When Three Trips to the Paint Store Isn't Enough

Can't believe it is almost the end of January. Our boys are back at college and I am feeling bittersweet, sad, and mostly thankful. Thankful to have time with my guys home, grateful to have 10 days off of work over the holiday break, and mostly grateful for all that God has blessed me with.

However, with all that I have been feeling a bit lost and at lose ends. Usually I have a project(s) and can't wait for January where I can start my indoor projects. Although I do have a project, but with all of our college expenses, I can't afford to do what I would like. That project is a kitchen gut job but alas, it is not to be at this time. But what better way to spruce up a tired kitchen than a fresh coat of paint.

So off I go to the paint store, a.k.a. Ace Hardware. I knew I wanted a darker grey but other than that...wasn't sure. So I got some paint chips and looked at them awhile but by the time NY Day hit I knew my window of opportunity to paint had arrived. My first choice was a color called Cobblestone Street, but nope, it wasn't the right one. It looked lavender when I put samples up!! Off to the store I got go again to choose color #2.

Loved the color but didn't like it in my kitchen. There wasn't enough contrast and it didn't flow with the grey in my living room. My problem now? The next color down on the paint chip was Black Heron. That was too dark! Although I have always wanted a black room.

So I went back yet again to Ace Hardware! By this time, the staff was getting a little leery of me. This time, I wanted a custom color and that about threw them into heart failure! Luckily I was able to work with this great guy who took the Portland Twilight gallon that I had purchased and added more black and more brown and transformed it into the. perfect. color.

However I was sworn to secrecy as they are not supposed to do that. Shhhh. I am so happy to have finally found the right color. I think I need to find a name for it! Worse? I can't even show you a paint chip.

Pictures of the kitchen transformation coming soon.

Spring Fever

 

The race is on and spring fever has hit! You see, by this time I am trying to wrap up all my inside projects that have started over the winter. Because, you see, soon my focus will be turning outside. As soon as all this snow is gone. And the plants start showing their little heads above ground. I will be outside and my only goal for inside is to keep the house clean.



Fireplace shelves


We have tackled two big projects this winter. One was planned and one was totally not! Planned project was to install flooring in our master bedroom. My unplanned project? Repainting and refreshing our office area.

New pillows from TJ Maxx

Old curtains moved to kitchen; new curtains for office.

 
It all started with the new desk we built, see that post here. It then morphed into a desire to have a central information area near the desk. (This project has yet to be finished!) But somehow, when picking up the new flooring for our bedroom, I ended up buying paint for the office. Seriously Lowe's people the worse thing you can say to me is "that will be about 15-20 minutes to pull your flooring, you can shop around for awhile." Really? That just gets me into trouble! Before I knew it, I was buying paint. Something I hadn't even planned on!

Fireplace sitting area.

Mirror/plate wall

And somehow, that little painting project trickled into a mini kitchen update. More on that later.

Table arrangement

Shelf refresh

Linking up this week to:

 

Wake Up Wednesday at A Peek Into My Paradise

Wonderfully Creative Wednesdays at All She Cooks 

Inspire me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Sometimes we just need a little "Refresh"

Whether it's as simple as a room that needs a little freshening or a piece of furniture that needs a facelift, sometimes we just need a little "Refresh" for a breath of new life. That is true with our surroundings but also true in our lives.

Getting ready for a fresh, new look

Take this table for instance, It started life in the 50s with a mint green paint color. When it came to me, I sanded it and refreshed it with the look above. But, after 10 years it was time. Time for something different and new to spruce it up and give it new life.

After a  fresh coat of paint.

Sometimes you have to take a closer look and
make sure you are at peace with what you see.

New paint and a gleaming new surface help
this old 50s table to feel bright and fresh.

Refreshing our home can involve something as simple as a new paint job or updating an existing piece of furniture or moving the piece to a new room. Much like a life 'refresh', sometimes we just need to take an afternoon off and get a pedicure but there are times that we are being called to change our situation, our location, or our circumstances. Sometimes it is simple and easy and can make a world of difference. Oftentimes the process can be laborious and painful but the results are always worth it! 


How do you refresh?


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Hooking up this week to:

Mod Vintage Life

Masterpiece Monday

Motivate me Monday at Crafts Keep Me SaneCraft-O-Matic