Before and after

Before

After (though not quite finished, as switch plates need to be added and art hung.)

I was so confident about this project, until the night before, when both kids and my husband expressed their reservations.

"I like it rustic," said my son. "That's what makes our house different from everyone else's."

"Once we paint it, we'll never get the wood back..." said my daughter and husband, a bit wistful.

A bit of doubt crept under my skin that night. Was this really a good idea?

As the paint was going down, I was concerned. It looked whiter than I'd imagined. I thought it would lean closer to a creamy almond color on the wall and have a more distinct yellow undertone, offering a stronger contrast between white trim and the wall. That said, I comforted myself with the knowledge that I'd prefer to go lighter rather than darker than expected.

I was thrilled with how big the room felt with the new paint and how it reflected light into the kitchen and down the stairwell. The room felt fresher and more open and cleaner. I liked how the window now blended into the wall.

Today I'll paint all the outlet and switch covers to match the wall and decide what artwork will be rehung. For the last few weeks, I've been editing my walls--removing and rearranging the framed pieces I have in every room of the house.

It's a small change that makes a big impact. Moving a piece to a different location changes the way you see it and how it interacts with the mood of the room. Retiring pieces that have followed you for years but no longer resonate is also liberating.

I know the black and white photos I have of my teens will be rehung in this room. I'm not sure about the rest. I'm going to live with the blank walls for a while and see how I feel in a week or two.

Comments

[Nance]

It's a big difference, and a lot of contrast now with the darker kitchen and pottery shelf wall. You'll have to bridge that gap, so to speak, with the decisions you make with the artwork, etc. with your artistic sensibilities. But look how nice your rug already looks and how airy and open it feels to the eye, just from photographs!

I admire you for being able to embrace and make such a big change. I often feel a bit overwhelmed by such radical shifts, and then choose to not make a change at all. Good job.

[Melanie]

LOVE IT! I especially love how it brings out the colors of the rug, and how the stairwell wall reflects the trees in a pretty minty green. That wall will probably subtly change colors as the seasons change-- neat!

I empathize with the paint color thing...even if you get paint chips, or even a sample to paint on the wall, I'm not sure you ever really know what it will look like finished. So much of it depends on the reflection of light, inside and out, at different times of the day. I'm having a hard time choosing colors for the living and dining rooms right now, because you can see one from the other and I don't want to paint them both the same.

[Di]

Love it!!!
Congratulations, you have done a beautiful job
xo

[Wendy]

Started my day with some buddhistt teachings...and this confirmed what it spoke about. Life is risky. Change is hard, but really the only constant in our lives.

The room looks awesome. Your kids learned to be fearless, and that people make things feel cozy, rustic and homey, not walls.

The room looks open for an embrace, ready for you to pour into: now.

Bravo!

[Chrisy]

Looks terrific, V! The space looks so much larger, and it maintains its rustic charm. :) Nice work!

[Neil]

Since I have been there in person, I can completely see the difference. It's like you watched one of those design shows that told you it was time to move the room out of "the 1980s." Looks great.

[Kim Nelson]

I love the change! Bright, light, warm, inviting. Good call!

[Shirley @ gfe]

I think it looks terrific, V! I'm sure they'll "warm" to it ;-) when all the art work, photos, etc. are up and you're using it for several days. You still have the rustic feel of the fireplace and the warmth of the hardwood floors, cabinet, and banister. :-) Is that a new rug or the same one as before? It really pops with the almond walls and blue of the tablecloth. I love it!

Shirley

[Susan Raihala]

So inspiring, V! The before reminds me of my grandparents' house, which I loved for its warmth and coziness. But the almond lightens and brightens and makes the whole space look cleaner and happier. Love what the change does for your rug, too!

[V-Grrrl]

Full disclosure: I researched the process on painting paneling, bought supplies, picked out the paint, moved the furniture, cleaned the walls, sanded them down, and cleaned them all again BUT, the Man did the actual painting.