They hooked me on the free samples, and now I’m love with the full set.
Category: Projects
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Basement Floor Paint
I’m having second thoughts about using Benjamin Moore’s ‘olive tree’ for the floor paint. Maybe I should go a shade or two darker? Brandon said the basement color palette was looking a little Easter basket-like, complete with the green Easter grass on the floor! I think going a shade or two darker might be the way to go to keep things from floating off into pastel territory.
The other two greens (‘mossy rock’ and ‘okra’) are both from the Martha Stewart line at Home Depot, but I’d have them matched in Benjamin Moore’s floor paint. I’m going to use IKEA’s Stockholm Rand rug for a little punch too. As you can see, this paint decision has been weighing heavily on Eleanor as well.
(unedited photo here) -
Laundry Room Paint Color
And the winner is… pale blue! As I had mentioned, I’m not normally a fan of blue. I like certain shades though, so I’m willing to give it a shot. This laundry room may have tipped things in the color’s favor.
Plus, I do love blue with red, so I think the color will look beautiful with our red washer and dryer. I’m having Martha Stewart’s “Cumulus Cloud” color-matched to Benjamin Moore, but if you’re looking for an existing B. Moore color, it’s close to “Fanfare.” A nice grayish blue.
I’m also painting the storage/tool room in this color. It will look great with the olive painted floor! The only room I have left now is the half-bathroom — I have no idea what color I’m putting in there.
*Update*
Benjamin Moore’s “Whirlpool” is an even better match than “Fanfare.” -
Basement Paint Colors
We’re tiling the half-bathroom and laundry room in white Octagon & Dot with charcoal gray grout, and we’re going to paint the rest of the basement floor. Since it’s just paint, I figured I’d pick a fun color (as opposed to tan/brown/gray), so I’m going with “olive tree” by Benjamin Moore. The studio is getting my favorite shade of pink (“wild aster”), and I think the play space will get “sweet pear,” a lighter version of the floor color.
I still need to choose colors for the laundry room (something that will work with our red washer and dryer, which you can kind of see in this lovely picture), and the half-bath (with its very short ceiling and lack of windows). I had a dream that I painted the bathroom orchid, like the Crayola crayon color, but I don’t know if that’s the way to go in reality. And maybe a creamy white for the laundry room? I think a robin’s egg blue would look nice too, but I’m not normally a big fan of blue.
Any suggestions?
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The Dining Room with Painted White Trim
I know, I’ve taken far too long to show you the ‘after’ photos. The problem is that I don’t really see the dining room as a completely finished room yet! It does look a million times brighter with its painted white trim though.
Here’s why I decided to paint the wood trim, and here’s what the room looked like before. Still to do:
- Paint the wall above the picture rail and the ceiling. Probably the same color as the background of the wallpaper.
- Paint the doors.
- Paint the trim in my office and in the living room.
- Find new window treatments. Maybe simple white shades?
- Either get new chairs or reupholster the ones we have. The fabric isn’t very practical for our expanding family.
- Remember to flip the handles on the buffet back the right way before taking pictures next time. Eleanor likes to flip them all up, and I hadn’t noticed until I was editing the photos!
Before and after shots:
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Recycled Paper Bunting (and a Giveaway)
I have a great giveaway for you today (sponsored by Windows Phone 7), but more on that in just a bit. First I want to share a little project with you.
Supplies
- paper (can be new, or can come from magazines/catalogs)
- ribbon (grosgrain works nicely)
- ruler or drafting triangle (optional — see the second step for clarification)
- pencil
- scissors
- decorative edged scissors (optional)
- glue (plain Elmer’s is fine)
- sewing machine or needle and thread (optional)
Instructions
- Determine how long your garland will be and cut the appropriate length of ribbon (mine is nine feet long). Be sure to leave some extra length to hang down on the ends or to tie into bows.
- Cut a triangle out of paper to use as a template. The sides on mine were seven inches long. You don’t have to measure, but a ruler is helpful for making straight lines. I used a drafting triangle, but that is totally unnecessary unless you are persnickety about making true equilateral triangles (*ahem*).
- Trace your template onto different papers to make as many triangles as you need. I cut nine triangles from catalogs and nine from pink card stock.
- Figure out which triangles are going to be the top layer (the patterned ones in my case), and mark off the top one inch from each. Fold it along the line and snip off the little ends that stick out.
- Line up each smaller triangle with a larger one and glue them together along the top to make your flags.
- After I made mine, I decided that they would look even better with a decorative edge so I used my pinking shears. You can leave them plain though, or even draw on a border (dots would be cute).
- Glue or sew your completed triangles to your ribbon, remembering to leave some length along the ends to hang.
- Finished!
And that’s how I made a recycled paper bunting using items from around the house, doing more with less. Speaking of which…
Windows Phone 7 Giveaway
The new Windows Phones are helping people Do More with Less, and I have one to give away to you! You can enter to win by leaving a comment on this post. One entry per person, per day, until November 29. Please see the official rules for more details.This giveaway is brought to you by the new Windows Phone 7. Less tech tired. More tech trendy: Learn more about Windows Phone online and see it in person at local T-Mobile stores today.
* 11.30.10: Congratulations to the winner, TracyCK!