I'm Not a Photographer...

Unfortunately, I am not the photographer in the family.  It really isn't for lack of trying.  I see things in my mind, but I can't capture them.  My husband has the photographic gene...but he lacks my vision...sorry honey!!

Anyways...I tweeked the front entry way a little more.  I wanted to hang a gold mirror above the Bombe chest...to add a little bit of Versaille into the mix.  I got an inexpensive mirror from Ross, and painted it with liquid gold foil.  I.Hated.It.  It looked like I painted on gold paint (which I suppose I did), but it looked cheap.  So I got real gold foil.  I'm not quite sure what I was thinking.  Of course, it was difficult to apply and got everywhere.  I sprayed on the glue, which made my previous gold paint start to smeer and melt off.  The gold foil is sticky, and by the time I essentially gave up, my hands were covered with gold.  I had to ultimately use a little Mineral Spirits to get it off.  Several days later, I came back to the mirror and was pleasantly surprised that it didn't look horrible.  After rubbing off the excess, it looked rustically elegant.  So I ripped off the blue tape, and called it good.

The following pictures are my lame attempts at capturing the detail of the Bombe chest.  As an aside,  I think I need a whiter lamp shade.  The cream just looks off.  Perhaps black!?

Eff it....heres the damn dog again.

Here is my marble bistro table with my crystal chandelier.  When I came home to this a few weeks ago, I literally gasped.  It took my breath away.  And there is no way you would know that, from this horrible picture :(.

I 

I think the house is worse than before, but you have to get worse to get better.  Clutter is like acne, and my house has a HUGE ass zit...

 Like the hole in the wall of our kitchen?  The previous house owner had a hard wired home phone...with a cord.  You know the one.  You probably had one in the 80's.  Its probably been there since the 80's.  It's going to the Re-Store if anyone is interested ;).

I want that bifold door to be a black 4 panel so bad...

Left hand bottom corner = the seat cushions are completed!!  

Needs organization...

I am getting new "collars" for these can lights.

Downstairs bathroom:

Mirror needs to be rehung properly...

Medicine cabinet has got to go...

Current puppies playroom:

Safe and Warm by the Fire

When we first bought our house, I went back and forth with myself about the brick fireplace.  In some ways, I  loved it...it was rustic and classic.  But ultimately, I didn't want to actually OWN one.  It just seems a little to Cinderella for my taste. I wanted something gorgeous and elegant, like this:

Or this...

or even this one.

There wasn't anything super unobtainable about these fireplaces.  Nothing really a few thousand dollars wouldn't cure...a few thousand dollars we don't have...and would probably never chose to spend on just a fireplace.  Although, I have to admit that middle one above is to die for.  

Really what I pulled out of the above is that I love white fireplaces.  This is totally doable in two ways... a simple less expensive way and a difficult more expensive way.  

P.S. any one else dying over the brown and white room above?!  I am IN LOVE with it!!

Instead of waiting many months or even years to get a mantle to cover the brick (which could always be an option in the future) I bit the bullet and decided to paint our fireplace Dove White.  Here is my story...

I looked it instructions and tips online, as I usually do before starting a project.  They told me it was rather simple.  Tape off what you don't want painted, get a nice fluffy roller and get to it!  Simple as that.

Nothing is ever that simple right?!

I did like I was told.

1) Tape?  Done.  No need to tape near the walls or floor...because...um well because I painted the entire house and I trust I will be okay...plus if I get some on the walls, I have more wall paint to fix it.  If I get it on the carpeting...well I better be careful right?

2)  Let the painting begin!  That grin on my face is a combination of "oh crap I can't believe I'm doing this" and "take the damn picture!!"

3)  Hey!  This is kind of fun!!  As you can see...the tape was handy.

4)  Okay...getting nervous now!  Right before this picture was taken, my perfectionist mom came over to visit before going wine tasting.  "Ohhhh...it looks nice..."  You could hear the hesitation in her voice, and I don't blame her.  I was nervous too.  But I also knew this was coat #1.

5)  Never mind!  I love it!!  After three coats of paint, it was flawless.  All the little nooks and crannies were saturated in the soft creamy white paint, and I couldn't be any happier with the results.  I purchased some Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint...so the next project will be to paint the fireplace grate.  

