Entryway Updates

Let's take a look back at where this entryway started.

When we moved in to this house about 3 years ago, the entryway looked like this. (This is after we painted the walls, tiled the floors, replaced the green shaggy carpet, and added a shade to the odd light fixture.) The interior side of the front doors started out white. The white was pretty dingy looking, so I painted them the same blackish, brown that I painted the exterior side. I was already painting, so I just went for it. It was a nice change, but it made this dark entryway even darker.

In December, I was finally ready for a change, so I decided to paint the doors a medium gray. I knew that a dark gray or black wouldn't help the the room feel any lighter, and I knew that I didn't want white or a bright color. I have to fess up, though. The doors still need a second coat of paint. The weather has been terrible for painting. I need a nice pretty day, on a day that I can actually stay home, so that I can finish this.

I don't know how this works at your house, but one change usually leads to a series of changes at our house.  I began feeling the need to move all of our artwork around, and when I say all, it really did end up being most of the artwork in the main areas of our house.

 This is a canvas that I initially painted to go above the love seat in the living room. I decided that this entryway needed a nice dose of color, so I moved it here. The artwork that was here got moved to the dining room.

Hopefully, you noticed the new light fixture. One of my friends was changing out some lights in her new house and passed this one on to me. I was pretty excited about it. It was exactly what I have been wanting to go in here. 

 I also added hooks and a framed print. You can read all about that change and find the free printable here.

What do you think about the changes? These updates cost me less than $2! I had the paint for the doors from another project, and everything else was stuff that I was given or already owned. I just had to print the "Home Sweet Home" print.

Have you done anything to brighten up a space in your home recently?


I am linking this post to these blog parties. Please go check them out.
A Bowl Full of Lemons
The Pearl Blog - All Things Pretty Part-ay
Liz Marie Blog
House of Rose
Blissfully Ever After
Love of Home and Family
Tatertots and Jello
I Heart Nap Time
Lil' Luna
Somewhat Simple
Today's Creative Blog
Suburbs Mama
Making Home Base
Design, Dining + Diapers
Frugal Friday - The Shabby Nest 
It's Overflowing

Sentimental Art + Spray Paint

 Our living room and entry have gone through quite a few changes in last few months. One of the many changes is  the art above the record player console table. These asian looking metal art panels used to be in my Mom's house. She purchased them from a second hand store and I have always liked them.

(bad phone pic)

When they were hanging in her house they a yellowish color (the same as her wall color) and the edges of all of the flowers were gold.

I liked the art, but not the color. I had  planned to paint them a color, but when I stood on the spray paint isle I couldn't decide on a color. Nothing seemed right. I was having a party at my house at the end of the week, so I really wanted to get them done. I went with white. It's nice and safe.

 

The white is perfect! It took me a little bit to get used to them looking so different, but I like that they are in my house. They are a nice reminder of my Mom, and they look great!

White spray paint for the win!

Linking up to these Blog Parties Tatertots and Jello - A Bowl Full of Lemons - The Bliss Diaries  - It's Overflowing - The Shabby Nest -House of Hepworths 

Dipped

I have seen lots of "dipped" furniture and accessories over the last several months. To begin with, I wasn't sure if I liked it or not. I'm still not sure that I like the look on furniture, but I thought it might be fun on a vase that I have. You know, the vase that I have probably painted about 15 different colors.

In the past year the vase has gone from white, to teal, to gold, to dipped. I didn't really dip it, I just painted the top teal to achieve the look. I like it, for now anyway.

I have spent a lot of time the last few weeks rearranging things. One week it was curtains, the next week it was furniture, and this past week it was almost all of my accessories.  It got pretty messy around here, but I've just about got everything in it's new home.

Here is a look at the new and improved entry.

It's a lot better than it was before.

I just threw those candlesticks up there for the pic several months ago, it has been bare since Christmas.

Do you notice what else is different? Do you like the dipped trend?


Linking up to these Blog Parties
A Bowl Full of Lemons - Tatertots and Jello - Positely Splendid - Delightful Order - It's Overflowing

Going Dark

As in dark doors. I'm sure you have seen some of the black interior doors floating around blog land. I didn't want to go black, but I did decide that the dark brown almost black that I used on the outside of the exterior doors would also be great on the inside.

Here is a look at what we started with.

I don't hate white doors, but there is a lot of white in this entry and it has just felt off to me. The door needed to be painted anyway (so does every other door that is in this house), so this was the perfect opportunity to try something different.

after

Having double doors makes it feel very dramatic, but if finally feels right. The dresser that is to the left of the door will eventually get painted white and there will eventually be a black upright piano on the wall across from the dresser, so I think that the dark doors will help balance all of that out. I'm really happy that I went ahead and painted them dark.

So what do you think? Do you have any doors in your house that aren't white? Do you have plans to paint any doors?

Paint color - Benjamin Moore exterior paint color matched to Valspar's English Tea Party

House Progress

Here is a look at what we have been up to.

Ripping out 40 year old carpet. 

 Taking out balusters (do you see how far apart these are?)

Laying tile on the bottom floor.

Getting old and new balusters ready to paint.

We still have a lot to do before we move on Saturday. I'm just really thankful for all of the family and friends that have done so much to help. 

There is still a chance that the new carpet for upstairs will be in and installed by Friday, but it will most likely be one day next week. It looks like we will be camping out in the playroom downstairs until it's all done. 

When I have a chance I plan to make and post a list of all of the projects on the to do list, it's long. I plan to take my time, but I'm not sure how long I will be able to look at all of the wallpaper.