Torlando

08/02/2025

How do you turn a blank canvas into a home?

I had the absolute pleasure of guiding a wonderful couple, Kylin and Talyah, on their color journey for their first home—a brand new build in the beautiful, wide-open landscape of Holden, Utah.

Like so many new homeowners, they felt that mix of excitement and fear. Staring at endless white walls, how do you choose a color you’ll love for years? What if you get it wrong?

Instead of just giving them colors, we built a plan together. We talked about how the golden Utah light would change the colors inside and looked for neutrals that felt grounded and warm, not yellow. We narrowed down their main "heart of the home" color to two beautiful contenders:

1️⃣ Sanctuary (SW 9583): A gorgeous, stony neutral that feels calm and serene.
2️⃣ Limewash (SW 9589): A slightly deeper option with a rich, organic feel.

For Kylin's office, we found the perfect shade to inspire focus: the deep, earthy blue/green Tarragon (SW 9662). And for their powder room? We explored a bold, high-design "color drench" look, wrapping the room in a moody floral wallpaper and painting the trim, door, and ceiling to match. So stunning!

It’s a reminder that the best homes tell a story. This is the story of Kylin and Talya, starting their new chapter with colors that are personal, thoughtful, and uniquely them.

What do you think of these renders? Are you team Sanctuary or team Limewash for the main color? Let me know in the comments! 👇

10/28/2024

Last week Sharon touched our hearts with stories of how My Sister's Closet helps pull women up when hurt by poverty or life.

It was no question that this week's BNI's Best Award went to Sharon for her involvement with the community.

If you ever need help finding a job or resources when you're down on your luck, Sharon will be there at My Sister's Closet to help you any way she can.

Torlando Hakes picked right this week.

See who Sharon picks next week!

07/09/2024

Wow, this is what the home alone house looks like now. How come Kevin didn’t set up any traps in the basketball court?

This 9126 square feet Single Family home has 5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. It is located at 671 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka, IL.

06/15/2024

Who’s house hunting? Take a look at this Bloomington beaut. We might have done a little sprucing in a couple rooms. 😉

06/07/2024

Running a painting business isn’t always easy. In fact, it’s mostly not easy. Seems like it should be, but it’s not. The reality is there are many moving parts and emotions can run high, fatigue is…

05/07/2024

“A strong culture is often the result of a period of high performance, rather than its cause.”

-Freek Vermeulen

04/27/2024

To my business friends experiencing business burnout, look at three areas closely and ask the hard questions.

Are you spending enough time in your talent? Spending too much time doing the stuff you hate leads to burn out. Focus on your talents and the passion will come back. For the other stuff, see what you can get away with not doing. Team up on the rest.

Are you robbing Peter to pay Paul? Cash flow issues lead to constant hustling for you next scrap which is an endless rat race. Cut fixed expenses, and write your cash in vs cash out on a paper calendar. The relationship between money and time is everything.

Who are you outside of business? If business and family is your entire identity, dig deeper and find a purpose that isn’t business. Make new friends. Find a hobby. Join a club. Volunteer. Go to the church BBQ. Do something that isn’t just work/home/work/home repeat.

04/17/2024

Is your job site a hot mess? 🤪 It doesn't have to be! In this video, I'm showing you how I used the 5S framework to completely transform how my crew stays organized. Cleaner job sites, faster work, happier clients – let's get to it!