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Re-re-decorating

15 November 2009 48 Comments

fandeckWe’ve been living in our home since 1996. That’s 13 years now. When we first moved in, we just had the rooms painted white, because I felt like I wanted to get a real feel for my surroundings before I committed myself to colors. And also because who could think in a house that was covered in floral borders and crazy teal green painted trim? Besides its previous owners?

We went room by room and my house became a warm, homey kind of home. Since we have great views of the mountains and our property is covered with century old trees, our color palette became earthy tones of greens, ambers, creams, browns and a persimmon type color.

If you’ve been living in your house awhile you get to the point where it’s time to redo all that paint.  Life happens and with it comes hand prints, marks, fashions and “what was I thinking”. My home could really use some freshening up.

So I went and painted our master bedroom this weekend.  And now……I’m in a frenzy because I realize the other rooms all need to be redone now too. For me it’s like being let into the warehouse of zappos.com. So many awesome choices that I’m overwhelmed. My mission is to work floor by floor, as we live in a 4 level home. First at hand, level 3: kitchen, dining area and living room.  But I am at a complete and total loss.

cornhuskFound a picture online of a room done in a color I’m considering. Behr Corn Husk Green in the kitchen. I am thinking this could work really well there as it is open to the living room and dining room. The kitchen, as it stands now, is in a Persimmon red color and while it’s a fun color, I’ve had enough of it (I think). There is not a lot of empty wall space in my kitchen so I’m not afraid of using too bold of a color there. (Clearly)

And while I was snooping around online today for ideas I came across some great IPhone/IPod Touch applications for us do it yourself decorators. (Because if you’ve been reading here awhile you KNOW I am an IPhone Geek.)

  1. Colorsnap: A free application by Sherwin Williams. Take an existing photo or a new photo and this great application will convert the portion of the photo you highlight into a Sherwin Williams color.  It will also give you co-ordinating palette color suggestions. So if you’re in a store and love a fabric color, you can now match it up to a paint right on the spot. Great one!
  2. Ben Color Capture: Another free application by Benjamin Moore. Same principal as the one above. It will take the photo and show you the entire swatch card for darker and lighter hues, as well as coordinating colors. Another great one
  3. Handyman Sidekick:   This one isn’t free, but at $1.99 it’s still worthwhile. It’s a paint, wallpaper, flooring and garden calculator all in one. It stores your measurements too. It also has a flashlight feature. What more could you ask for?
  4. Stanley Level: It’s free and from Stanley and shocker….it’s a level.  Download it, it’s great.

Do you see how less wound up I am, now that this PTA function is over?  Exhale.

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48 Comments. Click to leave one of your own!

  • November 15 2009 at 7:56 PM blueviolet said:

    That greenish color is really nice. I could see that in a kitchen!
    .-= blueviolet´s last blog ..What the Blog is Up with this Blog? =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 12:19 PM

    I painted one section so far just to test it out, and it’s looking really nice!

    [Reply]

  • November 15 2009 at 8:55 PM Zen Mom said:

    Are you sure you’re not talking about my house? I’m at the same point. And I’m one of those sick people out there who actually love to paint. If the hubby could just take the kids out for the day. Hmmm….

    And darn, I wish I had an iPhone. Those look like some great apps.
    .-= Zen Mom´s last blog ..Me No Meme =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 15th, 2009 at 10:30 PM

    Are you sure you are not my twin? I LOVEEEEEEEE to paint!! Love it! Theraputic! I painted my office and the laundry room last year because I knew my husband would take my son and vanish for the weekend. I was a little bummed that he helped me yesterday because I didn’t get to do it in “zen”.

    [Reply]

  • November 15 2009 at 9:03 PM Menopausal New Mom said:

    I love choosing paint colors. Our home is done in 4 colors only, 4 floors and I like to keep it simple. Makes the flow from room to room a lot easier on the eyes. We have rusty red, pale yellowy cream, deeper yellowy cream and blue like the print in my name on this post. Bedrooms and bathrooms are blue, kitchen and music room are rusty red with the yellowy cream in the rest of the home with one landing the darker yellowy cream. Gorgeous! People who visit are always asking for our color numbers so they can duplicate it. We’ve had it for about 3 years so I’m hoping to get another 3 out of it before I get the bug to change again. Good luck to you and let us know how it turns out!

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 12:25 PM

    Your house sounds beautiful and warm! I’d love to see pictures of it.

