House of Hydrangeas

Navy blue dining rooms have really been catching my attention lately.  The richness of color alone is enough to make a huge statement, but that, coupled with the instant intimacy the color evokes, makes for a perfect dining space color.   via Rue Mag If our dining room walls weren't openly connected to the rest of my living space, I would paint them navy in a heartbeat.  What you do you think about navy?  Too dark or just right?

The kitchen paint is finally up! I finished it a couple of days ago, but just got around to taking pictures last night. Here it is in all of it's non-floral wallpaper glory: Paint color: Desert Fortress by Valspar Here are some comparisons from between the before and after. Before After   And here's another view: As you can see, several other things, aside from the wallpaper, have been removed.  The print on the right wall and mirror that was on the left are both gone.  I'm not sure if the candle holders will return or not.  Also, the beverage cart will be moved into the dining room.   I've added a drop leaf table under the window since shooting these shots. There are still several other things to complete on the to do list before this room will be finished but at least the hardest part is done!  Up next: refinishing the table and chairs, adding curtains and artwork, and adding accessories to the tables. We'll see ...

Last week my mom and I picked out the paint color for the kitchen. The color we decided on is called Desert Fortress by Valspar. This is what it looked like in Valspar's online Color Selector tool.  It's in the orange neutral collection, and I think it will work really well with my mom's dark wood floors.  We also purchased a primer that we got tinted in the same color.  So hopefully we'll only need one coat of paint. I've also been looking for curtains for the space, and these are the ones I'm leaning towards at the moment. I love the pinch pleat, and I think the color will add a little life to the space (contrasting the beige walls and dark brown floors).  Time will tell if there are actually the ones I pick, but for now, the price (and the look) is right! Hopefully I'll begin priming the walls tomorrow.  I'm so ready for this room to be complete! On another note, I ordered our Christmas cards this past weekend.  I know it's early, but I h...

As I mentioned yesterday, I've been working on my own project at my mom's while Jon tackles the walls in the kitchen. That project is painting the main entry and hallway.  It's been a mauvy cocoa color for over 10 years now and my mom was ready to brighten it up a bit. The new paint color is called Weathered Wood by Valspar, and it definitely makes the space seem so much lighter and brighter.  Look at the difference in the two colors. The second coat is going up tonight so I'll be back with final shots tomorrow, but here's the difference just from the first coat. I'm also heading to Lowe's tonight to pick out the kitchen paint color.  Hooray for new paint!