A blue room (I did not cry!)
March 15, 2010
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It took me a whole year to figure out the paint colors for our son's big boy room. I wanted something that was a bit more mature but still fun…and I was determined to NOT do primary colors.
Why? I have no idea. I guess because it was predictable? I’ve mentioned before how hard it is to create a unique space for a boy no matter what the age. His apple green and cream nursery was my answer to breaking away from the blue for a baby boy.
But a couple weeks ago, when the new room came together in my head – it had blue walls. Not just blue walls, but deep, navy blue walls. All of the sudden all I could think about was BLUE.
Can I tell you – I’ve never liked blue. Not one bit. It’s just never been me. But lately, it’s really growing on me. There are three rooms in our house that may have tones of blue on the walls in the near future.
Well, make that two more -- one already does. This is why you never, ever, ever, NEVER say never. :)
Ever:
That light switch is crooked! Gah. That’s gonna drive me batty.
I have realized something about myself lately – I adore contrast.
This blue, called Admiralty, with the white woodwork is turning out exactly how I saw it in my head:
And look at this blue with the apple green!:
Ignore my scraggly paint lines on the green wall, and just pay attention to that beautiful color combo! I love it. I’ve already gone with other colors for the room, but seeing that green with the blue makes me want to keep the splash of apple in here.
For those of you who are freaking out that’s it’s going to be too dark – I promise you it is not and will not. The area under the chair rail will be bright and I have a few other tricks up my sleeve – you’ll just have to wait to see. ;)
I used the Behr Ultra paint for this project – from what Paint Guy told me, it’s the only version of Behr that is low VOC. Although at times I still felt like it was a bit stinky – I’ve used low VOC once before and it didn’t smell “painty” at all – this one did at times.
The Ultra also has the primer in it as well – which turned out super handy, cause I was going to have to prime over the little bunnies, lambs and words on the walls. Because I was covering a light cream with a darker, saturated color, I did have to do two coats, which I normally don’t do.
No hint of the bunnies peeking through, so it works!:
I can “cut in” with the best of ‘em when I’m going up and down on a wall…but horizontally I fail miserably. So I had to tape off all of the chair rail and crown molding, and the result is giving me the itchies:
I may just recaulk everything, instead of trying to get the lines matched up. Dark paint is not forgiving!
I used a scrubbable flat paint, which I’ve used before and am quite happy with. It looks GREAT on the walls. As I’ve mentioned, I usually use an eggshell finish on our walls because it’s a great compromise between a glossy sheen (which shows all of the wall’s imperfections) and a true flat (which is just asking for hives, especially in high traffic areas).
You can’t see the roller marks with this paint either, which I LURVE. Overall, I’m really happy with it! And it was only $30 a gallon – I thought it would be much more than that. I’m a pleased peep with Behr paint:
And guess what? I didn’t cry when I painted over those cute bunnies. Not even a sniffle. :) I am so excited with how the room is coming along, I am having a blast starting the transformation. I’ll show you more later this week!
It looks wonderful--I never would have thought of that color combo, but I really like it.
ReplyDeleteHow on earth did you not cry? I'm soooo sad at the thought of my baby (4 year old...) moving out of his crib and into a big boy bed...and that is without even changing the nursery walls. I will be a sobbing mess when we (someday in the far, far future!) paint the nursery walls.
~ Sarah
Oh my! I luuurve it too! It is so rich and elegant, but not in a girly way at all!
ReplyDeleteLOVE YOUR HOUSE! You need to know this! :)
I love, love, love it! We bought a house in August and with tax returns I am painting! I am so tired of white everywhere! My little 4 year old boy is obsessed with red and wanted a red room. My hubby said no way, so I have been trying to figure out a compromise (especially since he shares a room) and was thinking a dark blue (its a small space, so not as dark as yours) and a red maybe, divided by a chair rail. I can't decide but I love that you felt the same way about the primary colors thing as I did. You are such a good decorator, I love your blog and want your house! ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm a newbie to you, but I still say, You did good! Paint job and not crying!
ReplyDeletethat's a great color! Looking forward to seeing what else you do in the space.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see what other colors you pull in. In my head Navy is too dark, but seeing it against your white trim it is perfect.
