paint advice from 1,100 miles away

The other month I got a text from a friend of mine who was having a really hard time picking out a paint color for her bedroom. She had hired a painter and was getting a lot of advice from him about what color he thought would be best, but they were not getting anywhere. She was looking to go with a blue or green shade, but they couldn't agree on one that really worked. She lives in Florida so choosing a soothing shade of blue or green is a great choice. So I gave her a quick phone call back, while sitting in the parking lot of the mall and just happened to have all my fan decks with me. I asked her first off what colors he had suggested and thumbed through my fan deck to find them, then I saw how she would have been at a loss. The colors were all wrong from how she described the look she was going for, which was my next question that I asked her. After she explained some about what color she was looking for and basic overall feel in her room, I started going through the fan deck with her and pointed out a few options and also gave my suggestion for my first choice that I thought would look the best, Benjamin Moore, yarmouth blue.

She ran out and got a couple samples and after they were all up, she and her husband decided that they too liked the yarmouth blue the best. The painter got started that week and she text me to say that they love it and couldn't have been happier with the color. This is the picture she text me from her phone right after the room was finished.

I admit that I am a little obsessed with color, so not surprising that I always have my fan decks with me. I love to pull color together, whether on the fly or preparing for a client for a whole house. If you have any color questions or concerns I would love to help. You can find out more information on my consultation page here.

And the winner is....

I picked the soapstone, but now I have opened up a can of worms!! It's a good thing that it is our anniversary  today where there will be lots of love going around, otherwise I might be in the dog house, I will explain. But back to the winner... the soapstone.

 I was really torn, almost up until I was picking out the exact spot where it was going to be cut, but now that it is in I am so glad. It is really beautiful. The marble was to white and it was too similar to the movement of the river white granite. The quartz was too plain, although the overall background color was good. But the soapstone seemed to be a nice contrast that pulls out the gray tones, plus having an older home the soapstone will "age" over time and will take on a "worn" look, creating a nice patina, which is appropriate for an older house. Also, one neat thing was we found out was that this piece of soapstone was a remnant from the home of a globally-known company's founder/CEO. Funny though, he used the soapstone in a room for his dogs, so if it was good enough for them, then good enough for our kitchen!

 Then comes the worms, now I am going to have to paint my built- in and all my cabinets! And maybe repainting the island, which was just painted with ASCP in graphite. That is a big can I opened up, but my husband does agree that it need to all "come together" somehow. (don't look at my mess, I had to move things around when the guys came out to install and we just started school) I just painted my walls revere pewter, which is a Ben. Moore color,  I did a spot on the cabinet to see how it would look there as well.

And of course I didn't stop there, I painted a cabinet drawer with ASCP, in old white, then realized I really need to go with more of a light khaki gray. 

So needless to say, I will be going to the paint store tomorrow to get some paint to start this now very large project! (I secretly wanted to paint my cabinets anyhow, just didn't think it was going to be so soon). So stayed tuned for my follow up on my now very large project!



Linked up to today on: French Country Cottage
Miss Mustard Seed and The Shabby Nest

ASCP and mahogany

I have usually had great success with all my projects using ASCP, but this one not so much- I wanted to change the look of my rocking chair, new paint, fabric- done!

I knew the rocker was mahogany and I have painted over mahogany before with oil paint and had no problems (I know we really shouldn't paint over mahogany, but....) This time it didn't work so well using chalk paint. I am not quite sure why, but even with 2-3 coats, using ASCP in the old white, the reddish finish of the mahogany started coming through and it is now somewhat pink. Another strange thing it almost starting crackling a bit.

The beauty of the paint is that you really don't have any prep involved, as many as you know. Now with the rocking chair I did wipe it off and very lightly sanded, but I may have missed something here with this one. Curious if those of you who have used ASCP have experienced the same thing with mahogany? Any suggestions on how I could have done anything different? But I still think it is a great improvement over what it looked like. I used  red and white grain sack fabric and have it sitting out on my front porch.

 I'm up for painting and changing most anything, sometimes they come with unpredictable surprises, but it's great to reuse what we have and still feel like you've just gotten a brand new piece!

check out some other great ideas over at The Shabby Nest where I've shared this post on her frugal Friday's

My chair reborn in grain sack fabric!

These chairs were my inspiration for my very outdated, in great need of a "face lift" chair.

This is the chair below with a slipcover that I had someone make years ago, very sad! It was a Waverly fabric that I would be happy to never see again, so I was elated to take it off!(I did a previous post on debating what to do with the chair and happy to now show the final pictures!)

Here is the chair without the slipcover, love the blue velvet right?

