Search here...
TOP
Uncategorized

Living Room, Dining Room Redo – Part I

I have wanted to change the paint color in our living room and dining room for some time now.  We purchased the paint about a year ago and it’s been sitting in our garage waiting for us to use it.  Well, it turns out when I looked at the label on the can, it’s been a year and a half!  Sometimes, I just don’t understand where time goes.  
 Two weekends ago, we had absolutely NO plans.  So we busted open the year and a half old cans and got to work (after lots of stirring). The old color has been on the walls almost 8 years now and I was sick of it (I never really loved it to begin with).  
 I was so excited to finally lighten up these two rooms.  I had chosen a color called Limestone Green.  In the can, it’s a greenish gray color.  On the wall…well…it didn’t quite look the same as it did in the can.  I kept telling myself, to just get the whole room done and then maybe it will look like it should.  Not quite. In some light it looks green, and other light it looks blue.  Most of the time, it looks blue (as much as I hate to admit this to Mr. T).  This was NOT what I had envisioned. 
Now what?  
It had taken me a year and a half to finally get the walls painted, 
I wasn’t about to pick a new color and repaint them.
(Yes I did help, but someone had to take the picture)
Sometimes, you just have to roll with it and move to plan B!  
Plan B meant, it was time to go shopping because what I had, wasn’t working anymore.
Since the paint wavers between green and blue (mostly blue), I decided to introduce some teal!  Teal and red (red is the color of my couch, too expensive to replace that) work right?
It was like the Decorating Gods were telling me I needed a REAL change (not just a new paint color).  I don’t think I have ever made decisions so quickly when redoing a room.  I walked into Target, purchased two throw pillows in teal.  Made my way to Hobby Lobby, and found a fabric I fell in love with. Then made a couple of trips to a few more stores, finally landing in Pier 1 and purchased two (the last two and on clearance, OH Yeah) lumbar pillows.
Game on!  I had a new vision and new inspiration! 
I will share the details over several posts in the next couple of weeks.
  
Back to the past two weekends.
Todd and I tried our hands at “real crown” molding several years ago.  It was not a successful adventure.  So we are putting up the Beadle “modified version”. Step one is up and ready for step two.
Then I decided I wanted a focal wall in the dining room. Something to draw the teal color in.  I love the look of wall paper, but don’t like the commitment level (pain in the rear to take down).  So I decided I would use a wall stencil.
I used CeCe Caldwell’s Destin Gulf Green over the Do It Best low VOC paint. The base color was a satin finish paint…Limestone Green.  The stencil was one from Hobby Lobby.  I think it was $16.99 and then I used a 40% off coupon.
Instant wallpaper (after 4 hours of work). 
I am absolutely in L-O-V-E with how this turned out.

Although, I never intended for the room to have pops of teal, I’m really glad it turned out the way it did.  It’s new and refreshing.  Even the same old pictures look refreshed.

I thought about putting my framed vintage hankies away and finding something new. 
But I love them against this color.
I actually “see” my great grandma’s farm picture on the wall now, instead of it blending in!
Exciting….
Now, I have a chair and an ottoman to recover, pillows to sew, a chair, end table, a wine cabinet, shelf and curio cabinet to paint.  Phew!  
Can’t wait to show you our family tree on salvaged shutters!
Stay tuned for Part II

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t forget about our CeCe Caldwell’s Gift Basket Give-a-way! 
Click HERE to learn more.
The Pauper's Castle

«

»

0 COMMENTS

  • Ladydia5

    Gorgeous! Wish I had the patience to do that much stenciling!!!

  • The Paupers Castle

    Thank you so much! I did take some patience (by the end I was shouting things I shouldn't have), but it was so worth it. You can do it, if I can. Ask my husband. I am not a patient person either! 🙂

  • It's so cool when a design evolves from where you thought you wanted to be to where you end up 🙂 Bringing teal and red into the room was a great idea, and judging by all your teal & red finds, it was meant to be! Your stenciled wall looks great and is a wonderful focal point 🙂

  • The Paupers Castle

    Thanks! I would agree. It was fun how everything just fell into place. Usually I get an idea and go looking for things and can't find what I want. Then I settle on something else only to see what I wanted everywhere 3 months later. Thanks so much for stopping by. PS-Love your Faux Capiz Shell Chandelier. It's a must see for sure! New follower!

  • OldThingsNew

    I love what you've done with this room. I recently painted my kitchen/dining room in a blue/green color and I agree that it really makes the artwork on the walls stand out. It just "feels" good. I've been toying, just this week, with stenciling the sitting area between the dining room and living room to tie the two room colors together. The living room is similar to your old wall color and I thought I'd do the stencil in the blue/green. You have inspired me by doing just what I've been mulling over in my head. Thanks for sharing. Patti@OldThingsNew

  • The Paupers Castle

    Patti! Thanks for stopping by! Happy to inspire. I know it's nice to have that little "nudge of inspiration" you sometimes need. Then sometimes you can't slow it down 🙂 Before you know it, you have taken on 12 projects when you only meant to have 1. Have a wonderful day.

  • Designed Decor

    Wow, looks great! I love the molding! Great job! Thanks for linking up!

  • The Paupers Castle

    Thank you so much!

  • My Garden Diaries

    Oh my! I so dig that wall!!! Very cool!

  • The Paupers Castle

    My Garden Diaries,

    Thanks so much! It is refreshing to look at. Better than that dark gold color! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *