Pinning Down Dining Room Colors

Deep Space by Benjamin Moore is the color I keep coming back to for the dining room walls. I thought it would look good with the breakfront in the dining room, blending in the furniture more and modernizing the space while lending a magnificent dark canvas for the ikat stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils.

I decided to try out a couple of other colors as well. I always look at options so I am quite sure when I pick my final color. I liked Ralph Lauren's Bleeker and Spun Twilight. Yesterday I made a trip to Home Depot as I know they have the software to match colors from other paint companies at a fraction of the cost and I only needed samples. I had the samples done in Behr's Premium Ultra Plus (paint and primer in one).

Here is the stencil sample again in the three metallics from Nova Color.

Top left - Stainless Steel

Top Right - Antique Silver

Bottom - Silver

Stainless steel. This turned out to be lighter than I thought it would be.

Antique Silver. This had been my first choice from the website but too dark now.

Silver. Seems to be the popular choice now. It is a favorite at home and most of you who commented on my last post here seemed to like it, too.

 

I painted these on the dining room walls late last night. The light is not perfect (very little sunlight) but I think the metallic stenciling will reflect light and lighten up the space. That is one of the reasons I chose to go metallic with the stencil. Also, I want the dining room to have more ambient light. It will create a mood. It is not easy to see here but Deep Space is really deep and looks blue-black and Spun Twilight has more grey in it whereas Bleeker is definitely more green.

I paint on different walls so one can see the colors in different light. On this wall you can see the difference in the top two (switched).

This is also how I normally work with paints. I like to see the colors against the furniture to get a better idea of the effect it would have so I painted smaller samples by the breakfront.

Again, the stencil in different light - poster board on the mantle in the living room. I had considered going more subtle (almost tone-on-tone) with the overall pattern since the wall color itself will be so bold.

But then I see these together and I think go bold!

 

Deep Space is darker than it appears here but I still like it. What do you think?

I also think I will use the same wall color below the chair rail.

Enjoy your weekend! We have the Superbowl to look forward to! I do not like to admit that I do not fully understand American football but after 18 years in this country it is time I sat through an entire game.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

Please Note: I have not been compensated in any way for this post.

Painted Sample Of Stencil

I will share this one picture with you today of the three samples of acrylic metallic paint I bought to test for the stencil for the dining room. Done on posterboard without the ideal paint rollers but it gives one an idea of the colors. I am planning on a dark wall background and these will have a different effect on a dark wall. At first glance, which color grabs you - top left, top right or bottom?. It was not easy getting the perfect picture because naturally the light reflects off these paints.

More details  and close-ups in my next post.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

What Is Your Choice Of Headboard?

Before I get to the main content of today's post I wanted to say a quick thank you to those who left comments on the Skypak airline trolley post yesterday. I received an email from Skypak and they also left this comment;

 

 

Hey guys,
thank you so much for the great feedback! We are really happy you guys like what we are doing! If you have further questions feel free to contact us via crew[at]skypak[dot]de
All the best from Germany
Kay from Skypak

For today, a short post with inspirational pictures of headboards. This morning I am meeting a client for a follow-up on an idea for a headboard (among other things). These pictures clearly prove that one's creativity can be put to the test.

Distressed wood, vintage time-ticker. Anthropologie

Not sure of source

Reclaimed wood from floor joists and metal frame. Sundance via Pinterest

Gate. Anthropologie

via Elle Decor

via Elle Decor

via Elle Decor

 

 

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

I am a huge proponent of green design and came across Kelly's blog, Refreshed Designs, very recently. A newly discovered blogger to me, Kelly shares invaluable ideas and tips on sustainable and affordable design. Here are a couple of my favorite pictures from her post  Green Idea: Creative DIY Headboards where you will find more inspiration. Head on over and check out the rest.

via Apartment Therapy

via Molitli 

This next picture begs the question, "How would you feel about no headboard?"

via Elle Decor

This weekend I will be tackling my dining room stencil paint samples and other projects and we plan on taking the kids to see the new movie, Hugo. I cannot believe we are in the last weekend of January!

Enjoy your weekend! What are your plans?

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

An Airline Trolley For Your Home or Office?

A novel idea using airline trolleys as a piece of furniture on wheels customized to suit any space. Skypak founder Peter Jorge Fischer has taken this perfectly utilitarian airline bar cart made from original aviation equipment and has transformed it into a modern, glamourous, fun, unique piece of furniture with interior drawers and shelving in walnut or aluminum. Take a look at some of the luxury pieces the designers have created.

Coffee bar.

Extra storage in the kitchen.

Mini wardrobe....

.... with shoe storage.

 

Airport codes on exterior.

 

Stereo.

Available with company logos.

CD storage unit with custom-built pullout drawers.

 

Industrial glamor - studded with 82,000 Swarovski crystals!!

24-carat gold leaf exterior.

Mosaic tiles by Bisazza Mosaico exclusively for Skypak.

Imagine. From this...

...to this. Style.

All images via. For more details visit Skypak

The airline trolley is clearly multifunctional. The integrity of the original design is not compromised - the trolley is still recognizeable with the hardware, overall frame and the wheels (which adds to its versatility). It would be perfect for small spaces. What could you use one for? I could dress one up inside and out with my jewelry - a perfect storage solution!

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

Dining Room Stencil Paint

Back in the Fall I had shared some pictures of the dining room as well as some ideas of what I was contemplating for the walls. Go here and here. 

I had also purchased this Saida Ikat stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils which I am excited to try above the chair rail.



Here is a platter from Macau which I want to use as partial inspiration for the walls. It has a lot of pretty colors but I have been toying with the idea of a metallic for the stenciling but in a shade of silver.

Earlier this month I had ordered some acrylic metallic paint samples from Nova Color which sat in this box for a few days by the front door. I did not want to open it until I had taken down my Christmas decorations.

This colorful chart is what I found when I opened the box.

My first thought was that it looks like a chart for some fun nail polish color - I am sure I have tried at least half of these shades at some point!

The samples I ordered are Silver, Stainless Steel and Antique Silver. The Silver and Antique Silver are pearlescent-opaque whereas the Stainless Steel is a metallic. The pearlescent characteristic means the paint will change color depending on how the light hits it (refraction). Opaque will ensure the overall base wall color will not show through the pearlescent color.

I have never tried Nova paints before and am excited to see how these look. I am also working on determining the color of the walls. I am thinking darker for more impact and drama but that will depend on which sample I like best and whether to have the stencil contrast with the wall or be more subtle. I will share more pictures as I make progress with this project. Do you think I should go light or dark on the walls?

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa