There is one thing I’ve reminded myself over and over as we’ve been working on our 1970 home – I only have to make decisions about the house when I need to make them. Of course, decisions that really and truly NEED to be made about a house are few and far between. When we’re talking about aesthetics, preferences, cosmetic changes, etc. the decisions are typically self-imposed. But, once you get rolling on a renovation, there is pressure to make every decision about it as soon as possible when the truth is, there are a lot of decisions that can wait until you see how everything comes together and live with it for a while.
I still get asked about a backsplash (or the lack of one) every time I show my kitchen. I knew that was a decision I didn’t have to make right away when we were working on our kitchen renovation. Installing a backsplash would be one of the last things we did, so I could wait. Waiting, in that case, was a relief. It was one less thing I needed to deal with.
I’ve gotten some tile samples and considered some other options (I’ll share those and my thoughts about them at some point ) but for now, I haven’t felt the need to go beyond a quality coat of wipeable paint on the plaster walls. It looks good and functions fine.
And I’ve continued with this mindset as I’ve been painting the living room. I knew I wanted to paint the walls, beams, and baseboards, but I wasn’t 100% sure about the window trim, door trim, and built-ins. And, the nice thing is, I could paint the things I was 100% sure about, see how it looks, even live with it for a while, and then decide. The nice thing is that all of those areas are accessible without moving furniture so I could get the room put back together and paint them once I’ve decided. I worked on the ceiling early last week and then got the room prepped and cleared out so we could prime and paint the beams, walls, and baseboards on Friday. We also needed to install quarter round trim, something we didn’t do after the new hardwood floors were installed last year.
Jeff and my dad helped, which made it possible to accomplish all of that trim work and painting in one day, which was awesome. This is the room we use most, so it was nice to have it out of commission for just a day. I’ll share a post with some tips on painting wood paneling soon.
After the painting was done, my decision about the built-ins became a no-brainer. I knew that I wanted to paint them the same as the beams and the walls (Card Room Green) with 100% certainty. With the built-ins as well as a new mantel painted in Card Room Green, it’ll look cozy and cohesive. Just what I envisioned.
I also knew I wanted to keep the window trim white. We are going to get new windows eventually (hopefully next year) and they will be white, so I’m going to keep the window trim white. After seeing the painted walls and baseboards, the white window trim still makes sense and doesn’t look like I just forgot to paint them! I do need to sand down some filler and put a fresh coat of white paint on them, but I’m not going to paint them green.
The door trim is still up in the air for me and I keep waffling back and forth. Paint them green, paint them white…I’m still deciding…
21 Responses
It’s looking really good. I like your idea of the windows staying white. It’s going to be a very cozy room. Backsplash no backsplash, the kitchen is divine.
I think all of your white ironstone will show nicely against the green paint in the builtins.
I agree … just like in the MN house at the bottom of the stairway!
I can’t wait to see it all together and painted. Your choices are always spot on. I have similar brick and love that Card Room Green! Cozy to the max!!
I think the white windows will speak to the white ceiling and it will look great.
If you’re taking bets on the backsplash I can imagine a solid white subway with a little movement in it ! Can’t wait to see what you choose !
I’m enjoying the freshness of no backsplash. It looks clean. It looks more intentional rather than unfinished.
I cannot wait to see the mantle.
It is so nice to not have to make decisions all at once. Though, early last spring, I moved my tv to the only spot in my house that the Christmas tree could go. I have a very small house with big windows that limit even my going up space. I agonized for months and months about where to put the tree. Don’t tell your more er, um, what’s a nicer word? for opinionated readers, but my tree is up in a new carved out spot and I am delighted. (It’s just twinkling for me. No ornaments until after Thanksgiving, but that’s just my way. Viva la differénce!)
Hi Marian, I love the direction ont he living room color- so very, very cozy! I’m also looking forward to seeing what you do end up doing for a backsplash- my guess is a solid slab choice. Do you add the recessed lighting in the living room? One more thought- I think your beautiful Jenny Lind print is possible nicotine stained? I’ve seen other versions that are a little more true in their colors- maybe it can be cleaned? Can’t wait to see the new mantel in place!
Yes, I am leaning towards a solid slab so that it’s visually clean, but we’ll see. And yes, we added the recessed lighting all through the house. There were only ceiling lights in two rooms in the entire house, so we added them in the studio, bedrooms, kitchen, and living room. Well worth it! We still use lamps, but it’s nice to be able to get a flood over the entire room when we need it. And, they are all on dimmers.
The print of Jenny Lind is definitely stained, but it’s printed on cardboard so I don’t think I could clean it without damaging it. My plan is to put on a clear gesso and do an original oil painting of the portrait over it. I just have to work up the courage!!
Clear gesso…who knew?? I hope you will let us watch that project as I would be very interested in seeing the process and the outcome. What a great idea!
What an excellent idea! I can’t wait to see the finished result. Thanks for the info about the lights.
I love the backsplash painted. So many back splashes are so busy they distract from the room. You will make the right decision for you.
Hi Marian, I am so impressed with what you have done to this house! Everything is looking wonderful! I am wondering how similar the Card Room Green paint color compares to the kitchen cabinetry. It looks as if it is very similar and I really like how that color flows from one space to another.
It is in a similar bluish-green family but the cabinet color is darker. They work really well together, though.
Your system is much less stressful. You don’t jump around in your brain until you are overwhelmed and then it’s not fun any more. You have a grand plan , that’s all that matters right this minute. That’s the way I Christmas shop. Through the year if I have a wonderful idea for someone,I write it down. If I come upon a perfect gift, I buy it and put it away. There is nothing worse than going shopping for a present when you have to get it done and then you dread the whole process. That’s why we are Happy people even if it’s not 100% of the time.
Marian, your home is looking so good – and so you! I love the green paint you have chosen – it’s such a soothing color. I have a question: I noticed the green frog tape on the fireplace brick. Having gone through a crate of frog tape in our remodels, I wondered what the plan for that area is. We used frog tape to mark off areas for visuals. Thanks for taking us along on your remodel. It’s so fun to watch someone else do it and enjoy it. The house we’re in now is the last remodel for us. We finished it 7 years ago after spending a year of remodel – but it was unlivable! LOL
Thank you! And yes, I am taping off the scale for the fireplace mantel to get a visual.
Oh how I wish I had the courage to paint my built ins and trim a lovely color. Your rooms always look fabulous!
Beautiful and cozy! Marian, you have great vision. Taking your time with the kitchen backsplash is wise. We have been in our current home for 12 years and in January of this past year we had a backsplash put up in the kitchen (Zellige tile) and remodeled two bathrooms. Quite a winter but well worth it. We have had a lot of compliments on the kitchen backsplash because it adds extra light. No matter what time of day it is natural light bounces off the tiles. You have a nice bright kitchen so whatever you choose will look beautiful.
I love your paint choices. The room is looking grand. Our son put in a new kitchen 9 months ago and still has no backsplash. They picked out some beautiful samples but all it did was cause more confusion, each were beautiful. They just can’t decide and I was of no help.
Firstly, I absolutely LOVE that color of green you chose. It looks absolutely wonderful. And I really like the white window and the way the white bookcase built-ins pop against the new color. I wouldn’t color those at all. Keeps things bright.
Your reasoning has always been sound. Looks great. Two thumbs up!!!
I’m going on 7 years here with no backsplash in my kitchen, just white paint. I don’t think that one necessarily has to have any kind of backsplash as a rule I have not found that my walls get much on them. Those built ins will look great painted the green! It’ll make the ironstone pop!