Monday, December 07, 2009

Finally, I painted something!

I love my house. I've loved it from the first minute I walked through it with my realtor 4 1/2 years ago. It is beautiful on its own, but it truly has so much potential to be absolutely gorgeous. The problem??? Me. I'm completely unskilled, uncreative, and down right frightened to do anything along the "decorator" lines.

I've been wanting to paint for several years now. My friend Kayce (who is an amazingly talented decorator, remodeler, do-it-your-selfer) has had to look at a million paint swatches from me. ("What do you think of this one? How about this one? How hard is red to do?") My sister-in-law, Becky, just got brave and put some color on her walls, and once I saw it, I just knew I had to paint. Now or never! I didn't let myself dwell on it. I picked a color, filled the paint buckets and got to it.

My girls cracked me up. They have learned well from me, they grabbed the camera without any prompting, and started clicking pictures. They even got a before shot.

Kayce surprised me by showing up ready to paint. After all the phone calls she received from me about every question you can imagine, she must have thought I needed some supervision! Seriously though, I was SO grateful for her help. She stayed for 4 hours and we were able to get the entire first coat on.

Oh-ho-ho! Look at that column standing out!! And the trim around the window. And who knew I had crown molding on my ceilings?

The lighting is a little funky, but here's a somewhat finished shot. I still need to buy curtains for my naked windows (kids' Christmas gifts are the top priority right now though). And although it's not a "brave bold color", I love the color of the wall next to my piano. It makes everything feel so much richer and deeper.

Now, if only it weren't so much work, I'm really wanting to do some more rooms!

13 comments:

hoLLy said...

it looks great!!

Deanna said...

I think it looks MARVELOUS!!!!! I love it!

Jewelle said...

That is gorgeous Elena! I really like how all your trim and columns now pop! Your one lucky person to have Kayce helping you. Tell her I said hi!

Brandon and Emily said...

Oh it looks beautiful! I love the color! Good work Elena!

Jennie said...

Lenes, it looks great!! Way to pick the color!

Deidra Smith said...

It looks awesome, glad to finally see some pics (like i can talk:) i'm so behind on my blog) i know what you mean about the work though i love the look and smell of a freshly painted room, but it is MAJOR time consuming which makes it difficult with little rugrats running around. Good job!

Gina said...

Anything is brave and bold compared to white.

Just wait til you see what I painted!!!

Mama Williams said...

Love it! So warm and cozy! Good job!

Tim and Stacey Cardon said...

Love that color! Casey is super talented huh! Kind of a hidden treasure. You guys did amazing!

Lee Ann said...

Oh how I HATE painting, but love the results! Yours is fabulous!

Unknown said...

Looks great! I hate painting, but it is addicting once you start so watch out!

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

We have lots of color on our walls. Our dining room is an Oriental red. And red does take forever. But...I am so not a painter. I spill it. Dribble it. Step in it. I am good with picking color...not so good at getting it on the walls.

And I LOVE the color you chose.

LouandAngela said...

GOOD for you! I've been just like you--liking my house, but wanting to add color to the walls for the last 5 years! I'm too chicken! Your room looks AMAZING!!

I've been waiting for Michael and Brinn to move back to get them to help me b/c they are amazing! I'm too much of a perfectionist to do it myself--it won't be good enough. BUT, if I have help--I'm all over it!