loft & cottage

the blue bedroom before & after

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 13:51:00 +0000

Today I'm excited to share with you all a recently completed project I had a lot of fun working on. Great clients help, but a great before-and-after makes for a really satisfying project too. It's the typical lonely, last-to-be-decorated master bedroom that was feeling empty and neglected and just needed more—more softness, more luxury, more layers to bring it all to life. And we did just that, all while working with those blue walls, that were admittedly a little brighter than the client was originally going for but that she ultimately liked and wanted to keep. And yay, we made them work! Here's the before.

And the pretty after.

The basic elements stayed: furniture, wall color, and recently purchased bedding. And we simply layered some lovely pieces into the room to give it some warmth and personality: new draperies, an accent pillow for the bed, lighting, and art and accessories. Amazing how you can transform the look and feel of a room without changing anything major. Window treatments can make all the difference, folks. It's true. Order some for the bare-feeling room, whether they're custom or retail. You'll be so thrilled you did.

It's so comfortable to be in this space now—the walls feel just the right intensity against with the dark furniture and rich curtains, but the room isn't too heavy either. It now makes its owners, and designer, very happy.

the kitchen bench seat

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 09:00:00 +0000

Wow, I've been away a long time. How has a month gone by since my last post? At least we've been busy in our absence and have some pretty great projects to show for it.

our new bench seat, with a top still needing some paint;
many thanks to Rambling Renovators for the design inspiration!

I mentioned in our giant spring to-do list that we've been wanting to build a radiator cover/bench seat for our kitchen. The built-in seating solves so many issues: it covers up ugly radiators, it unifies them, it solves the lack of space in a small kitchen for seating, and it gives up-close access to the windows.

I should mention we had to do one little trick before we could put a seat over these radiators. Each radiator sat directly under a window, so we rotated the radiator on the left 180 degrees so it was closer to the radiator on the right. I suppose we could have skipped this and built an 8-foot-long bench to cover the radiators, but we really didn't need or want that length in our small kitchen. Besides, that left radiator was interfering a bit with opening the refrigerator and made the door swing seem cramped, so we wanted the breathing room on that side.

Emmy can't wait to get a closer look out those windows

It really feels as if this is what our kitchen has always needed. We loooove this space now. I'm so enjoying hanging out on that seat (if and when Michael cooks). And lingering over a cup of coffee in the morning (with the radiator heat warming me through and through!) or glass of wine in the evening. And especially hanging out with Emerson watching out for birds and squirrels and cats and dogs on the lawn and sidewalks outside. Ideally we want a round table in here to even better fit this small space. And some proper chairs. All in due time I suppose. We'll take this for now!

target clearance & other deals

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 16:00:00 +0000

Before some new spring/summer merchandise hits, now seems to be a great time to find amazing deals at Target, if your local stores shelves aren't already bare. Check the ends of aisles for clearance, and look for sale stuff mixed in with the new Threshold stuff. I've nabbed a few things myself lately that I couldn't resist sharing. The prices (and styles of course) are so good, I suggest you get shopping before it's all gone. Here are some of my favorite finds, and some inspiration to go along with.

lonny mag

This grey hexagon lamp shade says it's not sold in stores, but I found it in my local store for under $7.

sarah m dorsey designs

Inspired by this diy fabric-wrapped chest, I found the coral shell drapery panels on clearance for less than $8 each and couldn't resist them. They're no longer online, but you should be able to track some down in store, and if you can't find the panels, check in bath—the same fabric shows up on a shower curtain.

wisteria

I'm sure you've seen this darling accent table/stool in the color of the moment. A client just bought it for about $60 and loves it.

glitter guide

The Nate Berkus tray seen everywhere, but still so great-looking, neutral, adaptable, and stylish, for about $16 in store.

ws home

Adorable little leather-handled x-base table for under $65. So cute!

And there's so much more, you guys! What deals have you picked up lately?

our ikea wall lamp revamp

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 16:10:00 +0000

You may remember way back when I first started this blog I featured a little hack to our bedside Ikea wall lamps. These little lamps are so great over the nightstand and have given us more than their money's worth over the years, at $15 each. But I've been thinking for a long time now that they've been needing an update. They were just looking old and tired.

