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?
Kate says
I love the idea of putting wallpaper on the ceiling, what about some of the matte/glossy large format print style papers that are popular? e.g. the ones with a large floral in the same color, but with a gloss highlight.
caption: “where Sherry/John goes to wait for an idea”
Julie says
Ha – I was thinking I’d definitely nix the two on the right as they seem too brown for all of the grey love going on!
Lolo says
“Pssst…did you hear about the old couch?”
“I heard he got “listed” with Craig….”
“Yeah, I know pretty messed up – that guy big guy “Karl” replaced him.”
“Better watch your back – word on the street is that you might be next. I heard about some kind of “new arrangement”. Im jus’ sayin….”
Amy says
“Knowing John and Sherry were making cuts for the new room, Chair backed Lamp into a corner by a bright window, hoping they would take note of its uselessness.”
katie says
don’t remember where i saw it (maybe k.f.d. designs?), but recently i saw a metallic faux-finishing technique for smaller objects–pearl craft paint over a darker flat. not sure quite what you’d use for a large-scale project — puffy paint would be a little hard to cover the ceiling with. =)
katie says
ah, yes, it was on k.f.d., here’s the post: http://kfddesigns.blogspot.com/2011/01/faux-metallic-letter-tutorial.html
April E. says
“And there it was, the DIY-Time-Out-Chair. Still room for thought, but no more games. Sherry had learned her lesson.”
heartartz says
Caption =
“Waiting in the time-out line…Burger, Clara, take a number!”
Only kidding!
Actually my 1st reaction was…
“Chair guarding lamp…Clara is crawling!”
We had our powder-room ceiling “painted” with Behr Gold Metallic mixed with an equal part of their glaze.
It produced a soft yet warm metallic gold effect!
Nik says
I don’t know much about metallic paint, but I think it would be uber-chic to get some of that paintable wallpaper that has an embossed pattern on it. Then you could paint the metallic on top of that and not only would the ceiling have that great light-reflecting effect, it would also have lots of really awesome texture and depth.
Teresa says
I can’t find it on the website, but Lowe’s has really fun metallic faux finishes. I originally did the tintable metallic finish, then didn’t like the result so I repainted and used a bottle of faux finish (some kinda metallic) and it turned out incredible. Mine was gold-toned, but they had pearl and a few other finishes.
A says
“Common man… I can’t STAND that furball jumping on me all the time. Just trade me for ONE DAY.”
Nancy Cutrer says
Chair to light: “Sit”
Light to chair: “Lite me”
Sarah says
Usually chairs of the cloth don’t stare like this, but that lovely drum shade makes this parson’s heart skip a beat.
Elizabeth says
Caption: You are SO not my type…;)
Amy says
I was just looking at something like this. Benjamin Moore has “pearlescent” & “metalic” type glazes. I was looking at painting a dark color and then getting a pearescent and mixing it with glase to give a type of glow when the sun reflects in our entryway.
Samantha Sue says
how about a textured wall paper that looks like those old tin ceilings? and then paint that with something metallic? sounds like a lot of work. I just went to a resteraunt called the rock, and they had a metallic purple tin ceiling. it. was. totally. rad.
Allison says
ohjoy! makes some really cute wallpaper, and I’m pretty sure they all have some metallic in them
Diane says
What about tin ceiling tiles?
YoungHouseLove says
They’re a possibility for sure!
xo,
s
Fiona says
Personally, I really like the mint! I don’t see the darkness you mentioned, but obviously that’s difficult to tell in a photo.
Waiting to see your decision! :)
Danielle says
Caption:
You’re SURE this cord doesn’t make my butt look big?
Lindsay says
Have you considered paintable wallpaper? That would give you some texture even with a very light color. I’ve been searching for a place to try it out, there are so many cool patterns out there.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, that’s definitely a possibility!
xo,
s
julia says
I kinda like this for you….
http://f00.inventorspot.com/images/faux_tile.jpg
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that’s really fun! Thanks for sharing!
xo,
s
Helen says
“Marry me, Lamp. Damn the law!”
Sue says
After staring at your “time-out chair” , I thought a light turquoise color would look good on the ceiling, since that is what you secretly painted the light over your table when John was out jogging? There’s your pop of color for the rest of the house. Just a suggestion.
bdaiss says
Do you guys have a Menards around you? Last time I was browsing the paint section they had a whole rack of metallic (latex) paints. They didn’t come in very big pots, but if you picked up a gallon of nice white and added a darker metallic I bet you’d get the look you’re going for. (It worked on a frame I was doing at least…)
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, not sure. We’ll have to google their locations. Thanks for the suggestion!
xo,
s
Lynette says
“It was love at first bright!”
anna says
(Lamp complaining about placement in new house.)
Chair says to lamp (deep, husky, sarcastic voice)” Don’t worry man. You won’t be here too long. They’ll move you all over this freakin’ house! That lady with the pony tail?? Yeah. She looks real cute, harmless – she’s going to paint you! She going to change your shade! You don’t know what you in for!”
(chair exits left with evil laugh)
Heather says
I keep waiting for y’all to be bold with color! The backs of the bookshelves were awesome, but the rest has been greyyyy and neutral fer dayyyyz. Which is totally fine, it’s your home! Just wondering when the color is coming in.