Well I begged and begged my mother to please try to reupholster it or make a slipcover out of my new favorite, grain sack fabric. After some pleading, she did and I have to say she did an amazing job!!! I painted and lightly distressed the dark wood legs and arms with ASCP in old white, finally showing them off again. I can't take any more credit for the chair, she did all the rest.

I love it!! Looks like a completely new chair and I am in love with the fabric, it is heavier but has such a nice finish. Now maybe I can convince her to tackle my sofa??!

I've posted this on "Feathered Nest Fridays" on French Country Cottage, check out all the other great ideas she has posted on her Friday Linky party! And also over on Jennifer Rizzo's Friday party, and I just came across another great blog where I posted this as well, The Shabby Nest, so many creative people!!

making a bold first impression

This Old House

I have been debating what color to paint my front door- it is the first thing people notice when they come to your house, like a first impression and should make a statement. And of course some say that the color you paint your front door has some kind of meaning behind it. Can't we just slap on some paint that looks good without having it mean something? Now I really feel pressured!
Black is said to be powerful, blue is related to abundance, green is said to have balance, purple evokes energy, and red is supposedly welcoming. Whatever color one picks it should also look good with the rest of your house no matter what meaning it has.

Right now my front door is painted black and is in desperate need of a new paint job. I have been staring at doors when I have been walking and driving around trying to see what colors grace the front doors of my neighbors. I have noticed a few lately that have been pumpkin orange - love that.

This Old House

The orange looks great with the gray shingles but I don't think so much with my red brick home, so I have been thinking either a blue or green,.I would love to go bright and add a burst of green, like in the picture below.

This Old House

 But I think I am still stuck on blue. This has always been one of my favorite front doors

via House of Turquoise via Hiya Papaya

I love the Wythe Blue color that was painted on this front door above, but I had wanted to go just a little brighter. I came across this color a couple times, St. Lucia Teal.

via Turquoise Shed

So I decided to just go for it. As you can see, my door seems hidden and dark. It is a really pretty front door and it needs to be shown off.

These were my final choices, Wythe Blue, St. Lucia Teal and Stratton Blue- all Benjamin Moore. I realized after I had picked the St. Lucia Teal that it must have been meant to be. Those of you who saw my earlier post on my new light that will be going in my foyer, it is almost the exact color as St. Lucia Teal.

 Anyhow, this is my new door which I love- and you will see how nice it looks with my light sitting on the floor.

As for the light, yes, it is still not hung up. You know the saying measure twice, cut once? (in my case hang once) Well we had a minor problem when we went to go hang it and realized that it needs to be moved over so you don't hit your head on it when you walk down the steps- lesson learned.

When the light is hung up it will be a nice transition from the bright color of the teal door to have the color flow inside and there are also touches of the color in the rug in the foyer as well. The door now stands out and looks fun and bright when you see it from outside. With front doors they aren't a huge commitment to paint so why not try a bright bold color for fun.

HGTV

Color Trends

via Pinterest

I think I am a little scared of this spring's color trends! Especially after I just watched the Today Show and they were giving their color fashion trends for spring. I know I am getting older but the only place you'll see any of the neon colors they forecasted on me, are maybe my toes! (A very small accessory may not be too bad) I think I'll stay away from decorating my home with them as well. But Pantone has also pulled a line of many other colors, bright neon colors are among them for this years picks, but the winner is Tangerine as the color of the year.

via Pinterest

Changing your wardrobe from season to season is a lot easier then changing your home decor. If you are one who likes to keep up with the new color trends, it might be much easier if you treat these trends in your home as accessories, just like you do for your wardrobe. (love the Burberry bag with tangerine and how cute are these earrings!)

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

 Accessorizing your home with the lastest colors can be a lot of fun and definitely easier on your wallet. Get a new fun pillow in the latest new trendy color that works with your exisiting decor, vases or art work could bring in that pop without having to change everything you have. Who couldn't use a tangerine mixer!

The picture below shows a good example of using the hottest color right now with a neutral gray sofa, you could change out those pillows with just about any color and still have it look great.

via Pinterest

 If you want to go a little more adventurous, paint is a great inexpensive way to change your room with the latest colors, a bit more time consuming, but cheaper then changing out all of your upholstered pieces of furniture just to stay trendy and hip! Here's an easy fix,  just paint the front door.

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

Or go a little bolder, paint the walls

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

Country Living

Furniture can also make an impact

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

Tangerine looks great with blue shades too because they are complimentary colors. I wrote a previous posting on The color orange, where you can see how versatile the color really is. But what ever the next trendy color is that comes along at least there are ways that you can incorporate them without changing everything you already have.