Whimsical Walls

The Bedroom Fit for a Jedi Knight

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:06:00 +0000

"Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose." ~ Yoda

Sometimes it's hard to say goodbye to an environment that feels comfortable and familiar. Just ask the dinosaurs! They were the focus of our boy's room before the big redo...

We loved his little IKEA bed, which we tricked out with canvases I painted with dinosaur silhouettes. The kids and I had fun painting the T-Rex, Triceratops, and the big Brontosaur together, too.
It was a bright, cheery room (a much brighter yellow than we planned!). But as much as our boy loved his prehistoric friends, they were destined to become extinct. He moved right into Star Wars, much to the delight of uncles everywhere (both biological and honorary). So in celebration of his 6th birthday, we redecorated his room with new colors and some galactic appeal!We started by painting the walls SW Loyal Blue (took 5 coats ... nerds!) and with the help of our handyman Ed, installed beadboard to give the walls some oomph. Fabulous, it is!
Found these lined drapes on sale for $23 a panel at Target ... score!
Yaya found an out-of-this-world fan at the Depot ... The framed photo of the Earth by Apollo 17 came from the estate of Yaya's dear friend Liz.Santa brought the Darth Vadar alarm clock (which freaks out even Mama).The kid-sized desk was built by Grant's great-great-grandfather Heston, making B the fifth generation to use it to become brilliant. Oma and Baba gave him this awesome light up moon that shows all the phases.
Fantastic hutch from Yaya's collection. "That's where I'll keep my trophies," B says...Mama painted this bookcase and dresser Perfect Greige, but we found there was no room for the dresser except for in the closet...
Oh well, I can let go of my fear of not fitting everything in the room. Just like Yoda says...

My Biggest Mural Ever

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:37:00 +0000

In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life must you proceed with balance and stealth. ~Patti Smith

Yup, here it is ... the biggest mural I've ever painted. Ta daaaaaa! I painted this several months ago for my friends Doug and Durell, who live in my ole hometown of Jacksonville.

I waited a while to post it because my only photos of it were the ones my son took with my iphone:

Well, I guess that isn't so bad.

Anyway, D&D have a simply gorgeous dining room with lots of natural light and a beautiful vintage chandelier. It just needed a little visual interest to make it fabulous. Durell loves classic designs that seem breezy and effortless. When she came upon this House Beautiful feature, she fell in love (cue angels singing). So we copied the designer's handpainted wallpaper, which is based on a classic Swedish pattern.

As always, I started out with chalk sketches and went from there. After two solid days of painting, here's the result... I love the colors and the fact that the pattern is unusual, yet nature-inspired and calming. Isn't it great to have friends who are brave enough to strive for the unique? (And daring enough to let you paint all over their walls!)

Here are some details...
I added the little nest. It represents their home and their sweet little family -- mama, daddy and baby girl.

These flowers took me a while to get. I stressed about every little detail. Then I took a step back and realized those imperfections are what makes a handpainted mural special. Soooo ... it's really gonna be OK.
See? Take a step back and get some perspective. Maybe a good metaphor for life!

Decorating with Kids' Art

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:52:00 +0000

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist when we grow up." ~ Pablo Picasso

Nothing says "we have kids" like finger paintings taped to the refrigerator. Whether they try to create their own Jackson Pollock like Olivia over there, or just love drawing houses and rainbows -- kids often make beautiful art that can bring bold color and personality to your walls.

And while it's fine to have your little Picasso's masterpieces stuck to your Frigidaire, here are some slightly more creative display ideas.

1. Changeable Frames

I came up with this one and love it so much. I found two simple 22 x 28" black frames at Michael's (always on sale). I used the "Extra 25% Off All Frames" coupons from the paper to get them for $23 each. Then I bought two pieces of black mat board (here in Orlando, the best prices on this stuff are at Art Systems on SR 436) and cut them with an art knife to fit into the frames. I centered the kids' art and attached it right on top of the mat board with a tape runner . The kids and I painted small wood letters of their names (again, from Michael's), which I hot glued to the frames to give the artists proper credit.

This has been such a fun feature in our playroom and always draws compliments from visitors. We switch it out to decorate for holidays and seasons, or just when they bring home something new that they're excited about. I especially love their abstract paintings for the color and the amazing scenes they imagine! Just in time for fall ... my pumpkin's pumpkins!
I think framing kids' art -- even temporarily -- shows them you value their work and creativity. I have no research to prove this, but that never stopped me from postulating before!

2. On Line Creations

Also inexpensive and even easier to change is the IKEA Dignitet curtain wire, which makes a great "clothes line" for clipping on artwork. Brave IKEA (not on a Saturday), buy the little metal clips that come with it and you're set. We made one long wire in our son's room...But a series of smaller ones looks even better!

3. Stuck On Art

Finally, these stick-on frames cut out the hassles of framing AND hanging! No holes in the wall and super easy to change. They wouldn't be a good idea for thick art paper, but would hold your average doodles...

No matter how your choose to display your kids' artwork, be sure you take advantage of their fun, FREE artwork!

Frame and Fortune, Part Deux

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:33:00 +0000

Art's purpose is to sober and quiet the mind so that it is in accord with what happens. ~John Cage

Hello fellow framers! My post today is about framing photos and art to make your own gallery. I LOVE decorating with family photos -- old and new -- especially in hallways. You can even go really crazy with photos from floor to ceiling, like these folks featured in Martha Stewart (right).

I like the idea of documenting our kids' childhoods and our family life on the walls of our hallways. We have two long halls in our house, so I've made a gallery of black and white photos in one...And color photos in another... I chose black frames to unify the gallery and make it seem more like a collection. If you have frames of all colors and styles stashed in the closet, take the glass out and spray paint them all black. Bingo -- instant gallery frames! You also could mix silver and black frames, gold and silver, or bright colors that coordinate with your decor. Just so long as there is something that ties it all together.

Themes are kind of fun too. In our powder room is this gallery of black and white photos of places we've traveled...

The wonderful thing about creating a gallery of photos, souvenirs, artworks and other family memories is that it can be done gradually. Start with a few frames in the center of your space and work outward.

Now for the tricky part, everyone gets nervous about arranging these suckers on the wall. Here's how you keep it simple and avoid unnecessary holes in the wall.

1. Gather your frames (I'd start with five or six) and lay them on the floor on a big piece of paper (newspaper, art rolls from your kids' easels, etc.). Play with the arrangement until it looks pleasing to you. Then outline with a Sharpie.

2. Measure where your hanger is on the back of the frame, then measure the same distance on your outline and mark the spot where you'll want your nail. (When you lay the frame on the paper, press down a bit so the hanger makes an indentation on the paper. That way, you'll be sure you got your measurements right.)

