One Room Challenge, Week Three — Work in Progress

 Welcome back!  It’s week three of the One Room Challenge, and I have some serious progress to report.   Woo hoo!

As you can see below, we got the first coat of paint on the walls (my husband cut in and I rolled).  We also decided to take down the old Casablanca ceiling fan because 1990 called and wanted its crap back.  And to be honest, if the ORC stopped here, I consider it a success!  As far as paint goes, we still have another coat on the walls and two on the ceiling to finish.  I am absolutely loving the color (Benjamin Moore Fanfare).  It feels exactly like you are in the middle of a whispy cloud.  I can’t wait to use this color again somewhere else.

Here’s a shot of the ceiling for you.  My favorite part of painting a ceiling is seeing the color the paint takes on at a different angle, even though you are using the same paint color.  I am liking the moody gray that magically appeared.

 Also done this week, I purchased a cool bench from Homegoods to accompany the vanity.  If you are following me on Instagram (user name: ada_marie) you already saw this beauty:

 You can see the tag still on it because when I got it home, I measured her and realized that she’s about as wide as the vanity, so I am going to leave my options open and wait until the vanity comes to see how things look together.  I am thinking that I may have to return her (sob!!), even though I love the color of the fabric, the texture of the wood and the nailhead trim!

Also, I removed the desktop computer sitting on the floor.  Keeping it real for you — it’s been sitting under this window for 11 months.  Baby steps, people.  This is what happens when you move with a crazy 10 month old.  Eeeeek.  Matt shortened the cable TV wire, added a power strip and tacked all of the wires to the back of the chest of drawers.

 More progress:  I ordered the rug ($334.10, 15% off), the additional sheepskin throw rug ($33.20, 25% off), and the desk-turned-vanity ($136.88).  With the bench purchase ($157), I have spent $661.18. I didn’t factor in taxes and shipping in my budget, but I would like to stick close to my original $850 budget anyway.  I have $188.82 left to spend on two panels and two bamboo shades for the windows, and maybe some DIY art supplies.  I am going to have to get creative with styling what I already have (mirrors, pillows, accessories, etc.).

So, this week I hope to finish the paint on the walls and ceilings, start receiving some of my ordered items and adjusting course if necessary, and hunting for window panels and shades.

I have loved this challenge!  What do you think so far???

{If you would like to check out some of the other linking participants, click here.  Also, check out my other ORC posts: Week 1, Inspiration Photos, Week 2}

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My Design High aka Paint Color Plan

OhMyGoodness.  What a fabulous paint color consult appointment I had with Sunny Goode.  Is there such thing as a design high?  If so, I am completely buzzed.

I really soul-searched before our meeting and I asked her to help me with paint colors on the neutral yet warm side of the spectrum.  As I poured over images of my favorite rooms and spaces, I realized that I am drawn to rooms with bold color and “punch” used in the art, fabrics, and accessories, with the paint used in a supporting role.    Plus, that approach complements my ADD short attention span and tendency to constantly move and shift furniture, pieces of art, mirrors, pillows and accessories.

Sunny was wonderfully sweet, creative, funny, professional and full of amazing ideas.  I am still digesting all of our conversations and her inspiring suggestions, but here is some of our plan so far:

Entry hall, staircase and upstairs hallway: Farrow & Ball Blackened

For the family room: Farrow & Ball Borrowed Light

with Farrow & Ball Mouse’s Back behind the built-ins

For the dining room: Farrow & Ball Elephant’s Breath (pretty paint, weird name!)

For the master bedroom: Benjamin Moore Fanfare

For Clare’s room: Benjamin Moore Hint of Pink (1/2 strength)

For Julia’s room: Benjamin Moore Silver Satin with white stenciled polka dots

So, what do you think?  We are going to get started upstairs, probably with Clare’s room first.  I am so excited to try a stencil in Julia’s room.  Seriously, I am on a giddy design high!

{All images can be sourced here}

Confessions of a Design Blogger

Bless me readers, for I have cheated, I have called in for reinforcements….

For Christmas, I asked for and received a PAINT CONSULTATION!

{Love the polka dots for Julia’s nursery by Sophie Burke Design via Desire to Inspire}

I am both thrilled and slightly embarrassed.  Thrilled that I will get an expert’s opinion on each space in our new house and its function, while also focusing on the flow of the whole house and how each color and room relates to each other.

