Friday Follow Up: Kitchen Decor

You may remember that a few months ago I repainted the kitchen.  I promised I'd show you the "after" photo!  Well, today is the day!

BEFORE (half gray, half yellow with red accents):

AFTER (a more neutral color with yellow & black accents):

I used a paint color from Sherwin Williams called Bagel, a very appropriate name for a kitchen paint color!  No, that's not the reason I chose it!  I promise!  I wanted a neutral color on all the walls that I could use with some black and white photos to create a little gallery.  It is what I would call a khaki color, but there is the tiniest hint of a yellow or peach hue to it, especially during the late afternoon hours!  It really brightened things up after having gray on half the walls!

I found some yellow damask window panels on Etsy to replace that red window dressing in the before photo.  No more red, just cheery yellow and neutrals now!

I included not only our family, but photos of all our nieces and nephews!  I just love candid photos of kids and I can't wait to update these as the years go by!

I know I was busy working on decorating the nursery around the same time as this kitchen project was happening, but I still have a couple things to finish up in there, so that update will come later!  A trip to Michaels is on my list as well as a date with my sewing machine that is making me a bit nervous!  Stay tuned!

In other news, we've survived the week of heat here!  DS1 & DS2 had a whole week of early releases from school due to the heat and lack of air conditioning in the schools!  Next week looks better, so looking forward to being comfortable outdoors again!

No stamping yet this week for me!  I had to clean up the craft room first (photos of that tomorrow...)!  I can't believe the mess I had in there!

Have a fabulous Friday!

A Change of Scenery

I'm not seeing much green around me these days. The trees and plants are not waking up very quickly, but I really can't blame them.  It's in the 30's again this morning.  I decided I'd just create something with bright, beautiful green to get by until the landscape awakens!  Shouldn't be long now!

While cleaning out my craft room again (one of those never-ending tasks that is very similar to picking up after your children), I discovered some stencils that have been in my stash for several months.  I honestly need to go through my things more often because, really, it's like visiting a candy store or pastry shop without having to pay a dime!  I'll take a little bit of everything, please!

Stamps:  Clean & Simple
Paper:  Paper Trey cardstock (white)
Ink:  SU (Gumball Green, Midnight Muse)
Accessories:  SU marker (Midnight Muse), Stickles (clear), Balzer Designs stencil

I masked off the banner strip and then stenciled the circles in SU's Gumball Green ink.  After staring at it for a while, I decided to define the borders a bit more using a Midnight Muse marker, simply drawing the lines with the assistance of my trusty ole ruler.  I stamped the simple sentiment in Midnight Muse and then added a touch of clear Stickles to a few of the dots.  I think this might just qualify for a masculine birthday card, don't you think?!

I'm digging my heels in to paint the nursery.  I am painting over the navy blue accent wall that the previous home owners left behind.  I didn't mind the blue since we've had all boys so far and blue happens to be my favorite color, but it's time for a fresh coat of paint!  For me, that usually means a new color too and I do happen to have a pretty good excuse this time!  Here is a photo of the starting point...

 



Currently, it's totally a boys' room, but that's about to change.  I have my main color scheme chosen, I found a zero VOC latex paint (safe for those of us that are with child), the windows are open, the birds are singing in the trees and I'm ready to tackle this!  Wish me luck!

Have a wonderful Thursday!

 

A Perfect Day

The great outdoors is presenting a perfect day today! I'm thinking a family walk is in order this evening. There's nothing like a walk to clear the mind and open a person up for a good talk! I don't know if it's just us, but DH and I seem to have some of our best conversations when we're out walking! Maybe it's the lack of everyday distractions?

I jumped into another painting project today. Did you really think I'd learned not to paint when I'm at home with three little boys last time?! :) It's a smaller project this time. The front door. It has been a plum color since we moved here and DH and I have been itching to change it to a deep red. Here's the beginning of the transformation (Yes, I forgot to take a "before" picture prior to starting!):

For now, it is primed.  The first coat of red will be applied later today when DH comes home to help entertain the little ones.  :)  I'm a bit less picky with primer application than with the final coats!

For a little reward, I granted myself some stamping time.  Just a little.  Nothing too involved or time consuming.  I need to come up with some thank you cards for DS3's upcoming birthday party, a puppy themed one.  He adores little dogs right now!  I received some puppy invites in the birthday pack of supplies I ordered this week, but I may make my own yet, especially after discovering this adorable little pup by Crissy Armstrong!  Isn't he just too cute?!  I am submitting this for her July DT call (see my left sidebar for a cute little lion button that will take you to her challenge blog and details!).  She's got some wonderful stamps (both digital and rubber) that I've been having fun playing with!  I even discovered I had some in my stash I'd forgotten about from this past winter!  Eeek!  Maybe I need to visit my stash more often!  :)

Supplies:
Stamps - Squigglefly (Forgiven), SU (sentiment)
Paper - SU Basic Black, Real Red, PaperTrey white
Ink - SU Whisper White
Accessories - baker's twine, Cuttlebug embossing folder, distressing tool, red gemstones, foam squares (popped up the pup), Copic Black marker (for nose)

A simple card, but I'll appreciate that when it's time to make multiple copies of it!

Lighten Up

I finished the bathroom painting project in one day.  I've since decided that attempting to paint something with three little boys running around is out of the question next time.  What exactly was I thinking, anyway?!  Great ambitions.  I thought I'd be fine to go ahead after putting DS3 down for a nap and the older two happily headed outdoors.  Ha.  About half way through my priming, those same older two arrived inside the back door with mud covering them from chins to feet.  Yes, we let them play in mud.  No, it wasn't what I had in mind for outdoor play that particular day.  Needless to say, I spent a bit of time cleaning them up before they headed up the (carpeted) stairs to the shower.  While they were showering, I scrubbed down the door they'd entered through.  That's my boys!  ;)  I finished the painting project around 11 p.m.

The AFTER picture:

The previous brown was grounding, but this is more energizing and uplifting to me and I think I like it even though it's a huge contrast to what was there before!  DH thinks he's okay with it (He vetoed the greenish blue color I'd picked out first as he's not a big fan of green colors.), so I can breathe a sigh of relief!  Now I just need to decide what color to paint the rest of the bathroom walls.  Maybe this fall after school begins.

Busy-ness

Monday always brings with it a list of projects for the week ahead.  We woke up to gray skies this morning after a night of rain.  The sun is trying to shine a little now and, for that, I'm grateful!

Today, I'm going to start painting in our master bathroom.  Last week, we finally closed on the sale of our previous home and are ready to start personalizing our current one!  Lots to think about, but exciting to think of what the end result will look like in a few years!  Here's a before picture for you as I know how much I love looking at before and after pictures!  :)

The current brown color is okay, but I'm looking for a color with more calming qualities.  Brown doesn't do that for me.  DH says he's fine with the brown, but I'm not a brown kinda gal!  Color is a good thing in my book!  Afterward, I'll have to decide if I want the rest of the bathroom walls to be gray or a khaki color.  Choices, choices!  For now, I'm off to prime over the brown!  Not sure if any stamping will get done today, but hoping I can stamp later as a reward for my hard work!