3. Tape the paper to the wall and nail or drill your holes where the marks are. Pull off the paper and you're in business.

Arranging your frames is a matter of taste, but my advice is to keep an equal distance between your frames (even if they don't "line up" like the photo below), to make the collection cohesive. I like the way these folks lined their frames up in their hallway. And the wide white mats really make it look unified...

Finally, here are some tips from this month's Allure magazine about how to mat and frame a photo or artwork. It's not as hard as it seems to DIY! Enjoy!

Frame and Fortune

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:44:00 +0000

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. ~Brigitte Bardot

Hello friends! It's been way too long. My new goal is to post shorter entries once a week. Will it work? Dunno. But that's my goal!

So my topic today is frames. I love decorating with family pictures! Framing stuff and making mini galleries of photos, artwork and such is a fun, cheao way to personalize your space, show off your creativity and decorate for the seasons.

Like my fall mantel, which I decorated with mismatched frames I painted black and pictures of fall leaves that I tore out of magazines and coffee table books. But frames can be expensive ... and professional framing means even more $$$. So I improvise with spray paint (of course), cheap pre-cut mats I buy from Michael's and other DIY touches. Here's a quick project I did recently to show off a series of pictures my friend Shannon took of my little lollipop:
I found this frame with a three-opening matte at Marshall's for $12.99.
I wanted it to be white to work in her room, so I took 2 minutes and spray painted it Rustoleum Antique White. To add a little somethin'-somethin', I covered the mat with this beautiful paper I found at the world's greatest art store, Sam Flax.

I cut the paper to fit the outside of the mat, then flipped it over and traced the openings.

I used an art knife to cut x's in the center, then create flaps to fold back.

I painted Allene's Decoupage glue on the front of the matte, lined up the paper and smoothed it over.
Now this is the tricky part. I carefully and tightly folded the flaps over and used scotch tape to secure them (glue would just squeeze out and be all grody).
Then I taped the photos onto the back of the mat and put it in the frame. Viola! This frame job would cost beaucoup bucks in a frame shop, but it cost me less than $15! In addition to cool papers, you can use coordinating fabrics, wallpaper, wrapping paper or paint to dress up your mats too.
More on wall galleries and frames next time!

Space to Create

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:28:00 +0000

“Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working.” ~ Pablo Picasso

There are lots of reasons why it’s hard to be an artist. (Especially that whole “starving” thing.) But one of the biggest problems is where to work and store all that art stuff.

Since most homes don’t come with art studios like Martha Stewart's, you can take over the dining room table (inconvenient at meal times), set up shop in the garage (not an option in sweltering Central Florida) or just let your supplies and artwork clutter various flat surfaces. (eeek … the horror!)

What’s a slightly OCD, intermittent artist to do? At the urging of my family and with the kind support of my mother-in-law, we made an art center (no … Centre d’Art Extraordinaire) in our office.

The previous owners used this room as a formal living room. Since we don’t entertain many heads of state or celebrities (although my son is convinced that Orlando Magic players may show up at any time), we decided to put this room to work as a place for me to write ... and now to create! Here’s what it looked like before:

And now….
How cool is this? The dresser was an old piece from the family collection. Once upon a time, it had a mirror or something that went with it, so it made sense as a vanity. But that being long gone, it was just a humble little thing that used to look like this: I painted it Sherwin Williams Perfect Greige and now it looks like this:
The wall storage piece was the top half of a plantation desk that was finished very dark, like this: With lots of unique drawers, cubbies and hidden storage:

I primed it and painted it the same greige to fit into the bold red of the room (Benjamin Moore Smoldering Red). Now it looks like this!

We found these three awesome leather bar stools at Home Goods. When it came to countertops, I knew I wanted something inexpensive that I couldn't mess up. Laminate seemed like the best bet, so we found inexpensive ready-made lengths of countertop at Lowe’s. My friend Melanie recommended a great carpenter to install the countertop, build a support column and hang the plantation desk on the wall...My handy husband even helped me add a dowel for ribbon, making it a gift wrapping center too!

I LOVE my new studio. There's a place for just about every brush, bottle of paint, piece of paper and scrapbook doo-dad that I "need." NOW all I have to do is ... find time to create!

Two Pairs of Chairs

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Mon, 30 May 2011 21:58:00 +0000

If more designers had bad backs, we would have more good chairs. ~Ralph Caplan

I know, I’ve been a horrible blogger as of late. I have many excuses, but I won’t bore you with them. Instead, I’ll bore you with the story of these chairs!

Check out the “before” on these suckers. I know, horror show! The unnecessary padding … the repugnant forest green fabric … the ludicrous red trim! Egad. I had to bring them back to life.

While I don’t know their origin, I do know that these once-comfortable oak chairs were shamefully tarted up by some brazen woman. (How do I know it was a woman? Come on. Would a man waste valuable baseball-watching time to do this?) And it probably happened in the 80’s, when everything was shamefully tarted up.

Anywhoo, there was nothing to do but remove the offending fabric and trim and see where we could go from there. Using needle-nose pliers and redhead ambition, I ripped the trim from the chairs. It came off easily enough, but revealed a much bigger problem: the fabric had been attached to the chairs with about 853,688 staples. Damn you, Unknown Brazen Woman!

I was in the soup now, so I just made a daily habit of it. Every day when I put Little Miss down for her nap and got my boy started on a craft, I’d sit down in front of Nate and pull out a few hundred more staples. There are staple lifters out there, but I found a small flat-head screw driver to be pretty efficient at prying (and better yet, already in my tool box).

Once those staples were out, I scraped off the foam, which Brazen Woman had glued to the chair back and pad (of course she did … harlot).

Then I used Goof Off and a paint scraper to remove the leftover foam and glue. The pads were obviously caned at one time, but someone cut a piece of plywood to fit the hole. So I decided to just roll with that and find cushions to cover it later. Since there were a whole lotta holes in these poor chairs, I patched them with Famowood wood filler (the best cuz it has sawdust in it) using a putty knife.

Then I sanded them down using my bitty power sander.

Now the chairs were bare … what to do with them?

I loved their elegantly curving lines and decided the best way to accentuate their shape was to paint them a light color. I primed them, then sprayed them in Ace’s antique white. Then I tied on these cool black and white cushions I found at TJ Maxx (set of four for $16.99!).

I think the effect is lovely and delicate. And they look sweet with this square oak table on casters. Obviously, no sane person would spend this kind of time on chairs, even if they got a deal on them at a tag sale or vintage shop. But since they were *free* from The Family Collection, it was worth it for me. Plus, now that they look like this, I hope somewhere Brazen Woman is kicking herself for letting them go!

The next post is coming soon … I promise!

