Painting My Way to Happiness
For many years, the idea of a full interior paint refresh left me feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. My husband and I would often talk ourselves out of it, saying “maybe next year.” To be honest, I only have myself to blame – if I had insisted, it would have happened. But the thought of packing up every room, choosing the perfect colors, and dealing with the disruption was just too daunting.
Until the pandemic hit, that is. A restless energy came over me, and I suddenly felt inspired to take the plunge. I started calling around for quotes, and before I knew it, a talented two-man crew was at our doorstep, ready to transform our home. Little did I know just how much joy this project would bring me.
Navigating the Color Conundrum
As I watched the transformation unfold, room by room, I was captivated by the process. I scrutinized color samples endlessly, doing meticulous online research – sometimes well into the wee hours of the night. I visited paint stores countless times, collecting chips and testing out pint-sized cans. It was an obsession, but one I embraced wholeheartedly.
One thing I quickly learned? Picking colors is a lot more involved than it was 20 years ago when we first built our home. Back then, I simply gathered a bunch of paint chips, chose my favorites, and called it a day. But this time, I had to be much more strategic. I learned about the importance of natural versus artificial lighting and the concept of light reflectance value (LRV) – a scale from 1 to 100 that tells you how light or dark a color is.
Kylie M Interiors has a fantastic blog post that delves into the nitty-gritty of LRV, and it was a game-changer for me. Armed with this knowledge, I carefully selected colors ranging from 50 to 63 LRV – saturated, but not overpowering.
From Beige to Breathtaking
As I look back at the “before” photos, I’m struck by just how much our home has transformed. Back in 2003, when we first built the place, beige was all the rage. We had chosen a golden wheat for the main living areas and a beige with pink undertones for the upstairs bedrooms. A pale yellow adorned the finished basement and my husband’s office, while a cheery peach livened up the main floor powder room.
Fast forward to today, and those neutral tones have been replaced with a stunning array of greens, beachy tones, grieges, and grays. The dining room remains its rich, deep red, and the powder room still sports its vibrant peach. But the rest of the house has undergone a complete color reboot, and I couldn’t be happier with the results.
Embracing the Green
You know, I never expected to gravitate towards so much green in our home, but the more I immersed myself in the process, the more drawn I became to those earthy, calming hues. The olive-toned staircase is my absolute favorite, and I’m thrilled that I asked for a do-over on that one.
Laurie’s journey with her own home color reboot was a true inspiration to me. Her meticulous attention to detail and thoughtful approach really resonated, and I found myself nodding along as she described the challenges of choosing the perfect shades.
A Kaleidoscope of Grays
But it wasn’t just the greens that captivated me. The grays and grieges we incorporated throughout the house have been an absolute revelation. I’ll never forget the moment I saw the first coat of gray go up on the walls – it was like watching a whole new world unfold before my eyes. Suddenly, the space felt so much more fresh and modern, yet still warm and inviting.
As Laurie mentioned, it’s crucial to be aware of how lighting can transform a color. Grays, in particular, can easily shift towards blue or purple, depending on the conditions. I learned this the hard way when I saw a bedroom that was supposed to be a soft, smoky gray suddenly take on a decidedly lavender hue. From that point on, I became obsessive about testing out colors and scrutinizing them in various lighting.
Bringing it All Together
In the end, I’m thrilled with the palette we landed on. The main floor features a gorgeous griege called Revere Pewter, which creates a beautiful, cohesive backdrop for the rest of the home. Upstairs, we went with a cooler-toned gray in the bedrooms, complemented by pops of vibrant green in the hallway and staircase.
And let’s not forget about the doors and trim! I took a cue from Jenna Sue’s expert advice and painted them a warm, mushroomy-beige shade called Loggia. It’s the perfect neutral canvas to showcase our new hardware and knobs.
Speaking of hardware, I have to admit, I got a little carried away with that part of the project. But hey, when you’re refreshing your home, you might as well go all out, right? I fell in love with Schlage’s vast array of customizable options, and I just couldn’t resist mixing and matching different finishes and styles throughout the house.
A Home Transformed
As I look around our freshly painted space, I’m struck by the remarkable transformation. The once-beige walls have given way to a vibrant, harmonious palette that truly reflects our personal style. It’s as if the house has been revived, infused with a renewed energy and warmth.
And you know what the best part is? I no longer feel that sense of dread and overwhelm when I think about home improvement projects. In fact, I’m itching to tackle the next one! Whether it’s refinishing the floors, updating the light fixtures, or even tackling the exterior, I’m ready to dive in and make our I Living Homes space truly our own.
So if you’re like me, and the idea of a full-blown color reboot has been lingering in the back of your mind, I say go for it! Take the plunge, embrace the process, and get ready to fall in love with your home all over again.
