oh yes, I've felt one coming on for some time now.
time to move on, shake things up a bit.
change is good.
change is happening,
evolving, moving, growing,
Whatever!
i'm just painting for Pete's sake! hee hee!
No seriously, I have been thinking about a style shift for a while now.
time for parts of me to grow up I guess.
I am ready to now embrace that "Swedish" side to me, toning down the color.......putting that fiery Latin side of me to rest for a bit. and I mean this in a pure style sense, mind you. :)
SO good bye Pee wee's Playhouse.
I still love you, but I'm ready to move on,
(for now)
So goodbye to bold colors, (except in small doses)
My Living room Before:
hello to serene spaces....
my living room in progress........
slowly removing the color......transforming spaces, hiding clutter
a clean slate......
putting away all of my vintage toys, and bric a brac.
dusting, cleaning, organizing,
Breathing deep........thinking, imagining, creating new things,
new styles, new directions to move into....
and since my living room is attached to my dining room, I painted that too,
here's the transition from the red room to the black room before...
here is the "before" dining room,
I hated that blackboard wall honestly.....
and when people started writing on it, it felt like I was living with a nervous breakdown! or a graffiti artist!
both rooms knocked out in one day,
yes, I am driven,
painted from 6:30 am until 5:30 pm.
somebodies got to do it! (my husband's not really the painting type) but that's a WHOLE 'nother story! ;)
So here's the after:
pretty blue,
looks nice from one room to the other
the kids seem to like it!
I don't know if that painting will stay, but for now, the hint of red adds a nice dash of color to that cool wall. like a little dash of paprika to garlic bread! MMMMMMMMM.
anyways! (can you tell i'm hungry?!)
bought some modern chairs cheap at Ikea.......
mixing the old with the new....playing around....
moved the armoire into the kitchen and put simple wine glasses in there, and my collection of vintage diner ware.
because yes, I have SOME STUFF.
that little red guy just appeared in there! ;)
anyways, I am liking the new looks, embracing the calmer cooler palette
fresh starts are always a good thing!
Plus it's truly amazing what just a little paint, and rearranging of your "stuff" can do for you.
color can profoundly affect your moods.
So on that note, I am off to finish working on some stuff here at the shop, my one and only day I will be here!
My boy has his championship swimming meets this weekend so I will be wrapped up with that for 2 days starting at 6:30 am on the road BOTH days!
OYE!
I should go hang out in my "new" bath and body room today, just so I can feel all "zenned" out just thinking about it! :)
see, Just a "little" bit of reorganizing TRULY can make a space feel so much better!
and I like it even with the lights off! ;)
xoxoxox
c.
love the befores and the afters. it's all good. :)
i've been thinking of painting the whole downstairs, but my husband is resisting. but according to this maybe i can get it all done while he's at work. then what can he do? nothing, that's what.
good luck with the swimming!
Posted by: Diane Duda | February 19, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Ooooh that looks lovely! So cool and spacious. Space and light are lovely ways to welcome in the spring, she says, currently doing the same thing, spattered, and waving goodbye to the dirty blu-tack blue and going pure, lovely, bright white. YAY! Paint rules! (Still wish you'd open the UK branch, mind :-) ) xx
Posted by: Anna | February 19, 2009 at 11:21 AM
I LOVE what you did..I love both ways..Can you pass me some energy?
Love your style Catherine!! and you of course!
Posted by: farmerjulie | February 19, 2009 at 11:27 AM
lOve it lOve it lOve it ;) wOw you go girl...I don't think I could of done it!
Lanny...
Posted by: Lanny Stanard | February 19, 2009 at 12:39 PM
I absolutely LOVE the change!
Posted by: Courtney McClellan | February 19, 2009 at 01:08 PM
What great color choices, you are driven, i like it! The cool tones look great! Keep the changes coming~
Posted by: blondiensc | February 19, 2009 at 01:54 PM
Catherine, it looks gorgeous . . . fresh and serene for spring! I was going nuts the other day on Facebook wondering WHAT you were painting yellow. :D
My living room and dining room are yellow, and here is my favorite thing to do . . . when it gets dark, turn on the lamps and then go outside and look in through a window. It looks very cozy. :D
I love those green pillows on the sofa! And your armoire looks great in the dining room corner!
Posted by: suzanne b. | February 19, 2009 at 04:53 PM
Looking good girl! (altho it looked great before too) Can't believe you were the painting demon and slammed those rooms out so quick! You have inspired me to finally get my fireplace painted!