Dresser, Redressed

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:54:00 +0000

“Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new.”

~ Henry David Thoreau

I was thinking of this quote as I painted this five-drawer dresser for our girl’s room recently. Once upon a time this solid oak antique would have been the height of fashion. Now? Wellllll ...

The cold hard truth is that most oak, walnut, mahogany and other quality, hard wood furniture of a certain age just isn’t in vogue at the moment. Thus, it isn’t selling. Case in point, I found this lovely piece -- with its solid construction and lovely lines -- on Craig’s List and bargained the seller down to $75.

I bought the piece knowing I’d paint it. Which would have been a mortal sin back in the 80's when oak was just the living end. This is a nice antique, but not an heirloom by any means. And since I am loving the painted look these days, I felt OK about breaking out the rollers and spray paint.

However, I do have friends who still think painting hard wood furniture is a sin. And maybe it is! Maybe I'll live to regret it.

Growing up, my mom and I often bemoaned the crazy things my grandmother did to furniture. And spent beaucoup bucks stripping and refinishing the stuff. But crazy Nanny had fun and got different looks for her home on the cheap. Just like me!

Back to the story of the dresser. I wanted something a little more feminine in shape and style for my girl. Previously we had a dresser in her room that I’d painted red and glazed with black to mimic the look of Nanny's little antiqued cabinet. (Yup, she painted it.) But over time I thought the lines and color of the piece seemed too masculine for a girl’s dainty domain.

So I found this dresser, which was sturdy, had dovetailed drawers that pulled (fairly) smooth and lovely lines. To prepare, I numbered the backs of the drawers (always a good thing to do before you paint anything with drawers – especially older, handmade furniture that isn't exactly exact).

Then I set up shop in our garage (ensures fun comments from curious neighbors and mailman who thinks I am "the hardest working woman alive.") I used a foam roller to cover it in Kilz Primer, then Sherwin William’s oil in Dover White. (As much as I dislike using and cleaning up smelly oils, they really are best for achieving a smooth finish on furniture.) And finally, (here’s where it gets awesome!) I spray painted the dresser's el cheapo pot metal hardware in Rustoleum Spa Blue.

I must say, the look is whimsical, fun and just plain adorable. Soooo perfect for a little girl’s room.

Time for final touches. To add some fun to your dressers (without the big messy painting project), line the drawers with colorful patterned paper. I used polka dot wrapping paper for this piece, but art and scrapbook paper have also come in handy for smaller pieces I've restyled in the past. It’s always a fun surprise to open a drawer and see something pretty. Like a jewelry box!

So what's your stance on painted furniture? Browse through the transformation on Design Sponge or the painted furniture portfolios of South Carolina’s Knack Studios and Somerset Bay just see if you don’t fall in love too! Though I’m thrilled with the way the dresser looks, I’m game for a “to paint or not to paint” debate. Share your thoughts, my friends!

Before and After: A Love Story

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:29:00 +0000

"I dwell in possibility." ~Emily Dickinson

What I love most about this wacky hobby of mine is seeing the potential for fabulous in the unfashionable. For swan-like beauty in the ugly duckling. For greatness in dusty old junk.

I come by it honest. My parents are champion makeover artists. My dad once went out for a run and came jogging home carrying an old chandelier someone had thrown out. It's hanging in my folks' garage apartment right now. They always had creative ideas for ways to save money (and the Earth) by remodeling and reusing old stuff.

To this end, here are a few of my latest transformations (each item courtesy of my sweet mother-in-law and her amazing treasure trove of antiques!) After all, who doesn't love a good "before and after" photo montage?

Dreaming in Black and White

The humble little stool pictured above didn’t have much going for it – a roughed up finish, an icky horse hair cushion. (Wow. The days before synthetic foam were tough.) So I ripped off the cushion, gave the stool a quick coat of black satin spray paint, and sanded the bumps and curves with a medium grit block it to give it a lightly distressed look. I bought a remnant of black and white damask print fabric and a small piece of 1 ½” foam from a fabric store.

Once home with my materials, I cut the fabric and foam to an oval shape (about 3 inches wider for the fabric to stretch around the seat). Then I hot glued the foam to the seat and wrapped the fabric over the top. Flipped it upside down, staple-gunned the fabric to the bottom and trimmed off the excess. Now I’m not the most professional upholsterer (yet), so the bottom of the seat looked a little ragged. No biggie, I just got a yard of black grosgrain ribbon and hot glued it on for trim. Voila! Sad little stool > oh-so-stylish accent piece.

Country Strong Chairs

Remember the days when country style dominated decorating? Baskets hanging from ceilings, checkerboard stenciled borders and little wooden ducks sitting on the dining room table. Yep, there seemed to be a braided rug under every kitchen table in America.

These chairs were a hallmark of that downhome look, but they also are well made and solid wood. Just needed a little gussying up, as country folks say. So I sprayed them with primer and painted them a fresh yellow-green that just so happened to be in my Mother-in-Law’s garage. This light lemongrass hue gave them new life, and now the chairs are ready for any number of décor styles. Shabby chic … cottage sweet … or maybe even new country chic. Want 'em? Click here.

How Do You Define “Smashing”?

This three-panel screen had seen better days. It was supposed to look like it was covered in 1920’s jazz sheet music. But the yellowed, peeling paper just gave me the blues. My first thought was (no, not spray paint) – decoupage! And I know I’m an English nerd, but I have always loved dictionaries. I have an antique dictionary with some really fun (and surprisingly intricate) illustrations that I knew would be perfect for dressing up this piece. All I had to do was cut up this wonderful book (Eek -- Sorry Mr. Webster!), arrange and glue its pages.

So I used an art knife to cut pages out of the book and decoupaged them onto the screen with Mod Podge (although I hear Allene’s may be better -- stay tuned.) I started from the bottom of each panel and laid out the pages in a way that best showcased the drawings. I liked the way the title pages looked, with the big letter at the top of the page. So I placed those toward the top of some of the panels so they’d be really visible. When everything was in place, I added a coat of clear satin spray paint to provide a little protection.

From a distance the screen reads as a nice, neutral gray. But up close, the details of the words and pictures are smashing. No, wait … they define smashing! And better yet, it's for sale in my Etsy shop. What are your favorite transformations? I'd love to see them!

Seasons of Mantel Decor

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:44:00 +0000

“To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.” ~ George Santayana

While the rest of the country seems knee-deep in snow, we're soaking up the gorgeous sunshine and cool-but-not-cold temps here in Central Florida. The lovely weather got me thinking about how much fun seasonal decorating is. I don't mean just holidays, which is fabulous, but finding interesting ways to bring the look of each season into your home.

