My daring new paint color
October 15, 2013
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I’ve FINALLY started work on the mud room redo. It’s been a long time coming! Even though I’ve been SO ready to makeover this space, it’s a little bittersweet since this was the first redo I ever shared on my blog. (Oddly enough, almost exactly five years ago.) Sniff.
Back then the yellow and black was fun and different and wow…BRIGHT. I dug it. But when we moved the washer and dryer downstairs last year this room became a dedicated mudroom (halleluiah!) and I grew tired of the in yo face yellow.
I’m now on a mission to transform this into a more functional space. So I started with some paint and trim removal. Since I was painting I went ahead and removed the trim I had installed along the top – it’s going anyway:
Ignore the paint samples that have been up for three years. :) And wow, the yellow looks neon in these pics. It wasn’t THAT bright.
I also removed the trim around both doors in the room and the random piece that was above the utility closet:
That one strip of trim has always made me shake my head. Just one across the top – so sad and lonely.
To remove the trim I scored the caulked areas first and then used a small pry bar to pull it off:
My Dad gave me that little one awhile back and I use it all the time. I have a larger pry bar for bigger jobs too, but this tiny one works great for stuff like this.
The next phase was twofold – we had someone come in and remove a few things that I just couldn’t. We took out the big 220 volt plug for the dryer (but left the electrical in case we ever sell and the homeowners want to move everything back up), removed the dryer vent (just the part sticking out of the wall) and turned the gas nozzle that went to the dryer so it wasn’t sticking out of the wall anymore. (That line is no longer working, it was removed and run to our dryer in the basement instead.) All this had to be done so I can eventually build the built ins right there.
And yes, we had the 220 volt and a gas line – the builder installed the electrical not realizing we were doing gas everywhere (they did the same for the stove that was supposed to be gas.) I realized the mistake early enough that it wasn’t a big deal, but we ended up with a big plug we didn’t need. Another reason you need to be on-site as much as possible when building!
Anyway…they took care of all of that stuff that was over my head and then I was able to paint! I think you may be surprised with my color choice – I’ve had it in mind for awhile and I am already really excited about it.
Are you ready for this??
I went WHITE:
;) Dramatic I KNOW. And no it’s not primer, the walls will be white. Bear with me for a minute. And those holes in the walls will be covered, so ignore.
I decided a long time ago that I wanted to do a little something different in here – instead of white on the beadboard (which is staying) and color on the walls, I wanted to flip it. So the color will be on the beadboard, and then art on the walls. I’m REALLY excited about it.
I used a Dutch Boy color called Stone Arrowhead. Covering the yellow took a couple coats which didn’t surprise me – it was a saturated color.
Here’s the thing – EVERY white I’ve ever used in my house has been an off-the-shelf white. Every single one. People ask what the color white I use and I’m all…uhhh, white? :) Just go to the paint aisle and pick up a can of whatever finish you need (just make sure it’s not one that needs to be tinted, it will say on the can.)
This time I didn’t want it to be pure white – I wanted a little depth to it. This Stone color has definite gray undertones (but it’s not “dirty” look – it’s a bright color) that will work well with the new color for the beadboard. I hope anyway. ;)
I’m already so thrilled with the change I can’t even tell you. It felt SO GOOD to cover up the yellow. :) It’s so bright and clean looking!:
You can see here how only half of the room has beadboard. When I installed it the washer and dryer were still there and I was too lazy to move them. So five years later I’m going to finish it up.
And yes, I painted the whole room – even the spots that will eventually be covered up, just because I wanted a really clean slate for awhile. It’s been a mess of black, yellow and white for years now (I never painted behind the w/d either):
It’s how I do. ;)
Check out the difference!
HUGE right? I seriously love it. I’ll be ready for color soon I know, but for now I’m so totally happy with it. (And check out how small our little Nya kitty was in the before and Colby is the same size in the after.)
It’s just the start but my vision is finally starting to come together. I can’t wait to keep moving in this space! Next up will be new flooring, installing the new trim around all the doors, and then finishing up the beadboard. Then I start building. YAY!
