I have been a little stuck with a few rooms in my home. A kitchen and family room makeover will be happening in a few months and I really want to get our master bedroom finished. While I know the overall look I want, I’ve felt a little stuck on the details. I just know I want things different. These rooms are all a part of an addition that was put on our 1940’s home about nine years ago. The kitchen has awesome storage and a great floor plan, but the finishes aren’t to my liking. Green laminate counters, maple cabinetry and linoleum floors are not what I would’ve picked out. The family room is a little awkward, but it’s a large room and we have plans to make the layout work. It involves demolishing an ugly fireplace and putting up built-ins to house a flat screen TV in its place.
The master bedroom has been the real issue. With only one window, the room is dark. It’s long and narrow with too many poorly placed doors and it’s just not an easy room to deal with. I have also painted it six times…I think because I keep hoping a beautiful color will make me love it. Well, it’s about to be painted a seventh time and I’m going to make another push to create a space I really like. Honestly, the laundry baskets that are almost permanently on the floor and the perpetually unmade bed are a part of the problem, but I might have more motivation if I was smitten with the space.
We have plans for the kitchen that include new counters, appliances and hardwood flooring. Hardwood floors would also extend into the family room and master bedroom. I think getting rid of the neutral (and somewhat spotted) carpet will make a huge difference. I’d also like to add architectural details to the spaces that will tie them into the old part of the house a bit better.
All of these plans take a budget…which we don’t have at the moment, but one thing I can do is paint, so I’ve started looking for colors that would inspired.
My friend Stephanie from Cre8tive Designs Inc. sent me a link to a blog last week, assuring me I would love it. Well, she was right. She hit the nail on the head. The blog she sent me was For the Love of a House written by Joan. The home is stunning and just my taste. Sort of a more refined, higher end version of my taste. As soon as I saw the picture of her dining room, I knew that color was going in my house.
Hello Marian,
Wow….Really love her rooms! They all look so calm and relaxed.
I too have a kitchen that extends to my family room and also chose grey. It does work beautifully and is a perfect neutral backdrop to any other color.
Have fun creating your perfect spaces.
Janet xox
http://theemptynest-janet.blogspot.com/
It's nice to hear that you dont have a perfect home, it makes me feel better in a twisted way ;). I love knowing what the paint colors are called (so I can copy). Thank You. I'm sure, no I know, you're home will be gor-ge-ous when it's completed. Until then, happy painting 🙂
Marion, I'm just sure that this time's the charm! Change is good.
Brenda
I am completely smitten by that blog! The building of the barn room and that headboard is an outstanding read!
Thanks for leading us back there. Happy painting!
Funny. New inspiration hit me at midnight for my own bedroom. The new blog sealed the deal. Looks like I have a new project in the works myself! Like I need it…
Donna
I love Joan's blog, and she can do no wrong in my mind. Her kitchen is in my design inspiration file for whenever I finally get to redo mine. I'm sure "Halo" will be lovely in your room.
I am so happy that you found her blog! i have been enjoying it myself for a few weeks now. she is SO inspiring and her choice of colors is always spot on. have fun painting! xo leanne
I have been following that blog for a while now and love it. What inspires me are the planked wod ceilings in her kitchen as well as the simple farm window and door moldings throughout the home. I'm sure her followers list will boom after your feature!
That is a beautiful home and a really interesting reno story. I hope your new colors work out for you and good luck with the bathroom.
I've followed Joan for a while. She has a beautiful, elegant home without being stuffy. I love her antiques,
I love your home and style as well, but it's funny, I think your two styles are completely different!! Can't wait to see your changes,
tina
I utterly adore her home and blog (as I do yours!). I was eyeing up her colours for my new home also. I'm over the whole brownish neutrals, and I'm hoping for more subtle neutrals in our new home. It's a tough thing to find just the right colour, that doesn't look like boring builders beige. It needs to look intentional, without being too obvious. G'luck and I can't wait to hear how it works out for you!!!
I love her colors too! It's kind of scary, that I was over there earlier writing down the color of her kitchen…then I get this via email from MMS…me thinking like MMS on the same day! Thanks for sharing and can't wait to see your transformation!
Debbie
Your ideas are great, and the colours fabulous. Good luck with all the work!! Lovely pics, am now off to look at 'For the love of a house'
Have a lovely week
Jacqui
Two of my favorite blogs in one! Love the colors.
I agree with rtalberts!! Two of my favorite blogs in one!!! LOVE IT!
xo, Mallory @ classy clutter
http://www.classyclutter.blogspot.com
I am so glad you are going with these beautiful colors..I just know yu will love them…
If that bathroom isn't done next week I think we need to do some you know what kicking! Forget the straight jacket! I am so glad you loved Joan's blog! I knew you would get inspiration from it. Yes, she is refined, I like that description you used. Maybe she is your long lost relative 🙂 Your styles are so similar.
Oh and by the way, I really only have tumblr because I am lazy. It is so darn quick to link a cool site or item that I would forget about later on or couldn't remember where I saw it. Now I have less bookmarked pages, which for me saves me time and headaches.
>>>>>>>Tile on Tuesday<<<<<<<<
Think Positive!! It's going to happen!! Finally!
Thanks for the tip to Joan's blog I've been reading it for a while and love her understated taste…..very elegant. Wish my home were more like that…but alas, it's just not me. I'm sure your choices for the renovation will be spot on…you can't miss with taste like yours but good luck anyway. I'm looking forward to the kitchen redo as I've thought about it a bit since your kitchen tour a while back.. Take care, VBg
Well, I went over and saw a lot of her house. It is awesome. Love those colors and made a note of the names..my living room will be HALO next time around. :))
Earlier today, I made a trip to Benjamin Moore to pick out those exact paint chips {among others}. I was pleasantly surprised to see them here! I was inspired by "for the love of a house" too. Now for the hard part – choosing which one to use.
