Painting; from drab to fab

When I first moved in I was happy to have a new shade taupe on my walls.  I liked the combination of white ceiling and trim, taupe walls, and dark walnut floors.  It’s been six years and I’m ready for a change.  The previous residents spent a lot of their time partaking in a pastime that many today find very unhealthy… get it?  Anyway the ceiling was very stained and even though my dad painted it with two coats when I moved in, it needed it again.  I put the word out that I was looking for good shades of grey and was given the suggestion of gray owl by a new friend Andrea Johnson of Andrea Johnson Design, (see her use here) and horizon by the staff at my local Benjamin Moore.  

I painted sample patches of the two choices on the wall in the living room, and hall.  I looked at both in natural light during the day and artificial light during the night.  I decided to put the lighter shade in the hall, trying to brighten it as much as possible.  Many of my friends who commented on social media agreed.

The excellent painter, a friend of my cousin, began and I quickly fell in love with my new paint colours.  As I right this I sit on a sofa that is pushed to the middle of the room, along with every other piece of furniture.  There are no covers on the windows, and any extraneous stuff is shoved into the alcove in my bedroom.  The second coat is up in the living room and kitchen and the third is up in the hallway.  My dad has assembled the doors for my floating “fauxdenza”, thanks for the perfect term Anna (Door Sixteen).  You’ll soon see that the crooked walls in my hallway have given us a run for our money, but I think my smart dad and I have figured out a solution, other than re-doing the wall.  I’m so happy my white Ikea PS Cabinet actually looks white now, instead of the cream with the taupe walls.  I’ve ordered new sconces, below, and can’t wait to install them, but they are now backordered.  Hopefully they are on the way soon, I can’t wait for this polished nickel sparkler to arrive.  The old spaceship ones are long gone.

Flat Stock Single, West Elm

 My challenge now is hanging artwork, and being very careful to return only what is necessary, of the stuff shoved into my bedroom.  Two trips have been made with donations of goods, but I feel more may be needed.  My goal is to get closer to that beautiful minimal, clean look of some of the design blogs I’ve been following this summer.  I’m looking for eclectic, scandinavian, vintage, and mid-century modern in some kind of creative mix… Impossible? Maybe.  Desirable? Yes.

Thanks to my cheerleaders and support team… mom and dad.  I couldn’t have done it without you.

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