Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Adding Visual Warmth to a Room

Today, I'm taking a break from showing off my cottage study, to show off 
something else!!!!!

A couple of weeks ago, I painted this table.....

It was a pure coincidence that the blue was the same color as the blue of my dining room wallpaper.
I love the look of board and batten paneling,
 but my dining room has felt cold and sterile to me,
 with so much white on the walls.
(I know, you're probably wondering.....
how can a room with so much @#$ feel sterile????
Well, let's just say that
 I NEED A LOT OF STUFF TO FEEL COZY!!!!!)
So I hauled the table into the dining room, and placed it on its side, so I could see if I would like the recessed panels painted the same way.....
My idea was to paint them in the blue wood graining.......
Yeah, 
that was my idea.....

It doesn't hurt to try it on one panel.....
right?????
So I did...
First, I painted it in Annie Sloan chalk paint, color: Louis Blue
 (yay!!!, I spelled Annie Sloan right this time!!!!)

My sister in law, Faye, was very confused at this point,
 because my family was over for dinner,
 and she couldn't understand how the blue of the panel was going to end up matching the blue of the wallpaper......
Oh, ye of little faith.....
Then I painted a wash of watered down Old White over the blue
 and used my wood graining tool.....
Then I waxed it in regular and dark wax,
stood back,
and hated it.....
It looked like dirty water marked satin.....
The dark wax wasn't doing it, ya know????
So I descended into my dungeon basement,
 and grabbed my mineral spirits, 
and wiped off the wax.....
Well.....
The color was better, but the pattern still didn't look like wood, but satin....
I didn't like this, no, no, no!!!!!
So, I put my thinking cap on.....
analyzed why it looked like@#$.....
I realized, there were too many knot holes and the pattern was too small.
So I googled to see it I could find a bigger wood grainer.
YEP!!!
They make em!!!
In all my brilliance,
 before I grabbed my credit card
 and ordered me some of that there stuff....
I went back down into my dudgeon basement, and looked in my drawer of special paint tools.....
I already had one!!!!!
This is what happens when you buy stuff,and then take 7 years to learn how to use it.....
You can't remember what you gots!!!
I GOTS LOTS OF GOOD STUFF!!!!!
So, I decided to try my hand at a few more panels.....

Step one....
CHECK!!!

Step two
CHECK!!!
I pulled off the tape.....
AND I WAS LOVING THE NEW PANELS!!!!
The color doesn't need the wax, so I am 
NOT WAXING....
ONE LESS STEP!!!!!
YIPPEE!!!!
I have already painted over the first panel I did, it's drying while I type!!!
Here are some close ups of the new panels....


I am going to have to paint some kind of a border around the inside of each panel, because the graining tool didn't make a nice bottom and top edge.
I may go for a tromp l'oiel raised panel effect, I have to think about it.
Knowing the way my mind works, this may take another 7 years.....
Anyway.....
here's the before and after for comparison.
I think the paint really warms up the space visually.....
 Try to ignore the newspaper on the floor with the blue painters tape in a wad....
Just a little more color and pattern, to make the room more homey to me!
So, tomorrow, I will paint the bad panel,
(sounds like a pet; bad panel! drop the cookie!!!)
and do three more.
I figure if I do 4 a day, I can get this done by the weekend!!!!
Then I will take lots of pictures, and make all you guys look at them!!!

Latah, Gatah
Photobucket
partying at:

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love your blog-
love your spunk-
love your ideas--
love your panels!

Mari said...

Oh wow I'm loving it.....
Can't wait to see it all complete ;)

Smiles~
Mari

Nita Stacy said...

I hate to say it but I liked the plain white better. It looks more classic but kudos to you for trying something new.

Vicki said...

Well, if it were my house, I'd like the white panels better, but I think the wood graining looks fantastic, really convincing!You is so smart about the scale of the grain. :)

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

Love it, it DOES warm up an already cozy room. Good job!!!

LuvWheaties said...

Love your style. Not loving the wood graining, though.

sweet violets said...

I also love your style and your spunk for trying something new!!! However, I like the white panels better, charming!!! Maybe its the all white tablecloth that made you feel uncozy.....how about a runner or bare table??? Or how about a scarf.....

Unknown said...

I love the blue!!!! I think youdid this beautifully and it SO matches the style of the room! :)

HUgs,

Anne Boykin said...

Whatever you do just adds to the mix and looks great! I love your rooms and your blog.

Anonymous said...

As long as it makes you happy, but I liked the white better before, I think it's the solid tablecloth and the small decor on the table that's making it feel cold.

Anonymous said...

I like the painted panels quite a bit, they warm it up and add some depth. I'd like to see when you get the bad panel done.

Brenda Pruitt said...

You are a genius, Ms. Betsy! And I know what you mean about forgetting you already have something. Been there, done that. Still doing it... Probably will continue to do it... You are the funniest gal in Blog Land. Thanks for joining my first party! Wouldn't be a party without Ms. Betsy, for you're the life of any party!
Brenda

Unknown said...

You're so funy, I don't care what you do!!
I definitely like the larger wood grainer better, but I wondered how a blue tablecloth--runner or flowers... would look along with table you just painted.(thats instead of the panels you have just spent hours on.)
Whatever you do will have me drooling.

laney said...

...you are just too funny...and too smart...and too talented...and i realize that i keep saying the same thing over and over...but...it is all too true...blessings laney

laney said...

...you are just too funny...and too smart...and too talented...and i realize that i keep saying the same thing over and over...but...it is all too true...blessings laney

Connie@Connie Nikiforoff Designs said...

Pretty cool...ummm...I mean pretty warm! :-)

I like the room both ways. But then I love white rooms. Oh I know,if you saw my house you'd wonder when I was going to get around to decorating it. LOL!

Can't wait to see the rest of the room completed.

Anonymous said...

Oh no! The simple white was classy and beautiful and I really don't mean to be mean but the wood grain is really tacky. (sorry)
I do think it needs cozying up but not like this. (sorry)

Anonymous said...

I just found you through Pinterest. I do not know how I missed you all these years. You are such a refreshing change from the neutral decor that is rampant in decorating blogs. I feel like I found a treasure. Love the panels! Keep going!

April D said...

"I gots lots of good stuff" had me laughing out loud for real...that about describes my chock-full cabinets, closets, and garage. I LIKE the wall treatment--would never have thought of that! Your room is SO beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Liked the room better before the painted panels! I think it's the table and chairs that are "not working." maybe it looks better in real life! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog!!

Cathy and Paul @One Creative Couple said...

I just read the post before mine and realized that they said exactly what I'm thinking. I think all of the white comes from your tablecloth and furniture. I bet if you change the tablecloth and chair covers to blue or some other color that coordinates with your room you'll like it more. Of course, what do I know! You had the design career so I'm sure your instincts are better than mine. Also, I, too, love, love, love your blog!

Nancy's Daily Dish said...

Love this! I have to have lots of stuff to feel cozy too. I've tried to decorate in the minimalist style but it doesn't work out for me. I keep seeing empty spots and they need something! I can't stand a wall or table with nothing on it. Less is just less in my opinion!

Love your style!

Unknown said...

I agree! I love the color! I too am so tired of neutral and white. I love your panels and paint treatment! :)

~Liz

Lady Courtney said...

Gorgeous!!!

pipigirl said...

i myself, happen to love the wood grain AND i REALLY love the color.......

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

I like this better! Just my opinion....but since I totally agree with you....that means I am right!

Your posts always make me laugh! That is a good thing :)

Can't wait to see the whole room....

Lou Cinda :)

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