    [Reply]

  • November 15 2009 at 9:13 PM susan said:

    My sister-in-law painted her kitchen a color that was more green than yellow (I can’t for the life of me remember the color choice!) and although I was skeptical at first, it looks really nice. We are slowly redoing our main bathroom. We painted it a golden color and I love it! (Now we have to update everything else-lol! :)
    .-= susan´s last blog ..Unlucky No. 13 =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 12:28 PM

    I love redecorating. It’s been such a long time since I put some energy into our house, but I’m getting back into the swing of it. The bathroom is next for me here too :)

    [Reply]

  • November 15 2009 at 9:17 PM Jane said:

    I am color phobic and stress out when having to decide colors for a room. Our kitchen looked like a patchwork quilt with all the paint squares I had up FOR WEEKS before I finally chose a color. I can truly empathize!
    .-= Jane´s last blog ..An Artist I’m Not – But He Is =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 12:40 PM

    And what color did you choose?

    [Reply]

  • November 15 2009 at 10:19 PM areeba lakhat said:

    Hey, Good luck with the paint!! I think that is the hardest part of redecorating..I really like the corn husk color. I think it will brighten up the kitchen..what color are your cabinets?
    .-= areeba lakhat´s last blog ..Birthday Bash Takeover! =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 12:42 PM

    They are a maple color. I went ahead and painted a portion of the room and I’m thinking it’s going to look really nice. I’ll take a photo when it’s finished.

    [Reply]

  • November 15 2009 at 10:56 PM Noelle said:

    oh, i agonize over color choices. i so badly want a red room but i’m afraid…

    kudos to you for having the courage to color.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 12:46 PM

    The red was really awesome. I think that’s part of why I was so slow to freshen the paint up there. I will miss having a red room!

    [Reply]

  • November 15 2009 at 11:32 PM Lauren
    @ on twitter.
     said:

    Those iPhone apps are too cool. Wow! My house definitely needs a lift. When we bought our house, all the floors were covered with wall-to-wall carpeting. We yanked out most of it but still have three rooms covered with the stuff. I’d love to rip it all out and throw down some area rugs.

    Your location sounds perfect. I used to shoot houses and write real estate brochures many years ago. So, as I’m reading your post, I’m trying to guess what kind of house you have. I’m thinking Cape.

    Where I live, there are no street lights and most of the streets are named after animals, expect for mine, which is named after one of the first Mayors of New York City, Seth Low.
    .-= Lauren´s last blog ..Ask your Masseuse about Sunday Blogger Spotlight and relax while you blog =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 12:50 PM

    It’s actually called a split level, but our naeighborhood is filled with capes. We have no street lights or sidewalks here either, which I love. It makes me feel like I am a lot further away from the city than I am.

    [Reply]

    Lauren
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 3:07 PM

    Split was my second choice.

    Re no street lights, isn’t it hard to find streets at night? I live on top of a mountain. We have no sidewalks either. Just in town.
    .-= Lauren´s last blog ..I’d like to thank the academy, I mean Holly, for the Heartfelt Blog Award =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 3:45 PM

    I have no problem finding the streets. The problem I have is weaving through the huge piles of leaves in front of the homes, at night!

    [Reply]

    Lauren
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 4:09 PM

    Sounds tricky.

    Our leaves freeze before they hit the ground and then explode upon impact. :)
    .-= Lauren´s last blog ..Which Governing Bodies have Lost their Heads? =-.

    [Reply]

  • November 15 2009 at 11:49 PM Alba Guevara said:

    I have been wanting to apint my house since I moved in 3 years ago. I know what colors but not what shades. Then I think about how permanent and how long I am going to keep those colors. So many choices. Good luck.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 12:53 PM

    It’s really not all that permanent really, you can always paint over it, right?? I say…go for it!

    [Reply]

  • November 16 2009 at 5:24 AM DG at Diaryofamadbathroom said:

    I love color. The bolder the better. I love that green. Go for it!
    .-= DG at Diaryofamadbathroom´s last blog ..Saturday Recap =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 12:54 PM

    I am! I am!

    [Reply]

  • November 16 2009 at 6:18 AM Beth said:

    I like the green color. When we moved into our house (not ours as in you and me – ours as in mine and my husbands), there was wallpaper everywhere. And it all had birds on it. Creepy!

    Since then, I’ve managed to paint every room except the den. The den has real pine paneling and I just can’t bear to paint it. Yet.
    .-= Beth´s last blog ..Broken =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 3:22 PM

    What, no birds left? We have paneling in our family room. Just on one wall, but it was cheap paneling, so we tore it done. Not sure I would have painted over pine either.

    [Reply]

  • November 16 2009 at 10:34 AM jen smith said:

    ok – should i take all credit for inspiring your creative side to get to work? totally kidding!!!! but so fun that you are doing this – my problem is that i want to do it monthly, change everything, the paint, etc. i’ve learned to just rearrange a few tables and the couch to get my fix! happy painting — trade you the painting of my girls’ room for patio cushions? i hate painting!!!!!
    .-= jen smith´s last blog ..matter the most monday… =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 3:19 PM

    Actually, you should take credit. You’ve shamed me into updating my home! And now I’m on a roll with it! Home Goods, here I come!