{Thinking about Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter for the entry hall, staircase and upstairs hall}

And, slightly embarrassed that I needed and wanted a second opinion!  For better or for worse (and I have really only had one true paint disaster, and let’s be honest, peach is a color best left to nature), I have always picked my own paint colors.  Because this house feels more like a “forever house” than any of our previous homes, I thought I may give some extra planning and consideration to the overall color scheme.

{Love Benjamin Moore’s Proposal for Clare’s room via Young House Love}

I have had a few people independently mention and highly endorse, the Richmond-based and nationally renowned, Sunny Goode.  Once I heard her name, I realized that I actually have blogged about her products (stencils) and never really knew much about her.

{Thinking about painting the brick hearth in our den white, but keeping the wood mantle a natural wood color; image via Pinterest}

So, she comes to the new house and all of it’s disorganized and disastrous glory on Monday morning.  I am like the world’s most intense helicopter mom on parent-teacher conference day.  I have copious notes on each room and my ideas.  Sunny is going to be sending SOS smoke signals and waving the white flag after two minutes!   🙂

{Beautiful color for our bedroom via Pinterest}

I will keep you posted — she has been beyond sweet and flexible in our correspondence.  I  can’t wait to learn from her and work together on a great paint plan.  Stay tuned!  Happy weekend!

New Years Prezzie-lution….Hallway Update

 My New Years “Prezzie-lution” is a hallway update.  My upstairs hallway is, well, empty.  Aside from my pelmet box project, it is a pathetically sterile segue.  It has gotten left behind as all of the bedrooms and rooms downstairs got prettied-up.  So, as a half New Years Resolution and half “prezzie” to myself, I resolve to give it a little facelift. 

To start me off, below are two inspiration boards using two different color schemes.  This is a jumping off point, and sure to change!  The walls are painted American White by Benjamin Moore, and I have already started a gallery wall using black frames with wide, white mats.  I would love to acquire a runner, console, lamps and maybe recover my cute pelmet box (currently in the green P. Kaufmann fabric shown below). 

Green Color Scheme 

[Left to Right: 1. Benjamin Moore’s American White, P. Kaufmann’s Curly Q in Green Tea, 2. Pottery Barn Wood Gallery Frames in Black, 3. Fabric Drum Shade from Shades of Light,  Spindle Lamp Base from Shades of Light, Medallion Drum Shade from Shades of Light, 4. Parsons Console from West Elm, Coventry Jute Rug from Ballard Designs.]

Red Color Scheme

[Left to Right: 1. Benjamin Moore’s American White, Red Imperial Trellis Fabric, 2. Pottery Barn Wood Gallery Frames in Black,  3. Chinese Red Column Lamp from Shades of Light, Parsons Console from West Elm, Coventry Jute Rug from Ballard Designs, 4. Striped Braided Rug from Ballard Designs.]

What do you think?  Leave me a comment and let me know whether you like the green or the red look better!  I can’t wait to take you along as I keep my New Years Prezzie-lution, for once!  🙂  Happy New Year, y’all!

My New Red Door

You may recall from a post a couple months ago that I was renewing my New Year’s Resolutions.  One of my resolutions was to paint our front door.  I love the look of red doors and have red Adirondack chairs on the front porch, so I decided on red.

Mr. spark! and I went to Benjamin Moore and the helpful paint man recommended outdoor paint in Heritage Red ($20).  No primer necessary.

Then we headed over to Lowes and chose affordable ($137), yet updated and simple, brushed nickel hardware to replaced the very worn brass hardware that had been on the door for 20+ years.

Mr. spark! took the door off the hinges, removed the hardware, gave it a rough sanding, taped the sides, and got painting.  It took three coats to cover the black paint.

Total cost = $157.00.

Check out the before:

Druuuuuum Rooooooooll.  THE BIG REVEAL.  The after!

And a side by side:

So, what do you think????

I am so happy with the way it turned out!  Next steps: 1) decorate for Fall & Halloween, and 2) replace brass light fixtures & doorbell.  Stay tuned!

P.S. Only a couple more days to enter the Shades of Light Giveaway — don’t forget!  Click HERE for the details!