Painting USA

With dry plaster on the walls the next step is a whole lotta priming and painting! Per usual, we’re doing this ourselves. But painting every room of a three story house could make us professionals. We’ve already got a rhythm with Jared rolling and me cutting in around any edges.

To make life a little easier, Jared purchased a Wagner Cordless Roller and we love it. The long handle helps with our high ceilings and doubles as large-capacity tube where the paint is stored. With just a push of a button, the tube sends paint into the roller for a smooth and continuous paint flow. If this was an infomercial, this is when they’d show people breaking their backs bending over to load paint on their old-fashioned rollers. Ouch! But not with the turbo roller!

The cleaning process is a bit of a, well, process but we think the benefit is there. It does save time and our backs!

Disclosure: This review is not sponsored by Wagner. I have no material relationship to any brand or person mentioned in this blog.

Mad About Navy Blue

Between the obvious nautical association and it’s bold rich hue, Navy Blue has always been one of my favorite colors. I love the way it pops with white and cozies up to browns. I wear it, I decorate with it, and I swear it is just one of those colors that is so classic it will never go out of style.

Here are some of my favorite Navy Blue design pics…

All the rich wood tones look gorgeous with this Navy wall though I think the choice of just one dark wall is a good one. The white ceiling and other white walls keep the room bright and fresh.

Continuing the Navy walls up onto the curved ceiling is so bold and dramatic but I think you can get away with drama in a dining room. The framed tall white wainscoting compliments the dark tones nicely.

You know I’m obsessed with a Navy Blue powder room. Holla!

One of my favorite blogs, Young House Love describes their built-ins as “tall, dark, and handsome!” Their white books and ceramics pop in front of Navy walls.

And finally, not a home decor choice but I wanted to prove my love for Navy with a glimpse from our wedding. Check out these lovely ladies…

Paint Picks

Paint colors seem to be a popular search topic that are bringing people to this blog. So if you searched a paint color today and it brought you here… welcome!

I have a pretty good idea of my paint colors but here are some of my favorites. This post features all Benjamin Moore simply because they seem to have so many great resources available- an app for viewing paint colors in your room, Candice Olsen’s favorites, this awesome post from South Shore Decorating Blog, and tons more painted rooms on Pinterest!

So here are my favorites! I’m thinking hands down it’s got to be Revere Pewter for the foyer, living, dining, and kitchen. The whole first floor will have this light neutral with huge chunky satin white trim.

And in the mudroom, I’d like to paint all the built in cubbies, closets, and benches a putty color like this Chelsea Grey color.

But to keep it light and airy, I’d like to paint the walls in the mudroom a bright blue green. Maybe this Palladian color.

Then there’s the little half bath. The plan is white wainscoting up half the wall and the rest painted a deep navy. Even love the name: Evening Sky.

And I know second floor is a second priority but I do want to get our bedroom squared away before we actually move in. Our bedding and furniture is all white (shocking, I know) so I’d like to paint the walls a dark sand color. It’ll have a subtle beachy feel without being tacky. This Texas Leather color is cozy!

What are some of your favorite paint colors?

No Spill Zone

I get to see our house for the second time this Saturday! Woo hoo! Jared wants to walk around with my Dad and take some more measurements and I get to finally show the house to my Mum who has been dying to see it- in fact she stalks the house occasionally driving by or taking a walk in that neighborhood. I’m sure her Camry has been put on the Neighborhood Watch list of suspicious vehicles.

So as I’ve mentioned before, the first floor will pretty much be gutted on day one. Jared is concerned with the insulation so we’ll replace or reinforce that. The walls will be redone with new moldings and baseboards and the floors are hopefully in good enough shape to be refinished.

My biggest fear was that we’d find a house with gorgeous woodwork and I’d make my father cry by wanting it all painted white. This is a much better scenario. All trim in that house is probably lead so it’s coming down anyways. Knowing I want everything white means we can buy inexpensive wood for all moldings and baseboards. So score!

Almost everything will be shades of white, grey, tan, ivory, etc. I dig the monochromatic look. I think it looks rich and it’s calming. My parents joke that no one will be able to spill anything in our house. But my loving husband came to my defense saying that no one but me could get away with all white and keep it looking impeccable. I know, I know, just wait till we have kids. But if they’re anything like me, they’ll be organizing their stuffed animals by size… or color… or species!!

To say I’m a neat freak is an understatement. I love to clean. I love to organize even more. It calms me. If I have a bad day, I scrub the hell out of the kitchen floor. And you know it’s been a really bad day if the rubber gloves come out.

I think cleaning is instant gratification. Something was wrong and I fixed it. Just like that! It’s taking control over a situation. Making even the smallest piece of the world better than it was. I know it sounds like I’m making a whole lot out of just cleaning but I’m telling you- it’s important to me. And I love it.

So back to my immaculate white house. Here’s some inspiration for the front entry way and living room.

Love the neutrals with the pop of blue. And I must have that coffee table.

Ignore the hideous star burst sculptures but the rest of it is gorgeous and again, all neutral with a pop of yellow.

More monochromatic goodness.

And finally, paint color options. Left – Sherwin Williams Pavilion Beige. Center – Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter. Right – Benjamin Moore Bennington Grey.

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Update: Want to see our final selection? Check it out  on our house tour page. Spoiler Alert! It’s Revere Pewter!