Living room and dining room...

Click here to see it!

...are gettin' painted!  But deciding on the paint color is the hard part.  I went with Grandma's timeless advice (thanks Grandma!) and picked one thing in the the room I'd really, really like to base the color off of.  And it was....my favorite painting we own.  I eyed it for a whole year before I bought it from Bed Bath and Beyond, but $100 was too much to spend on something like a painting.  I'm too cheap for that!  After our wedding, BBandB sent us a 50% off coupon on any one item in the store.  I allowed myself to snag it for $50 in 2010.

A couple of weekends ago, Charlie and I stopped in at Ikea and used a free, $25 off anything in the store to pick up some white frames that will accent this painting.  I am going to put photography I take in them with my new camera.  (I was thinking of using sepia nature photos.  We'll see where I take it).

Then, tying everything together, I came up with this mood board to see how the room would look with the wall color, Behr's "Lime Light":

Art: BB&B, Frames: Ikea, Dinnerware: BB&B, Geometric Fabric: Front Door Fabrics and on our dining chairs, Mini Vases: Ikea, Brown swatches: Art Van Furniture fabric and wood colors, Color: Behr "Lime Light"

The living room AND the dining room would be this color, so I want to make sure I picked it right.  I picked up a sample from Home Depot to try the color on the wall...and it looked AWFUL.  Too bright.  Too intense.  Too funky.  Not warm and cozy enough for my taste.  Too bad it looked so perfect on the computer screen.  Back to the drawing board....

I got some samples from Home Depot and tried them all on the wall together.... and I think we've narrowed it down to two....

My analysis:

Lime Light, the original pick, actually looks okay in the picture, but like I said, it is far too bright in person.  More of a bedroom color.

Valley Mist was ruled out almost instantly.  It was too in-your-face and very, very bright aqua.

Smokey Slate really caught my eye.  I LOVED this color but Charlie hated the way it looked on the computer screen, so he was hesitant to get the sample.  I liked how it brought out the green undertones of the painting.  However, I worry that, because it's so dark, it will swallow up the room.

Contemplation is a gorgeous color and very mature.  I love the way it plays off the painting, and I think it is a great color for two rooms.  It wouldn't overhwlem.  However, I worry that because it is such a good match with the painting, it will almost loose it's "pop" on the wall...



So what is your vote?

Contemplation:

Smokey Slate:

Here are some other rooms painted these colors...

Contemplation



Smokey Slate

Leave a comment and tell me your gut reaction!

"In" night

I slept in until 9 am today.  It felt glorious.  I usually feel really guilty about this.  But the laundry, the chores, the errands, I'M BEHIND!   But then I remembered that it only matters to the anal part that is often best left ignored.  So I continued to lay in bed.

But the apples will be overpicked at the grocery store.  The only ones left will be the bruised ones.  And my free couponing items will be gone!

Well aren't we lucky that the world doesn't depend on apples and the stock of Kleenex?  Lie here I shall. 

I'm glad no one in the world has to directly experience my inner monologues.  ;)

My ignoring of the other part of myself turned out to work in my favor.  I was rested, AND the grocery store wasn't even overpicked.  It even feels like fall today.   Like REALLY like fall.  I love it.  I think the high hovered around 68.  A very Alaskan day if you will.  Charlie and I even had smoked salmon from Alaska that Vicki and Chuck brough back for lunch.  And then we went and bought a Christmas tree.  Yes, a Christmas tree.  I found one (fake) on Craig's list for $25.  Now when our family comes down for Thanksgiving, we can get the season started right!

I felt like we've been out and about so much these past few weekends (all fun things of course) but it's leaving us exhaused.

My friend Andreia's birthday party!

Fireworks at the National Whitewater Center

Tonight is an "in" night.  I don't know what your "in" night things are...ours revolve mostly around the TV.  As sad as that is, it thoroughly entertains us.  Here are our favorite things to watch when we are "in."  We are always looking for new shows!!!

• Breaking Bad.  We don't do meth or deal drugs or almost die on a daily basis.  Probably why we love the show so much.  Plus the acting is great.
• Mad Med.  Another favorite.  We are watching them on demand on Netflix, so we are only in season 2.  But we love it.  Life in the early 60s with a modern twist.

• Catfish.  A recent documentary we watched about online love...with a huge twist.  It was good, and we still debate on whether we think it was 100% real.  But I guess all documentaries beg that question, no?

• The King's Speech.  Everyone told me to see it and we finally got around to it.  It was stellar.  And surprisingly funny.  In a dry, British sort of way.  

If you have any shows/movies to recommend, leave a comment below.  We're always looking for something new!

Lighting fixture update.

