Annie Sloan Toy Chest Makeover

Today, I am sharing a toy chest makeover using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. This project was done by my dear friend, Jami, for her granddaughters to use when they come for visits.

Jami started with a nice, but dated, oak cedar chest.

This Beach House is Getting Curb Appeal

Our beach house renovation is starting to move forward again!

Last year we renovated the last of a half-dozen decks.

Because this deck is ocean facing and subject to harsh elements, we bit the bullet and had custom stainless steel hangers and stainless screws installed.

{15} Beautiful Ways to Decorate Your Home With Purple

I have always loved purple. The entire spectrum of purples. Call it violet or lavender or fuchsia or Radiant Orchid, I adore it. Lots of people shy away from using it in their decor, but when done right, it can be really stunning.

In our old home, the Queen Anne bungalow, we painted the walls of the butler's pantry the palest lavender, then painted the interior of the exposed cabinets in a deep eggplant. The trim was painted a warm gray. I loved that tiny room, and actually spent quite a bit of time in there at a little built-in table.

Painting Interior Doors Black

Sometimes all it takes it just a bit of black to make a space feel more sophisticated.  In the last few years, painting interior doors black has been gaining in popularity.

Painting doors black can be just the right thing to add a little contrast and interest to an otherwise boring hallway, and it can certainly add a feeling of elegance, without seeming precious.

A Little Seattle Tudor

I recently did several paint consults for this little Tudor. This was going to be a big project -- repainting the entire home interior, plus plaster repairs. Basically, this meant that over the course of a few weeks, my client was going to have to move his furniture around over and over again, and move some of his belongings temporarily into storage. As you can see, however, repainting was long overdue!

(I suggested addressing the light fixture while we were at it.)

Before Pictures of our New Project

Are you ready to see some interior shots of our newest project?  I can't promise you your eyes won't burn.  This condo has some truly ugly spaces.  Did I mention that there is pretty much not one finish in this condo that I like? 

Here is the fireplace wall.  Somewhere along the line, someone gave it a make-over by tacking on a tiny little mantle that is totally out of scale and out of place.  But, it is a real fireplace, and that cosmetic stuff can easily be addressed.

 This is the bank of windows adjacent to the fireplace wall.  A great view can make up for a lot.

Colorful Painted Paneling

We are engaged in a debate, at the beach house, about painting our paneling. 

It would be so simple if our paneling was that fake wood stuff from the seventies.  I've painted that stuff before, and my other half didn't have a problem with it. 

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Our beach house paneling is a really beautiful cedar.  It's lovely, it's warm, it feels homey.  And it is dark.  During our dark Pacific Northwest winters it can feel oppressive -- not "beachy" at all.  At night, it can make our living area feel like a black hole.

The plan (well, my plan) all along, was to paint it and lighten things up a bit.  But now my other half is saying "you can't paint wood".  I've heard this from client's husbands many times, and we always come to a workable solution that pleases everyone, but it's harder when it's your own spouse.  This is his house, too, and I need him to be on board with this.  I know, if I can help him visualize how the space will look and feel, he will come around.

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For this moment, we will leave it unpainted, but paint out all the trimwork in white.  Not because I've given in, mind you, but because I don't have time to paint it right now, anyway.

{Traditional Bedroom design by Portland Maine Architect Whitten Architects}

For now, I will content myself with images of rooms with painted paneling.  My husband mentioned that the idea of painting paneling white, reminds him of the Portlandia sketch "Put a Bird on It".  I get that.  That's why I'm compiling a collection of colorful painted paneling :)

Traditional Bedroom design by Orange County Interior Designer Wendi Young Design

Doesn't it just make you happy to see all that gorgeous color?  Combined with the texture of the paneling, I think it's just. to. die. for.  Love.

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We also have tongue and groove style paneling on our ceiling that would sure reflect a lot more light if we brightened it up! 

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I pretty much love everything about this blue paneled wall....

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This yellow paneling is so cheery -- it would certainly perk things up on those long gray days of winter!

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How about chartreuse?  Personally, I adore chartreuse.... not sure if my husband would go for it, though....

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These two bedrooms are from Bed of Flowers -- a beautiful vacation rental in The Netherlands.

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I love how the blue painted paneling in this kitchen from The Carriage House Chronicles makes the wood floors and countertop pop.  Gorgeous.

Now, tell me what you think!  Would you paint your paneling?

Painting the Trimwork Black!

Do you just love the surprise and contrast of black trim work?  I think sometimes we get so used to just painting all our trim white that we forget there are lots of other options, including black.  The black window frames in the kitchen below provide a nice contrast, without overwhelming.  They work because they reference some other dark elements in the room.

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The beautiful historic architecture of the space shown here is accentuated by the boldly painted trim work.

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Who doesn't love a black door?

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This room feels light and airy, but the pops of contrast provided by the dark trim keeps it from being to precious.

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The dark painted trim in the traditional room below makes the space feeling elegant.

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So, what do you think?  Do you like black trim?  Would you ever try it in your own space?