Call me crazy, but I wasn’t really on board with Sherry’s latest “furniture arrangement” when I saw it in the corner of our living room. I know she enjoys lighting as much as the next gal, but a chair dedicated to staring at a lamp seemed like something straight out of Lovely Listing.
Once I looked up I realized that my wife still has most of her marbles (key word: most). She just put the chair there so she could stand on it and tape some paint swatches to the ceiling. Whew. Not so weird after all. Well, she’s still über weird, but for a host of other reasons.
We’ve been debating what to do with those large white ceiling rectangles (between the grey-washed beams) for the past few days. From wallpaper to bold color and everything in between, we’ve pretty much considered it all. Anything dark or too saturated was quickly nixed since we worry that our standard height (8 foot) ceiling just can’t handle it without feeling like it’s closing in on us. And going with an even softer platinum gray than the color on the walls is a nice safe backup idea, but we’d love to do something a bit more fun. Which is when the concept of bringing in something metallic (either paint or even wallpaper) could potentially luxe up the whole room while reflecting lots of light (so the room still feels airy and open). So we grabbed a few swatches from Martha Stewart’s new Precious Metals paint line at Home Depot:
We were both quick to eliminate the two swatches on the left (too dark) and aren’t quite sold on the other two lighter metallic swatches on the right (they actually don’t seem to read as metallic enough from a few feet away, perhaps because they’re on a ceiling and not a wall). Does anyone know a faux finishing technique to create a glossy champagne or eggshell colored metallic ceiling? I know the term faux finish can strike fear in anyone who has ever watched Trading Spaces (me included) but there have to be some good techniques out there… right? Maybe? We’d also love to hear if you have any other metallic paint experience (any specific brands you recommend?) or even if you’ve come across some metallic wallpaper that you love.
As for what we’ll ultimately go with, we promise to spill more details when we actually make a decision and have some progress to share. Maybe it’s smarter to wait to see what we’ll do in the way of art and curtains and then pick up a light tone from one of those things for some subtle fun when you look up. Like a super soft silvery celery color if we go with a green rug or bold curtain panels that include some green…
We’re clearly still in “think on it” mode. But at least we’ve got a good spot to sit down and be alone with our thoughts. And that lamp.
Update: A commenter mentioned a caption contest and it’s so on. Feel free to leave ’em in the comment section. Here’s the pic again for ya. Captions. Go.
The prize is 500 points and comment o’ the day status. You know you want that. Or do you?
Heather says
“John, glancing at Sherry’s so-called ‘Elba corner’, wondered when his wife would stop punishing herself for quoting Right Said Fred lyrics in a blog post.”
Andy says
I painted the ceiling of a pass-thru room with a ralph lauren metallic from home depot in my first house. After trying unsuccessfully to get it to go on smoothly, I ended up using a cross hatch type of brush stroke. I used less than a gallon on an 8×10 ceiling using the light fixture as my starting point. It reflected light pretty well. Have you considered using a high gloss paint instead of a metallic? I highly recommend doing a few test boards & taping them to the ceiling to test drive both the paint & the method.
On a side note, the swatches read green, gray, beige, & tan on my monitor.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes we definitely have considered just going high gloss pearl color instead of going with something that’s expressly labeled as a metallic. Should be interesting to see where we end up!
xo,
s
Donna says
LOL, love the title of your post!
Caption: “Why hello there, short, bright and skinny!”
Emily says
Here are my list of go to wallpaper places:
http://www.hyggeandwestshop.com/wallpaper/
http://www.timorousbeasties.com/
http://www.grahambrown.com/us/index
http://us.farrow-ball.com/pws/Home.ice
http://www.walnutwallpaper.com/
http://www.fermlivingshop.us/wallpaper/
http://www.flavorleague.com/wallpaper/traditional
http://www.yorkwall.com/static/products/main
Katie says
I was also going to suggest Ralph Lauren Candlelight – it really is amazing! I highly recommend going out of your way to find it!
Sara says
“How you doin’?”
Lindsey says
“Although the chairs left front leg “register”ed her beauty, the lamp was just never quite turned on by him always shoving her in a corner.”
Birdie says
Valspar Earth Elements Granite paint is AWESOME. You use a textured paint sprayer and it has metallic flakes that you mix in. We painted a bedroom with it and it is just gorgeous.
Briana says
Ooh, metallic will be awesome! I’ve had good luck with a gold metallic glaze… Dutch Boy brand, I think? You can get some cool brushed metal effects.