So I worked some magic on a Saturday afternoon with a little spray paint and some new fabric (actually some I already had on hand, so this was a nice cheap project).

I'm not sure what took me so long to bring this fabric into this room, but it is so perfect. I'm now in love with these sconces all over again. They've got a new look and new life.

The shiny gold really perks up the bedroom and adds a little glamour. I'm thinking I may want to bring some more gold accents in, to play against the cool walls.

Also thought I'd share another bedroom view, featuring a cute rug I picked up at Marshall's a few weeks ago. I had it in mind for our foyer, but until mud season ends, it's keeping relatively clean and working out just perfectly beside the bed. The little bullseye mirror was also a fun recent find, from Home Goods.

But these are my favorite recent bedroom shots, of course.

Some sources for you:

Arstid wall lamp | bedding | shade fabric | spray paint | wall color

what's coming up

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:37:00 +0000

In the hopes that spring really is on the way soon, my other half and I thought it'd be a good idea to get our projects lined up for when the weather decides to cooperate. We have slacked majorly over the winter, with a million variety of illnesses and terrible weather not on our side. Oh, and also, taking care of a toddler while drilling/sawing/sanding/painting is a bit of a challenge too. So we have every excuse in the world, but what we really need is motivation and a place to start. A few good lists are my favorite way to get organized and to find a way to start checking things off. Here's what's up around here for spring.

Exterior

repave driveway

stain and seal new deck

paint exterior of side entry door

paint latticework under porch

paint storage nook door

replace glass pane in front porch window

replace front door pane (that's now plastic, ugh!) with glass

transplant boxwoods

general yard cleanup

plant veggie garden

Interior

front foyer

paint front door black

paint walls

add hooks/storage on back wall

living room

mount tv on wall

build radiator cover

put daybed in storage and move play table to window bay

recover cocktail ottoman

add lighting on console

redo art/hang wall of family photos

sell old lr rug

bedroom

paint sconces

recover sconce shades

buy new table lamp/paint current lamp

rearrange art

paint/replace nightstands

kitchen

finish hanging trim

paint trim

build and install radiator cover/banquette

make/buy seat cushion for banquette

add pillows to banquette seating

buy new dining table

buy new dining chairs

cover bamboo shades to make fabric shades

hang art

buy new tray for coffee area

touch up grout

seal tile and countertop

level refrigerator

bathroom

paint walls

paint wainscoting

paint vanity

paint medicine cabinet

buy new hardware for vanity

emmy's room

finish and hang shelves
make/buy roman shade

make/buy duvet cover

make/buy pillow for chair

Okay, so I should have titled this post "spring, summer, and fall projects." Or "biting off way more than you can chew." WOW, this is way way way more work than I thought. Yikes. What do you all have planned around your homes this season?

*all images via pinterest, not our home, used for inspiration

in praise of the small kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 14:30:00 +0000

If you don't have a huge kitchen, you probably want one. Am I right? You dream of the ease of cooking elaborate meals in it, of hanging out with your family and socializing with friends in it, of feeling connected to other rooms in the house from it. But reality is another thing. Most of us have average-sized kitchens, and a few of us have really tiny ones. I really think there's something to be said for making those small spaces work, and making them beautiful in the process. They can be more comfortable to cook in and eat in than a really huge space. They are certainly easier to keep clean. And they can be good-looking and so cozy to spend time in. I would happily take any of these spaces.

10 neutral accessories your rooms need now

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 17:11:00 +0000

Well, my little blogging break stretched out waaaayyyy longer than I thought it would, but I'm so glad to be back finally with some finds I'm excited to share. A few recent projects have me tasked with tracking down finishing touches for a variety of rooms, and I can't say just how thrilled I've been with the style and affordability of a lot of the accessories I've been finding out there.

