As scheduled, our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore picked up our donation items yesterday. That, combined with us moving tons of frames and accessories into the future playroom (for now), meant the guest bedroom went from this:
To this:
Not exactly ready for the inlaws (who are arriving on Thursday – yikes) but at least it’s no longer a junkyard.
The reason that photo was taken after dark was because once Clara went to bed last night we decided to earn ourselves some brownie points and paint the room. Yup, we’re total suck ups who love extra credit. We figured it’d be easier to paint while it’s empty (the new bed is coming early next week- details on that soon) and with Clara asleep we figured we’d seize the day night.
So by morning the room was looking a bit more like this:
The color is sort of a stoney pale blue, that has hints of purple in some lights. We figured it was neutral enough to not offend any guests and if we ever had a baby boy down the road we’d already have the nursery walls ready. Gorgeous, right?
Okay, we’re totally joking. That’s not paint, it’s just tinted primer. Did we get you? Sorry, we just couldn’t resist the momentary fake out.
But as you’ve probably figured out already is that tinted primer = dark paint. We’ve been itching to try a dramatic dark color somewhere in the house so we figured we’d just go for it in this room. Why not be a bit adventurous for a guest, right? We figure a dark enveloping room would be nice to sleep in (some of our favorite hotel rooms have been deeply saturated), and thanks to having two walls with windows (plus another window in the adjoined bathroom) the room actually gets a fair amount of light.
Let’s just say the color is very dark and very outside of our comfort zone, but we’re geeky excited about it for some reason. Probably because it makes us want to wet our pants. Just a little. For now we’ll leave our choice a mystery (oooh, secrets) until we get the room painted this weekend and have pictures to share. Descriptions of colors can be tricky, so we’d rather just show it to you anyway.
Oh and this is actually our first time using tinted primer. With such a deep color on the agenda, we knew it would probably help with coverage and the richness of the color that we end up with, so we went for it. We chose Olympic Premium Primer because it’s 100% VOC free (and just $12 for a gallon). It was pretty easy to use – not nasty like the oil-based stuff, and not very smelly at all. But it was a little thin, so we had to be extra careful to avoid drips or wipe them up when they occurred (which might actually be the case with all water-based primers since we’re comparing it to our run-ins with the oil-based stuff from back in the day). Fingers crossed that it does the trick. You know, so we don’t find ourselves needing ten coats of paint to get the deep rich tone that we’re going for. We only got one gallon of paint so we’re hoping that’s all we need…
The primer actually looks amazing :) But I can’t wait to see the dramatic color too. I know it will look great.
Lookin good!
Can’t wait to see the finished room! Is the fan staying?
We eventually plan to switch that out. But it’ll stay for a while (until we find a light fixture we love).
xo,
s
Can’t wait to see it! Am I the first commenter? Score! I feel like such a loyal fan.
Well that’s just mean to keep us in suspense! :D But looking forward to seeing the finished result.
Nice, can’t wait to see it!
We just painted our bedroom grey with a purple accent wall and our primer was nearly the exact same color as the paint! It made it awfully difficult to see where we had painted and where we had skipped, but it did help us ease into the idea of grey walls since we primed a few days before we painted.
Congrats, YHL for entering the dark saturated world!!!! We just painted a fairly dark tone on one of our walls (used Glidden paint in a deep navy) and were surprised that we only needed two coats of paint with no primer! We’ve used tinted primer in the past with mixed results. But I’ll say this – if we ever paint over those dark colors, we’ll definitely use primer then!! Can’t wait to see the new color!
Love where you’re going with this. I trust your vision. If you decide you don’t like it — hey, it’s only paint.
Not to rain on your parade but… I couldn’t help but notice you painted your air vents. I can tell you from up close and too personal experience that if those babies aren’t painted with a gloss, or at a minimum semi-gloss, finish they will be a bitch to keep clean, even in the most fastidious of households. Perhaps you’ve had a different experience and will tell your secrets.
They were already painted, so we just painted over them so they’d match. Either way they probably won’t be a joy to clean since they were already painted. Haha.
xo,
s
Oooh, so sorry :( No they won’t be. Ah, well, the vagaries of home ownership.
Haha, so true.
xo,
s
Hey you can always buy replacement ones that are nice and new and glossy.
sooo…I totally thought that was the color of the walls. I thought to myself, “Well…it looks good in a calm-ish way, but it’s a little…um…dull.” Glad you’re going bold! Can’t wait to see the color.
You got me! Actually I think you’ll get everyone… because the color isn’t thaaat bad. But I was thinking, “hmmm, that doesn’t seem to go with rest of house.”
I’m guessing navy?
haha, you totally faked me out! Can’t wait to see what color you chose!
