We are painted! Our living/dining area has now been transformed with a boutique hotel style vibe, with dark, matte paint and an off-white ceiling. It hurt to paint over the beautiful wooden beams, but I love the look so I had to close my eyes and say to the painter 'just do it!' And the results are exactly what I'd hoped for.
Our light-coloured sofas pop against the dark walls much better, and the rustic antique chandeliers are highlighted beautifully against the light ceiling too, without all those wooden beams to distract the eye.
I stole the round coffee table temporarily for our other smaller sitting room off the kitchen, so there is a wooden trunk for a coffee table at the moment. We've been living in our sitting room with the painting going on, plus the woodburner is a definite drawcard when the temperature is at freezing point outside.
Of course my shadows had to be in the picture too :)
Our metal cabinet goes well against the dark walls, and I'm having fun staging the top. Next up is artwork - the interior designer we ordered our second pair of sofas and wing chairs through is going to come and help me tweak the furniture arrangements if necessary and put together our artwall from all the vintage paintings, oils and gilt-framed mirrors I've been collecting. Exciting!
And our curtains will be here soon as well - off-white linen on dark rails. Just what Ralph would choose :) They can't come soon enough with the cold weather; perhaps I should have thought of them before winter set in... oh well, stoke the fire up and stay cozy in our snug little sitting room.
I'd love to paint at least one of the wooden trunks in this room - what colour would I choose though? Dark might be too dark but I don't really think very light is the look I'm after either. All suggestions welcomed!
I hope your week is progressing fabulously where you are. I am into the editing and organizing stage of 'Thirty More Chic Days'. I just want it to be magically finished in my sleep overnight so I can show it to you... Since that hasn't happened yet, I will crack on with it today :)
Also, can I be a proud mother hen for a moment please? Three of my writing students have published books since taking my course:
Nicola Newman with her highly motivating 'Grow Abundant Herbs & Greens in Pots':
Jane Beckenham sharing her experience in 'The Art of Making a Home You Love':
And Dotti Davis with her mystery 'The Moose, The Murder, and The Single Malt':
Congratulations ladies! I'm so proud of you self-publishing your books. I know myself that it takes a lot of guts, mental hurdles to overcome and work at the keyboard to get to this stage.
~~
If you have ever dreamed of writing a book but wouldn't even know where to start, please sign up for my free writers encouragement emails. In these I send out my favourite writing tips and free resources, plus an audio workshop on overcoming common blocks that are stopping you from becoming an author.
Join here for your free writer's encouragement: http://eepurl.com/c0kN39
I have had so many ladies email me to say that the audio workshop really helped them change their thoughts around certain beliefs that have been holding them back. I'm so happy to spread the joy with these emails; I hope you find them inspiring as well.
~Fiona~
Love your room, the dark walls and white ceiling certainly show off your beautiful furniture. Congratulations on your students achieving their goals. I so enjoy your books, blogs and podcasts and love seeing your beautiful home.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pieta! 😊
DeleteHotel chic indeed! It came out fabulous and lovely, and it really goes well with your furniture. Congratulations to your students publishing their books!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Stephanie 💓
DeleteWow! Oh my goodness, Fiona, it looks beautiful! I didn't mention this in my last comment when you said you were going to paint using a very dark color, but I was questioning how it would turn out...sorry! It's truly gorgeous :)
ReplyDeleteD.
That's okay, D. I was hoping to love it too. Our painter, when she sent the invoice via email said 'The colour is growing on me'. Lol!
DeleteI love your room - both chic and welcoming. Re the wooden chest - how about light sides and a darker plinth and lid in colours to tone with the rest of your scheme?
ReplyDeleteTwo-tone, I hadn't thought of that. Thank you Lynn!
DeleteYou could perhaps decoupage one of the chests? Paint it to match the curtains and apply pictures you like. Or paint it to match the walls and apply chinoiserie motifs (decoupage or drawn on)?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on having three graduates!
Marie-Hélène
I like the sound of decoupage, Marie-Hélène!
DeleteThe dark walls work really well. As you say, the sofas pop. So does the ceiling. I love it. You have enough windows that it is still bright.
ReplyDeleteWe also use a chest as a coffee table. It holds throw-covers for when we are sprawled on the sofas reading and want to snuggle under.
It's very useful when you can put things in the 'coffee table' :)
DeleteHi Fiona,
ReplyDeleteI love your paint choices. The ceiling looks so good, I’d paint the chest in the same colour as the ceiling. My sister has a very similar wall colour in a couple of rooms of her home, and her indoor plants really pop and shine against the colour, the colour combo is phenomenal. I feel that green and white are excellent complements to your walls.
I agree, bright green plants would look fabulous, Jessi.
DeleteThat is fantastic news about your students self publishing! Well done to everyone x
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHonestly? I, personally, would paint one trunk bright red and get some color in that room. I love the grey walls but you have, to me, enough neutral in there. My bathroom has light grey walls, white ceiling and floor, and red towels, and I love the crispness of it. My library has a darker grey wall, white shelves but a bluish ? pink curtain. Both are amazing with grey (red and some shades pink). Then again I am a huge proponent of adding a tiny bit if color to a room. You could always paint one trunk a very light grey. Or leave them until sometime “talks” to you - they are beautiful trunks!! Nan
ReplyDeleteYour bathroom sounds fabulous, Nan, as do your library colours. Thank you for your thoughtful suggestions :)
DeleteWell after listening to your advice to the woman who's sister poured water over her dreams, I see that advice should be kept to ones self (smile!!!) - then again, I did preface it with, "If it were me..." since that is what I did do, bigger smile!
DeleteAmazing what a difference paint can make. It looks beautiful Fiona. And congratulations to your writing students. What a wonderful accomplishment for them and for you. xo Deborah
ReplyDeleteThanks Deborah, and I hope your book is going well too!
DeleteWow Fiona! Your decor is stunning. Every piece looks perfect. I think the trunk would look fabulous if it was painted in the "Hermes box" Orange.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sophie! I can totally see Hermes orange :)
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