Posted by: laurie - magpie ethel | February 19, 2009 at 05:08 PM
Oh, we just bought those same dining chairs the other day! Being a worry wart I always fret over whether I made a "good" choice. Now I feel better seeing that someone with such fabulous tastes picked them too! :)
Posted by: Tracey | February 20, 2009 at 06:27 AM
We must be kindred spirits! I recently painted my red living room a soft butter yellow and I am in the process of toning down some of my other rooms.I love the way my artwork pops against the soft colors.
I always love what you do and I feel so inspired after reading your blog.Thank you so much for always sharing so freely!
:-) Barbara
Posted by: Barbara | February 20, 2009 at 06:35 AM
Beautiful transition!
I too am in the middle of transition, maybe it's the economy, but I want things bight and sunshiney.
There are brighter days ahead, might as well experience it now :-)
Enjoy the new bliss!
Posted by: Nancy's Clubhouse | February 20, 2009 at 11:46 AM
I guess poor PeeWee won't fit in with a Gustavian aesthetic. It is amazing how color can completely change the mood of the room.
Posted by: Linda Crispell | February 20, 2009 at 05:22 PM
Looks refreshing! You have a great eye for color. I wish I was braver. Although I've had a yellow living room for a while and I still love how it brightens it up. Thanks for inspiring me.
Posted by: Christine | February 20, 2009 at 09:23 PM
that was SOOOO much work to paint over red AND black in one day! You are A-MAZING! It is all looking lovely! ...where's that matress I sent you though?? You know you can't get rid of THAT!! ;)
xoxox
Posted by: noodle and lou studio | February 20, 2009 at 09:29 PM
Your blog is so fun! I love your house. I laughed when I saw Pee Wee--I was a big fan as a kiddo :).
Posted by: Sophie | February 21, 2009 at 07:59 PM
Loverly. Inspiring. Don't know if I could choose which I love more, the befores or the afters. But it's fun to see the dramatic difference just the paint alone can make.
I'm curious how you covered over the chalkboard paint. A single coat of Kilz 2, perhaps? (love that stuff)
Posted by: Julie | February 21, 2009 at 10:18 PM
I'm in that same sort of mood, so I totally understand. I'm toning things down a bit as well, putting away the clutter.
Were you sorer than sore the day after you painted all day? I've done that before and it really takes its toll.
Nice work! Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Barb | February 22, 2009 at 12:36 PM
LOVE the paint changes. Can I please pretty please ask what color the yellow is? I am so trying to decide between a yellow and a green for my kitchen makeover. LOVE the softness of your yellow wall!
Posted by: Sherri S | February 22, 2009 at 05:26 PM
Your transformation is wonderful.You have a great talent for blending all your wonderful treasures..fresh and new always feels good.
LuLu
Posted by: LuLu | February 22, 2009 at 06:18 PM
The changes are lovely...and quiet.
Posted by: Bridgette | February 22, 2009 at 07:32 PM
I just nominated you for the Spreader of Love award. You can see it on my blog. Thanks for a lovely, inspiring blog!!
Posted by: Lisa | February 22, 2009 at 09:55 PM
Loved the before ~ but LOVE the after! It feels so good to try something new ... makes me want to paint something! :+]
Posted by: Lisa | February 23, 2009 at 08:45 AM
Just gorgeous...both the befores and afters! I could happily live in either. Now, could you send some of your energy my way?
Posted by: Paula Bogdan | February 23, 2009 at 03:11 PM
well i lOvE the new look... who would have thought... i would have said... "don't you dare change a thing"... but my word it looks GREAT! and still has big personality!
i've got big time Spring fever... freshen up... itch... over here! darn this house... thankful as all get out we have one... but so temporary (my toes are crossed) to do anything to! not putting my heart into a place we're soon to leave (toes crossed again)!
that man bust... head... LOVE that!
gosh... that is a TON of painting and in one day... you ARE driven for sure... you BE speed racer!
it all looks incredible!
Posted by: carissa... brown eyed fox | February 25, 2009 at 04:35 PM
On your blog roaming around and catching up... Love the before and after---buuuut from one painter to another, you aren't going to leave that expanse of wall empty are you...? I'm not a minimalist at all and love it...We have similar art house styles.. take care
xoxo
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa Kaus | March 03, 2009 at 11:00 AM