You might say paint runs in the Russell family blood.
Eric Russell’s father, Bill, a fireman who was looking for a side business, started Russell Painting Company in 1979 in Richmond, Indiana. Russell worked for his dad through high school and on breaks in college. In fact, Russell fondly remembers painting with his grandfather, who was also a fireman and painted on the side.
“Just knowing that when I started I actually worked in the field with my grandpa and knowing that my dad was the boss that was showing up means a lot to me,” Russell says.
With nearly 45 years of experience in the industry, Russell is proud to have successfully brought the family business to another market, having opened a branch of Russell Painting in the Indianapolis area in 1993. He took over full ownership of the satellite in Indianapolis in 2006 and incorporated in 2010.
“What I really like is that my brother is running the business my dad started in Richmond, and I’m running the one here,” Russell says.
Russell Painting Company of Indianapolis is a full-service residential and commercial painting company that has completed more than 1,600 projects, both interior and exterior, throughout the Indianapolis area, including in schools, churches, businesses and hundreds of homes.
“One thing my dad always liked about painting is that when you’re done, people can see the change. We change the aesthetics that people see every day, and that’s the beauty of it.”
While paint plays a huge role in creating the overall look of buildings and homes, Russell stresses that paint is more than a simple cosmetic update. It is vital to protecting your home or business.
“The paint on the exterior and interior walls of your home acts somewhat like a layer of skin, helping to protect the surface materials below the paint from damage and wear that can occur over time,” Russell states.
Carmel City Lifestyle caught up with Russell at a recent project repainting the brightly colored interior of Goldfish Swim School. He loves doing projects like this that he knows benefit a broad portion of the local community, plus his own kids have been involved in the Carmel swim community for years.
To Do It Yourself . . . or Not
Some people think painting is an improvement project they can tackle themselves. However, doing the job correctly includes these three cornerstones of Russell Painting: thorough cleaning and preparation, taking the time to prime and not skimping on quality materials.
Russell wants do-it-yourselfers to know that undertaking what is often a two-professional job is not an easy task, and it will likely take longer than anticipated. He also reminds people that correcting a job done improperly is often more expensive than paying a professional from the beginning.
Hiring an expert to paint your home or businesses ensures that the job gets done more quickly, more efficiently and more consistently, Russell says. He also recommends finding a company that is established in the community and gives back through sponsorships and volunteerism.
“Russell Painting Company is established, insured, easily located online with great reviews and gives back by sponsoring local teams and donating to school events and charities,” Russell says.
Painting Trends
Color is making a comeback, according to Jamie Gauker, owner and designer at J. Gauker Interiors.
“In my opinion, warm tones are definitely trending,” Gauker says.
She sees an increase in the use of Sherwin Williams colors Natural Linen and Natural Tan. She also reminds clients that black is a color. In fact, Sherwin Williams Iron Ore is one of her favorites.
“I like dark colors,” Russell says. “Larger rooms with a lot of light can handle dark colors more easily.”
Gauker describes another emerging trend called “color drenching,” which involves painting an entire room, trim and all, in a deep color. When using darker paint, Gauker recommends flat or matte paint, and Russell says primer is even more vital.
However, Gauker says it is still popular to use color as an accent, and Russell says that the trend of painting trim in shades of white semi-gloss is not going away anytime soon.
“You should look at paint as an accessory and as art,” Gauker advises. “You should have fun with it, and it should reflect your personality.”
“One thing my dad always liked about painting is that when you’re done, people can see the change. We change the aesthetics that people see every day, and that’s the beauty of it.”