Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for painting companies that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For Kiss Painting, the keys to keeping clients happy are simple: take an artistic approach to their projects and make sure they get exactly what they envisioned. “Our customers like the way we paint and want our artistic eye on their projects, which makes us stand out from other contractors,” says co-owner Eva Kissova. “By drawing upon our years of experience and industry knowledge, we’re able to offer our clients the absolute best.”

Kiss Painting has been providing painting services for residential and commercial clients in Marin and Sonoma Counties, the East Bay, the South Bay, and San Francisco since 2011. The company has the training and equipment to paint all types of interior and exterior surfaces, and it also has special expertise with door renovations; refinishes and custom finishes; and decorative and faux finishes like wood grain imitation, Venetian plaster, and stone and marble imitation.

Unlike less experienced painting companies that use outdated methods and materials in an effort to reduce their operating costs, Kiss Painting prioritizes staying up-to-date on the latest advancements in the industry. “We frequently test new products so we can learn which ones will work best for different situations,” says Ms. Kissova. “We also use products that aren’t available at regular paint stores because we prefer their quality.”

Another distinguishing attribute of Kiss Painting is its ability to make custom colors onsite, which Ms. Kissova says isn’t a common practice in the painting industry. “Many of our clients have never seen a painter make custom colors, but we do it all the time. If a client picks a color and decides it isn’t quite right after the first coat is applied, we can adjust it for the second coat. We can also make new colors from scratch, which means we can customize the look of each room in a home by considering factors like furniture and window reflections.”

When it comes to choosing colors for an exterior painting project, there are several factors to consider.

Every home is unique in its own way, and styles and trends vary when it comes to things like substrate, so it’s important to consider these types of variables before choosing a color palette for an exterior painting project. You should also take environmental factors into account. If you have a nice garden or landscape, consider tying these elements to your home’s color scheme. You can even coordinate with other homes in your neighborhood while simultaneously giving your house distinctive qualities that make it stand out.

Even if you choose a simple color scheme for your home, there are ways to make it stand out. If you’re painting your house green with a cream-colored trim, for example, you might be worried that this color scheme is too plain, in which case you should consider a measure like painting the front door an elegant accent color. Small touches like these can allow you to make a statement with your home’s color scheme and increase the value of your property within the neighborhood.

Another often-overlooked factor to consider when choosing paint colors is your home’s position in relation to the sun. In some instances, light can wash out colors, but in others, it can accentuate them. For example, if the front of your home has an eastern exposure, you have to consider how the light will affect the paint colors you choose. Make sure there’s enough distinction between the stucco and the trim surfaces so they’ll both stand out and create an aesthetically pleasing effect.

When it comes to the type of paint you use for your exterior painting project, remember that choosing Green products can bring numerous benefits. “A lot of people are using environmentally-friendly paint these days,” affirms Eva Kissova, co-owner of Kiss Painting in San Rafael. “In the past, some homeowners weren’t sure about the quality of these products and assumed they were much more expensive than conventional paints, but that’s not the case at all.”

Q: What’s the process for setting up a painting project?
A: After the initial phone or email conversation, we’ll meet in person so we can talk about the details of your project. Once that’s done, we’ll send you an estimate. If the project meets your approval, we’ll set up a start date.

Q: How should I prepare for my painting project?
A: You’ll save time and money if you move your furniture (we can help with heavy pieces) and remove artwork from the walls before we start painting. We can do these things for you, but we’ll have to charge a little more. We don’t expect you to do any masking.

Q: Can you recommend environmentally-friendly paint to use on my home?
A: Yes. In our experience, the best environmentally-friendly paint is sold by Ecohome Improvement. We’ve worked with several of the products they carry and they’re all very good.

Q: Do you need to remove my front door to refinish it?
A: Most of the time, we prefer to remove the door because it’s easier to refinish it and the final result is much better. However, with some types of doors and finishes, we can leave the door on without affecting the appearance.

Q: How will you secure my house after you remove my door?
A: We’ll cover the door opening with plastic while we’re working and reinstall the door at the end of each workday.

Q: How long will the varnish last on my door?
A: According to the manufacturer, the varnish should last about five years. If you notice the varnish is getting dull or has a slightly different appearance, it’s time to recoat.