My favorite place for seasonal touches? The mantel. This New Year, I was inspired by this cover article in Country Living about decorating with white. I wanted some winter white wonderfulness of my own, so I started with the old country store sign I used for my Christmas mantel. Handpainted on cast iron, complete with bullet holes! (Proof it gets boring out in the country.)

Then I added some random white stuff I had lying around...

Hmm. It was a good start, but I wanted more height, and lots more white, on the left side. I came across the concept of a Wish Tree and loved it.

I picked two fallen branches out of the yard (If you need any, just come on by. And rake a bag of oak leaves while you're at it, k?). Stuck them in a white vase from Joann's, $6. Next I cut long thin strips of scrap paper and put them in a white water pitcher with a pen.

Now whenever I hear a disturbing story on the news, I say a prayer and write a wish for help and hope. Then I tie it on the tree (gently, so it doesn't tear). It's been a few weeks, but our tree is already filling with wishes -- for big things like Haiti's troubles, little things like potty training success, and personal things like friends going through a rough patch. Sweet, heartwarming ... and pretty!

The two black and white photos of rural signs were from an art show I helped promote years ago ... literally printed out on a laser printer. (If the photog is reading this, I really respect your work ... um, sorrrreeeee!) I had them in green mats, but took them out and spray painted the mats antique white. Found one white frame and one wood, which I -- you guessed it -- spray painted, at Marshall's for $5.99 each.

I took away the big lantern and left the smaller (Marshall's $12.99 -- from my beachy period last summer). The water pitcher is an antique from Grant's fam.

And here's the finished product. Love its wintery, vintage look!

While we're at it, here are some past seasonal delights! I was inspired by this montage of BHG mantel ideas for my look last fall:

I used leaf photos of all kinds -- everything from pictures I took on vacay, to photos I tore out of coffee table books to 29 cent scrap book paper. Bought cheap white mats in standard sizes at Michael's (about $2 each) and used my growing collection of black frames. Bronzey candlesticks were $7 each at Home Goods. Fancy candles -- handmade in St. Augustine -- courtesy of my sweet mama.

Spring...

The camel back clock was my grandparents', I made the tree print and framed it for $10 at Michael's, the red "Home" frame is from a snotty gift shop in Brandon (Snooty ladies: no promo for you). The mirror is Target and the watering can was a gift from my dear MIL. Needs something with height on the right side, doesn't it? Better get going on that before winter is over and the mantel must change!

SO. I think the mantel can be kind of a scary decorating proposition for folks. It's such a focal point in most homes that it seems like we need to put something amazing there, or risk decorating disappointment. The go-to design element is the mirror, which is great but kinda dull on it's own. But add seasonal items -- close-ups of flowers in spring, apothecary jars of shells in summer, a garland of leaves in fall -- and it's interesting and classic.

What are your seasonal decor ideas? Share! I'm always up for something new over the hearth.

Best of Holiday Decor

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 19:05:00 +0000

It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air.
~W.T. Ellis

Happy holidays, friends! Well, what's left of them. I've been so busy baking, wrapping, decorating, traveling and holidaying that I haven't posted for way too long. But I do have some fun photos and great ideas to share before the year comes to a close, so let's get going!

First, some decorations from our own Whimsical Walls. My red and white color scheme and snowflakes made another appearance this year. I just love the festive contrast of red and white against the green Christmas tree. And the snowflakes are so delicate and wintery.

Snowflakes fluttered all over our living room this year, from the tree topper to the stocking hangers. But my favorites are the crocheted snowflakes my grandmother (better known to many of my friends as "Mean Nanny") made for me years ago. Rest her crazy old soul.

As usual, this place wouldn't have looked half as good without our moms. My MIL lent me this cool old metal shop sign with a handpainted angel, and she helped me find some of the the red and silver mercury glass on the mantel. I love the glowing effect when they were all lit!

For some reason, I was really loving the look of gold this year, so I was on the hunt to make our dining room glisten. I found these glittery gold feathers from a cool shop called Orange down near Tampa (sorry for the crappy picture, but they really do sparkle), and my MIL found this curvy "Merry Christmas" sign to match. Fudgy peppermint cups recipe courtesy of Country Living (yum!).

We put the many big ol' oaks in our front yard to use (for something other than dropping acorns, for pity's sake) with this pair of fun Santas. The one peeking out is from Marshall's, the other from my MIL's collection of 50's fun.
Fresh cypress greenery and a wonderful pine scented wreath at the front door courtesy of my own elfin mom. More red and white lights, too. (Lucked into several strands of those big pearly ones at a garage sale back in September. Score!)

Hmmm ... what else? OH! I love getting Christmas cards so much that I try to find cool ways to display them. This year I picked a corner, tacked up a long piece of ribbon with a bell tied to the end and clipped our cards to it with decorative paper clips. (Clothes pins and strips of fun fabric strung over doorways work too.)

So that's pretty much it from the Griswolds', er ... I mean Hestons' household. Now here are some fun photos from our Christmastime trip to New York. The decorations were just amazing! Enjoy, Happy New Year and don't worry, I'll get busy on some new projects after all the champagne and Hoppin' John are gone.

And you thought we had lots of cork souvenirs! Grant at the entrance to Chelsea Market in NYC.

The market was decorated with completely recycled materials, mostly things artists found in the trash. It was beautiful! Here's a tree made of old CDs and snowflakes from cardboard.One of the unbelieveably gorgeous windows at Bergdorf Goodman. What a dream job to decorate those!

Part of the mural in the lobby at Rockefeller Center.

The tree at Bryant Park

And of course, the Rockefeller Center tree. Even more beautiful than we imagined!

More Unique Headboards

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:38:00 +0000

Don't fight with the pillow, but lay down your head,
And kick every worriment out of the bed.
~Edmund Vance Cooke

After my post about the headboard we made for our master bedroom, I had a query about more options for nontraditional headboards. You guys ARE paying attention!

So I brainstormed a little and then searched for my ideas online. Just about everything I came up with was represented in some clever DIY photo online.

Like this one -- a surfboard that would add a coastal touch to any beach bum's bedroom...

I don't see why you couldn't use the Hang Man system on these. And even better, I did a quick scan of Craigslist and found a few used boards for $25! They looked a little worse for the wear, but with some spray paint and Frog Tape for stripes ... you could get a result like this!

The next one would be super easy and very sweet for a little girl's garden party bedroom -- a length of picket fence. White is the obvious choice, but think how cute this would be in light pink or yellow...

Art work on canvas -- particularly contemporary art -- makes a fun, creative headboard. To bring some simple, elegant style to this concept, you could even buy a canvas that's as long as the bed, slap some painter's tape down, then paint it with bold stripes of coordinating color and hang on the wall. Voila! Your bedroom masterpiece! You could hang small framed pictures or mirrors in rows so they appear to be one piece.

