While I had my son here, and we both had paint brushes in hand, I asked him to tackle the breezeway with me. I've hated the too bright green it was painted for YEARS. I had painted it on a whim, I'd had a beloved puppy die in my arms after months of nursing her along and trying to keep her alive, and needed something cheerful and bright around me. I also wanted something physical to do to keep myself busy after burying her.
Typically, I don't have a lot of bright colors in my house, unless they are seasonal accents. But, this was an outdoor room, and I thought it was the perfect place for a splash of color.
Instead, it only reminded me of my dead dog.
And it was not fun to paint, since it is clap siding and can't be done with a roller. And I knew that the green would be hard to cover, so I just kept putting the job off.
The new color I finally chose is much more tranquil, and is a much calmer backdrop to the stuff I had in the room already. I left everything just as it was, the only change in the whole room is the wall color. Well, and I switched out the seat cushion, it had been a hot pink. The blue velvet is a cushion that my mom made about 30 years ago.
The bench was hers too. I've painted it numerous times since I've had it. In her possession, it was maple.
The room feels a lot bigger in this pale gray/blue. And I'm so glad we got this done. It makes me smile every time I walk through it.
I was ready to get this room cleaned up and new looking after our recent raccoon attack. Those coons ripped my curtains to shreds, and I wanted to replace them, but wanted to make sure the curtains went with the new color I chose.
Instead of shopping at the store, I shopped at home in my linen closet and found a stack of white on white, striped sheers that I used to have in my kitchen, so my only cost for the redo was a gallon of paint/primer in one (Behr). This kind of paint offers great coverage, and mostly did the job in one coat with a few touch ups here and there.
The white curtains also helped create the breezy feeling this room now has. And under them are new, aluminum screens to hopefully prevent more coon invasions! If that doesn't work, we'll have to go to chicken wire over the windows. Or razor wire….
(the bird cage stand holds a simple chandelier that I've epoxy-ed tea cups to after taking out the wiring and the lighting parts. I keep tea light candles or fresh flowers in the cups, depending on my mood)
Even before I painted over the pea green explosion on the walls, I have considered this my pink and green room. And I figured I'd have to do some redecorating and moving things out when I repainted. I was thinking that nothing would match any more. But I am quite taken with the soft blue back ground, against all the pink florals. Plus, there are hints of blue here and there that I never really noticed when the room was green, like in the pillows, the broken plates in the birdbath that I made, and in the flowers painted on the bench.
There is very little blue in the mosaic table, but that doesn't really bug me. I still think it fits the room fine.
I'd planned on repainting the shutters on the door too, but I'm liking the black and roses with the blue. It seems like a nice contrast, and not too matchy.
(the shutters were bi-fold doors from a garage sale for a couple bucks. I took them off the hinges and painted them up, the other half of the set is on the front door to my studio)
After a while, I just might paint everything that is black now, a medium gray, with sepia glaze over it. But for now, I'm satisfied. The gray is a maybe, and if I decide to do it, will be a good project when I'm feeling the need for another fresh-up.
Do you ever play with Rate My Space on HGTV's site? I have fun with it. You can lose a lot of hours browsing from one room to another… anyway, if you want to check it out, you can start with this room, and give it a rating for me!
Next post, I'll show you a few more of my changes around the house. I've been productive lately!
I love that mosaic table!!
Oh Karla I love the new soft shade. you call it a breeze way. Is that similar to a sun room? The side panels around the doors and the antiques sign are gorgeous!
So glad that you had help!
Waiting on Irene…
Leann
Beautiful!
Oh, it looks so pretty and peaceful. What a nice place to sit and flip through a magazine…or have a cup of tea. I think the black accents look beautiful!
Beautiful! I actually like both colors, but one does need a change after a while.
You did a fantastic job, this room is lovely! So tranquil! Your shutters go fabulously girl!
I can lose a lot of hours doing just ’bout anything actually. Well, not housework or laundry apparently. Love your breezeway. It look wonderfully fresh. Funny how that old green just reminded you of a sad time. A new coat of paint does wonders in so many ways. Hope you’re having a good weekend. For once I’m grateful to be living in the midwest. Hugs and prayers to everyone on the east coast.
Kathy
You picked the perfect color! It’s looks so bright and fresh!
I gave you a shout out on my blog yesterday. I did a post and listed and briefly described my favorite blogs. It got the most hits, since I started the blog! Go figure!
beatuiful. what a gorgeous space to sit in.
And *snap*. We are poised to start painting our hallway, stairs and landing (when I say ‘we’ I do of course mean the husband!). It’s been a sage green for about 9 and a half years now, and I want it grey. It’s time to change. I love the green, but grey is more my thing these days.
xx
I love it!
Hello Karla
Thanks so much for stopping by…
This is such a beautiful color and I do love it with what you have going on in the porch area. I think you made a great choice. I have projects I have wanted to do now for years… and I can’t believe I haven’t gotten to them! Little by little, first the studio then the garage ugh!
Blessings to you
Rebecca
A great room – very cool and peaceful! Love, love, love that bird figurine on the mosaic!!
Karla….your breezeway room looks lovely! It is a soft, serene setting for you…I am sorry about your precious little puppy. They really are members of our family. You have inspired me to really organize my own little “studio”..we bought a really neat cupboard to hold all my supplies/glitters/paints etc. and now I can actually begin a project without passing out from exhaustion from trying to find my stuff! Enjoy your “new” room this week. Blessings for all of your family, including ALL of your little dorkies. Patty in Kansas
Patty, having a studio set up in a convenient way makes all the difference in the world! Good luck with it.
Sent from my iPad
Looks fresh and lovely! And doesn’t it feel good to have it done?