What about you?  What spur of the moment thing have you done to your house??

**UPDATE!!**

Last night, I decided to tape off everything and spray paint the grate Oil Rubbed Bronze...at 11pm...on a work night.  This is what happens when Mr Chateau goes on business trips.  I primed it and painted it...and learned a harsh lesson...don't just tape it off...make sure to cover EVERY piece of the fireplace in paper...unless you have more paint to fix the over spray.  Luckily, I did.  

I was too lazy to look for the memory card...and wouldn't you know?  It has gone missing.  Thank goodness for iPhones (sorry for the poor quality).  I also redecorated the fireplace...I suppose I should call this Fireplace 2012 v2:

Paint Color:  Dove White and Cosmopolitan by Benjamin Moore

Candles: Ikea (got to love the prices!)

Milk Crate: Privet House by Target (Spring 2012)

Dog Toy Basket: TJ Maxx (Spring 2012)

Silver Mercury Globe: Pottery Barn (Spring 2012)

Gold Mercury Globe: Ross (Spring 2012)

Sid Dicken Tiles (2012)

Lantern: Privet House by Target (Spring 2012)

Bust: TJ Maxx

Drawing: Etsy Artist Drawworm, Kelley

Bienvenue à Notre Petit Château!

Our house closed nearly a month ago (we are three days shy) and the first thing I did upon getting the keys was start slapping up some sample paint colors.  With the house nearly empty, and with no need to rush the moving process, we decided we would complete the arduous task of painting the entire house top to bottom.

 My husband and I just got back from Paris, and we were in LOVE with all the grays.  

I knew that I wanted to find the perfect French gray.  I wanted a cohesive feel throughout our home, and chose to select a paint palette inspired by our Parisian travels.

Living Room

Before:

Aside from the UGLY orange love seat...what was the previous house owner thinking??...the room wasn't bad, though the color was a little too beige for me.

For what I have been calling the "master color" the color that I have used everywhere, in our hallways, and stairwell, as well as the living room, is Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter (HC-172).  This is one of their most popular colors.  I usually am not interested in "poplar" and try to avoid "trends" but once I got the sample on my wall, I knew it was the perfect blend of gray/beige.  Its not cold at all, but rather a warm gray.  I have heard mention that it's a "greeny" gray... I suppose that is just to suggest that it is on the warmer side of the spectrum.

Currently:

Pardon the mess and lack of lighting and furniture.  We ordered a couch and chair, which should be delivered any day now. 

Dining Room

Before:

Not bad really, but it also was a bit on the colder side.  I painted the dining room Benjamin Moore Smokey Taupe (983).  It is very similar to Revere Pewter but it has a hint more purple in it, making it seem just a bit more elegant.

Currently:

And you can't really tell that its slightly purple.  Trust me.  It is.  I love it.  

In this picture you can see our buffet we discovered in a local consignment shop...I love it!  All it needs is a gilded mirror above it.  I guess that isn't ALL this room needs...I'm thinking some lovely gray curtains, a dining table as well as finished chairs.

Entry Way

Before:

The yellow tinge comes from the HORRIBLE lighting...I don't even think I took a picture of the BRONZE monstrosity that was attached to our ceiling at emitted FLORESCENT light.  (First world problem, huh?)

I wanted gray horizontal stripes, because I am a design blog grazer.  I have seen them everywhere and I loved them.  Rather I love them.  I used Benjamin Moore Dove White (OC-17).

The white greyhound is something I have always wanted, and my lovely hubby found one for me for Christmas last year!

The lamp is there because I got rid of the ceiling lights before I chose new ones.  A suggestion...don't do this.  Natural light only occurs half of the day...

The bombe chest...now that is a treasure I found at the same consignment shop I got my buffet.  It's Henredon.  It was a steal!!

I was going to paint it...and from this picture, I almost think I might...but in person its lovely.  I'll take better pictures when everything...is you know better.

Library

Before:

Okay, so its not a library or a sitting room.  Its a cozy family room off of our breakfast nook.  I'm a bookworm and I wanted someplace I could relax without the tv, so this is now our library or sitting room, depending on the day.