I painted the walls in my dining room a dark red, and I used a tinted primer for the first time. I did 2 coats and the walls look great! I hope your walls look great, and I can’t wait to see what color you guys choose!
I actually love the primer!
What a tease! (I just know you are going to post pictures on the blog, then mention it on Facebook at a time when all I have is my slow Blackberry that won’t open the blog.)
oooh, cant’ wait to see what you choose!
quick question (which you’ve probably already answered somewhere in the comment archives): the browninsh strip around the base of the trim by the wood floors, is that wooden quarter round? i don’t remember seeing that sort of set up in your last place. do you guys think you’ll remove it, paint it, or stain it to match the color you end up with on the floors? just curious, thanks youngsters and happy Saturday! :o)
Yup, it’s wood quarter round, and we had it at our last house (also unpainted). We usually just go with the house on that decision (if it’s painted we leave it painted, and if it’s not we leave it not painted). Ironically at both houses it wasn’t, so in the name of keeping things cohesive we’ll leave it that way!
xo,
s
That is called “shoe molding” & is not the same as a quarter round… just a note in case it ever needs repair or replacing. :)
Katie’s right, there is a difference between shoe molding and quarter round (you can read more here) so definitely figure out which you have before you go replacing or repairing anything, that way you’re matching what’s already in our home.
-John
AHHHHH!!!! John commented!!! Katie wins for getting John to comment. :)
Haha. He was like “this is something I know more about than you, so I’ll take it.”
xo,
s
Wahoo! Yeah you totally got us. The primer is nice but….bold paint is nicer(?)!!!
Ohhhhhh you got me! This has given me to jumpstart to paint our master today. (Valspar’s Notre Dame–not that saturated) We have had the gallon for a week now. Gotta get that done today! Wooohoooo for virtual painting parties!
p.s. What does it take to get John to comment on a comment? Haha :)
http://www.chrislovesjulia.blogspot.com
Haha, he claims he’s not as good at “remembering where things are from” and “answering decor related questions” so he reads quietly and lets me do the answering.
xo,
s
I got John to comment when I asked a blog format related question. I guess that’s more his area of expertise :-)
I got him to comment once when I asked about where they find some of the music in their videos! haha :)
Love that you’re going bold in there! We are pretty conservative with our painting too and just went with dark brown (almost black) in our family room. It’s such a statement and looks great. And if you do it right it almost looks neutral.
I’ve done a charcoal grey with a purple undertone before that was a beaut & your “going dramatic” direction had me reminiscing. (Question) How do you know what colour to tint your primer? I see the can came in white, so how do you decided what the petticoat layer should be in anticipation of the ball gown?
We just ask the paint pros. Two of them agreed that they shouldn’t match it to the wall color we picked, and instead recommended dropping a few dots of black paint into the can for a medium gray tone that really helps with coverage and richness of any darker tones paint applied on top of it. Here’s hoping it works as well as they said it would!
xo,
s
Wow! That was fast and so great Habitat could remove everything. You guys are so great getting things done with a baby at home!! I can’t wait to see what color you are choosing.
You got me – I actually really like how it looks, but I’m sure the bolder color will be great too.
Okay, so I didn’t think the primer looked bad at all, but I wasn’t liking the description of “hints of purple in some lights”!! I’m so excited you guys are going with a dark color, can’t wait to see how it turns out!!
So refreshing to have space! Looking forward to see what you choose!
What a tease! I demand more, right now.
boy, you had me with that primer! I kind of want that color in my house! perfect for our beachy cottage.
You totally got me. I actually saw the “color” and thought “BoooR-ING!” So that made me laugh. :)
My guess is you’ll use Caponata-the deep purple… Either way, I’m excited to see how it turns out!
That’s my guess, too. Hope we’re right!
Can’t wait to see it! The fiance and I just edged out a very large closet in our house that we’re turning into a nook office for me… in TURQUOISE. And when I say Turquoise, I mean, HEL-LO Bermuda waters!
Bold is beautiful, baby!
Nice job on the extra credit! Love the color!
Oooh I’m so excited to see the end result! Hurry up and finish painting so I can be entertained! (It’s a slow day a the office… yes, I’m working on a Saturday… and yes, I’m spending my time at work reading your blog… and no, I’m not ashamed to admit it)
Ha! Totally fooled me! Is it bad I though the primer colour was kinda pretty? So excited to see what bold colour you try . . .
Haha you definitely had me fooled. I can’t wait to see what color you chose!
