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Monday, August 2, 2010

Architecture and Color for the walls in my “Someday Family Room!”

In a previous post I showed you  the wall color in my existing Family Room. I love this color. It is a formula that I made up years ago and I never tire of it. I will call it Maize since it is a soft medium valued butter color. Here is a picture of the wall color. I realize all monitors will read it differently , but soft butter is truly what it looks like.
cube of butter (600x450) - Copy

My Mess 002
We will call the wall color Maize in the future. All moldings will be in a soft white by Kelly Moore Paints called Swiss coffee. It has just a touch of pigment added to it in order to soften it on the eye. I have an existing mantle piece that is painted Swiss Coffee and all door moldings ,chair rail and base boards are in the same color.
Here are a few more rooms that are painted in a nice buttery yellow or maize. The maize color that I am going to use for my walls has no green undertone. It has a touch of red so it is a nice warm color. Often times when people choose yellow they go on the green side of yellow because it appears bright and friendly. Memories of yellow are usually sunny thoughts so the tendency is to go too bright. I always suggest yellows with a golden or even peach undertone which makes it more subtle and appealing once it is up on the wall.
COLOR
bedroom (360x460) - Copy
furniture (320x224) - Copy 
There is something about a buttery yellow that is so inviting to me. It is cheerful, soft and inviting.
appliances (225x281) - Copy 
All white with touches of maize appliances is so fresh and clean.
Jan Showers (373x470) - Copy
Room designed by Jan Showers
kitchen (226x320) - Copy
untitled (500x333) - Copy
The use of all white mouldings is so crisp and fresh!
nursery (607x610) - Copy
Aaaaah! this is just so sweet.
ARCHITECTURE
I would like to add a wainscoting treatment on all the walls. I have two treatments in mind that I really like. One is a shaker look or batten board and the other is a little more formal of a look called judges panels. I have this look in my entry. Here are some pictures of the look I have in mind for below the existing chair rail.
Batten Board
battenboard
This is a nice clean, simple look. I really like this look. Here are a few more pictures of this treatment.
Love
plate rail
This is higher than I would use but it shows  the same idea with the addition of a top treatment that I would not use. It is still very nice for a plate rail height. I wanted to show it just in case any of my readers would be interested in this.
The next treatment is judges panels. I have this treatment in my entry and in my guest bathroom. It is not true judge panels but an easier way to get the look by using frame molding on top of the wall or MDF for a smooth finish.
Judges Panels
judges panel
entry hall (733x587)
This is my entry hall wainscoting.
Below is a picture of the fireplace wall in my family room.
73 (800x600)
I also plan on covering the half  brick wall with either the judges panels or the batten board just like the adjacent walls. I would like to add Carrera marble like I have in the entry around the opening of the fireplace.
Another idea I came up with is to put faux doors  to make it look as if there are bookcases at the end of the room. Don’t worry the fireplace screen is going to be changed  also!  I know a lot of people would just paint the brick white, but it just seems sacrilegious to do so.  I am not a big fan of painted brick.
There will also be a crown moulding added to the top of the wall to give it a finished look.

Now I have all the bones of the room planned. The floor plan, color scheme, wall color and all architectural applications to the walls. Next the fun part!! Furniture shopping!!!!!!
“ Enjoy the Process Of:
Figuring out the color of Paint for the walls and adding some moulding to make your room interesting.
Kathysue

Friday, July 30, 2010

What do you think about this wall treatment?

In a previous post I talked about one of the changes I was thinking about making was changing my existing entry hall wallpaper. I have had this paper up for at least 15 yrs. I think it is a vintage classic and the colors are perfect for my  home. It is an English wallpaper with sage, cream and watermelon pink.
My favorite things 005 (800x600)
When I did the post mentioning that I was thinking about changing the wallpaper some of my readers wanted to know what I had in mind.

I have to be honest I really did not have anything in mind. I just knew I wanted to make a change. Do you ever do that? Now be honest, I know we creative types are always thinking of changes we can make!

Since several asked, it made me think more seriously about the idea of change. About 10 years ago I thought about changing the wallpaper and I even ordered two samples of what I had in mind. I did not go forward with the idea and I don’t even remember why.

I remembered looking in a Classic Thibaut wallpaper book and loving two possibilities for my entry. I just knew they would not still be in print, but maybe Thibaut had something similar.

To my surprise they actually still make the two possibilities. They are classic so I guess that is why they are still making them.

I talked to my good friend Sally J. at Divine Distractions blog about what I had in mind and she offered to order me two samples. Sally is a talented designer in the Dallas, Texas area with her own design business. Her blog is full of inspiration and her wonderful sense of humor and design. Be sure to go and visit. Her blog is one of my daily reads.
I know, I know you want to see what I have in mind. Well, here you go!!

Magnolia Hill beige
Magnolia Hill

memory lane
Memory Lane

I would like to use a wall mural in my entry. What do you think?
I love the classic look of both of these murals and they are the perfect size for above the wainscoting in my entry.
entry hall (733x587)
So what do you think? Which one do you like? I am open for any other suggestions if any of you know of another mural that would work in my space. Let me know what you think???
“Enjoy the Process” Of :
Making a small change that will make a big impact!
Kathysue

Thursday, July 29, 2010

They Arrived and They are Fantastic!!!

They arrived and my DIL says they are amazing and loves,loves them!! I am so glad that these X benches worked out. To think they only were $149 and no tax or shipping it is truly amazing. It is hard to believe that WS Home charges $1500 for the same type of bench. I have not done a side by side comparison. I do not feel the need to do that since my DIL is more than happy with her purchase. She has impeccable taste so that is enough for me. To refresh everyone’s memory here is the X bench from WS Home……………
william sonoma home
This is in brown leather and we were looking for white. At one time WS Home had the white leather. This bench is priced at $1550.
Here is the bench that came today from this company. It took all of ten minutes to put together with a screw driver and an allen wrench, and that was for both of them!!
Bedroom8[1] 

Bedroom7[1]

Bedroom3[1]
This is just a sneak peek of the room. We are still waiting for the furniture to arrive but I will post what they have done so far. It really is turning out just like they wanted it too and all for a friendly budget. We like that!!
“Enjoy the Process” Of:
Planning a design and seeing it all come to fruition!!!
Kathysue