visible movement require welding before any coating work begins. Paint cannot stabilize a structural joint - Windy City Painters coordinates with welders when this condition is identified during initial assessment. Q: How long does iron fence paint last in Chicago? A: With mechanical prep, Ospho conversion, and Sherwin-Williams or Rust-Oleum DTM coatings, properly restored iron fencing holds 5-8 years in Chicago's freeze-thaw climate before needing significant maintenance. Q: Is Ospho better than Corroseal for Chicago iron fences? A: Both are effective rust converters. Ospho is a liquid phosphoric acid treatment suited for moderate rust and pitting. Corroseal is a latex-based converter-primer hybrid better suited to heavier rust profiles. Windy City Painters selects based on site conditions. Q: What finish sheen works best on iron fencing? A: Satin or semi-gloss black is the traditional and most durable choice for Chicago greystone and brownstone properties. Satin hides minor surface imperfections better than gloss while still providing adequate UV and moisture resistance. Q: Can iron fence painting be done in spring or fall in Chicago? A: Yes. Windy City Painters schedules iron fence work in temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit with low ambient humidity - spring and early fall are often ideal windows that avoid both winter cold and peak summer humidity.

Need extra height in your cabinets? These ShelfGene Glide-Outs are double height. Notice how the top Glide-Out is only a few inches tall. You can accomplish this because the shelf slides to you - which means you don't have to force your hand in there! Hi! I'm Elizabeth Beach Hacking of ShelfGenie MA (S. Shore, N. Shore, Metro West & Cape Cod). Call me at: 646-944-8599 to find out how we can fit your kitchen with space saving Glide-Outs. Receive $100 off your custom order, just by mentioning Houzz.

Inspiration for a transitional bathroom remodel in Vancouver with flat-panel cabinets and dark wood cabinets

Rustic outdoor children's furniture made from ecologically harvested solid alder wood and painted with water based acrylic paints.
Childrens' room - large contemporary gender-neutral childrens' room idea in Moscow with pink walls