OK I’m officially a YHL groupie. I read up on some of your old posts on how to paint a room and tackled our half bathroom last night. I love the 2″ brush that you recommended. LOVE. Didn’t have to tape and edges look great (not to toot my own horn but toot toot – scratch that last line- sounded bad…forgive me). Buying more paint today to paint the living room. Thanks! So glad that AT pointed me in YHL direction :)
Aw so glad my favorite brush did it for ya. I’ll definitely be breaking that baby out again for painting (used it for priming too). Just a little addicted.
xo,
s
You guys are funny and the color was totally believable. But as per your mention of “purple” in some lights, I’m gonna guess a deep plum or eggplant…. We shall see!
Excited to see the finished product. PLEASE don’t make us wait til Tuesday with Monday being President’s Day……Hope to be seeing the room color Monday……can’t wait. Know it will look great.
my guess: eggplant
You got me– no wonder you worked in advertising; you could sell me on primer as the perfect room color! Can’t wait to see what color you pick and how you balance a room with dark walls! It’s a new challenge, that’s for sure, but I know you guys will make it work!
Haha, so true! I actually thought it looked nice and subtle, not not as plain as white/beige/etc can be.
Haha! My guest room just went from inhabited (for two months) to looking like yours looked before the Restore picked up! :-) And I’m painting today, too – master bedroom.
For the first time I’m using an edger tool. Have you ever used them? I will NEVER go back to cutting in with a brush. They are so precise and easy and faster, even to a fairly steady hand like mine (and yours, Sherry). Even John could use it – promise!
Have you ever used one?
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100070177/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
Wow, never tried one. I have a serious crush on my edging brush though (wrote a whole post about it here) so I don’t ever want to cheat on her. She’s my little helper. Ha
xo,
s
I’ve used one, too. Loved it! As long as the paint wasn’t overloaded on the tool, it works really well!
Yep, I know about your crush on your brush. But “she’s” not alive. Seriously, you will thank me. Or whoever invented it.
I used an edger when painting my apartment, and it’s really a fast way to do all the ‘cutting’ of the room. BUT don’t load up the brush or it’s disasterous LOL
Beth, Did you use this on textured walls? Just curious. Some of the walls in our home are lightly textured. If an edger tool would work that would be awesome! Unlike Sherry…I have yet to develop a close relationship with any painting tools, so I would not technically be cheating…lol.
Oooh, I used to swear by the little edger tool too, but it’s a disaster when you get paint in the little roller feet. I always ended up spending more time cleaning the rolling feet, or cleaning up where my little rolling feet got paint all over the ceiling or trim. I did, however, use it on our stairs recently so I wouldn’t dirty a roller and it worked like a charm.
I didn’t have a very pleasurable experience with the edger tool…I love my angled brush much better!!!
Rebecca,
Yes, I used it on textured walls. I think that’s why I loved it so much more than a brush. I was astounded at the difference it made, because it was so much easier for me to get a straight line on my textured walls with the edger than with a brush.
I also agree with Felicity – you have to make sure you don’t press the edger into the paint so you don’t get paint on the rollers. I didn’t have much of a problem with paint on the rollers, but when it did happen toward the end of my paint job, I just used the other side of the edger. And the little bit of paint that went over the edge as a result of the rollers was still way easier/took less time to touch up than the difficulty of using a brush.
I’ve used one when I had to paint a two-story area and it came in handy, that’s for sure!! Hooke it to a long pole and you’re good to go. However, if it’s something that I can just use with an angled edger brush (i.e. – at my height and easily reachable by a ladder), then I almost never use it. It has little wheels that can get paint stuck on them and then when you paint (if you’re not super careful about keeping the wheels clean), you’ll get a tell tale line of paint on the ceiling or what have you and it’s just a mess.
But using it on a two story ceiling – ABSOLUTELY! Totally worth it!
I just painted yesterday and bought the edger since I heard so many great things about it on other blogs, but it didn’t do it for me :( I think my trim work is overly caulked and it couldn’t catch onto the little edges. So I went back to the good old angled brush! I didn’t try it to cut in the ceiling though, I’m thinking it may have worked for that!
Ahh! I agree. I have this tool and LOVE it. Changed my painting life for the better and I will never go back! Best $2.27 I ever spent!
I wish I had known about tinted primer when I painted the kitchen in my old condo. I was going for a really deep red color and it took SEVEN coats for it to actually look red instead of a magenta pink! Can’t wait to see the results!
p.s. what do you guys think of Sarah’s House, on HGTV? I’ve been watching that show and I think a lot of her style is reminiscient of yours, especially with how she repurposes old items.