Stretch out a room-dividing screen and hang it on the wall.

As I was brainstorming, I realized there was a length of cool antique railing in my in-laws' garage. Chunky oak -- perfect for a boy's room. Soooo ... that will become our little man's headboard very soon! Pictures to follow, but for now - check out this version...Lots of wrought iron possibilities there too. Just browse an architectural salvage place (or even better -- your own garage) and try to see everything there with fresh eyes. If it's long and skinny and you could hang it on the wall, chances are you could make a headboard out of it. Doors, shutters, window frames ... the possibilities are endless!

There are SO many ways to top off your bed with style. Think outside the box and give your head something cool to lean against!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Take thy spade, it is thy pencil;

Take thy seeds, thy plants,

They are thy colours.

~William Mason, "The English Garden," 1782

Happy fall, my friends! It's that time of year in Florida when we get a break (however small) from the oppressive heat. And it always makes me feel a little spunky. Ready to tackle those projects I've been putting off!

For instance, my mother-in-law had been after me to paint a small mural in her house. So we decided on a few rows of dainty reeds and swaying cat tails for the vanity area in her master bathroom. She has a serene blue and beige color scheme going on in there, so I set that off with brown, beige, white and slate blue.

Here's the result!

And a little more detail ...

She says it reminds her of a little garden of weeds. Le Jardin de Weeds. So long as they aren't choking out my real flowers beds, that's fine with me!

Hope the cooler weather is inspiring you to do something fresh and fun!

See you next time, domestic divas!

The Wonder of Spray Paint

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:26:00 +0000

"Do what you can with what you have, when you have it."

~ Theodore Roosevelt
This transformation brought to you by a little sandpaper, primer and a couple of cans of Rustoleum! I recently helped a friend turn this hand-me-down dud into the sage green star of the living room. Bless her heart, she had never used spray paint before. But before the day was over we'd spray painted all the drapery hardware and some lamps in her family room. It was glorious!

Ah, spray paint ... is there anything it can't do? What else can transform a piece of furniture, picture frame, accessory or fixture so quickly and completely? When you think about it, it's simply amazing.

Now, I've always loved the quick change spray paint offers, but I've become especially obsessed since moving into our house last year. There were so many fixtures and things we couldn't use, but I knew someone else could. So a little spray paint, a quick posting on Craigslist and voila! Extra cash for the decorating budget.

Here's a light fixture that went from "Granny's Florida Room" to "Sweet Girly Chic" in about two cans:

Like how the "before" picture is on my bare mattress? One word: Classy. The folks who bought this fixture were going to add strings of crystal beads and hang it in their baby girl's nursery. Fabulous!

Anywhoo, I've saved beaucoup bucks spray painting plenty of things we've actually kept in the house too. Metal AC vents, the frost on our glass front door, and don't forget the fabulous transformation of the light fixtures in our master bathroom.

This was a cute little mirror, but it needed some jazz and personality. So I added a fleur-de-lis finial for some cajun flavor and spray painted it a yellow as wild as Mardi Gras. Oh la la! And it just happens to be for sale on my new Etsy shop! (squeal!)

My antique expert mother-in-law had this sweet little Jenny Lind twin bed in her treasure trove of vintage gems. It was hand made in the late 1800's of solid walnut and has a great shape. But we thought the dark finish didn't do too much for its diminutive size and girly shape. A coat of primer and antique white -- and it's ready to grace some lucky little girl's bedroom. Like it? Really?! Good, cuz it's for sale on CraigsList!

So. What will you spray paint today? Dust off some stuff in your garage and start shaking that can. While you decide what to transform, here are my top three painting tips:

1. Cover your painting surface (for me, it's our driveway). You don't want the tell-tale outline of that transformed item reminding you of your little project for years to come.

2. Use a tarp, not newspaper. It sticks to the stuff you're painting and makes clean-up messy.

3. Don't try to "cover the earth" in one heavy coat. You'll just get glops and drips. Two (or even three, if the item will be handled a lot) is soooo much better. Trust me, I've sanded down and repainted a lot of glops.

For more tips and ideas, check out my girl Thrifty Decor Chick's spray painting page. See you next time!

Whimsical … Pool Decks?

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 20:21:00 +0000

"There is no such thing as a bad color, only bad color combinations."

~ Elizabeth Mayhew

You know that feeling you get when you look at a room, the exterior of a home or an outdoor space and something’s just not right? It isn’t visually appealing because the furniture is placed all catawampus, the architecture is out of balance or the colors are just bad?

No? Okay, maybe it’s just me. And (woe is me … this is the cross I bear) I get that feeling A LOT. Often in my own home. But there was one thing that particularly bothered me – and my dad … the pool deck.

“It is just so ugly,” he said.

My friends, he was right. Light gray concrete. Bleached by the relentless Florida sun. Bland. Boring as oatmeal.

The deck didn’t do a thing for the pool. Or the view of the back yard from our living room. So after checking into the feasibility and cost of covering it with something like pavers (ouch), we decided to stain the concrete.

For some reason, I thought this would be a quick, easy project. A cinch! We could practically give the kids some rollers and stain and it would take care of itself! Oh brother … was I ever living in a dream world. The project took every bit of a three-day weekend (with my parents helping us) and wasn’t nearly as easy as I’d hoped.

First, let’s talk materials. I heard about this new H&C product at Sherwin Williams and liked that it was water-based, didn’t require etching or priming, was quick-drying and – with diluting and mixing – allowed for lots of color options. Also, it wouldn’t make the surface slick like paint or oil-based sealers. Which is good -- because seeing my kids fall by the pool is in the top ten on my mental reel of nightmare scenarios.

To warm up the deck and complement the blues of the pool, we decided to go for a terracotta color. We borrowed small sample bottles from our SW store (free – they just ask that you return them) and tested them on the deck until we got the right combination. We finally chose a mixture of Henna, Dahlia Red and Autumn Breeze.

There’s a hitch in every home improvement plan and here was ours: Being about 30 years old, our deck is VERY porous and really soaked up the stain (more on this in a sec). As we started spraying, we were amazed how much stain the concrete was soaking up and how … well, NOT great it was looking. Big blotches and clumps of color here and there. Also, the concrete was MUCH more or less porous depending on how much it was exposed to water and sun.
Bah. We wound up having to go over the same areas several times with slightly different versions of our color mixture to get the right color throughout the deck. I even got down on hands and knees and used a sponge to do a little faux treatment and blend in blotches. It was pretty frustrating, but at last we started an impromptu pattern and got a system down. Our strategy was to layer on the color using pump-up sprayers to get a more natural, marbled look of varying color. But if we had to do it over again, we would use rollers with long handles and perhaps sponge on a pattern afterwards.