AC says
Caption: “Yeah, I’m new here too. Can I buy you a bulb? Maybe a paint swatch?”
Kelley says
Centsational Girl had a great post a few days ago about stenciling. For her wall stencil she added 1 part metallic paint to regular paint. What about something like that?
YoungHouseLove says
It’s definitely a possibility!
xo,
s
Jillian Chapin says
Yes, definitely check out Benjamin Moore. They have a really cool line of metallics, that are pretty translucent, so you could paint a solid color and then go over it with the metallic. Good Luck!
Sara @ House Bella says
We really wanted to do a metallic on our grid wall, but after some research on how incredibly toxic those metallic paints are, we decided against it. They are also (reportedly) super hard to paint with and have it come out good. I was so disappointed! If you do go metallic, I can’t wait to hear your tips.
YoungHouseLove says
Yeah I definitely worry about the fumey VOC thing. Although more and more companies are coming out with purer versions of things. We’ll keep you posted if we find something that actually works!
xo,
s
Neyir says
Chair ‘It’s not me, it’s you’
Lamp ‘Is it because I’m too fat? I can be skinnier, I can, I can!’
Mary @ stylefyles says
“Once again, John suggested another crazy project idea. This time, he wanted to paint a family themed mural against the white brick. But the details of the project needed to be figured out. And so, Sherry sat thinking, waiting for a lightbulb to go off.”
Agent Scully says
Mr. Chair: “The table lamp touched you WHERE?!”
LuLu says
LOLOLOL!!!!
Renae says
Check out this site, her dresser was finished similar to what you’re describing:
http://www.perfectlyimperfectblog.com/2011/02/lastest-faqs.html
amy good house says
“I love lamp” (from Anchorman)
One note to add when using metallic/pearlescent paint. Your surface has to be perfectly smooth!!! Metallics amplify any small imperfections. We have an older house and some of our walls were painted with metallic paint. it made the house look like an absolute mess. We did a little patching and sanding, then painted with flat finish and they look perfect now. Pearlescent not so much.
Meagan says
“putting the lamps wise crack comment on his leathery skin aside, the chair took the high road and discretely told the lamp her cord was showing”
Ashley says
The best so far! :)
stephanie says
i just watched an old episode of a show on hgtv.com. i never watched this show before, and i gather it is the guy who won design star (antonio?) anyways..it’s the “thread” episode where he designs for a seamstress and her baby’s room. they ended up doing a super cool sparkley cieling in the dining room. basically they glittered up a clear coat and sprayed that junk on! pretty cool…and it looked great in the video! check it out!
Meg says
hi guys! Loving all the projects! Kind of dying to know what your thought process/game plan/ideas are for the floors in your house and the kitchen. I know those are probably on the need-to-save-away-some-money project list but interested to know what your envisioning!
Happy decorating!
YoungHouseLove says
We’re not sure about the kitchen and laundry room but we’re toying with the idea of cork or something lighter than tile (the floor might not have enough structural support in those areas for something heavier) and then we’d love to someday refinish all the mismatched wood flooring (wide plank, parquet, skinny plank, etc) in the same rich dark finish so it feels a lot more cohesive. Someday…
xo,
s
Kristin says
We used Ralph Lauren like some other people posted about and love it. We did a much darker color for our bathroom but what a fun idea to do your ceilings. Cant wait to see what you decide on!
Here is what our bathroom looks like:
http://marleymanor.blogspot.com/2011/01/guest-bathroom-before-and-after.html
YoungHouseLove says
I love it! What a fun bold color!
xo,
s
caree says
Lamp: “Oh no It’s Uncle Tom with the bad breath and no personal space. Find someone else to talk to Find someone else to talk to……:
Christie says
I have to cosign on the Ralph Lauren Regent Metallics. The color, Iron Gate, used on this bloggers post would be phenomenal.
http://courtneyoutloud.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/amazing-what-a-little-paint-can-do/
Aimee says
That wall is amazing! Thanks for sharing the link to that person’s sucess.
Marla says
Chair: I want you to think about what you did!
Lamp: But it wasn’t my fault. The sunlight was just so bright, so I had to turn off.
Chair: (in very stern tone) 3 minutes! I’m timing now! 3 minutes!
(This is assuming that the lamp is 3 years old. That’s what I do with my 3 yr. old daughter–3 minutes!)
James says
“Timmy was in timeout for the third time that day when a light came on: it was the result of his own actions that kept getting him into trouble and not his younger brother at all.”