Have you ever painted a room white? Could you do it? I was surprised at how much I liked it, but I know I’ll need color back soon enough.
Back then the yellow and black was fun and different and wow…BRIGHT. I dug it. But when we moved the washer and dryer downstairs last year this room became a dedicated mudroom (halleluiah!) and I grew tired of the in yo face yellow.
I’m now on a mission to transform this into a more functional space. So I started with some paint and trim removal. Since I was painting I went ahead and removed the trim I had installed along the top – it’s going anyway:
Ignore the paint samples that have been up for three years. :) And wow, the yellow looks neon in these pics. It wasn’t THAT bright.
I also removed the trim around both doors in the room and the random piece that was above the utility closet:
That one strip of trim has always made me shake my head. Just one across the top – so sad and lonely.
To remove the trim I scored the caulked areas first and then used a small pry bar to pull it off:
The next phase was twofold – we had someone come in and remove a few things that I just couldn’t. We took out the big 220 volt plug for the dryer (but left the electrical in case we ever sell and the homeowners want to move everything back up), removed the dryer vent (just the part sticking out of the wall) and turned the gas nozzle that went to the dryer so it wasn’t sticking out of the wall anymore. (That line is no longer working, it was removed and run to our dryer in the basement instead.) All this had to be done so I can eventually build the built ins right there.
And yes, we had the 220 volt and a gas line – the builder installed the electrical not realizing we were doing gas everywhere (they did the same for the stove that was supposed to be gas.) I realized the mistake early enough that it wasn’t a big deal, but we ended up with a big plug we didn’t need. Another reason you need to be on-site as much as possible when building!
Anyway…they took care of all of that stuff that was over my head and then I was able to paint! I think you may be surprised with my color choice – I’ve had it in mind for awhile and I am already really excited about it.
Are you ready for this??
I went WHITE:
;) Dramatic I KNOW. And no it’s not primer, the walls will be white. Bear with me for a minute. And those holes in the walls will be covered, so ignore.
I decided a long time ago that I wanted to do a little something different in here – instead of white on the beadboard (which is staying) and color on the walls, I wanted to flip it. So the color will be on the beadboard, and then art on the walls. I’m REALLY excited about it.
I used a Dutch Boy color called Stone Arrowhead. Covering the yellow took a couple coats which didn’t surprise me – it was a saturated color.
Here’s the thing – EVERY white I’ve ever used in my house has been an off-the-shelf white. Every single one. People ask what the color white I use and I’m all…uhhh, white? :) Just go to the paint aisle and pick up a can of whatever finish you need (just make sure it’s not one that needs to be tinted, it will say on the can.)
This time I didn’t want it to be pure white – I wanted a little depth to it. This Stone color has definite gray undertones (but it’s not “dirty” look – it’s a bright color) that will work well with the new color for the beadboard. I hope anyway. ;)
I’m already so thrilled with the change I can’t even tell you. It felt SO GOOD to cover up the yellow. :) It’s so bright and clean looking!:
You can see here how only half of the room has beadboard. When I installed it the washer and dryer were still there and I was too lazy to move them. So five years later I’m going to finish it up.
And yes, I painted the whole room – even the spots that will eventually be covered up, just because I wanted a really clean slate for awhile. It’s been a mess of black, yellow and white for years now (I never painted behind the w/d either):
It’s how I do. ;)
Check out the difference!
HUGE right? I seriously love it. I’ll be ready for color soon I know, but for now I’m so totally happy with it. (And check out how small our little Nya kitty was in the before and Colby is the same size in the after.)
I had to share a little thing I had the electrician do – he added an outlet up higher on the wall so I’ll be able to keep the dust buster plugged in and out of the way:
It will eventually sit on either a shelf or in a cabinet – haven’t decided just yet. But it will be awesome to be able to charge stuff up there. It’s the little things right??
It will eventually sit on either a shelf or in a cabinet – haven’t decided just yet. But it will be awesome to be able to charge stuff up there. It’s the little things right??
It’s just the start but my vision is finally starting to come together. I can’t wait to keep moving in this space! Next up will be new flooring, installing the new trim around all the doors, and then finishing up the beadboard. Then I start building. YAY!
