So I've gone over to the dark side. In terms of interior design that is. Why do something so risky you might ask? What I'm learning is that decorating is about colors and styles that you LOVE, rooms that just make you happy to be in. Decorating evolves and is always changing until its just right. You might move that lamp or chair, or rearrange the bookshelf or mantle just cause there's always room for switching it up!
Well my mint/sea foam front room slowly over time has been getting to me. No matter what I put inside the room, there was still just something not right. In error, I choice a color that I do love, but I did it too quickly. I didn't really LIVE with it throughout all times of the day to see if it really was the right color. The swatch I painted was too small and hard to get an idea of its overall effect. Also, I simply focused on the color itself and not the overall surroundings of the room, the furniture, the lighting the room gets 90% of the day.
The dark antique furniture didn't pair well with the light minty walls. Too much contrast. Two different styles trying to blend, like oil and water.
The room is north facing. Which means its dark the majority of the day. The only windows face north and there is little day light that baths the room. I loved the mint in the early morning hours and slowly into the day, when late afternoon-evening hit, it drove me nuts. The color changed into a neon green! Yuck! Not ideal for a room so large.
I threw up a swatch of a sample color I chose. (Don't worry, I painted a larger swatch than this to get a better feel for the color at ALL times of the day) I lived with it, making sure I loved it morning, noon, AND night.
I chose this color from Eddie Bauer in matte because it matched the original tile in our hearth perfectly.
And then I went to town. Ta da! Don't you love it! We do! As I was painting, I noticed the dark paint really make the original wood floors POP which is something the mint did NOT do. The floors then became this warm, soft, honey color that stood out. So I removed the rug (up to the coral guest room where it looks great) to accentuate the wood floors.
The dark walls go so well in an already dark room. They add intrigue and make the room more cozy! With the little daylight and lamps spread about, you catch glimpses of the gorgeous green only where the light hits instead of being bombarded with an overpowering COLOR that engulfs the whole room and draws attention away from the pieces in the room.
I am on the look-out for another coffee table. I'm thinking something with brass, but those usually involve glass which isn't the most toddler friendly, but we'll see.
I will also paint that darn bar cart! I've been meaning to get around to it but I'm nervous about painting laminate. I know it can be done, just haven't researched it enough. Will do it soon!
Oh, and if you didn't notice in the photos above...Hooray! We acquired a beautiful vintage Baldwin spinet piano!! Thanks to our very proactive friend Joe.
We casually mentioned to him we were looking to find a piano for Cora when she is older and just to have one for meetings or parties, that sort of thing. (A home is so much more cozy with a piano, no?) Next thing we know, Joe had found a few on craigslist. He contacted the owners and made arrangements. One fell through while another became available. He gathered a crew and a truck, delivered it to our front door and moved it in the next night! Who does that?! We were so touched by Joe's kindness and proactivity, not to mention his passion for music! Because we just love it.
Thank you Joe!!
Oh and a fun bonus was when I ripped off the ugly old-lady fabric on the bench to find an amazing vintage crushed velvet tufted seat! In excellent condition! Makes me heart skip!
So with the addition of the piano, and the existing guitar and record player, we've decided to make this room the "music room". Somewhere to sit and enjoy an old (or new!) album. Somewhere to relax and read a book, or if you are Cora and I after lunch, have a dance party ;) She loves to dance. It's seriously the cutest thing.
Oh and I cannot forget to mention anything about this amazing vintage peacock wicker chair. Eeeeh! I was thrifting the other day and came across it. I sat in it, made sure it wasn't flimsy and falling apart, then snagged the tag in a hurry and dashed to check out. (You never find these around!) It was $15. When I got to check out, the cashier said, "Oh, all furniture is 1/2 off today." Woo Hoo! So I scored this item for a whole $7.50. When I got it home, lots of the connecting plastic wiring I'll call it was brittle from age and coming loose. So I took it all out and re-weaved it with cream yarn. Still need to find a cute vintage round cushion for it.
Hey! How did this one get in here?! Well the little is learning to walk. She has been taking steps all on her own for a few weeks now. It's suppose to be in the 70's today so we are headed to the park after nap to get some more practice!
Thanks for reading!
