Last weekend, I packed up the painting station that was taking up most of our hallway (and just waiting for a clever toddler with more than 30 seconds alone to have a whole lot of messy fun). The trim throughout the whole house still needs a second coat (and first in some cases), and there are still a few unpainted rooms that I plan to paint in coming months. But for the most part, the painting is 'done'.
I really enjoyed the painting process - choosing colors was so much fun, and applying it in each room really gave me the time to think about that room, and how we could create a space that best suited the needs of all of us using it. Daydreaming about the library as I painted it, for example, helped the whole room come together in just two days once I got to it. I also must say that now I'm quite happy to put away the paint for a while. That was a lot of paint. A whole lot of paint.
Some painting details:
All of our paint is Yolo Colorhouse (with a few exceptions noted below due to a temporary Yolo eggshell shortage and a freaking-out new homeowner on a deadline). We purchased it all through Maine Green Building Supply in Portland, Maine, with great help and guidance from them on everything from paint to stain to insulation and flooring (and more to come).
I chose Yolo because it's a greener choice, first and foremost, because it's an independent women-owned company who does good things for the world, and because I loooooove their color palatte. Choosing a house full of colors at once could have been overwhelming and daunting given 'every color under the sun' as an option, but Yolo's thoughtful choices in palatte were just limiting enough to make it feel not overwhelming, and to ensure, a bit, that the colors would flow well together. It applies so well, and truly each color 'blossoms' once it's on the walls.
I know this doesn't really give a true sense of color from one photograph - it changes so much in different light and under different settings. But hopefully this will give enough of an idea, and serve as reference if you (or I!) need it.
The trim (and doors) throughout the house are Yolo's Air .01.
The floor painting details are here.
My studio ~ Yolo's Nourish .02
Such a neutral color choice surprised even me, but I'm so glad I went for it. It feels comfortable and soothing, and I think is going to make a quiet (nourishing!) background from which to work and create. The colors of fabrics and vintage bits that will fill this room are sure to pop. And I do believe you could call this color the same as sand or linen - favorite things, indeed.
The Library ~ Yolo's Leaf .07
On a cloudy day. You can see lots more of it here, of course. I was a little worried as this one was going on that it was too much in color...so glad we forged ahead because it turned out to be everyone's favorite color in the house.
The Living Room ~ Yolo's Water .03
This color is the most challenging to catch on camera. It's a strong, deep blue with hints of grey. It reminds me of the ocean on a calm, cool day, and that's just why I chose it. That quilt I started this summer? It was meant for this room all along. (Now if I can just find the sewing machine, I might finish it soon.)
The Hallway - Yolo's Air .06
The biggest space to paint (four gallons. eek!), and the main transitional space in the house, I wanted this color to be open and airy and sky-like. It's a subtle (but significant) shift from the living room color, and I love how the light reflects off it all day long.
Adelaide's Bedroom ~ Fresh Aire Choice (by Glidden, available at Home Depot), New Day
Adelaide had chosen Air .07 from Yolo and I still might paint that on these walls soon. But she's happy with this color right now - she says it reminds her of lilacs and bubble gum.
Calvin's Room ~ Fresh Aire Choice, Midwest Spring
Calvin wanted "crisp, clean, and modern' (his words) for his room. I think we succeeded with this color. (And, meet Debra. She's Calvin's very patient hair model, who appears in various places throughout the hosue to freak Mama out.)
Ezra's Room ~ Grain .06
Oh, wow. (You can see it in full here.) I was so unsure about this color. But he was SO sure. As it went up, he stood in the middle of the room and declared with joy, "It's just like a bandaid!". It kind of is, and it totally works for Mr. Ezra. Though I think it will not be complete until I find a shag rug for him.
And there you have it - a whole lot of fresh paint, and a house that is very much beginning to feel like our own.
