Creating Interest in a Not-So-Interesting Place.

What to do with Hallways and Landings?--Feather Your Nest Transformation

I always say, "Paint is your friend". And, really it is.  If you don't like that end-table anymore, paint it. If you are tried of that terricotta pot, paint it. How do you update or lighten-up a space? Yes, you got it--Paint it!

Meet the drab:

This picture is looking up the staircase, duh, from the first floor to the the second floor landing.  There was a broken stair tread so that had to be replaced.

This is the original plaster wall on the staircase....where the "other" home-owner covered up the need for repair work with wallpaper--then painted over said paper...so this was a lot of fun to remove and see what was underneath....nothing a little plaster-paris couldn't fix.

This brown paint started at the stairway landing and turned the corner all the way to the 2nd floor landing.  It was a cool color but made it all look so dark and gloomy.

Another look at the 2nd Fl landing. This landing truly is the gateway to all of the rooms on the 2nd floor...three bedrooms, and office you see here with blue walls and a bathroom that you can see here in major need of work.  Notice, this is also the first sanding of the hard-wood floor.

Again 2nd floor landing...with tiny, non-descript light fixture.

From the 2nd fl landing down the steps to the first floor.....this is a shot of the wall-paper that is hiding repair work needed underneath. Doesn't look so bad, except the floor....but the paper is quite hideous.

From the stairway looking up to the landing and into the nasty blue bed-room beyond.

Now, the FAB

Funny how creating an interesting wall of paint and some "punch you in the face with color" curtains, instantly changes this space.......well, minus the step-repair seen here that still needed stained.....

This is looking from the 2nd Fl landing down the steps. The stripes were carried from the left side of the wall at the foot of the steps, up the stairway, around the small landing and up the wall to the 2nd Floor landing.

Here is a look at the 2nd floor landing...so much brighter and lighter. The wall is painted medium grey from the same paint as in the stripes. The light fixture is from Shades of Light in Richmond, VA...A big whopping $99.00 for such a statement.  The rug is from Target and holds all the colors of the pallet from everyone that extends from this landing....notice the orange and blue room there in the distance.

A look at the stairway from the 2nd floor landing......

A close up of that crazy light again.

How do you do it?

Here is the "before" picture again.......Any surface you need painted, needs repaired and primed. 

Choose a color idea and get paint cards with 3-6 colors on them. Choose 3 or all if you want that much contrast. Paint the wall the lightest of the colors.  Then measure off and tape areas. I chose 18 inches for the stripe width.  I painted the next color and so on.  It is a bit time consuming....But, I did this stairway from beginning to end in a weekend.

AFTER:

Just find a color you like and choose three shades from the same card.  I skipped a color in between to give some contrast.  So, really with some time, elbow grease and $70.00 in paint.........a transformation.

Show us a project with paint or comment below to share your ideas.  

ENJOY

What is Old is New Again

Vintage--Industrial

As I have been researching and sourcing for a "pub-room" aka "man-cave", I have come across some manly and equally appealing furniture pieces and designs that evoke industrial, vintage images in a garage-like way.

Being from Kentucky and yes, being a "Coal Miner's Daughter" I am drawn to things that are naturally pleasing (and functional)  in their raw form:  burlap or linen material, fresh greenery, reclaimed or salvaged wood, industrial carts, metal baskets, flour and coffee sacks, vintage dish cloths made into pillows,  "paint-peeling" shutters and furniture that can tell a story or have definitely have lived a colorful life. Even, galvanized pipes (as long as they ain't yur plummin') are artistic and beautiful in their own way.

It is easy to take these everyday elements and incorporate them into your home decor.  Whether you are creating a whole new look or sprucing up your coop, I am sure you can glean some ideas from the following spaces.

This eclectic living room receives a punch of color from the re-purposed industrial cart turned coffee table in its original yellow paint.  Also, check out the surveyor tri-pod lamp in the left corner.

This dining room actually has all new things with borrowed design elements from the industrial factory.  Chairs, table, clocks and cloches as well as the lighting.....all borrowed from the past.

I am loving the clean lines of this space.  The regular metal chairs painted green-blue for dining purposes and simple barn lights overhead are great ideas on a budget.  Also, the galvanized fee-store or garden supply center display shelf as the end table and storage......

This kitchen borrows elements from the industrial side of things like the stools and utility cart/island as well as the pendent lighting.  A space like this infused with a little color such as the red food scale makes for a fun and appealing atmosphere to get creative with your cookin.

Who wouldn't want to work in a space like this?  Again, barn-like pendent lighting overhead....see a theme here?  Also the salvaged wood desk and metal chars......lovely

I absolutely love this kitchen.  I love the color of the cabinets and the fact that there isn't any upper ones....this creates a very open space, as does the re-purposed island card and salvaged wood table.  There are those pendent lights again.

Again an industrial cart re-purposed into a a sink with pull out industrial lighting and a concrete sink vessel...a great powder-room or garden/mud-room area idea.

i love this space because it reminds me of what my dingy, dark and disgusting basement bathroom could look like.....a fresh coat of grey paint, re-purposed mirror, hand sewn vanity skirt with pictures in white mat and frame....I think I am going to "steel" this idea.

This is a coffee shop/bakery...but I love the mixture of industrial lighting and exposed metal beams as well as the mis-matched table and chairs....This would be a great idea for a commercial space or loft.

Speaking of storage...I am going gaga over this collection.  I am currently on the "hunt" for items like this for the "pub-room" 

here a utility cart is re-purposed as a pantry of sorts.  Again, storage baskets are used and vintage cans and crates....for utensil holders.  I love the vintage tackle box or lunch box on the bottom.. What is so lovely about this is that fact that this pantry does not need to be behind closed doors.

Interesting storage option or tool box

Jewelry holder, craft organizer, for the potting shed or bar area......LOVE

Re-purposed egg baskets as lighting

Nautical boat lighting as sconces for the the mirror in the room, over the fireplace or in the bath.  I actually have  great idea of buying something like this and painting it some fun color and putting in beside my daughter's bed.

And lastly, finishing the room with art.  Ideas for industrial art are endless...You could put trays or crates on the wall, watch works, pulleys and any kind of metal sign.  Black and white photographs work well.  Better yet, go around town and take pictures of your historic landmarks in your town and print them in black and white and buy ready made mats and black frames (project ideas).  Ideas are endless.  

I showed you mine: Now, "Show me yours!"

Enjoy