I hate gold finishes.  And when we bought our house, it was pretty much full of them.  Gold door handles, gold fans, and gold lights.  Lights of golden lights.  There was one in our powder room.  A really ugly one.  Here is the room:

And here is the light fixture.  (I cut it out of the picture above because I hate it so much...hehe!)

The worst part is I think someone actually painted it to be like this.  They took a bronze base and painted golden flecks/streaks all over it... sorry if it's your style.  It's just not ours.  To be honest, though, Charlie didn't even notice it first. 

Me:  Hey, hon, I'm going to fix our light fixture.
Charlie:  Um, okay.  We have an ugly one?
Me:  The one in the powder room.
Charlie:  It's really that ugly? (Walks over to powder room).  Eeeee..that IS ugly. 

I suppose from a guy's perspective, his back is to the dang thing anyway every time he pees in there, so he never noticed it.  If you sit on the toilet because you are a chick, you have to look at it!  Sorry.  That was graphic.  But I am illustrating a point here ;)

Anywhoo...

We are slowly but surely converting into Home Depot people.  Their paint is better.  Their color selection is better.  And their prices are better.  So yeah, we went there for the supplies.  Plus, Katie Bower recommended this spray paint called Oil Rubbed Bronze that you can't find at Lowe's.  So Home Depot it was.

Rust-oleum Metal Primer: $4
Krylon's Oil Rubbed Bronze Metallic Finish spray paint: $4
2 glass lampshades: $14
Total: $22  (Not bad, considering a new one would have cost between $80 and $100)

New shades on the left, old ones on the right.  We originally just wanted to re-used the old shades, but I soon realized that they would look far too golden with the new paint color.

I taped everything off (including the wires) and went to town! 

And here is the final product 24 hours later!

It took about 10 minutes to prep the area, myself, and the fixture, and about 5 minutes for each coat.  20 minutes in total.  Easy peasy.  The best part?  There was plenty of spray paint left for the 3 brown frames in the bathroom so they match the new fixture.  Much improved.

Kitchen is painted!

We decided to stick with the same color as the bonus room.  My favorite, "Warm Nutmeg"

This virtual "swatch" is pretty true to color

It brings out the countertops and keeps everything from looking oh-so-beige!

Before (the day we closed):

Now:

I feel like the flash alters the color a bit, and makes it look much harsher, but it is really pretty and inviting in person.  Plus it makes the blue drapes pop!  Maybe now I'll have great motivation to cook ;)

Murder!

Yes, that's my post title.  I suppose I'll break it down for you.

We are hosting in Murder Mystery Party in a month.  And, a month in advance I'm getting excited.  I don't know if you've ever been to a Murder Mystery Party, but it's pretty much amazing.  I love them.  You can find them online. Usually they are for groups of 8 or more.  Everyone is assigned a "character" to play, you print scrips, facts, and clues, and throughout the night you have to figure out "who dunnit".  Kind of like Clue, but cooler.  Plus there are costumes and all sorts of theatrical-ness if you decide to really get into your part.  Which, I will.  Because I'm like that.

And the theme of this party is...wait for it...

Yusssss.  Bring on the scrunchies, jelly shoes, and Pop Rocks!

I'm playing the role of Polly Pingmold, obsessed with my pink prom dress and my Rubik's cube.  Charlie is Ivan Pingmold, CEO of a Hairspary company that has a flatulence problem.  We'll be joined by 6 other friends from our church...ranging from an NFL players to a narcoleptic ballerina.

We are all bringing a dish to pass, but since it's taking place in our Casa, I'm in charge of the 80s decor.  My budget is $20 or under.  Bring on the Goodwill!!!  I seriously love the Goodwill.  It's better than chocolate.  Okay, maybe not chocolate, but I love it.

Here are my ideas for the party and approximate costs, (with the assistance of Dollar Tree)...

• Bright neon table clothes (disposable) and paper plates:  Dollar Tree  $4
• Records as chargers for the plates:  Goodwill ~$2

• Fun party confetti to sprinkle on the table:  Dollar Tree $1

• "Danglers": Goodwill $3 

• Candy Necklaces as Favors:  Dollar Tree $3 (I'm pretty sure they come in a pack of 3 for $1)

• Ugly pink prom dress: Goodwill $3.79, the cost of any dress!
• 80s Music on pandora.com  FREE
• 80s Board games on display (Jenga, Guess Who, Connect 4, Trouble)  FREE, already own
• My Rubik's cube FREE (I have one at school as a prop...don't ask)

That brings my total to around $18 with tax.  Yay.  Maybe I can get Charlie a fart maker after all ;) 

I'll post pictures of the evening and decor.  Totally tubular!