So if your rooms are feeling a little empty and just blah now that the holidays are long gone (and whose aren't?) maybe they need a pretty accessory pick-me-up? These 10 choices are stylish, yes, but still neutral enough to go anywhere your home needs some life and a lovely new look. So happy shopping, all. I know I want each one!

oval boxes $127 | wishbone $36 | tray $135 | baskets $48

a feast of projects & updates

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 15:06:00 +0000

There's a lot going on around here this Thanksgiving week, and it's all "in progress." You know that really means just that things are messy and unfinished and ideas are percolating. And though I love when things are DONE, the creative process, though not pretty at times, is necessary to get to the finish. Let me fill you in.

We got a new rug for the living room, West Elm's Jute Chenille Herringbone, and it really is as great in person as it looks online. Super affordable and stylish, though I hope not too trendy for the long haul, it goes with anything (in fact I'm tempted to get one for our bedroom too). We got it as large as could fit in this room and it's making the space feel so fresh and expansive. A great update for not a big price tag. An A+ as far as I'm concerned—you cannot go wrong with this one if you're looking for a chic neutral rug.

The play table is built and laid out on some thick cardboard awaiting a few coats of stain. (Top to be installed afterward). I already love how it came out! Side note: in the background you can see my office needs a little work too. Another project to add to the list.

We saved lots by DIY-ing the table, so I didn't feel too guilty about splurging a bit on these little lovelies for seating. So cute!

Then for some reason I turned my attention to our bathroom, which hasn't had an update in over 6 years. It's high time—that aqua wall color is feeling really old and tired to me! So I have in mind to neutralize bigtime. The wainscoting and medicine cabinet will get a few fresh coats of White Dove, the upper walls are going Elmira White, and the vanity is going Finnie Gray, with some new hardware to dress it up too (and a new faucet? We really need one as this one is loose and leaky). Realistically, the work may not happen til after the holidays, but it's already been nice to imagine a lovely, updated new space to get ready and wind down from the day. I did a mini spruce up in here with a new print and a frame that went gold in about 5 minutes thanks to Rub'n Buff. So apropos, as I'm really going to have to stay home to get all this stuff done.

And finally, client work continues. I'm deep into designing two bathrooms. Here's a little preview of options for the teeny tiny guest bath.

Wishing you all swift success with your own projects, a lovely holiday surrounded by family and friends, and the gift of thankfulness for all your blessings! I know this year I will certainly be counting mine.

a stylish & affordable kids play table

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 15:46:00 +0000

Now that the kiddo is getting a bit older (13 months already!), I've been thinking about carving out an "official" play space for her in our tiny little house. I've been looking at play tables, and while it's not hard to find stylish options these days, it is more difficult to find a good-looking option that's also affordable. I mean, it's gorgeous and I adore Serena & Lily's offerings, but who's really shelling out almost $400 for a table that's going to be used for just a few years max? That's a big chunk of change!

And even those play tables I found that were half that price still seemed too steep for me, for something that's going to be kicked and gouged, drawn and painted on. So, I figured this was a prime opportunity to diy. So yes, that means Michael has a new project ;-)

And besides, if we diy this, I figure that gives me a bigger budget to get the seating for this table that I really want—those adorable gingham poufs pictured above! And yes, I know they may get drawn and painted on too, but I can spot clean them, right? Or slipcover if they get totally trashed, I guess.

Anyway, some table ideas that I thought might not be too tough to build:

land of nod

west elm (unfortunately no longer available!)

paddington way

But here's the one we finally decided to model our diy on, with help from a plan from Ana White.

It's on sale now for $169, but I figure we can do it for less than half that (and in just a weekend day). We're also going to scale it down a bit so it fits into our limited space. I'm very excited for the girl to have her own little spot in our living room! Now let's hope I can nudge Michael to get it done in time to have it under (actually, near) the Christmas tree!

our late summer wedding on the cape

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:20:00 +0000

I'm so excited to finally share our wedding photos with you guys! The wedding—small, super-casual—took place in early September on the outer Cape, and in some ways it already feels like a long time ago. But then looking at all these pictures again brings it all back so vividly, and it feels like it was yesterday! As you can see, we were blessed to be surrounded by our happy and loving families—and with absolutely gorgeous weather. Get ready for a big post full of pictures.