AND -- this is big -- we would seal the surface first. We used a paver sealer after the deck was completely stained and dry (gloss, as recommended by the SW rep, which doesn't look glossy at all -- just a bit shiny. No, in a GOOD way). But, I think we could have avoided using so much product – and spending so much time – if we had sealed first too.

Oh well, hindsight’s always 20/20, right?

If you decide to take on this project, don’t be frightened by my lamentations of hard work! Try a sample of the product I used (but be advised, it’s a new product and SW stores may have to order the color you want). Here’s another water-based stain that’s available at local Benjamin Moore stores (like Watkins in downtown Orlando). Or check out more affordable stains at the big box stores. Just be prepared to do the etching first and work with some slightly noxious stuff (get out the HazMat suit!).

Check out the before and after…

Makes a splash, no? I think the hard work and expense was definitely worth it. I love the way the terracotta sets off the blue of the pool -- and blends with the brick on our house.

Now Dad and I no longer cringe when looking out the back doors. Finding the right color and getting it done ... gotta love it!

Athletic Art

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:08:00 +0000

Life is about timing. ~ Carl Lewis The time had come for a bonafide big boy room. Some good buddies of ours set out to transform their little boy's nautical nursery into a sports sanctuary.

They already had this cute bedding set from Pottery Barn Kids, so I made them some mixed media canvases to coordinate and jazz up the walls. I loved the red, blue and green color scheme and used that as a jumping off place. Then I asked Will to name his three favorite sports, which turned out to be football, basketball and soccer.

I painted designs such as football field markings, a soccer ball and the sketch of a dribbling basketball player onto the 24" canvases.

Next I poked around online and found some vintage photographs and shots of the family's favorite athletes. Then I decoupaged the photos, as well as sporty stuff like tickets and numbers over the paint. Finally, I used distress ink to give everything an vintage look.

For one of the designs, I borrowed from Land of Nod wall art, which, I would like to add are mass produced and cost $119 each. Mine are hand painted and customized to your colors, bedding and favorite teams. Oh, and I'd only charge $50-$75 each.

Soooo ... want some customized art to accessorize your child's room? I'm at your service, sports fans!

More Architecture, Virginia Style

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:47:00 +0000

In matters of style, swim with the current. In matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~ Thomas Jefferson

Oh hi! Are you dying for more details from our family trip to Virginia? Of course you are! Hang on while I drag out the slide projector. Ughhh ... there. OK, now sit back and get comfy...

After the beauty (and symmetry) of Stratford Hall, we experienced the simplicity and grace of a little brick country church -- with a cemetery that rests some of the first souls to "settle" our beloved country, no less. The lives those tombstones marked dated back to the 1600s -- craziness!
But for me, the gorgeous wrought iron gate and moss growing among the centuries' old brick were even more compelling...

Several days later, we got a break from the kiddos and took a day trip to Monticello. If you haven't seen it, you must. Run, don't walk! If it looks familiar, just flip over a nickel and there it will be -- in all its Roman, domed glory.

Besides writing the Declaration of Independence and being president, Jefferson considered the design and development of this unique, beautiful home his proudest achievement. Who could blame him? The home's luxury and innovation would be remarkable today, let alone more than 230 years ago.

The columns, the french doors, the gardens ... the dumb waiter just big enough for a wine bottle to travel from the cellar to the dining room. Really?!? Why don't I have one of those?! It's 2010, for crying out loud.

There were so many unusual touches that made this place befitting a self-styled architect, great thinker and revolutionary: an office with a desk that offered a reclining lounger instead of just a boring old swivel chair. (Build a democracy, take a nap ... whatever!)

And a bedroom that adjoined the office (or "cabinet," as he called it) via an alcove bed. I think it's adorable and space saving -- but some folks found it a little odd. Apparently a visiting European dignitary wrote in a letter, "The president's bed is in a doorway." Well, at least it's not as harsh as the judges on "Design Star."

President Jefferson was full of unusual ideas. Like the octagonal guest room (also with an alcove bed). Or the bright yellow dining room, which was evidently a very fashionable, expensive color back then. (Bet he'd be surprised to see it painted in dashes down the highway these days!)

Visiting Virginia was inspiring on many levels. History and natural beauty are one thing, but I wasn't ready for the rockin' design style of our forefathers!

Architecture, Virginia Style

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:35:00 +0000

"The point of travel is not to set foot on foreign land, it is to at last set foot in one's own country as foreign land." ~ Chesterton

After a week of touring historic sites in Virginia, my head is full of images of some of the grand homes of our forefathers. Some of their design ideas were a ill-advised (FOUR giant, homicidal stone staircases each side of the house ... really?) -- some were simply divine (alcove beds at Monticello -- adorable!) So I just have to share! I'll split this into two parts, lest I start sounding like a droning tour guide...

First, we visited Stratford Hall, birthplace and home of Robert E. Lee and the generations of Lees before him who included a governor, patriots, signers of the Declaration of Independence (two) and even women's rights activists.

As our droning tour guide pointed out, the mansion's style showcases the three characteristics of English architecture: "Symmetry, symmetry and symmetry." Heh. But seriously, get a "load" of the brick at this place (600,000 -- all hand fired on site.

We started the tour in an outlying building that is believed to be the coachman's quarters. This mural of a horse is thought to have been painted by his daughter, Sally.

Then we made our way into the Great House. And as I was trying to keep Little Miss M from slipping under the velvet rope and testing General Lee's bed for herself, I missed the part about "no photography allowed inside" and took this picture. It's the seven-foot tray ceiling in the Great Hall. Oops. Chastised by the gasps of my fellow tourists, I moved quickly to the back of the group where I stood, appropriately shamed. But the picture of this amazing woodwork and ceiling was worth it. Wouldn't you just die for a ceiling like this?

By the way, here's a photo (from the home's Web site, not my own illicit camera) of the bedroom where my girl DID eventually break free and slip through the gate where she proceded to run toward the bed and dance around like an imp. Fortunately, her Daddy coaxed her back before anyone noticed and we got the heck out of there...

The Easy Upholstered Headboard

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:09:00 +0000

"As you make your bed, so you must lie in it." ~ English Proverb

It seems like every time I turn on HGTV (which is a lot), there is someone making an upholstered headboard and crowing about how easy it is. I never really believed them, but our budget didn't allow for big furniture purchases for the master bedroom. And ever since Mad Men premiered four years ago (and I became obsessed with it), I've wanted to give headboards like the Drapers' a try.

Now I know that the HGTV hype is true. Unlike Don and Betty's marriage, making an upholstered headboard is easy! Here's my step-by-step...