ReplyDeletePS...when you tape of the chair...this will take an extra step(but so will caulking) so you can decide which you want to do...but you can tape it off & paint a coat of WHITE(same as your trim)let it dry so it SEALS where you taped off & THEN paint your coat of navy & pull of the tape & you will have an INCREDIBLY straight & perfect line!
Before we were married, I had my husband's bedroom painted navy with white trim. Very manly, but very pretty.
ReplyDelete(But since he's a contractor, we're loyal to Sherwin Williams paint :) )
ps, I am impressed on the no crying! I just took my 22 month old out of his crib, and I didn't do as well! He just grew up too fast, but he does look sooooo cute in that big boy bed!
ReplyDeleteLove it! P.S. I have been known to go back with a tiny artist's brush to "fix" those places where my line's not perfect!
ReplyDeleteLooks fabulous so far, can't wait to see what you're going to do next!
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait to see the entire finished room!! And I am so impressed that you didn't cry! I would have been bawling like a baby!!
ReplyDeletethat blue is awesome! i just covered a wall that was THAT blue in a beige paint... not a hater, just didn't want it there.
ReplyDeleteits so rich. warm AND cool!
nicely done, hon!
'course, if i hated it, i would probably write the same thing.. so i'll leave you guessing. :-)
angie
~Awesome! LUUUURVE the dark blue! :)
ReplyDeleteLooks great so far! I love the dark blue ... it is very dramatic. We just painted over some hand painted butterflies & flowers in our youngest daughter's room. My husband was very sad & posted about it on his Facebook! He is definitely the sentimental one.
ReplyDeleteHave fun!
Looove dark colors on the walls! I just painted my bedroom a dark blue gray & my office is a dark muted brownish purple.(great description!) I think the key to dark colors looking fab, is if there is interesting architecture (like your crown molding) that can be painted white to contrast the dark. I too am a bit ocd when it comes to straight painting lines...good luck with that! I can't wait to see the finished product - it's looking great so far! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the contrast between the blue and white!! Looks great so far
ReplyDeleteWhat a 'big boy' change! Really lovely.
ReplyDeleteCutting in - that's the one thing I hate about deep colors. Especially on knock down. Ugh.
Did you use Behr's Paint + Primer? I love that stuff. Did my whole house last year with it. Well, I picked it out at least. (thanks, Hubby)
Love that blue, Sarah! Lovely and rich and moody, and a perfect choice for a boy's room. I have similar in my son's room and he's 16, so it's pretty versatile.
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog, love it!
Kerri x
I love that color combo! Can't wait to see the rest.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I love to paint, but I have chemical allergies & it gives me migraines. When I was pregnant last year, I had my painters use the low VOC paint by Sherwin Wms (the only brand they'll use), and I got a migraine that was just as bad as if we hadn't used low VOC. I don't get it. They use a primer for dark colors too, and always do 2 coats. I love that color. My mom uses it in her kitchen w/ white cabs. I've been debating doing it in my living room w/ a little more of the chinese porcelain blue tint, but we'll have to see. It looks good so far! I'd like to do a stencil like the bunnies you had on the wall. They were too cute!
ReplyDeleteI've just decided to paint my son's room blue and we were going to go with more primary blue but I <3 this blue against the white! I might have to rethink his room.
ReplyDeleteOh WOW do I love this! We are planning a space-theme room for our little boy and I've been looking everywhere for this exact shade of blue!!!! It looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteThat blue is stunning!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow...I am so impressed -- with the color and the composure. Maybe you can paint my little boy's room? :) I am taking your advice though and doing it when I am ready...good and ready. I do think you are inspiring to "get ready."
ReplyDeleteCheers~
e
I loooove it! so cute! thank you for sharing! I can't wait to see the finished room!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great reinvention of this room, I'm enjoying watching it. Outstanding color palette... unpredictable.
ReplyDeleteJanell
I've recently used that fab behr paint on 2 different rooms and am in LOVE with it. I covered dark walls to light for both rooms (kitchen and bath) and only needed ONE COAT and NO PRIMER!!! For reals!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, and I love that dark navy and white contrast. Both of my boys have darker colors on their walls (red and blue respectively) and I love the contrast with the white trim and doors!
