The Holidays Came Early for One Lucky Homeowner Thanks to Ace Hardware's "Merry Paint Makeover" Contest

OAK BROOK, IL--(Marketwire - Dec 11, 2012) - Today, Ace Hardware, the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the industry, announced the winner of its "Merry Paint Makeover" design contest. From November 14 - 28, homeowners were encouraged to visit Ace's Facebook page to submit a photo and 100-word description of a room in their home that needed a little more "merry" this holiday season for a chance to win a $10,000 room makeover by one of Ace's Design Experts.

After reviewing nearly 800 submissions, Ace selected Karie Caldwell's family room because of her lengthy struggle of trying to decorate this long and narrow space to accommodate her family's needs. Located in Idaho Falls, ID, Caldwell will have her room transformed by Ace's Design Expert, Nathan Fischer, and volunteers from the local Ace Hardware Store in Ammon, ID this week. The room will be painted with Clark+Kensington™, a new paint+primer in one, available exclusively at Ace, and redesigned with new furniture and décor to bring a little more "merry" to the Caldwell family this holiday season.

"We couldn't be happier to provide this makeover to the Caldwell family," said Mary Rice, president and general manager of Ace Paint. "Ace is committed to providing homeowners with the unmatched service and helpful advice they need to turn their ho-hum space into a place that reflects their personal style. The addition of our seasoned designers to our already established team of experts allows us to provide the tips and advice homeowners need to create inviting spaces for family and friends this holiday season."

"We pride ourselves on being the helpful place both inside and outside our store walls," said Paul and Stacie Gebo, co-owners of the Ace Hardware store in Ammon, ID. "Our helpful staff has the local KNOW HOW™ needed to provide homeowners with the tips and advice they need to turn their home maintenance to-do list into a to-done list. Helping makeover the Caldwells' family room is just the type of project we, here at Ace, pride ourselves on being a part of."

In addition to the Caldwells receiving the grand-prize makeover, three runners-up were selected to receive a custom "e-design" package, which will include a makeover plan by Ace's Design Experts, as well as a $500 Ace gift card to purchase all the paint and sundries they'll need to complete the makeover design. The runners-up include Amy Schram of Montrose, CO, Lori Blake of Portland, ME and Jeffrey Lenhardt of Mount Olive, IL.

The "Merry Paint Makeover" Facebook contest was the official introduction of Ace's first-ever panel of Design Experts, which is comprised of three interior designers from different regions across the United States. The panel was established to provide color and design inspiration to Ace shoppers, further emphasizing Ace's commitment to being the "Helpful Place."

Ace's Design Experts were officially introduced in August of this year and bring more than 30 years of combined experience to the panel, specializing in color and the transformative power it has in design.

• Katie Reynolds (Dallas, Texas) - Reynolds is the owner and principal designer for Lilli Design LLC, an interior design firm, which specializes in residential design and unique nursery and children's rooms. Reynolds' strongest area of expertise is color and using it to create unique spaces around the home.
• Julie Richard (Boston, Mass.) - Richard is the owner and principal designer for Shelter Interior Design, a full service design firm specializing in residential and small hospitality interiors. She works closely with her clients to create fresh environments and often recommends adding color to a room for a quick, affordable update.
• Nathan Fischer (Orange County, Cali.) - Fischer is the owner and principal designer for Stiles Fischer Interior Design, a full service interior design, decorating and architectural firm. He views color as the key element within each room and believes that adding a pop of color to a wall, ceiling or banister can make the most dramatic and cost effective change within the home.

To help homeowners across the country add some "merry" to their homes this holiday season, Ace's Design Experts reveal the following secrets to getting a designer look:

• Spice up the holidays and greet your guests in style with a bold front door. Try Clark+Kensington Port of Bordeaux 5014.
• To create a cheery entryway, paint galvanized pots in white or black, and place them outside filled with berries and greens.
• For a classic, traditional holiday look, white walls accented with holiday trimmings are the way to go. Clark+Kensington You're the Boss 5052 is the perfect white for the job.
• Painting accent fixtures or pieces in your home such as a mantel or end table can add a beautiful splash of color to a room just in time for the holidays.

For more information on Ace Hardware's "Merry Paint Makeover" contest and Design Experts, please visit Ace's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/acehardware.

About Ace Hardware
For more than 85 years, Ace Hardware has been known as the helpful hardware store in thousands of communities across America. Customers depend on Ace to help them take care of their homes quickly and easily so they can get on with their lives. In 2012, Ace ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Home Improvement Stores for the Sixth Consecutive Year," according to J.D. Power and Associates. With over 4,600 hardware stores locally owned and operated across the globe, Ace is the largest hardware cooperative in the industry. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace and its subsidiaries currently operate 14 distribution centers in the U.S and also have distribution capabilities in Shanghai, China; Panama City, Panama; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Its retailers' stores are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and approximately 60 countries. For more information on Ace, visit www.acehardware.com.