Have you ever painted a room white? Could you do it? I was surprised at how much I liked it, but I know I’ll need color back soon enough.
I LOVE it Sarah!! It is so bright and fresh!! My master bedroom went white a few years back and I love it. I also painted my laundry room (really more of a laundry closet) white this summer. It really does brighten up the space and allow for so much creativity and color elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteWOW white is daring especially for a mudroom! You are BRAVE. Myself, I'd be scared! I do have an off white wall in my basement hallway and one of the dogs lays there and it soon becomes dark where he lays against the wall. I can't wait to paint that hallway. I am interested in knowing what color you are going to do the beadboard? With the white, it does give you the opportunity to really use any other color in that room. Victoria
ReplyDeleteFortunately all the bottom parts will be a darker color so I won't have to worry about anything getting the white too dirty! I'm thinking of a blue/green color for the beadboard, but still looking. ;)
DeleteYEs! I am so glad you noted that although very obvious most people don't "decorate" with it...but yes we are remodeling a 1930's farmhouse and our bedroom I thought would be a darker grey and once the guys came I couldn't find the gallon of paint I had bought but I did have 5 gallon bucket of white...they used it...and I love it! I have huge ceiling to floor drapes and the ceilings are 10ft and it just looks great! I think we feel like we have to have color in every room but sometimes I go in my room that is very minimumly decorated and I just love the clean feeling. props to you!
ReplyDeleteI almost painted my master bathroom I'm working on white but there's just to much beige in the room so I can't until I do a gut of the tile but I love white lately, it's a nice break from color in other rooms. The room looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteI love the "whites." I have a condo in Atlanta and my entire home is painted in "Vermont Cream." There are so many ways I can use color (via pillows, etc.) and if I get tired of them, it's an easy fix and I change to the color du jour! I like how you lightened up the kitty, too. From black to a caramel color. You are talented!
ReplyDeleteWhite seems to be making a big comeback. I lived in apts for a 11 years and just couldn't go white.That being said, I do love your mud room tho. I think it's a good choice for a space that will contain lots of stuff. It makes it seem huge.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that! I did something similar in our downstairs bath - it has no natural light and the ceiling is low. So I put white on top and a light blue on the bottom. It looks like an entirely different room now. I love it. I'm hoping yellow and grey are still in style when I get to redo my master bedroom.
ReplyDeleteI just painted a bedroom all white woodwork, ceiling and walls. I painted and old Ethan Allen desk and chest with chalk paint in Provence. Its all the same height so I used it along one wall.Even my son was impressed.
ReplyDeleteWe are in a rental home since we will only be here for another year or so I've been embracing the white! I actually really love how this house looks with the white walls with the punches of color that I've brought in.
ReplyDeleteI love white!
ReplyDeleteI'm a little scared of white, though I love it. If the world were dirt-free I would have white furniture. And maybe white rugs. Painting the beadboard is a great solution to add more color.
ReplyDeleteI tend to hate when I go into a home that has white walls, because often, they're ALL white (some people just don't like color, crazy!). It took some bravery, but I decided to go white in my craft room with my colorful touches. I bought the paint but have yet to do it, but I know I'm gonna be surprised and love it! Can't wait to see what color your beadboard will be!
ReplyDeleteLove the white, I painted everything white until I could decide on color and everyone commented so much I left the white, have never been sorry...
ReplyDeleteI love white! You can't go wrong. Love seeing the cute little kitties in the photos too! My little cat buddies are always nosing around when I'm doing projects.
ReplyDeleteChristine
I think white (it must be the right shade of white) makes everything kind of "light up" and feel fresh! Some whites, like basic builder's white can look dull, dirty and depressing. Yours is very pretty. In our last home, we did out master bedroom in white. The color was called "Milk", it was very creamy and fresh and we loved it. I did the ceiling in that same color but had the paint store add a couple of drops of a sky blue to the white. It was just the slightest of changes, but made all of the difference. Love you white room and don't be surprised if you DON'T tire of it...it may end up being your breath of fresh air!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I love the new look!
ReplyDelete