I'm in the process of choosing which pictures to print and frame, always a tough process but even more so when there are so many incredible photos to choose from. The photos were taken by my good friend Melissa of Melissa Nicastro Photography, who also happened to be there on the day I met my husband! How awesome to have her be a part of our day and capture all these special moments. And so wonderful to have all these beautiful photos to relive our perfect day!

life in the country

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 14:06:00 +0000

This home, and this gorgeous shot of a young family's upstate New York living room, in the October issue of Lonny makes me want to throw away three-quarters of what I own, move to the country, and slow things down.

It feels like life would be so much simpler here, with more time to be quiet, observe, and enjoy. But even in the country, there's still school, work, grocery shopping, and laundry to get done, so maybe the simple life is all an illusion. Eh, a girl can dream though, right?

ravens in the foyer

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:13:00 +0000

Have I ever shown off my foyer before? No? Well, maybe for good reason: it's an awkward space with crazy angled walls and a metallic paint job that I somehow thought would make this room a little gem but just makes it look like an art project gone wrong. Good thing Halloween came along. It has never looked better than it does now, all dressed up with these raven wall decals. Emerson is in LOVE with this room and insists we keep the door open so she can marvel at the birdies.

As a side note, this is also the favorite use I've found so far for an antique ribbon I picked up at Brimfield years ago.

Have you done your Halloween decorating yet? I never used to do it. I mean, I hated Halloween. But when you have a child, everything really does change! Just like they say it will. Seeing Emmy so excited means we're just beginning to get into some holiday decorating in our house that we never would have considered before.

Incidentally, notice this color scheme totally fits my previous post? Autumn black and gold, yes!

autumn black & gold

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 14:13:00 +0000

Every year I fall newly in love with this beautiful color combination for fall decorating. It has drama yet doesn't feel glitzy. Instead it's a classic.

available via elegant holidays at etsy

a last look at the powder room

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 13:57:00 +0000

Hi all! A little look at the finished traditional chic powder room I've been working on these last few months...

So hard to get a good picture of this tiny bathroom. Apologies!

So happy with the custom apron on the bottom of the sink cabinet.

A few elements did change, as they naturally do as a project evolves, but overall the look is just what we were going for and my client looooves her new space. How could you not when you think about what a huge change this room has undergone? As a reminder, here's what it looked like before.

We removed wallpaper and painted the walls but kept the paneling and just painted it a high gloss. The vinyl tiles were removed, and wood flooring was installed and painted. The vanity and medicine cabinet and toilet (and clothes rod!) were tossed. The cabinet doors and countertop also were removed. Custom doors for the built-in were made to match those on the new custom vanity. Marble tops the new vanity, a big splurge, so to compensate a bit on the budget, we just did a wood counter to replace the laminate countertop on the built-in. Finally, we brought in some pretty lighting, mirror, faucet, towel ring, rug, and so on to make this room feel complete. It was a lot of work over a lot of time, but the results are so worth it! A final look...

So nice to see this view from the hall now.

one year

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 14:27:00 +0000

Hard to believe our baby girl is one year old this week!

Years ago, I wouldn't have dared tempt fate and imagine life with her. Now I can't imagine life without her.

What a year it's been. Thank you, sweetie, for the smiles, the hugs, the laughs, the love. Mommy loves you more than you know.

urn + gourds

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:24:00 +0000

Celebrating the seasons with a bit of decor makes me happy, as long as the elements are natural and feel timeless. The autumn pairing of an urn and pumpkins/gourds, whether indoors or out, is one combo I really adore. It is simple to do, feels classic, and looks effortlessly elegant.

pinterest

dear lillie

mt-tails

pinterest

In honor of fall's arrival, I put together a little vignette of my own (in about 5 minutes with the urn we use as a Christmas tree stand!) much like the one in the first image on our front steps. Please excuse the half-painted front porch—clearly what I should have been doing instead of playing with pumpkins! Have you decorated for fall yet?

drink it in

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 13:15:00 +0000

the inspired room

Is anyone else totally inspired by/completely envious of the Inspired Room's coffee bar? This is certainly where my kitchen thoughts turn in the fall—toward a piping hot drink and the indulgence of taking a little longer to linger over it. This sweet station has all the elements that would make that ritual so inviting. I simply love everything about this spot: the rich gray cabinets, the single open shelf, the subway tiles, the unique sconce, the antique tray, the pretty cups, and of course the fancy schmancy espresso machine of my dreams. It feels both organized and fun, restrained and colorful. Balanced. As I imagine that cappucino might taste.

