Keith’s home! Keith’s home! My sweet, brand-new husband has come back to me after being on the opposite side of the country for the last five weeks. So good to have him home. And that’s why I’ve been such a horrible blogger – I’ve been much too busy drinking beer and cuddling to do anything productive. Except, oh, I did paint the dining room the first full day he was home. I know! I can’t help it! I’m a project-aholic! To be clear, though, he did convince me to do it – I was just talking about how much I wanted to do it. He’s an enabler. And he only taped the ceiling for me – I did the rest. So anyway, yeah, I painted the dining room on Sunday. It used to be insane:
And now it is less so:
I really wish I had a different rug, but you know, I don’t, so I just have to make do. Our apartment is full of stuff – I like stuff A LOT and Keith has been patient enough to let me display it all (even though he would prefer an empty house with two blocks and a tv). Although now I’ve been thinking a lot about making the house more functional as a living/working space (since I’ll be spending so much more time here getting my first bridal collection ready) and I just want everything OUT. I want it all simple and clean, since the place will likely be full of fabric and patterns (not that it isn’t already). But I still really like my stuff – I’m finding it hard to compromise with myself.
I’m starting by just generally toning everything down. I moved the cream barkcloth curtains from the dining room into the living room, replacing the crazy 40′s tropical ones that hung there before – that helped A TON. And now I think I’ll paint this green sideboard (which was left in my last apartment – it came painted that way) in a high gloss ivory color. I’m hoping it will balance the ivory sheers in the dining room and just plain ol’ lighten everything up.
And then I have to completely reorganize my work room. UGH. I need to act fast too, because I have actual work I’m supposed to be doing.
Oooh – is the new DR paint B.Moore “Buxton Blue”? That the same color in my livingroom. I think the high gloss ivory would look great on the sideboard too. I painted a lot of my furniture when I moved.
I love the look – it’s very glam & Mad Men.
Oh, I love old built-ins! I used to live in a fantastic 4-flat in Chicago. Oak everything, claw-foot tub, the works and I LOVED IT.
Just before we put our house on the market we had a stager come in. She made us take down and put away like, EVERYTHING. I don’t believe in painting walls, I just hang art (looks like you do too). Anyway, it opened up the space a ton and now I’m rethinking my massive clutter too. But then again, we’re moving.
I like the rug. A lot. Keeps stuff vintage and cool. Definitely liking the painting of the sideboard idea. It looks like it has brass fixtures? As does that funkadelic, hot-to-death lamp? You could also do a cool matte brass metallic paint on the black framed mirror. Then it would coordinate, not be matchy-match and lighten things up some more.
T30SB’s 2 cents.
awww… I have the same Mon Oncle poster in my living room
well, it looks great right now, but I’m a white freak… I would paint the whole furniture white/ivory…
and I don’t have any carpets at home, so you know what I would do to that one, don’t ya?
You girls are awesome – thanks for the comments!
@ Dancy: It’s actually a Behr color, and I have no idea which one. It’s calming though, right?
@ T30SB: I love Chicago apartments sooo much. They’re giant-sized and all slightly bizarre. For instance, our building is over 100 years old and the original toilet was just replaced a year ago. Wha-what?? Anyway, I agree that the mirror frame should be painted something lighter – good idea!
@ Solange: That’s Keith’s poster – it’s really cool, right? I have thought of painting the dining room set one day, but I’m not quite ready yet. I bought it from the original owner who cherished that set from the day her husband bought it for her in the 60s. Same goes for the 50s sectional in our living room. One day I will reupholster that, but I have to let the pieces live as they are a bit longer. Just out of respect to those two dear ladies. Plus, I got other sh*t I’m supposed to be doing instead of decorating!
My apartement is in an old Victorian and it has some of those same features. I LOOOOOVE IT so much that I’m looking at old houses where we’re moving to buy. You have to come to my place when you’re in town.
BTW, if the rug doesn’t work, I’ll take it off of your hands for you
HAHA