First, I motored over to Lowe's and picked up a piece of 3/8" plywood and found a dude to cut it for me. (They have a big machine that does this sooo much easier than you can at home. Also, you don't have to worry about cutting off any fingers. Oh, and it's FREE.) You could also do 1/4" wood for smaller beds, but since ours is a king I wanted something a little more sturdy so it wouldn't bow out when hanging on the wall. I chose 4 x 6' for our size -- obviously you'll want to tailor yours to your bed. And remember -- measure twice, cut once. The cost of our plywood was about $13.

Second, I took myself to the fabric store and splurged on some dupioni silk, which has shine and a wonderful nubby texture. At $15 a yard, it's not cheap, so thank goodness I only needed two yards. Then I bought a roll of batting, 2" foam and a can of spray adhesive. This was my expensive stop: $60. But you could make this step MUCH cheaper by buying less expensive fabric. Heck, I even read about one gal using a beige canvas dropcloth she bought at a paint store on clearance. Genius!

But my main concern was how the board would hang on the wall. I bought this HangMan system, which even has a built-in level so you can be sure you get it straight. We got to work finding the studs in the wall, then drilled the brackets into the wall and the back of the plywood. Their tongue and groove fit ensure that the board won't slide around or (more importantly) fall on your head. Easy!

haha. Gotta love the "Holmes on Homes" serious look.

Anyway, once we got the "hang" of things (sorry, that was lame), I laid the plywood and foam on the driveway and started spraying. It's a good idea to coat both the foam and the plywood to ensure stickyness. Note that I saved some $$ by only buying enough foam to adhere to the part of the plywood that would be above the bed, where our heads would presumably be resting and need the cushiony comfort. (My photographer took lots of really good shots of this step, until he got distracted by that van across the street.)

Sooo -- hope you're getting an itchy trigger finger at this point, because it's time for the staple gun! I brought my plywood inside, unrolled the batting and began stapling it to the board. (I did cover the entire board in batting.) The combination of the foam and the batting makes for a nice, cushy headboard -- but it really just depends on how much plush you want.

After the batting was secured, my fabulous husband helped me staple the fabric on (my trigger finger was a little tired). And since we already got our brackets into the wall and the wood, we were ready to hang.

So here's the finished product -- about two days of off-and-on easy labor and $80 later -- we have a unique, custom headboard! And if you get the urge to redecorate, it's so easy to change -- just pull off the fabric and staple on something else. Since my mural is pretty busy, we went with very simple, clean lines. But curves, tufts, trim, piping, patterned fabric and such give you endless possibilities for this project. Here are some pictures to give you an idea. Thanks for reading -- see ya next time!

Asleep Under a Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:37:00 +0000

The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. ~ Robert Frost

Even though I haven't been writing this blog for very long, it probably comes as no surprise to my millions of readers that I love trees. I love planting them, tending them, walking among them, looking at them -- and of course, painting them. So when I was searching for inspiration for decorating our bedroom, a whimsical, restful tree just seemed perfectly ... natural.

With two preschoolers, stressful jobs (both in and outside the home) and endless home improvement projects, I wanted our room to be a peaceful place with quiet, cool colors.

We started out with something not so quiet and restful -- sunshine yellow. Since bright yellow is notoriously hard to paint over, we primed and painted the room ice blue. Now all I needed was inspiration...

I found it, oddly enough, browsing through Esquire magazine. (Yeah, I read guys' magazines. The writing is so smart and snappy -- it has to be, since most guys really don't read.) I came across some photos of a New York City apartment the magazine had designed for some fancy celebrity party. (Sigh ... oh to design apartments for fancy celebrity parties!)

They used a handpainted wallpaper from a fancy schmancy British designer to "collect and soften" the room. I LOVED the effect and set about figuring out how to make it mine. I tested some ideas in my printmaking class -- trying different shapes and colors.

Then I chose a background color: Benjamin Moore 2123, "Sea Star," a soft greenish gray. Which sounds more like a dead fish than a silvery gleam on the ocean, but it's reeeeally pretty. Promise.

Anyway, I sketched out a willow-like shape in chalk and got busy painting. This is the result! I love the free form of the trunk and branches, and the modern simplicity of the oval "blossoms." And I know this sounds pretty goofballs, but the tree has become a sheltering place for me -- it represents comfort, peace and stability -- kind of holding our family up. I swear I sleep better under it!

Yep -- that's an upholstered headboard and yep, we made it! More on that next. Until then -- sweet dreams!

Peeling Paint

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Mon, 03 May 2010 19:49:00 +0000

"A clever man commits no minor blunders." ~ Goethe

I think it's no secret that I love to paint walls, but there is one thing I -- and pretty much everyone else on the planet who picks up a paintbrush -- hate to paint: woodwork.

It's no fun whatsoever ... all that taping and dabbing and trying to make a straight line. And the absolute best result you get is that it looks "very nice." No one ever walks into your house and says, "Holy moly, will you just look at that woodwork? I love the color you chose! And the way it's not peeling or uneven, well that is just creativity at its best!" Notsomuch.

But if it IS peeling and uneven, like the woodwork all over my lovely home, people will notice. Well, more importantly, YOU will notice it up there, mocking you. And it's even worse if, say for instance, someone has painted the walls red without even bothering to tape -- and it looks like a stuck pig bled all over the the baseboards and shoe molding. Not that I would know anything about that. Ahem.

Anywhoo, this is the predicament in which I find myself. And not just in my lovely red office, but in my WHOLE STINKING HOUSE. We think that before we moved here, the previous owners, who once seemed like perfectly nice, intelligent people, painted water-based latex over oil-based paint without primer. Perhaps in an attempt to make things easy on us. Wow ... thanks.

And because of this blunder, I will scrape, sand, prime and THEN paint -- all to make it look not horrible, but "very nice."

So learn this lesson, my friends. Be ye not so stupid. When in doubt, use a good primer before you paint! Actually, it's almost always a good idea to prime before you paint. You think it's just an extra step that will cost you more time and money, but really it's going to save you lots of heartache.

Or if you just really don't want to prime and you don't know what kind of paint you're covering, try this little test:

Open a tin of Sterno – you know, the stuff you use at buffets to keep the casseroles warm. What? You don’t have any Sterno handy? Oh geez, honey, how are you ever going to get into the Junior League? That’s okay, hop in the car and run to your fav home improvement store to get some denatured alcohol. It comes in a little metal tin and should be with the paint stuff.

Now go home and find an old rag. If the paint is a light color, use a dark rag. If the paint is dark, use a light colored rag so you can see the paint on the cloth. Dip a small portion of the rag into the Sterno or alcohol. Slowly rub the alcohol on a small portion of the paint. If the paint becomes soft and begins to come off on the cloth, the paint is water based latex.