I'd like to upgrade our coffee station. It might make getting up in the morning that much more welcoming! Here are some other coffee bars worth admiring, and with ideas worth borrowing.

rue magazine

pinterest

living pretty

hi sugarplum

customizing bamboo shades

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 15:09:00 +0000

ashley putman | lonny

You already know I'm such a fan of bamboo shades for just about every room I've ever come across. That is no joke—I use them everywhere! They're versatile and warm and textural. Well, this project by Eddie Ross in October's Better Homes and Gardens got me even more excited about bamboo shades, if that's possible. See, I had almost forgotten how easy it is to get a really custom look with bamboo shades too.

This wasn't the first bamboo shade transformation Eddie Ross had done. You can paint them, with a pattern, a motif, anything.

You can add your own decorative tapes using a little fabric glue or hot glue and some beautiful ribbon.

You can paint decorative tapes too.

emily a clark

And finally, maybe a not-so-easy project, but incredibly beautiful. You can add ribbon or fabric trim and a lined backing that reveals the fabric when the blind is rolled up. Gorgeous!

via dering hall

I have a glue gun and some ribbon. I am tempted. Would you customize your bamboo shades?

and now, coming back down to earth

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 14:00:00 +0000

We are married! And we had such a wonderful wedding weekend with our families, it's hard to get back to reality. I'll apologize right here and now for having no pictures yet. We are dying for them too! I promise when I get them I'll dedicate a post to our lovely little wedding. The weather was gorgeous, spirits were high, and life was GOOD.

the remains of the bouquet

And now it's time to get my head out of the clouds. Hard to do. It's been helping me to make to-do lists, and boy are those lists long. I really should not bore you with every last detail, but there is some interesting client work coming up I will be sharing with you.

One is a living room, and here's some inspiration...

lauren liess interiors

And another is a guest bath and a master bath. The rooms are not nearly this grand, but we are looking for a warmer color scheme, not all white and gray, and this palette feels perfect to me right now.

geoff chick & associates architects

I'll also, I hope, be doing a shared boys' room, which is something new for me. If I could translate this space into a room for two, it would be perfect. The bold stripe, the wood wall, the industrial light, the simple but eye-catching wall decor are all just right.

pinterest (anyone know original source?)

The other big projects around here are outdoors at our house. I have yard cleanup, lawn reseeding, and some deck staining going on. Now that fall is here and our wedding is over, I'm coming back to earth and starting to feel grounded. As exhilarating as our special day was, it's nice too to come home and start settling in again. Just how you're supposed to feel when autumn rolls around. Hope you all are enjoying some quiet but productive time at home too—and that little chill in the air. I'm happy to be back!

{end of} summer entryway refresh

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 13:37:00 +0000

So, it took me all summer to do it, but we finally have a new seasonal look for our mudroom. Can you call an entryway a mudroom when it is not mud season? I had been tiring of the mood of this space; it seemed so out of place during the bright, sunny days of summer and I was just itching to make a few tweaks to freshen it up.

If you need a reminder, below is the original room. Very autumn feeling.

And the summer look again.

The coral art didn't cost a thing—I just printed these on regular copy paper from Vintage Printable. The new basket was free too—I borrowed it from another room to hold flip flops here. The bag was on clearance from Target for under $3 (that price?!!) and holds all my gardening tools and things. And of course, everyone needs a beach towel ready to go by the door (now pretty much used just as a groundcover for baby to play on in the backyard). And the starfish had long been in storage in my accessory closet. Do you all have an accessory stash somewhere in your home? It's so handy when you tire of your accessories and want to make a quick switch.

And so now that I've got this room feeling all summery, I can't believe it's already time to change it back to its fall look. Ah, summer. Can you stay a little bit longer?!

more than just a laundry room

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 13:39:00 +0000

Suzanne Kasler does it again. I adore her style: it feels light, fresh, orderly, soothing. The September issue of Southern Living featured one of her recent renos. Have you seen it? This room in particular, even more than the kitchen, which is beautiful, don't get me wrong, was the standout for me. It's so much more than just a laundry room.