“Go toward the light . . . “
Jeri says
I used a Ralph Lauren metallic paint for my bathroom and LOVE it! I’m not sure if what they have now is the same as when I bought it several years back, but I thought it went on really well. It did recommend this special weird loopy-string roller for best application, but it worked. Here’s a link to their current line of colors: http://www.ralphlaurenhome.com/products/paint/Finishes/Items.aspx?haid=116
Aimee says
I know it isn’t the cheapest thing out there, but once you said metallic, I keep thinking about ceiling my hubby’s mom is going to do in her kitchen when she remodels – tin ceiling tiles. (And it would have a little drama in your living room.) There is is out of my brain now, and I can continue reading your blog without it nagging at my attention
Anna @ The Owl and The Phoenix says
I actually really liked that green swatch with the gray. Maybe just a shade or two lighter with a pearly glaze or coat of polycrylic?
EP says
“We meet again, Lampy”
Cassie says
Hey you two…love your blog!! SO..this may be a bit too much but since you are being “riskier” in your new house..check out centsational girl’s blog. I saw a couple of days ago she posted some awesome ceilings that were stenciled in metallics. Think cool modern metallic stencils not pastel flower stencils!! I can totally see it…can you!?!? Can’t wait to see what you decide:)
YoungHouseLove says
We loved that post! So inspiring.
xo,
s
Susan Wendorf says
I really like the chair. I think you really need to build something for Burger to lay in the sun in front of the window so he does not have to perch on the corner of the couch top, and please take the wreath off of the fire place it is driving me insane. “the naughty chair”
My Shucking Life says
Lamp: What did you to deserve some time in the corner?
Chair: I didn’t play well with the others…the youngsters say I don’t match with table cloth.
Liz says
Caption: Don’t just sit there! Light me up.
Jessica says
This is unrelated to everything, but which direction does the roof slant in your sunroom? I’m confused by the background of the chair-lamp picture.
YoungHouseLove says
It actually slants up away from the house. The opposite way you’d expect it to slant I guess.
xo,
s
Melissa says
This living room ain’t big enough for the two of us.
Dorothy says
“I was all by myself… no one was WATCHING”
Hillary says
I think this Behr pearlescent option might be similar to the Benjamin Moore product that Holly mentioned. I’ve seen it used on furniture, but never a ceiling. Hmmm…
Here’s a link: http://tinyurl.com/4deqrqq
BTW, I vote for nobody puts Baby in a corner. Nicely done.
Amy says
Totally not a paint idea, but have thought of doing ceiling tiles? You can get some really pretty metallic ones that would add a lot of texture and “oomph” to the ceiling…just a thought!
YoungHouseLove says
The only issue we see with ceiling tiles is that we fear they’ll emphasize the fact that the beams aren’t evenly spaced (some are a lot closer to each other than other- so strange, right?!). It’s definitely still an option though!
xo,
s
Emily H. says
I love lamp.
(Hopefully you get the movie reference…)
Lisa says
Do you really love lamp or are you just looking at it?
cori says
what did the lamp say to the chair?
You turn me on!
bahahahahah!
so original, i know ;)
MichelleG says
caption: Chair confronts Lamp about her flirtation with Karl “I’m not blind, I’ve seen the way you gaze at him from across the room…”
LaurenQ says
awesome!
Rebekah says
Caption:
Props for t-payne rendition of “ebony & ivory” music video.
Jenny says
Do a tin ceiling! That would be awesome!
Brittany says
I’m not too savvy in the design department but I live in an old town where a lot of our downtown buildings have tin ceilings. My favorite local restaurant has tin ceilings painted white. Maybe that would add a kick of texture to the ceiling. But doesn’t help you in the metallic department.
Charmaine says
“I love lamp.” – Brick Tamland
Jordan says
Modern Masters is super metallic, and also pretty expensive. I believe it has actual metal in it. Maybe you could paint the ceiling in your color of choice, then cut Modern Masters with an extender to make a metallic glaze of the same color as the base coat?
http://www.modernmastersinc.com/products.asp?mode=lp_palette&lid=3&gid=18
Jamie says
how about paintable wallpaper that looks like tin ceiling tiles? I just saw some at Lowe’s and it looked fabulous!
Keri Lynn says
“It was love at first light.”
Sheila says
We papered our small 6×6 powder room with paintable wall paper in a “tin-ceiling” pattern to hide old plaster cracks. Looks awesome but what a pain to hang! Hubs on the ladder and me with the broom to hold up the other end. I vote for paint!