House Progress: Living Room

Remember Blue Beauty? She is much less blue. Unfortunately we are at a standstill with making her feel completely like home.

I initially wanted everything white because the blue was so overwhelming (remember everything was the color of the fireplace: walls, trim, ceiling, door). Once we pulled out the groovy carpet and resealed the floors (I say we but this was all Kyle, this was the best part of going through the first trimester) thing improved significantly but I still was unsure and Kyle wanted to paint before we moved in so I said “MAKE IT WHITE!” Which he actually hated. He was like what about a different color on the walls? NOPE. Maybe a dark trim. NO WAY. I was firm, resolute. But then it took me three weeks to pick whites. Yes, multiple whites. I wanted to match the trim to the rest of the house for continuity so we have Benjamin Moore Dove White on the trim and Benjamin Moore Simply White on the walls and some basic ceiling white that Kyle grabbed (Fun secret we learned, you can take pretty colors from Benjamin Moore and Home Depot will match them using their Behr paint making it MUCH cheaper to paint many walls white). It looks exactly the same as our Benjamin Moore samples that we tested colors with.

I know that it there doesn’t appear to be much difference but the trim is more gray-white and the walls are more cream-white, AND I DON’T WANT TO HEAR OTHERWISE!

But now we are at a standstill because we are trying to figure out where to put all of our books. Stand alone shelves look odd by the fireplace. We are thinking built-ins? Where do we put the tv then? Kyle votes for above the fireplace and I would chuck the thing if I didn’t love it for allowing me time to shower. Maybe along the opposite wall of the couch? With pictures behind it? Maybe some plants flocking either side? Or if we do go with above the fireplace what do we do with the rest of the space? Ideally I want an L-shaped couch and possibly some other seating.

Makes my head hurt just thinking about it. Any and all ideas are welcome. (Please please please help!)

Also, I am leaning towards painting the walls again. I know, I know, I spent three weeks deciding on a white.

But…I have a specific blue-gray in mind that I think would create the warmth and brightness I crave in a home. I needed this blank slate to get the ball rolling. Kyle rolled his eyes at first but secretly he is happy that I might want something other than white. If we did that, the fireplace would be painted white and the trim would be kept white as would the ceiling.

My hope for this home is to make it warm and inviting and cheerful. I want to honor its 1925 history, revive it a bit.

It has been exciting to get to dream up ideas and concoct plans and it is most definitely a learning process where I am reminded of my extremely fickle ways.