Of course, it's got a washer and dryer so it is a laundry room. But I see a door (a Dutch door, so perfect!) that could be an entry door, so this is also a mudroom. I see hooks and plenty of storage. I see gardening supplies and a sink so this is a potting room too. It does SO much, and it's all so darn pretty. All the white helps, and marble is elegant, but bonus points go to the painted ceiling (so fun to make a small room feel special!), substantial pendant lights, window treatment, and accessories like the mirror, basket, tray, and flowers that make this hardworking room feel so good.

simple, creative ways to hang art

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 13:07:00 +0000

Forget the picture frames. I just want to take a moment to adore this little art wall that showcases such a cute and clever use of drapery clips.

It elevates these little flashcards into a beautiful display. If you have extra drapery clips after you've hung all the curtains in your house, use the extras to show off some art. I promise it'll look beautiful, make you look incredibly creative, and help you feel super resourceful. I've also been noticing a lot of other creative and simple clip ideas for hanging art lately.

apartment therapy

Above and below, literally, hangers used to hang art.

page thirteen

elle decor

Clipboards as frames above, and binder clips below. The bonus for all these hangers, besides looking cool? They're practical, allowing you to switch out your art easily so your walls always look and feel fresh.

country living

so, this happened

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 13:38:00 +0000

We weren't planning on building a new deck this year, but our insurance company pretty much said, either it goes or your coverage goes. So...a few weekends later, we now have a brand spanking new deck! It was falling apart, and we knew we had to repair/replace it, but darn it, we were trying to avoid another major project this year. We have a wedding to pay for in a few weeks, remember?! But in an old house, stuff happens, and surprise repairs can pop up at any time.

We got quotes for this job anywhere from $9,000 to $12,000. You're kidding, right!?! So guess what Michael did (with help from select family and friends—thank you!!)? In all, we spent about $1500 for materials. Not bad savings, I'd say.

It was not even close to being finished, but I couldn't wait to get the furniture back up there.

In the end, we're happy to have a new, pretty, and safe place to hang out in our backyard. Now on to the next project: staining and sealing this beauty. Add it to the list.

a wedding in the works

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 12:37:00 +0000

If you'll remember, Michael and I got engaged last year, but we had this project to work on before we could make a wedding happen!

Emerson spring 2013

But now we're having fun planning another project: an intimate wedding celebration with our families. We are SO looking forward to getting together for our wedding weekend this fall on Cape Cod. We have a gorgeous, private cottage rented where everyone can stay for the weekend. You may remember it from our pre-baby getaway last fall.

Emmy has a dress.

I have a dress.

We have a permit to have the ceremony on the beach (let's hope the weather cooperates!).

We have a charming, picturesque spot on the water for cocktails and dinner.

We have a lot to look forward to!

choosing exterior paint colors for the cabin

noreply@blogger.com (casey at loft and cottage) — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 13:29:00 +0000

This is Michael's house, a little cabin in the woods that we're currently renting out.

Michael's little house is in desperate need of a paint job. Not just because of cracking and peeling paint, but because the colors are so jarring and don't work in this setting.

the inspiration, or as close as I could find!

I'm aiming for a more natural palette, trying to find colors that feel at home in the woods. I'd also like to help the house pop a bit more. Gray-greens and gray-browns are what I'm after, and maybe you wouldn't think that could help the house "pop" at all. But I think reversing the typical paint scheme and choosing a lighter color for the house and darker color for the trim will achieve what I'm looking for. Especially since the house doesn't have great architectural detail, I think darker trim will help framing it the house, and the lighter house color will help it stand out from the shadows.

I've settled on Martha Stewart's Fennel Seed for the house and Thunderhead for the trim. I'm also thinking painting out the window sashes the same color as the window trim will give this exterior a little more of a modern farmhouse look, a la...

What do you think? Am I on the right track? And now a shout-out to our amazing tenants, who are offering to do the hard work of scraping and ladder-climbing and painting (and sweating) to get this job done. Yay, ladies! Thank you!