Love her! Nate Berkus, Sarah Richardson, and Candice Olsen are my three faves.
xo,
s
If it makes you feel any better, katy, to get our kitchen a nice deep red we used a high quality grey primer and then… 4 coats of (also high quality) red paint. So it took 5 coats of painting (primer + color) for us anyway. (probably could have gotten away with one less coat, but I’m super picky). Something about how our kitchen (and most kitchens in general) just gets so much light any teeny tiny flaw was visible. It also didn’t help matters that we used semi gloss paint, I’m sure. Over two years later though, and I still LOVE it, so that makes me feel slightly better about all the crawling around on counters I did. heh. :)
Red is a picky color though. I helped a friend do a dark blue paint job once. Two coats (no primer) and it looked great! Go figure.
Ugh, red. I feel your pain! I painted a little dresser red and it took at least six coats to get past pink, even with a dark tinted primer! Now it has so much paint on it that the drawers stick. I think I’m going to have to use stripper to get the paint off to go not-red, but the chemicals in the stripper freak me out. Any not-as-harmful stripper recommendations?
We’ve never used a chemical stripper. Anyone have any recommendations for Felicity?
xo,
s
Candice & Sarah brighten my day.
Felicity,
We’ve used citristrip gel a number of times to remove paint from furniture. It works really well and doesn’t contain nasty chemicals.
lowe’s sells a non-toxic paint stripper that works like a charm. http://www.lowes.com/pd_276061-34228-CR.PSNXT.P.04_0__?productId=3029985&Ntt=paint+stripper&pl=1¤tURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Dpaint%2Bstripper
I’m using a lot of stripper these days. My favorite is Citri-strip. It’s less harsh and has a more pleasant smell. The other one I like is Peel-Away, but it is much pricier.
And so the next project starts (guest room). I work best under a deadline. That’s why I said I could be a host house for the next progressive dinner in our neighborhood. I will finally have to hem my drapes!!!!!! susan
wow, you totally fooled me. I have to say I was a little disappointed in the color of the primer. haha. Can’t wait to see your bold choice!
Just out of curiosity (although I may answer my own question), was the only reason you didn’t use a primer + paint like Behr’s because of the VOC issue? Or is it better to do them separately for coverage?
Yup, VOCs are the only reason. We’ve heard that the primer plus paint stuff from Behr is amazing, but if there’s a no VOC alternative, we’d much rather use a separate primer to save the beanette from those fumes.
xo,
s
It looks pretty so far :) With the bed arriving early next week, it’ll hopefully get there before the parents right? Can’t wait to see what you will do!
Hey, John and Sherry, have you seen this table before?
It’s a really cool expanding table (by twisting it)
This video shows it with the base:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKE8rCYLh00
This one shows you more on how it works with the knob underneath and its better quality:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh_qn62zny0
Imagine if you guys found that one! I’m sure you would have had more than enough space with the expanded size! Enjoy :D
Yeah we’re obsessed with those. So cool! And as for the bed, it’s scheduled to arrive a few days before my mom and stepdad do. Here’s hoping!
xo,
s
i love the primer color! i wouldn’t mind if you left it the way it is :)
we painted our guest room a dark color and i love it! can’t wait to see what color you pick. we went with a dark blue, and used a lot of white in the duvet, curtains, art, etc. here are a few photos if you’re interested:
http://five2eight.blogspot.com/2009/04/room-for-our-guests.html
http://five2eight.blogspot.com/2010/07/guest-room-photo-wall.html
all of our guests have really liked it (at least that is what they’ve told me anyway). i’ve slept in there a few times (when we were working on our room) and the dark color does make it nice a cozy. happy painting!
Zero VOC is the pits! I’ve never had good luck with it, especially working with high gloss paints.
Behr makes a low-VOC paint that I love, and I really love their paints. I’ve never had an issue with color trueness or saturation. I’m curious how the tinted primer worked for you guys. I just redid our bathroom from chewed grape bubble gum (previous owner) to cerulean and didn’t use tinted primer but after the fact everyone recommended that I should have.
Really? Have you tried Olympic Premium No-VOC paint? We love it! So far we’ve painted every room of our new house with it and it’s totally on par with the Behr stuff that we used to use! Hope it helps.
xo,
s
Aw! You guys are mean tricking us like that, lol! You really had me fooled there, that primer actually looked good! Either way, I’m sure whatever paint you guys decide on, it will look great.
Can you share where you are getting your guest bed or is that saved for the next post as I am shopping around for a new bed. :) Thanks Youngsters.
We did lots of shopping around so we’ll explain all those details soon. Stay tuned.
xo,
s
I’m glad to hear that you thought the primer was a little runny. I just used the same primer on my closet last weekend (untinted) and I had the same reaction. However, my experience with primer is not extensive, so I thought maybe it was just me!
Looking good already!
Mr. Goodwill Hunting
Yay for Habitat ReStore! I work, as an Americorps VISTA at my local ReStore in Appleton, Wisconsin. Its great to see ReStore support across the nation. Thanks for your donations!