Repainting the Kitchen

Hi Friends!  I know it's been kinda quiet around here lately but I promise I'll have more to show you soon.  I have been down and out with a summer bug of some sorts.  I'm still not quite 100% but I'm working through it.  It's one strange virus though I have to tell you.  It started with a headache for days, then a stomach illness, then a sore throat.  Ughh!  I hate being sick!!!  We are thinking that the stomach bug was something all together different though as my hubby had it too.  Anyway, as my throat is easing up a bit so is my energy.  Yesterday I decided to get started on repainting the kitchen, scratchy throat and everything.

I have wanted to redo the kitchen color ever since I redid the den.  As you can see in this picture here it was not quite a great flow of colors in between rooms.  Not terrible, just not great.

I bought two gallons of color from Sherwin Williams; Lucent Yellow and Chamomile.

The color on the right is Lucent Yellow.  It's the same color I used in the den.  The color on the left is Chamomile, it's one notch up above Lucent Yellow on the paint chip.  This photo does not show you the best representation of these colors but at least you can see the contrasts.

I played with these two colors in several locations all over the kitchen before making my decision.

My final choice was......(drum roll, please)....Lucent Yellow!

I know you were expecting something new right?  Sorry to disappoint, but let me tell ya!  This Lucent Yellow is no "yellow" color, it really more of a green shade.  Let me also warn you that it's also true to it's name.  The word lucent means; glowing or giving off light.  That's exactly what this color does especially at night.  So, if you tend to shy away from colors that glow you may want to rethink this one.  

 This picture above actually shows the same color on both walls.  It's just the lighting from my camera making it look so different.  I promise it will look a lot better after I have two coats on the wall and the whole room is done.  I love this color because for me it feels so fresh and bright.   What a change so far! I am half way done and need to finish the other side of the room today. I will be back later with a full kitchen reveal after I am done.

As for the other gallon, not to worry!  I had another intended space for it.

You see I just knew that the other color, Chamomile was going to look great in here!  

I have needed to repaint this half bath for almost a year now after we installed this new light fixture that I picked up at the same resale store where my booth is.  It's quite embarrassing that my half bath where all the guests go has looked liked this for so long.

Anyway, I thought I'd go lighter in here and thought that the Chamomile would be perfect.

Only, it's NOT!  Can you see how it looks a little too minty for this room?  Well, that's not going to cut it so I'll be needing more paint for this room.

  I am open to any suggestions on a more neutral linen or cream color to coordinate with the wall paper in here.

As for the Chamomile...well, it's found a perfect room, maybe even a few!  More on that later though.  Well, I gotta do something to encourage you to come back ya know!

Hope all of you are doing well! Be sure and come back again for the full reveal, kay?

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Have a good one!

Making Memories of US

One of the best things about not having a full time job is definitely having more time to do the things I love.   I have already been doing quite a bit of catching up on things I love to do these last few weeks.  Things like working in the yard, planting flowers, organizing and cleaning the clutter away, planning projects and planning trips.

 Time to travel in our new to us camper is first on my list!

  We are getting closer to taking our first trip in just a few weeks and I can hardly wait.  I have been very busy making sure we have everything in order for our first trip.  Of all the things I've been getting together, one of those prep ideas included artwork for the wall behind the settee.  We creative types are somewhat picky about decorating our spaces right?  LOL!

   I really wanted to find something that spoke to me.  You know, something with words.  However, after searching high and low for just the right saying, I just could not find what I wanted.  I found lot's of signs that were very close, like the right colors, or fonts, the right weight or size but still just not quite what I had in mind.  After feeling satisfied I had exhausted all the best local places to find my sign I decided I was just going to have to make my own.  I am still having to remind myself that I actually have time to start and complete projects now days. It's a very good thing!

I decided I would use canvas because it is so light weight and that is very important in a camper.  I was pleased as punch to find just the right size I wanted too!

I painted my canvas with some leftover sample paint that I purchased last year when I thought I might want to paint my den this color.  That, by the way never happened.

Then because I was multitasking all day I brought my canvas back downstairs. Once I was in the kitchen and near the printer in hubby's office, I started playing with what I wanted it to say.

I typed out several different fonts and sizes using Word.  I also downloaded a free graphic from The Graphics Fairy.  I wanted something very scrolly to go in the corners and this design was perfect for me.