Looks terrific! Almost a peacocky blue, at least on my monitor. I've been seriously considering a peacock blue accent wall in the master bedroom, but so far I've been too chicken. Heh. I'm apparently on a bird kick. :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this! These are the exact colors of my living room and i've been trying to find the right color for my accent wall. just this weekend i tested "english channel" by behr and its a little too purple(?). but thiis! this is beautiful. the paint you used is a lowe's color that you had home dept mix for you? how can i get this color?
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see how it turns out! Be sure to let us see.
ReplyDeleteI think it looks fantastic and would like to borrow these color ideas for my boys room. Always so confused about what to do for them. Hey,, They're boys. Mudroom would do I guess.
ReplyDeleteI love the blue! Great color choice! I'm eagerly waiting in anticipation to see how the room comes together!!!
ReplyDeleteI bought a gumball machine today at Goodwill and the first thing I thought of was you and your fish tank. I'm keeping mine a real gumball machine though (but your tank is so adorable!)
~Allison
I actually really like the dark blue!
ReplyDeleteGreat color and I lurves Behr paint too! It's pretty much all we use in our house.
ReplyDeleteDi
(now back to bed since I'm sickly this week with a cold)
I LOVE navy blue! It's one of my favourites, and looks amazing with the white woodwork! The room is looking fab. Can't wait to see the transofmation as it happens!
ReplyDeleteLike you, I have never been fond of blue, but guess what, I now have a turquoise powder room, and for the last four years my loft is the color you're painting now! Albeit with a touch more green in it....I was trying to figure out the blue thing too!! It looks awesome and isn't too dark upstairs....I still love the richness of it! I think subliminally our mind picks up current pleasing colors helping to direct the creative process!
ReplyDeleteLooks good in your place too...my main pc is there and I find the color soothing...great color for a little guy!!!
Peace Giggles
I love that color, and I agree with you...the contrast of the dark blue and white is great! I can't wait to see more of the transformation!
ReplyDeleteI think the blue looks great and the contrast keeps everything "popping". Oh, I would've sniffled and smiled and then sniffled and then smiled as my thoughts would go back and forth from then 'til now...glad there aren't any tear streaks in your paint. :) I'm also glad to hear the good report on the BEhr Ultra. I'm planning on using it in my basaement bathroom...soon.
ReplyDeleteI've been using the Behr Ultra for a while now, great paint. I did a small bath in 'Mood Indigo', a denim navy, so nice with the white tile and trim.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing your room, I may use my new favorite color in a bed room. Can't wait to see what else you have planned!
I love the contrast of navy and white. My dining room was navy for years until I painted it last year. Navy is one of my favorite colors. That really looks good with the apple green, too.
ReplyDeleteLooks great so far, Sarah! I can't wait to see how everything comes together. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the blue! It's a beautiful contrast...and something the Bub won't grow out of in a few years.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I recently used Behr Ultra -- to paint a light neutral over a dark brick color. It was fantastic! I only had to use one coat to cut in. I could have gotten away with one coat all over, but like you, I'm a bit DOCD. Couldn't resist going over one more time. Looks great.
ReplyDeleteBTW, my son's room is also dark navy on the top half. Love it!
Oh darn... you make me want to PAINT something! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
ReplyDeleteMy son's room is all blue -- dark blue, just like the one you're using. He loves it. I'm getting tired of it, but he won't let me change it. The only bad thing is that dirt does show up pretty easily -- amazing how dirty walls get! BTW, I don't have any contrasting colors going on, but w/shelving, curtains and other furniture, it is not "too" blue or dark. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the paint combo! We did a very similar dark blue and stark white in our son's room. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteI just got bedding for my boys that matches those walls! It's a quilt from Target.. It's blocks of navy, lighter blue, orange and a more apple shade of green. I still haven't painted the walls..because I wanted to get away from the blue that's in there now. I don't know what you have in mind for the bedding but the quilt is gorgeous and something my boys (3&5) can grow into!
ReplyDeleteLove it!! My daughter's room is the exact(?) same blue with white trim, and I love it!!! She's got bright green and hot pink accents to make it more girly.
ReplyDeleteNo worries about going too dark. In my opinion, there is no such thing!
It looks beautiful! I would leave the apple green and navy blue together because I think it looks fantastic. I wish I had a little boy who's room looked like this!
ReplyDeleteIt's gonna look great, I can tell. We painted navy blue in my son's big boy room too. We did it on the bottom half under the chair rail. I was a bit worried about how dark it was looking as we painted, but the finished product looks great. We did a coffee color on top and the trim is all a creamy light color. We have accents with pops of red, which I love. It's almost time to update again so I will post pictures and let you know. Can't wait to see the rest of bub's room!
