We painted
My parents were here last week, and a big project we tackled was painting the stairway, parlor, and living room. Here's the entry.
Can you believe it? I painted over orange. It boggles the mind.
I LOVE orange, but not with dark brown woodwork. The wood is already warm with red and orange tones, so surrounding it with more orange doesn't show it off. And it can look a little dark and Halloweeny. I like cool grays and blues with brown wood.
We painted pale gray in the rooms and on the pillars to brighten things up (Valspar Seashell Gray). Then we added a medium blue (Soft Skies) and a dark blue (Azure Jazz) on the dividing wall. I considered flipping it so the blue was on the outer wall of the stairway, but it gets really dark up there on the landing by the stained glass window. Keeping the paint light there seemed like a smarter idea.
I think it's pretty. Plus you know what color looks good with gray and blue? Orange. I can orange up the furniture and accessories and still get my orange fix. I'm in the mood for a lobster-y red orange chair. Holler if you see one somewhere.
I love the newel post. It's seen better days, but I think it's beautiful. Especially with its new blue backdrop.
50 comments:
Beautiful! Your house is such a gem. Have fun with it!
Thanks, Betz!
TOTALLY worth all our efforts!!
Mum
I love the colors! And your pilar is beautiful - what a pretty entryway! It looks lovely!
http://www.cb2.com/parlour-atomic-orange-chair/f7238
I love the color change!
Shree, I've had my eye on that exact chair. And I just saw this guy in red-orange at IKEA the other day.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90251659/
Thumbs up on the color choices! It's a much better way to show off the warm color of the wood. I love orange too, but in that quantity it makes me feel angry. And hungry. Love the newel post.
Looks amazing! What a change!
Love your colors - great house!
We have a lot of my more modern home painted a color very close to this
http://tinyurl.com/mn7anvk
Long-time reader, first-time commenter! I'll admit I was shocked you painted over the orange, but it looks so refreshing in the blues! I can't wait to see the orange touches you'll add.
Looks stunning! Great choices.
Love the color choices! You are right, they make the woodwork stand out better.
You have such a cool house,and your doing a good job with the decorating x
You have such a cool house,and your doing a good job with the decorating x
Wow - great job! Looks terrific! Love all of that wood, and especially the newel post.
Love it. What great colors.
I don't have a stitch of blue in my own house, but that wall color is really refreshing to the whole entryway! Looks great!
I had that parlor chair from cb2 in orange that Shree mentioned and I loved it! Sadly had to sell it when we moved. I would get it again if I was in North America.
Looks much better now than before!
Wow! That is a dramatic difference!! I absolutely LOVE the blue!
I am also but a great proponent of orange, but I agree with your assessment of that situation--it was very 70s Halloween. Nice job!
Love the colors! Nice choice! Great job!
Darn, someone else beat me to the IKEA chair. It's this one : http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90251659/#/30251657, but is listed in the catalog as a new poppy orange. Perfect!
I love the colors you chose! Just imagine how fantastic those pops of different oranges/reds will look against those walls?
If only the woodwork and stair railings could talk, and tell of all the others that lived there in the past. Very nice paint job!
http://alteriors.ca/collections/living-room-1/products/lotus
http://alteriors.ca/collections/dining-space/products/boum-stool
Expensive? Yes. Beautiful? Definitely!
P.S. the blue is gorgeous!
I love the first chair! Modern would be lots of fun. I've been eyeing Saarinen womb chairs, too. (Reproduction, not the real deal. I'm not paying $4800!)
Jessica: I also found this!
http://lexiasnow.blogspot.ca/2011/08/lobster-red.html
I have a light fixture that needs spraypainting.... thanks for the link!!
You may easily file this one under "unsolicited advice." Have you tried really soaking that newel post in lemon oil polish. I had an old, dried out buffet, and the lemon oil did wonders. You paint job looks so professional--can't wait to see your next project.
Interesting! I'll think about that. I wish the polish would regenerate the corner piece of wood that broke off once upon a time!
Beautiful new colors - but then, I'm a blue fanatic. And I'm so jealous of all the original woodwork - and that newel post is fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
It's looking good! Excited to see it become home for you.
that looks so much better!
and that is the coolest newel post.
Beautiful! and I just love Valspar paint. I think it is the best. It will be great fun to follow along on your transformation of this beautiful home.
Ideas are percolating...
It's perfect!!
What a great change! That post is amazing, a little stain touch-up pen could help it look almost new. I love blue and orange together too.
Love that you'll use "orange" to add that punch of color you're known for.
Do hope that you'll continue sharing house updates as you settle in. Amazing detail on the banister post.
Great color choices! Have you been to Duck Creek Antique mall yet? Lots of just old stuff, but there are a couple of MCM booths that were always worth a look. Also, right next door is an amazing MCM vintage shop. It's not cheap, but the stuff is legit and the owner knows his stuff. Worth checking out!
Wow, thanks for the tip! Never heard of that place! I'm totally going, and hoping for some MCM!
I noticed that you recently moved from Chicago to Cincy (got a little behind on your blog!). We live in CHicago currently but are considering a move to Cincinnati (where I grew up) to be closer to family and for cheaper livin'. I'll be so interested to follow along as you settle in!
Where did you go to high school? Just kidding, cuz I don't care. But people seem to talk about that here a lot! It's a standard piece of info they volunteer. And when I ask someone "Are you from here?" they always say no. And then they say they're from the next neighborhood over. Apparently if you were not born within a 1 mile radius of where we're standing, you're "not from here." Cracks me up.
Love it! That blue with the wood is fantastic - so much brighter and more friendly. Great shot of the newel with blue background!
That stair post is lovely...I can just imagine how many hands have skimmed it as they went down the stairs and out the door...oh the stories it could tell :o)
well, not so certain that this is a comment but more of a question. I have viewed and read the entire blog and love every idea. I have a foyer upstairs between "two" bedrooms. I would like to know if anyone has any ideas of how do build a murphy bed? I already did a brown paper bag floor, it looks so rich and beautiful. As well, I glued newspaper on my wall and varnished that, the black and white is beautiful. I found a b/w picture of the Eiffel tower and glued it right in the middle. but there is still something missing. so I would like to try the bed idea, any suggestions.
Afraid I can't help! I have no idea how to build a Murphy bed. Woodworking and carpentry are not among my skills. :)
I love that you used a Valspar grey!
I'm deciding between their Silver Flash & Stone Mason to repaint the kitchen cabinetry in my compact post-war cottage in Brisbane, Australia.
(They are an orangey pine coupled with an 'interesting' dark green and black flecked laminate benchtop. It's a pretty gross combo)
Was also very tempted by their Katana & Cats and Dogs but realised it was more their names than the hues that were appealing.
Keep those pics coming please - seeing your home come together is a treat.
Melissa
Good luck Melissa! What you have currently sounds quite hideous. Good riddance. :)
Post a Comment