Back in Business Again...or

...finally finishing the past week's project

of painting my office/sewing room/studio.

Small room...big painting job, 

for me anyway.

Here's what I started with last Monday:

This room was last painted about ten years ago

when I moved into Buttermilk Cottage.

Vivid color seems to have been the mood then.

But I have been thinking lately 

perhaps a paler shade 

would be a bit more calming.

This lighter shade of blue is 

called "Dewdrop."

Monday morning I started my day with

a trip to Lowe's to purchase supplies.

The color had already been chosen,

so I was home quickly.

Then came the huge job of

dismantling the room.

This small space is the 

command center of my business and 

I pack a LOT into it!

Everything came out except my office desk

and a large work table.

There was no space for them to be moved to, 

so I had to work around them.

A temporary sewing center was established

in the dining room for any work that

came in and needed doing while I was in

the midst of the great painting project.

Next came the wall prep and caulking.

By the end of the day,

a coat of primer had been applied.

On the second day, 

I began applying the real paint.

(From this angle you can see into my

bedroom which is the "old" blue.

It will soon be painted the "new" blue too.)

By the end of the day the walls were all painted,

including any needed touch ups.

Day Three was a slow and tedious day.

I did two coats of glossy white on the crown molding

and one coat of off white on all the trim work.

That's masking tape you see under the 

crown molding.

Finally on Thursday I began moving things back in

and establishing some order.

From this...

...to this.

While getting things back in order, 

I have been very conscious of 

simplifying things.

Some of the artwork is gone, or changed 

for a fresher look.

My idea board was moved from one wall

to the opposite side of the room.

Except for some final

decor tweaking,

which for me, is always an evolving process,

all done!

I have decided painting is a lot like housework.

I hate doing it,

but love how I feel once it is done.

Tweaking the Dining Room

I have finished painting my dining room!

(See my last post.)

As I look at my pictures,

I am noticing this was more of a 

"tweaking"

exercise than a major change.

After all, I did only go from yellow to darker yellow.

This was the color I started with,

a bright, "lemony" yellow.

Note the rug.

In an effort to get "less fussy"

it is going away.

Actual painting is not really a part of the job that I dislike.

It's the total chaos and disorder you live with 

while you're doing it.

Getting started by doing all the hand painted edging.

You can get an idea of the color change here.

This darker yellow is a more mustard yellow.

Finished!

I have replaced the oriental rug

with a natural jute one.

I like how my recently painted

french door mirrors

pop against the new yellow.

By the way, the yellow love seats

in the living room

will soon be slip covered in 

an off white fabric.

(Isn't it amazing how one change

brings about lots of

other changes.)

One spring project done!

A hundred more left to do…

Linking this week to
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Twirl and Take a Bow at All Things Heart and Home
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

The Color Yellow and Good Karma...

Today I am painting my dining room.

I'll (hopefully) show you the results next time…

I originally painted the dining room a 

sunshiny, lemon yellow when I bought this house,

and it was my favorite room.

Yellow has always been a favorite color of mine. 

However, my tastes and moods have changed

a bit since.

I am going with yellow again,

but more of a "mustard" yellow this time.

I actually started this job yesterday.

I have always used a "satin" finish in the past

but this time I decided to be a little different

and choose the "eggshell" finish.

BIG mistake.

I think eggshell takes a better painter than me.

The first coat looks blotchy and streaked.

After a bit of research I find I can

paint satin on top of eggshell.

So…an early evening run to Lowe's

last night for a second gallon of paint.

I am using Lowe's Valspar

and to my happy delight,

their policy with this paint is

"…if you are not happy with the color,

have a second one on us."

Who knew????

I picked up Chinese takeout for dinner on the way home 

and, I kid you not, 

this is what my fortune cookie said,

"Focus in on the color yellow

tomorrow for good luck."

That's all the mojo I need and expect

good final results.

But in the meantime…

it's time to paint.

Have a great weekend!

The Yellow Painted Wardrobe

Don't you just love it when a project

turns out as you envisioned it in your head?

An ongoing project for me since last year

has been to lighten up my house a bit.

This is the view from the front door 

inside my entrance.

I know,

a lot of brown,

a lot of wood.

I have had this wardrobe for a long, long time.

Its size is perfect for its space

and since I do not have a coat closet

it is a great place to hang my coat.

It is a given for me that I will not be

painting the oak wood that is a part of the house

(i.e. stairs, room divider, woodwork, etc).

So, I have been debating painting the wardrobe

since last Spring when I painted the one above,

in my bedroom.

Yes, I'll do it.

No, better not.

Yes, no, yes, no.

I've gone back and forth for months.

About two weeks ago something popped up 

on my Facebook feed from HOUSE BEAUTIFUL Magazine,

titled something like "How to Make Your Home Look Happy."

One of the suggestions was to add a "pop of color" 

to your entrance.

That was the just the push I needed.

I love the mustard yellow background

in one of the fabrics of my window treatments.

That was the color I would go for.  

I found it in Lowe's Valspar, "Autumn Moon."

I also decided I was going to use chalk paint

since I had had good luck with it with my

other wardrobe.

My chalk paint inspiration is from Sherry at

No Minimalist Here.

She's the expert and you can get more info 

about the technique from her.

So last weekend, I finally took the plunge.

The wardrobe is a BIG piece of furniture,

so it would have to be painted inside.

I emptied it out, 

moved it away from the wall,

and spread plastic.

Here goes.

First coat on.

This is always the point when I think,

"Have I made a horrible mistake???"

Carry on and paint another coat.

Then came the "distressing."

This was the step that gave me the most anxiety

since I had not done it before.

However, I watched several You Tube videos and

stoked my courage.

.

I could not be more pleased.

My test of success is,

if I saw this piece in an antique store,

what would I think of it?

My answer,

"Wow, that piece would be PERFECT

for my entrance!"

Linking this week at:
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Give Me the Goods Monday at Rain on a Tin Roof
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Open House Party Thursdays at No Minimalist Here

Simple and Sweet Fridays at Rooted in Thyme