Monday, February 16, 2009

How do I love thee...

Hugs and kisses, Jim style,...Valentines Day 2009:

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I tried really hard to love the yellow paint I chose for our family room. I tried to "live with it". I tried to envision it with pictures hanging on it. I scrutinized it at different times of the day (and found I REALLY liked it at about 3 pm...but only at 3 pm). In the end, I had to admit I made a mistake...and convince Jim that it might physically hurt me to have to look at it everyday for the rest of time. Once he was thoroughly convinced of that...I tortured him even further by purchasing SEVERAL "test" colors and slathering them on every open wall space I could find. In the end, I chose the very paint I had in our condo...a taupe-y color called shortbread from the Martha Stewart line at Sherwin Williams. (I don't think she has the line there anymore but you can still request the color)

Once upon a time, Jim and I both enjoyed home renovation projects and we decided that we could knock out the room in one day...and save ourselves from having to pay our contractor to paint the room. Again. It turned into a marathon of a day....starting at 8:00 and ending around midnight. Our dreams of a one coat finish were dashed...of course it took two coats. Despite Jim's initial grumbling, we had a fun day. It's not often we have such long periods of uninterrupted time together...and I really enjoyed digging in and completing a project. The room looks great...well worth the time and aggravation. With our vanity delivery this week, our contractor can get in and finish up the trim, mantle and powder room...and I will have my room back. I can't wait to see it all together.

And if all that hard work and toleration were not enough, Jim got me Photoshop and Lightroom for Valentines Day! I am one happy (and lucky!) girl!

Before:

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After...SO. MUCH. BETTER.:

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23 comments:

PletcherFamily said...

I love the color! We have that same color on our living room walls after painting over a yellow from the old owners! A fresh coat of paint always makes you feel good!! :)

Jboo said...

I do like the "after" color better too! It looks lovely!!

Janet

Laura said...

When's the party?

xoxox,
Laura

a Tonggu Momma said...

A man willing to repaint to make his wife happy... that is a man worth keeping. Happy Valentine's Day!

Jboo said...

Cute little x o with your paint and paintbrushes! You are too clever!

Janet

Kam said...

WooHoo! The light at the end of the tunnel! You will love it. Really, I don't think you can go wrong with a color like that!

And what a man you have! PS and Lightroom....holla!

Missy said...

What a great hubby you have! I love the new color. It looks very similar to what is in our house. I can't wait to see your pics after you run them through lightroom and photoshop (SUCH FUN!)

Jodee said...

I love the color. It's perfect!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

It looks great Kate!!

Have fun with your new gifts...I am sure they are already downloaded and ready for action!

Lisa

Erin said...

I like it so much... you are right to just get it how you want it up front. Now you'll be happier with the whole project. I don't know what "lightroom" is--- I'll google it. But do you mind if I ask which photoshop you got? I am hosting a week-long class at my house in photoshop, and have never tried it. I don't even own it. The photog. who is teaching the class suggested Cs4, I think, which cost $700!!!! I need to find a less expensive compromise--- any advice?

Jennifer said...

Love the after color too. Yellow is so hard. We painted my kitchen yellow and I hated it. It was to bright like a highlighter. Went with a more neutral beige and it was much better.

What a great Valentine's day gift. Dan and I decided that was our gift to each other too.

Jen

Deb said...

What a wonderful husband you have! :) I love the warmth of the new color. Can't wait to see the entire finished product!

Deb said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ivy Shaffer said...

Your room looks great, coming right along there!

More importantly sounds like you're already making some memories for that happy new room of yours.

Oh can't wait to see what you do with your new gifts!

You are so ahead of me! Only got through chapter one of the Dummies guide to the D90! Have fun Kate!

Ivy

Shelly and Family said...

I love the new color too...great choice! Remodeling jobs are a pain in the butt - jut ask my hubby ;)

Kellyann said...

A much warmer and welcoming color. Enjoy your hard work. You and Jim can spend quality time at my house anytime you want....I'll even supply the paint and brushes. (Have I told you much I HATE painting?)
And congrats on the new software! I am looking forward to taking a photography class soon.

Lucy said...

Love that color, for some reason I think that's the exact color we painted our kitchen...if not then it was a front runner. Very pretty, very soothing!
I love your "XO" photo too, very original!!!

Mireille said...

Ooh, that happened to my one time as well. I really tried to like the fresh green-aqua color we had put on 1 wall, but couldn't get used to. I didn't dare to ask my hubby to paint it over, he did his best and now had to do it again. I was saved by our sudden move to SA, and we never did over the wall. But I know your feeling ;-)

By the way: it looks GREAT!! and you are a lucky lady with such a hubby ;-) spoiling you like that...

Bridget said...

I love the color! Paint can be so hard - I've made more than one error in that department. Glad you like it! So nice to have such a sweet husband!

Hope all's well!

Anonymous said...

I TOTALLY envy and hear you girl! THREE years ago, I had a professional painter come to paint the majority of the house a muted yellow tone..what I thought was BM "golden straw", but it was actually "straw"...big ol' difference. I've lived with it for too long and I can hardly stand my $700 mistake. I don't trust our painting skills, so after we finish saving up for adoption #2, I can't wait to go back to khaki.

It looks wonderful!!

Rebecca Lily said...

I LOVE painting!! I am a hopeless change-addict... I like a fresh coat about every other year. :) I think that is a beautiful shade of taupe!

Steffie B. said...

I love taupe.....have quite a bit of it in my house actually.....good job girl.....and we all make mistakes...lol

Michelle R Photography said...

Great color!! That is very similar to the primary color in our home. I have always been a yellow girl myself, and had to paint a few rooms a shade of yellow, but I do love the calming effect of the shortbread-like color.

And what a great VD gift from your husband!!