In case some of you have not realized it, yet…I am crazy. I will hack through a row of bushes and vines with a pair of cheap pruning shears and my bare hands. I will dig through bug infested boxes in order to find some cool things to decorate my house with. I will go into the seediest looking thrift shop in the hopes of scoring my next favorite piece. Something small like a power outage will not stop me from painting a room. Most normal people might read by candlelight or play a card game. Me? The kids are in bed, the internet is down, and my hubby’s reading a book…this is prime DIY time. So, with bunches of candles and a roller loaded with paint, I covered the peacock blue in my living room, which I’ve been threatening to do for a while, with Aria Ivory (a retired SW color I spotted in a magazine.)
The power came on about a half hour into my project and I stayed up until about 1:30 am priming and painting. I told you I was crazy.
There are no overhead lights in this room, so it is really dark at night or on cloudy days. I purchased two chandeliers that were on clearance at Lowes and wired them to plug into the wall. I then hung them from hooks on the ceiling on either side of my French settee. Between the paint color and the new lights, this room is so much brighter.
I’m still playing around with the decor, I need to find the perfect fabric for curtains and pillows and I need to hide the chandelier cords. Even with work still to do, I really love how bright and fresh the room feels, now. I will miss my blue, but I’m sure I’ll find somewhere else to use it where it won’t look so dark. Here is the before…
…and how it looks now.
I am going out of town this weekend for a music conference, so I’m suspending Furniture Feature Friday. We’ll get together again next Friday. By the way, I’m loving the thumbnails pictures, aren’t you?
39 Responses
Crazy, but fabulous! That's pretty fantastic through my eyes.
LOOOOOOVE the vignette in your after. I've done the painting in the dark thing, too. I've used a desk lamp turned toward the wall I'm painting to try to get as much done as possible. 🙂
Oh my a kindred spirit! I would so be there with you painting in the dark! What fun! I LOVE that color, it makes me want to go paint my master bedroom's green walls, wich are the same value as your blues. I am ready for a change in that room. I can't wait to see it all put together!
I had to smile when I saw you were painting your room Aria Ivory. My entire house execept for three rooms is painted Aria Ivory! I have never grown tired of it in the almost 9 years we have lived in our house. I love how it looks against white trim.
a very lovely 'now!'
Yep you're crazy but so well worth it – the room looks fabulous.
That Aria Ivory looks great! The table, typewriter, etc., all good too. I've never painted in the dark, but I've done many other "crazy" things.
Wow!
My painting looks bad enough by the light of day :).
You are brave…it looks great though…
You are one crazy chick! Painting in the dark! LOL.
I love the transformation. Everything looks bright and cherry with the lighter colors.
hugs
Sissie
Oh yes, that is much better, nice and bright!
Your new paint color is beautiful! I can't wait to see more of that room. Have fun on your trip. Love & blessings from NC!
Painting in the dark…
exchanging glances
Isn't that a song?
I liked the blue, but that is a really pretty shade of white and your furniture pieces and accessories will really pop against that fresh backgroung
I think we were separated at birth, because I would do all the things you described, including painting by candlelight! I really like the after picture and can't wait to see what you end up doing with the rest of the room.
you've done it well, i love it!
flory
wow, what a difference, huh?
I love it. And did I miss something?
You repainted the little table too!
I know you love it. I think it looks wonderful.
Honey you are not crazy, just dedicated. Oh and brave! How did it look when the lights went on? Did you miss a lot of spots or can you cover a wall blindly?
Amazing what a little paint can do!
It looks so pretty! The blue was good but the ivory looks like a breath of fresh air… I just did the same thing to my dining room, painted over blue, and I love it! The table looks wonderful too! Theresa
Ohhhh nice! AND I caught what you did with your little side table too. 🙂 BEEE YOU TEE FULL!
Have a fun weekend!
Donna
Oh the white is definitely superior!! So much brighter!! And those chandeliers are amazing!!
Can't wait to see the finished room.
Oh and I too love the snap shot buttons. Very cool!
HUgs
SueAnn
the chandelier is gorgeous! and the paint color looks great too.
You are truly daring…I couldn't do that good with lights! Very pretty, elegant…http://lafeshiddentreasures.blogspot.com/
I love the new color. I too have had rooms darker to bring color into my home, but I love the light that the brighter colors bring in better. Love the chandeliers.
Looks great. I love the table and the color.
Gorgeous new color! Sometimes it's sad to "say goodbye" to an old favorite, but it's always fun to find a new favorite too!! 🙂 Looks fresh and beautiful!
Blessings,
Stacey
Very nice!
It is so fun to make changes, even when we like what was already there.
My husband really doesn't get that one….
Becky K.
Hi Miss M! It's the crazy ones that are the most courageous! That's why they get the job done and get it done well! My hat is off to you, my friend….Looks fabulous. I hope you have a lovely weekend and I send a note of thanks out to you, for taking the time to answer my questions and share with me such good insight and tips. Many Smiles to you, Karen
Now that is something that I have never done. Way to go! Love the new color and the chandeliers! Those are just great. I like the old color too. Would be fun on a great piece of furniture in the room though. Maybe a small chest?
You go girl! I love that "can do" spirit! The end result is wonderful, I love the color!
Thanks for stopping by! I try to keep up with you girls in the decorating contest, but it is SO hard to keep up with everything. I do pop in here to see what you are up to though.
Love the new wall color! I am loving lighter colors for the most part too & this one looks very similar to my SW Antique White in the DR. Your pics are just luscious.
Love the new wall colour… I love what you did to that little table… everything looks so crisp and rich… awesome job.
Hugs, Deb
That is crazy…crazy gorgeous! That color is beautiful and I love it next to the dark wood tones of the clock and the table. I love the chandeliers you chose too.
Absolutely gorgeous! I love the thought of painting by candlelight….
I'm a Midnight DIY'er, too. It's when I get my best work done. 🙂
What an amazing transformation. Youve done a great job!
Mr. Goodwill Hunting
http://g-w-hunting.blogspot.com
MMS. Amazing! (man, I've got to get some new words to use here…I'll be write back.)
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OK, the walls are extraordinary. The table is astonishing. And the arrangement on the table is breathtaking!
And you did it by candlelight? YEP, I'm a loser! If you stopped by recently. Painting is, shall we say, not my forte!
A lady after my own heart!
Looks amazing!! I do crazy stuff, too, but this definitely tops it. Thanks for giving me something to come back at the hubby with when he gets in a huff about my nutty ways… "Well, you know, there's this one lady who…" 🙂 Seriously, looks wonderful!!!!
Marian, you are not mad, just creative! And when the creative juices start to flow…you've got to answer! 🙂
Love the transformation! I have recently "acquired" an old, golden chandelier from our local recycling center. I wonder if you have any tips? I don't know if the electrics are in tact, but it looked so nice that I thought just as a decorative objet d'art?! 🙂
Hugs,
Bird