We went to Benjamin Moore and I fell in LOVE with a color called Cosmopolitan (CSP-100).  Its was a rich pewter.  I had to have it.  I brought the swatch to the sales associate, and was informed that I had picked the "top of the line."  "Of course she did..." my husband murmured as he pulled out his credit card.  "Only one room!"  He reprimanded me. 

Due to some confusion, one of my family members, who helped us paint, went on to begin painting the kitchen the same color...what a LOVELY mistake.  We had to get two gallons of the stuff...but like they said, we are the ones living there.  We might as well love it.

The pigment in the Aura paint is so dimensional.  It goes on so nicely.  Really, in this case you do get what you pay for...not that the lower lines of BM are not good.  Because I really have loved all the paint I have chosen.  

In Progress:

Aww..our little Teddy is asleep on the couch in this picture!  The Audrey picture is on its way out, I'm afraid.  I don't believe grown ups get to have Ikea pictures hanging on the wall.

Kitchen

Before:

 In Progress:

Its amazing how color can change everything about a room.  Take for instance the photo of the kitchen.  The cabinets look so YELLOW in the first one, because of how brown the paint color was.  

Breakfast Nook

My favorite room in the house has to be the Breakfast Nook.

Before:

In Progress:

This one is getting its own entry in a few days.  My husband MADE me this carrara marble bistro table.  Epic!

Powder Room

The previous homeowners picked an okay blue for their powder room.  As you can see above, I will change it if it even seems a little off of what I want.  I think I just got overwhelmed and ran out of steam.  The bathroom is still as it was...which just wont do!

I actually dont have a picture...and I'm too lazy to take one right now.  

Master Bedroom

I wanted a moody romantic bedroom, so I chose to paint it Benjamin Moore Dior Gray (2133-40).  In some light it definitely looks purple...like a storm. 

Before:

Yikes!  I cant believe it ever looked like that!!

In progress:

Its not done...by any chance, but its closer than any of the other rooms in our house.  What can I say?  We are still newlyweds...kind of.

Master Bathroom

Before:

In Progress:

I probably said somewhere in this very blog entry that some color was my favorite (Revere Pewter or Cosmopolitan...or maybe Hollingsworth Green below), but truly Benjamin Moore Owl Gray (OC-52) is my favorite!!  Our bathroom is my favorite room.  Even though its tiny.  This gray is so gorgeous!  I want to put it everywhere with white and crystals and old graying barn wood.  

Future Nursery (Hopefully)

Before:

We aren't expecting, and this room is purely for our puppies and future baby.  As such...it looks like this.

Currently:

Thats all the lighting we have in this room.  Hardly any.  The giant black thing is a armoire, which will be used in this room (because its SERIOUSLY lacking closet space).  I chose this room as the nursery because its right next to the master and it feels so cozy.  I cant wait to work on it.

Guest Bedroom

Prepare yourself.  Guard your loins.  No seriously....don't tell me I didn't warn you.

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Guarded yet?

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Better yet go put on some sunglasses.

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No. Really.  Sunglasses everyone.

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Prepare yourselves to be horrified.  

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I feel like Ryan Seacrest...I can see this is annoying you...but I can't stop because this...

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Is American Idol.

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Okay here you go...

Looks nice with a filter on the camera lense.  Imagine it the bulbs being florecent.  They were...

Currently:

Much better!  Hollingsworth green...the perfect shade of Paris Mint.

Husband's Home Office

Before:

I'm sorry to everyone who likes painting their little girl's room brown...I don't  I hate it.  Blech!

This will be the future home to my husband (...and our three dogs).

Currently...its a junk room lol!!  He gets to work in the dining room.

We painted it Bella Blue however.  

Benjamin Moore Bella Blue (720)

Guest Bathroom

One last room in this home tour, the guest bathroom.  I never go in this room.  The color...the lighting...its all just bad.  This will be the weekend we tackle this thing.

Before:

Currently:

Yep nothings changed...just worse. 

Im planning on painting it all Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue (HC-144).  Currently there is a lighter shade in the shower area then the sink.  Cute.  Just really not executed well.

Oh, I almost forgot!!!  I repainted ALL the ceilings as well.  Benjamin Moore French Canvas (OC-41) was chosen, and its a soft creamy white.  It really looks fantastic with all the paint colors, providing a soft low contrast, allowing the rooms to look a little airer and bigger.