That green swatch is my fave. :) Would make it a lil hobbit hole of cozy. No matter what you choose I can’t wait to see it!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Heather,
Didja read the beam post? We’re talking about bringing in a huge bold rug and some bright art and curtains to spank some life into our gray sandwich of a living room. We’re just trying to take things one day at a time to avoid getting overwhelmed, but we’ll get there! Think of the neutral tones as laying the foundation for some serious pops o’ color in the meantime. And in the duck post this morning we mentioned painting that guy a bold plum color, so even our accessories are going outside the paint-it-white box. In short: patience my darling- the color will come!
xo,
s
fifi says
Theirs was a platonic arrangement, as the chair could never turn the lamp on.
Rachel says
This is my fave!
Tanya says
Love it! You get my vote.
Allykristine says
Borrowing a line from my fave IKEA kitchen commercial:
“Ah, yes…I am going to make you feel like a woman again…” :)
kristin says
how many chairs does it take to change a lightbulb?
kristin j says
Nobody puts Baby in the corner!
Melo says
For the caption contest:
“I would hate to be placed between two rooms… Hey! Glass door, didn’t know you were here… *Awkward*…”
“Does this leather upholstering make my seat look fat?”
“Guess what? I’m going to be a desk chair for Halloween.”
“Nice earrings floor-lamp. They match your shoes… ehem, stand”
“Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony…”
“Ok, they aren’t watching. Open the door, open the door, OPEN THE… – inocent whistle -”
“Wanna start a blog?”
“…So, then she comes next to me and, instead of seating down she steps on me.. STEPS on me! Can you believe that kind of abuse?!”
“Sorry to break the news, but… I heard they will install ceiling lights.”
Mandy says
Chairnanny: “That was not appropriate behavior when you took away Pendant Light’s lovely new turqoise glass shade. You are to sit in the naughty corner for 45 minutes (1 for each watt), and then you need to apologize for what you’ve done.”
Floor Lamp: “WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
*yanks cord out of the wall and flails it around before finally sitting still for Time Out*
Stacey C. says
Caption: “Silence of the lamp” (the chair put the lamp in timeout for talking back).
Rindy R says
“The chair cornered the light after he flashed the entire living room”
Hailey Potter says
Lamp to chair: “Hey baby, nice legs.”
Cheesy? Perhaps. But I like cheesy. :>
MICHELLE M says
ok heres my caption
LAMP: “what are you in the corner for?”
CHAIR: “i almost ate burger, (wired look from lamp) what i was hungrey i haven’t had a butt all day! What are you in for?”
LAMP: “i shocked sherry”
CHAIR: “you did what!?…”
LAMP: “i shocked sherry, she supriced me! geesh, you cant just tug on stuff it electrifies me.
CHAIR: “you must not be the bright one in the house”
Larissa says
“Hey Baby, this seat taken?”
And I vote for a barely celery green in a high gloss finish
Colleen says
Overwhelmed with the size of her new home, Sherry became reminiscent for her NYC apartment days…
Colleen says
Oops I mean nostalgic for….fail. lol
Chris says
Here’s a caption;
John put Sherry in the time out corner for her whining and complaining about painting the beams.
Carol N. says
Here is a link where Kate uses a pearlescense paint with Heirloom White spray paint to get a pearly effect.
http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/02/cream-cabinet-makeover/
YoungHouseLove says
Love it! Thanks for the link.
xo
s
Lindsay says
“How you doin'”
Courtney says
I think wallpaper would be an amazing choice!
What about Julia Rothman’s Pieces wallpaper ( http://www.hyggeandwestshop.com/products/julia-rothman-for-hygge–west/pieces-wallpaper—silver/ ) or Oh Joy’s Petal Pusher ( http://www.hyggeandwestshop.com/products/oh-joy-for-hygge–west/petal-pusher—champagne–cream/ ) or A Stone’s Throw Away ( http://www.hyggeandwestshop.com/products/oh-joy-for-hygge–west/a-stones-throw-away—white–gray/ )?
Also, how awesome is this dining room? http://tinyurl.com/6dkjoz4
YoungHouseLove says
Wow – love them all! Especially that crazy cool dining room at the end!
xo,
s
Beth Q says
I invited my mother-in-law over for Thanksgiving dinner. Normally we have a kid time-out chair, but after our wedding fiasco I’m thinking MIL might get to use this chair of “honor”.
kim says
Oh you gotta wait on the ceiling color. Just for a little bit. Curtains and art and hard to find in just the right shades, but you can get any color of paint anytime. I’d hate to paint that huge surface and then realize it should have been a shade lighter, or darker or cooler or……to be perfect for the accent colors in the room, you know? Hey, I guess you could have all that selected though and I don’t know what in the heck I’m talking about. :P
J'Anns Boutique says
Haha lamp watching chair. I’m sure Sherry is quite sane…you on the other hand might have lost a few marbles thinking the chair was watching the lamp hehe
http://jannsboutique.blogspot.com/
Jessi says
Not that you want to paint your entire ceiling with craft paint but Kristen over at KFD Designs recently did a tutorial on metalic painting letters (http://kfddesigns.blogspot.com/2011/01/faux-metallic-letter-tutorial.html). I never thought to use a pearl paint over black, so maybe that could be an “out-of-the-box” idea. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Such a cool project! Love Kristen and all that she does!
xo,
s
Rachel says
Caption:
Well, we sit there anytime we’re hoping for a bright idea to come along.