I know what you're thinking. Sounds like kind of a process, right? Welllllllll ... not nearly as much of a everlovin' process as scrape, sand, prime and paint! Sigh ... but I am not bitter. I'm just going to take it one room at a time, and reward myself with a FUN painting project after each room finished! Hmmm ... what shall I choose next?

What a Difference Color Makes, Part Deux

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 18:51:00 +0000

“The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love color the most.” ~ John Ruskin

In my last post, I professed my love of color. It's something that I hope to pass along to my children by decorating our home and their rooms in vibrant hues and unexpected color combinations. Seeing the bright paintings they bring home from school and the, um ... unique outfits they pick out in the morning ... I get the feeling that they're catching on pretty well.

Part of their color education is making their own colors. An easy exercise is mixing food coloring into water and talking about what happens ... how the colors make us feel.

Stay with me, I know this sounds kind of touchy-feely -- but psychologists have proven that color has a measurable effect on mood and physical wellness. Here's the conventional wisdom on how colors affect us:

Red: Stimulates, excites and warms
Yellow: Stimulates memory and alertness
Green: Brings feelings of calm, anticipation and hope
Blue: Soothes, relaxes and even offers a cooling effect
Pink: Also soothes and can even relax muscles
Orange: Stimulates the appetite and reduces fatigue

That's why I nixed the jade green on the walls of our kitchen and adjoining dining area (which is now a playing area) in favor of a creamy yellow that reminds me of french vanilla ice cream. Yum. (It's BM's Vellum, which, as you might recall, is also the stripes of our dining room). I spend about half my day in the kitchen and Lord knows I need as much help with memory and alertness as I can get!

But seriously. This color choice follows a weird little rule I've always had: Cool colors -- greens, blues and violets for sleeping places, and warm colors -- yellows, reds, oranges and browns for gathering places.

(The exception is my Best Boy's room, which is honey mustard yellow. A snap decision that I am thinking may need to be reversed soon. Sorry, honey)

Anyway, back to science. Researchers think that people have preferences for color based on what their minds and bodies “need.” For instance, if you have lots of stress in your life, you’re more likely to pick up color samples in the green, blue or pink families at the hardware store. Simply put, you are naturally drawn to the colors that help balance your emotional and physical wellness.

But what if color psychology isn't working for you don't feel drawn to any particular color? You might find yourself being sucked toward the beige abyss. Back away, my friends, back away!

Try this: take a spin through your closet and see what color pops up most often. (If it's beige, I'll give you my phone number and we'll just have to work through this together.) If it's something like hot pink or orange, don't freak. Just find toss pillows and accessories in these bright colors and paint your walls in a "safe" neutral that makes them pop, like light gray. Or try a more subdued blush or coral with bright accents.

Or take this approach -- think about the mood you want to set in your space and choose a color accordingly. The color phobic can usually stomach sage green -- practically a neutral itself. Might I recommend a pretty, silvery green Sherwin Williams calls Svelte Sage? (SW6164) I liked it so much, I painted my first house this color!

It's not that beige is a terrible choice, just don't make it the only choice. By thoughtfully choosing colors that make your heart go pitter pat, you'll find yourself more at home in your house.

What a Difference Color Makes!

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:19:00 +0000

"Color is the place where our brain and the universe meet."
~Paul Klee

Why are some people so afraid of color in their homes? I once heard a celebrity interior designer say, "If Americans had it their way, our colors would be beige, white and beige."

One quick look around here will tell you that I'm not one of the fearful. My own whimsical walls range from sky blue to buttery yellow to lavender to my favorite, "smoldering red." Of course, you can't go bonkers and paint all these colors slap up next to each other. There has to be some natural flow and harmony. And the color just has to make sense in a room.

Take our master bathroom, for example. When we moved in, it was a sad blue gray. This is a fine color for libraries and hospital operating rooms, but it just didn't make sense here. The floors are a festive Mexican tile with blue and yellow accents, and the walls are all decked out in white and cobalt blue tile. Also, the sleek, silver mirrors and light fixtures installed by the previous owners fit about as well as a five dollar suit.

So we decided to paint the walls a rich terracotta that celebrated the fiesta on the floors. I pulled those light fixtures down and spray painted them to look like oil rubbed bronze. New globes in a smoky brown warmed up the fixtures even more. Then I sold the mod mirrors and shelf on Craigslist to fund new medicine cabinets.

Voila! Totally new bathroom ... all thanks to a little elbow grease and our friend color. Just makes sense.

I think that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a whimsical tree

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:56:00 +0000

"The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness."

~ John Muir

My friends Doug and Durell are doing a nature-themed nursery for their baby girl, who is due in May. I heart this idea big time (something different!) and was super excited when they asked me to paint a whimsical tree on one of the walls.

Trees make me feel so peaceful and comforted by the continuity of nature. What a perfect image for their sweet baby to see each day! And since I just finished painting a stylized willow in our bedroom (more on that later), it wasn't really like I was branching out! (so lame ... sorry)

Anyway, I started with a light blue wall and a picture Durell found on a blog. She plans to put a comfy white chair in the corner next to the tree. And to finish out the rest of the room, she's using etchings and art they've collected over the years, and accessories like a sweet little shabby chic floor lamp with branches and birds. Talk about natural beauty!

Congrats to D&D and here's hoping their little pixie sleeps well under her very own tree!

Make Rooms for Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Whimsical Wall Woman) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:53:00 +0000

I'm such a mama bird. When my babies were on their way, all I could think about was creating a warm, inviting little nest for them. Like most parents, I wanted their nursery to be more than a safe, baby-proofed, quiet room ... I wanted it to be one-of-a-kind and perfect. So I chose a theme, painted a cool color and painted a small mural that would provide the finishing touch.

For our best boy, I loved the relaxed style of Pottery Barn Kids' Island Surf pattern. The blues and red were right up my alley and the patterns of tropical scenes, swirling waves and swaying palms made me feel calm despite the tumult of pregnancy hormones. (Maybe reminded me of our Hawaiian honeymoon just a tad.) So I gussied the room up in PBK finery and painted these blue palms on the wall.

Doesn't it just make you want to curl up in a hammock and take a nap?

Hah! Fat chance.

When Little Miss M was on her way, we decided to move big brother to a big boy room. I reeeeally didn't want to change the light blue color of the nursery. (Partly because we loved it, partly because we're lazy). So I dreamed up this vintage, flea market chic red and light blue theme that I think is girly and uniquely pretty. I decided to do an "M" with an oval border and bows.

Feminine and sweet! And of course, with murals, neurotic parents like us don't have to worry about anything falling off of the wall and onto the baby! (Nice feature)
I'm finishing up a painting in my bedroom now and will be doing another nursery soon. Stay tuned!