Andrea
Ah!… bedroom redo thoughts must be spinning through the universe right now. I have a blog post coming out tomorrow about our impending renovation of the bedroom! One thing that has me very excited it to use the new Annie Sloan paint on the furniture in there ( thanks for the heads up!)!.. I did a project with it today that I just posted up and can see so much potential with it! I have bought 5 colors so far, I see another order in my near future!
Maddie- the D.A.
Wow, so pretty! Her home is amazing, cozy and elegant. I am trying to chose a gray for the masterbedroom. Have one picked out I like. SO hard to find a gray that is not looking greenish or blueish or lavenderish…..true grays are difficult! But anything will be better than the pea soup green on the walls now…. 😉
Good luck with your bedroom wall makeover, hope the 7th time is a charm!
~michelle~
Hi Marian I am a happy follower of her blog and beautiful home! Hope all goes well on Tuesday and I can't wait to see the bathroom reveal!! Martina
ohmy!!! I am so touched and honored to be mentioned on your fabulous blog! Thank you so much for your kind and generous words and for sending your friends over to my blog!! I am thrilled to meet them ALL!! Can not wait to see Halo and Gray Owl in your house!!!
fondly,
joan
Beautiful colors! Stephanie has you pinned (she's good like that…love her.) Is halo a pale aqua color? It looks slightly so on my screen. Such soothing colors. I'm going to stop looking as suddenly, I'm missing my off-white trim! Oh brother. This bloggin' stuff is no good, I tell ya!
I follow this blog and love her style! I plan to use Grey Owl in the cottage this summer. It is soft and clean and I was inspired by her blog as well.
Good luck with your plans!
Here I am looking at your space to find inspiration and …I see the Miss Mustard Seed is finding it elsewhere.
I think it is so wonderful to have bloggy friends that know just what we need… and so it goes.
As the Blog turns…
we just help each other out. So glad you found something you like. I can't wait to see it.
Pat
Like yours, my master has a funky layout (my only option for my bed is to place it in front of my window….ugh) and where the laundry goes to die. I am so ready to get mine to where I feel relaxed as well. It's on my "list". 🙂
I'm glad to know I am not the only one that has a problem getting my bed made…lol Love the gray color you showed and I am going to get a sample to try in my dining/family room also.
He He! When I read that this was going to be your 7th coat of paint i had to laugh a little bit. I have painted our house many many times and often get teased about loosing square footage… you might begin to have the same problem!!!
LOVING the grey owl color… that *may* just be my new bedroom color… hmmm… I was going to wait to paint it till after I got the boys room and the play room done, but i may have to paint it first!
keeping my fingers crossed your tile goes in as planned this time! eeeee!
Thanks for sharing the other site.
Can you remove any of the doors in your bedrm? Or add a mirror to reflect the bit of light from the window?
Look forward to seeing photos of your rooms.
You always come up with something. I'm sure that you'll get it all together.
Chic Modern Vintage
Great color choices! I actually work for Ben Moore as a color consultant so if you are ever near the Gainesville store (on your way to Lucketts) pop in and I can help you out with the rest of the house when and if you need it!
FYI – I just finished (litrally) painting my bedroom in a very dreamy BM color – Palladian Blue HC-144 , stepped up 50%. I am in love with it and can't wait to get to bed so I can gaze at the walls!
Have a great rest of the week!
I just re-painted my master bedroom.. Behr Vanilla Delight. It is a nice soft white with a hint of latte. Perfect!! I am beginning to love my bedroom again. Sigh!!
Good luck on painting yours..and I hope that it is the perfect color you are hoping for. I know how important that is!
Hugs
SueAnn
I've drooled over her home many times before! The transformation of her home has been amazing to watch. I look forward to seeing your "new" rooms, too! *Becca*
I love Joan's house too! Those look like some great paint colours. Do you think, if you were decorating in the fall, you would pick warmer colours? I'm pretty sure I would. But since I'm decorating in the spring, my walls are grey-tan and turquoise 😉 Which I know I'm going to love in the fall and winter just as much as I do in the spring and summer.
swooning swooning and suddenly in a trance leading me to the paint store. uh oh. i love your choice of inspiration shots and will head over to Joan's.
thank you for allowing us be a part of your journey; i'm enjoying every minute of it.
michele
Hi Marion…I am as smitten with Joan's blog, as I am with yours. Her taste in paint colors, furniture, antiques and accents is enviable. I love, love, love her kitchen and eating area…inspiration for one day…and that brick fire place…oh la la! Maureen in NJ
Hi Marian if you change your dining room colors I'm calling dibs on the curtains lol love the new inspiration blog will have to scour it. Thanks
I swear I need to stop reading blogs…now I want to paint my whole house!!! But I just cant help myself! I also wanted to thank you for being such an inspiration to me. I have always loved painting and transforming furniture, and hearing how you got started pushed me in working toward making that more of a business. I am a therapist full time, but I am doing some pieces for people on the side now, and I love it! And…I'm going to order some chalk paint very soon!!!!
every color in her house is lovely. she has a knack for picking the perfect color. i already had my list of musts from her blog. and i cant wait to see how it looks in your house.
I want to warn you about the Grey Owl. I just painted my living room with it…thinking like you that it was a neutral grey with slight blue/green undertones. I even got a sample can and painted patches on each wall to make sure. But, after painting the whole room, everyone who walks in says "Oh, you painted your living room baby blue!?" It is a beautiful baby blue…but not really what I was trying to achieve. Maybe in another room of the house, but in the main living area it is too overwhelming. I'm still looking for something a little more neutral to replace it with.
Hi Can you tell me what ceiling and trim color you used with the Halo living room? Thanks!