This is how I transferred my designs and my words onto my canvas.  

I used transfer paper and taped my printout over it, then traced them onto the canvas.  After getting my designs transferred, I simply painted them in by hand.  Could not have been any easier! 

The hardest part was decided exactly what I wanted my sign to say.  I knew I wanted it to say something about a Getaway Cottage but was lost after that.  Then I thought about what all of our camping trips have meant and the words "making memories" came to mind.  So, I googled those words and found the title to Keith Urban's song and knew I just had to use it.  Pretty sweet huh?  I'll include a link for that at the bottom of this post.

Here's my sign all finished and waiting to go in the camper.  I was thinking of putting a glaze over it but decided not to go that route after all.

I used a few of those adhesive strips with velcro (that you can remove easily) on the back to secure it to the wall

And Wah laah!  We now have something customized just for us to look at while dining and camping.

Thanks so much for dropping by!  

Hope your having a wonderful day!

Repainting the Den

Hi Friends! I hope you have enjoyed the past weekend as much as I have.  In fact, I am still enjoying the weekend as I am enjoying a rare 3 day off weekend.  Woohoo!  

Since I had 3 days in a row and miraculously Sherwin Williams also had a 40% off paint sale I decided it was a great time to tackle repainting the den.  If you follow me at all you know I've been wrestling with what color to choose for some time.  I really loved a bluish green shade that I saw at a parade of homes house last year and even got a paint sample shown here.  But, I decided as pretty as it is that would be a color that I just could not live with.  I next started leaning very heavily towards one of the neutrals that I keep seeing many of you choosing.  I love how beautiful they are, but....again I just knew deep in my heart that is not me.

So, long story short, this is what I chose.  My new color is called Lucent Yellow.  It is shown on the left side of this picture.  I finished the sofa wall Saturday.

 It is very hard to describe because while it is a yellow it also has a slightly greenish tint.  It is such a subtle change from what I had but looks so much fresher!  I love it!

Here are a few more up close shots of the two colors.  The one on the right is my new color, Lucent Yellow. The color on the left is the old color which was a SW custom blend that is a mix between Compatible Cream and  Napery.

Yesterday, I did one more of the small walls with the french doors and today I hope to finish up everything.  I still need to do the fireplace wall and the wall that faces the street.  I am taking my time and moving the furniture out from the wall as I go so I haven't had to clear the whole room.  

Here is one more photo showing a small box of the old color from yesterdays paint job.  I cannot wait to have this room finished.  My youngest son came down stairs yesterday and said it was a very subtle change (his words exactly) and almost unnoticeable except for the fact that is looks so much cleaner.  I love that!

Well, I'd better get offline now, I've got to get busy again!

I am sharing these subtle changes with you for

Metamorphosis Monday

Have a great day yall!

To Distress or Not to Distress?

That is the question!  Well, I finally completed a project I have been wanting to do for about a year now.  I finally painted the lower half of our TV armoire.  I have been using the bottom half for a TV console ever since we purchased our new flat screen last year.

  I love this piece of furniture but did not like that it was a basic brown wood color in between my two beige chairs.  I wrestled for the longest time with the idea of redoing the chair cushions or making slip covers for them and even bought new fabric for them as well.  However, I ultimately knew what I really wanted to do was paint the cabinet.

Here is the latest picture I had of the TV cabinet before I painted it.  As you can see, there was a lot of gold and wood brown on that wall.

And now, here it is all black!  Ta daaaa!  

I left the top brown because I like that look and it was so much easier to not have to move the TV too.  LOL!  I'm so excited because, I just love how this turned out.  I love black furniture!

 I think I need to distress it a bit, but am having such a hard time doing so.  Ya'll know I have such a problem with doing that after I've painted something even though I love the look.

So here's the question.  What would you do?  Leave it as is, or do a little distressing?  I would really like to know your opinions please.  I am linking this to;

 Metamorhosis Monday

 today in hopes of getting more perspective.     

Oh, and yes, the comment bar is turned back on for those of you who noticed.  I had it turned off so I could take a break for a bit so no, you were not loosing your minds.  LOL!  Yall are so funny!

Let me know what you think, okay?

TIA!

Mary