    [Reply]

  • November 16 2009 at 12:27 PM kys said:

    Those apps sound great. I wonder if I can find something similar for my Hero HTC? I have a greenish shade in my house and I love it. Good luck with all your work! I’m sure it will beautiful when you’re done.
    .-= kys´s last blog ..Memoir Monday: Grandma Bill =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 3:29 PM

    Hmm, not sure you can use on your HTC, but it’s worth finding out. They are fun to have.

    [Reply]

  • November 16 2009 at 8:55 PM Lauren
    @ on twitter.
     said:

    Nancy,

    I have an award for you. When you have a moment, please stop by to pick it up.
    .-= Lauren´s last blog ..Ask your Masseuse about Sunday Blogger Spotlight and relax while you blog =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 3:33 PM

    Thank you, thank you I will “wear” it with pride!

    [Reply]

    Lauren
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 3:41 PM

    :)

    I don’t know if I’m following you on Twitter. If I’m not, I will do so pronto.
    .-= Lauren´s last blog ..Which Governing Bodies have Lost their Heads? =-.

    [Reply]

  • November 17 2009 at 9:48 AM submom
    @ on twitter.
     said:

    I like the green. We waited for 6 years before we painted the rooms. Our kitchen is olivish green and I really like the feel of it. My coworker just painted his kitchen in Nantuket Grey (which is quite green). I just googled it: people actually blogged about this color. huh? LOL. Have fun! And try and don’t stress out. We don’t have window treatment at all because I can’t deal with the stress of choosing and agonizing. I also try not to read home decorating magazines, or Pottery Bran catalogues for that matter. They all make me anxious.
    .-= submom´s last blog ..“Bring Back Thanksgiving!” Number One, baby! =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 3:34 PM

    I found that picture above by googling the paint color!! It’s so hard to pick a color..there are so many to choose from and my choices change by the mood I am in.

    [Reply]

  • November 17 2009 at 1:14 PM Marni said:

    Love the color you selected. How does it look?

    Thanks for the great apps. I’ll be downloading them for sure.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 3:46 PM

    So far so good! I painted one corner of the kitchen. The one that shows the most wall space. I really do like it! Very fresh and “happy”.

    Enjoy the apps!

    [Reply]

  • November 17 2009 at 3:07 PM Unknown Mami said:

    You know I’m going to have to download the level application. How cool is that?
    .-= Unknown Mami´s last blog ..I Comment Therefore I Am =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 3:46 PM

    Did you download it??

    [Reply]

  • November 17 2009 at 3:24 PM Mama Zen said:

    I’m going to have to get one of those apps. I’m hopeless when it comes to picking colors.
    .-= Mama Zen´s last blog ..Review: My Baby First Steps =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 3:52 PM

    After using them for awhile, I can say that while they are fun, the paint apps don’t alaways capture the color correctly. You have to be in the most perfect lighting for it to work well.

    [Reply]

  • November 17 2009 at 3:42 PM Momisodes said:

    I love the cornhusk color. I completely understand and relate on the color issues inside of a home. Our last place, I honestly think I repainted the walls at LEAST 3 times. All different colors. Every color I went with looked totally different than in the brochures at Home Depot. We’ve been in our current home for 2 years, and I’m starting to get that itch to change some rooms already.

    Thanks so much for these links!
    .-= Momisodes´s last blog ..This little piggy has a beef =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 4:05 PM

    Someone put the color/redo bug in me too and now I can’t seem to stop!

    Hope you’re feeling well!!!

    [Reply]

  • November 17 2009 at 9:20 PM NathanRising said:

    Oooh I like the green. Green is one of my favorite colors… hubby and I painted our son’s room BRIGHT, BRIGHT festive green! (Before he was born, the room was gray and I adamently refused to put him in such a depressing room!)Good luck with all the painting and redecorating. I know how that is. We’re constantly having to repair, redecorate, and redo since our house is so old…
    -Jen

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 4:22 PM

    I’m really liking it! It’s so fresh and clean looking. I can’t wait to hit Home Goods for accessories!

    [Reply]

  • November 18 2009 at 11:02 AM jen smith said:

    are crazy things going on with your blog? i tried to log on last night and it said it was suspended???? and then the icon on my page, the button, disappeared from my blog — what’s going on way over there??????????????
    .-= jen smith´s last blog ..that turquoise wall… =-.

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 18th, 2009 at 12:58 PM

    I was trouble shooting why this blog was running so slowly lately. So I suspended myself off my server to try to narrow down the problem. All better now! Thank you for missing me!

    [Reply]

  • November 20 2009 at 12:18 PM Jenny in Ca said:

    I heart iphone!!! great, great apps! We’ve been in our house almost 7 years, we’ve done a few things, but now I’m feeling the bug to paint or re-paint all the rooms!

    [Reply]

    Nancy
    @ on twitter.


    Replied on : November 22nd, 2009 at 12:13 PM

    Happy painting!

    [Reply]

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