ReplyDeleteThat blue is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYou are good. I would have have passed out in my own tears.
ReplyDeleteI love the navy blue! What a great choice. I absolutely HATE trying to cut in when painting dark colors. That was my immediate thought when I saw the dark color and white molding. hehe
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see the finished room!
When my son turned 5, we redid his room and chose the same navy blue with white trim. It hides dirt and hand prints really well! We added touches of white, pale blue and red in the room and it looked like the all american boy's room. Loved it. He just turned 13 and we just redid his room again...in his style (let's not go there).
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE the navy w/ the apple and white! Can't wait to see what you come up with!
ReplyDeleteI have this same color in my lil ones room! On the bottom I have a color that looks like creamy peanut butter, yum!
ReplyDeleteWen
Sarah, the room looks great. I love the color! But, I'm a huge fan of blue! :)
ReplyDeleteIt would be my suggestion to not do anything about the trim (horizontal) Those are really close-up pics. I think you did a great job. Anyone who has ever tried to cut in with a dark color onto white knows exactly how hard it is to do! Cut yourself some slack girl! :)
just my 2 cents.
have a great week!
gail
You're right, dark paint isn't forgiving. The color combo looks great!
ReplyDeleteLoving this so far!!! And I agree with you on dark with the white! GORGEOUS!! My bathroom reveal is on Thursday and I went with a darker green and LOVE that contrast with my white trim. I even added in some more white than I planned for more contrast -- love, love, love!! I can't wait to see your big boy room completed!!
ReplyDeleteA blue room will be wonderful! Doesn't it look smashing with the white trim?! Good for you.
ReplyDeleteI wrote a small post today in which I showed a photo of my little train-loving boy and me back in 1995 . . . and that same "little boy" and me last week. Oh, gosh. It goes so fast. You don't have time to cry over bunnies hidden under blue paint--you've got too much living to do! Enjoy it!
I live in a house with textured walls, too. They are the biggest pain the in the rear end... Your color scheme looks great!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the contrast of the navy and the apple green. beautiful!
ReplyDeleteErin
I'm a big fan of navy and have always been scared to use it in a bedroom, but I LOVE LOVE your color combo and the fact you kept the stripes. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the contrast of the blue and the white. I can't wait to see the completed room.
ReplyDeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteI love it! It's turning out beautiful, and I love the touch of apple green. Have you seen my boys' room? Click on the label in my side bar if you have time. It's blue on top and tan on bottom, with red accents through the room. I know you don't like primary colors, but I think it turned out cute!
Congrats on no crying. :)
I hope I can be as strong when I paint Eli's room.
Blessings!
Wow - I would never have considered navy before, but it really looks amazing here! Might have to give it some thought...
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the navy and white! That's what we did in our kitchen and I LOVE it! Everyone thought it would be terrible, but thankfully the vision in my head actually showed up in the room. Beautiful! You can see it here (http://carolinacarters.blogspot.com/2010/01/our-kitchen-redo.html) if you'd like.
ReplyDeleteI'm proud of you for not crying! I know that's gonna be a tough one for me! :)
Can't wait to see the rest of the room!
~Shannon
Looks great! I painted our oldest son's room navy when he was two. One of my favourite rooms ever. I also loved the contrast of the dark navy with the white trim. It was a small room and I didn't have any issues with darkness. Loved it.
ReplyDeletelove it! my son's room is a medium/delfty blue and the curtains are that same medium blue with a dark navy stripe. It's an old RL fabric that I got on DEEP discount. You're making me want to paint the room navy instead of that medium blue!
ReplyDeleteLove that navy blue! I especially love it with that white trim. Beautiful...I mean manly...very manly.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked the Behr paint. So far I haven't heard one bad thing about it. In fact I'm thinking of getting another color mixed in it tonight (yes, more paint - shocker, I know). :)
I love the blue and green combo!!! My son's room was blue, not as deep as that though. I try to stay away from dark deep colors because they make rooms look small. this however looks really good! Great job!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this! I'm DYING to paint ONE wall in my dining room deep navy blue. ( I decorate kitchen/dining area in American.) And i Just think it would be GREAT contrast! I think you've convinced me to go ahead and do it!
ReplyDeleteYou must have been wearing your B.G.P's (big girl panties!) to get though the paint job! Looks great! And with the apple green...yummy!
ReplyDeletewhat a great color combination!! I would not have thought of it but it looks so fresh!!!!
ReplyDeleteI hate the edges, and I hate using the blue tape. I use a product called Shur-Line that I saw at Home Depot. It works fabulous- my sister-in-law actually complemented me on my straight lines!
ReplyDeleteI would have never thought of navy blue and apple green, but it looks AWESOME! I'm trying to think of a room I can use it in. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat blog!
My teenage son has the same color on his walls! It looks great and the white pops so well! But I used the Walmart paint. Covers in one coat and I find it paints loads better than the Behr, plus it is only $13 a gallon!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog!
This is really cool. I love contrast or drama or wow whatever you want to call it and this room has it.
ReplyDeletePam @ Becolorful
I love the navy. I think you really accomplished a grown-up boy room with that color. Very sophisticated. =)
ReplyDeleteAnd, PS - I posted about Behr Premium Plus a few weeks back, too. Loves it.
I love blue, but only deep, dark intense blue. Yours makes me want to weep at it's gorgeousness. I'm going to paint something now.
ReplyDeleteI have been in love with deep navy blue ever since I saw it in one of the bedrooms in a scene in Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys. I may or may not have possted an inquiry on a couple Tyler Perry forums - and the IMDB page for the movie - asking if anyone knew what color it was. It makes me want to have a child - and a boy at that - just to paint the walls that color!
ReplyDeleteWhat a rich, gorg blue...can't wait, can't wait to see the rest.
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE the color! LOVE!
ReplyDeleteI hear your pain about the horizontal cutting in. I just painted my bedroom wall black and I love the way it turned out. Your boy's room looks absolutely fantastic. Remember that old wives tale about blue and green should not be seen without a colour in between...nah! Fabulous, although I suppose the white might be the in-between!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see the whole thing!
ReplyDeleteI know how hard it is to do over a little guys room. I went through the whole range of emotions too when I did my son's room. (he is now 16:) I did mourn the little baby room for a while but then his new one grew on me. I love the navy blue too. I am not a blue girl either. I like blue in other peoples houses but not mine. Looks great.
ReplyDeleteLove the Navy Blue...he won't out grow that any time soon. It is a very sophisticated color when done with tartan plaids for a teenage boy! I used to have a navy blue kitchen and I loved how it made all the white trim and cabinets pop! We went neutral with all the rooms downstairs a few years back...because I love to change up the decor quite often and it made it easier.
ReplyDeleteTo touch up little mistakes where the painters tape didn't work, I always use just a "tiny" artists brush...it works great and you have better control. Just a thought.
I love those colors! I am with you on the contract love and that navy blue makes me swoon. Definitely not too dark and I can't wait to see it all come together.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love your blog. I love doing thrifty decor and wish I had discovered your blog long before last week. In response to your post, the room turned out amazing and the color combo is perfect. In addition to your cutting in comments, I HATE painters tape! Too much time wasted, HATE the prepping to paint. LOVE this thing. The Shur-Line edger. It has lil wheels that glides along moldings or CHAIR RAILS! for a straight edge. I was skeptical at first but now WILL NOT paint with out it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Here is a link to fancy pants one with comfort grip yadayadayada, they also make a very basic one too but this pic you can see it in action. http://www.lowes.com/pd_90212-1077-1000C_0_?productId=3143795&Ntt=shurline&Ntk=i_products&pl=1¤tURL=/pl__0__s?Ntk=i_products$rpp=15$No=15$Ntt=shurline&spellCorrectedTerm=
ReplyDeleteLuurve the colors. I would not have thought to pair those colors together, but it works so well I am now wondering what I can paint navy, green, and white?
ReplyDeleteIt looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteMy 8yo son has decided that he wants "one red wall, one blue, one green and one white." All dark. I'm in the process right now of trying to convince him that the lighter shades are gonna be okay....god help me.
Love the navy! I almost went with a color like that in my dining room. Please post how you fix the paint lines around the crown and chair rail. I'm dealing with the same issue now and I'm going in circles trying to fix it. Cutting in is not a talent of mine and taping is so hard to do with crown.
ReplyDelete