Hi Everyone,
How are you doing now that we have just completed the first week in September?
This year, it really feels like someone turned the switch off of summer. There’s just that feeling of change in the air.
I keep thinking about last year at this time. My six-month rental was more than halfway over, and my renovation had barely begun. I felt incredibly anxious. Still, I tried not to think about it too much.
However, if you had told me a year ago that my renovation would still be incomplete by the first week of September 2024, I would have said, “NO WAY!” Yet, here we are.
Below are the major things left to do:
- Next week (Wednesday and Thursday), the new panel moulding will be installed in the entry. The plumber is also returning to install the bathroom faucet and p-trap for the bathroom sink. He will also install the new Runtal radiator for the primary bedroom.
- The hardwood floor will be fixed by the end of the month, and then there’s the remainder of the painting.
- The painting should be finished this month. It’s taking twice the length of time I thought it would. This week, in addition to the final prep of the upstairs, the lower entry is now 3/4 finished.
So, how is the Knoxville Gray looking, Laurel?
Haha. Well… When you go from white to a saturated, dark color, it’s best not to pay too much attention until the painting is finished and all the lights are in. I know this from experience, but even so, I have to say, there’s a leap of faith that needs to take place. Mid-way the new color usually looks quite jarring.
This made me think this might be why the ol’ “accent wall” got started.
In doing so, folks are attempting not to overwhelm the space with too much deep, rich color. The irony is that doing a colorful wall color for an accent wall can create the overwhelm they are trying to avoid by creating an off-balance design. It is far better to immerse the room in one color or the other.
Yes, you can paint a room in two highly contrasting colors, such as walls and trim. That’s different. But I prefer to avoid painting three walls white and one wall a deep, rich color unless there’s an architectural reason.
Still, I need to show you one of the doors fully painted in the rich Benjamin Moore Knoxville Gray hc-160.
Now, get ready to be pleasantly shocked!
Yeppers. This is how the door above looked like last February. And yes, it IS the same door. I had the guys glue on some panel moulding. Yes, I know. It looks like a raised rail and stile that one typically finds on a traditional door. This shows that if you have a home with those awful 1950s-1970s plain slab doors, you can do something similar and save a lot of money and trouble.
I got the door moulding on Wayfair. It is not expensive, but what a difference it makes! The door casings also came from Wayfair. And, incidentally, they are PLASTIC.
I got plastic because they were going in the bathroom and I liked this particular profile.
Oh, Laurel, you tease. Can’t you show us what scary looks like?
Okay, I can, but only so we can all relax when the colorful wall colors start to get painted, and it feels like the earth is caving in. It’s not. It’s not finished, is all.
Please read about the best neutral paint colors filled with color.
First, you will see the scary image, and then the image will be virtually finished so that you can see the difference ahead of time.
Of course, the floor is covered with brown paper and orange and yellow tape, which doesn’t help. But look at how carefully the painters wrapped everything up. This is why it’s taking so long!
Okay, and now, I’d like to show you a more finished paint job with the new painted floor and a similar bell jar lantern to one that’s going to be installed very soon!
The hidden under-stairs doors are upstairs in the den, where they were painted and are resting comfortably. Although most of the apartment is white, I love these cozy, darker areas. They provide a lot of interest and charm to a space that had zero charm before the renovation. In fact, I’ve thought ever since the doors went in that the lower level looks to predate the original parlor upstairs. I love that!
The area you are looking at above is where the killer spiral staircase once lived. (below)
This image is from early November 2023. Towards the right, you can catch a glimpse of the original shower we kept. It was the only thing left downstairs after the demo in June 2023.
One step at the bottom of the spiral led to the bedroom (below), and one more step to the left led to the bathroom.
This past week, in addition to the painting, I completed two important tasks: the alabaster pendants and the new George Smith sofa. Those are two separate topics, each worthy of its own post.
One last image from last week shows Chris standing in the clouds (via scaffolding they brought in). He is applying the replacement plaster rosettes for those missing from the living room frieze.
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Above, he’s “antiquing” the new plaster rosettes by adding some glop to blend better with the 144-year-old gloppy rosettes.
Yes, close-up, it looks like quite a mess up there. However, they will repair the obvious damage. When it’s painted, it’s going to look a lot better. We left most of the cracks. I don’t mind them; they add a lot of character.
xo,
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Renovation News and Deets!
The First Renovation Tour Of The Upstairs Living Areas! (Parts 1 & 2)
My Renovation Mistakes + A House Tour via YouTube!
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33 Responses
This post really hit the mark! I love the idea of combining vintage and modern elements to create a unique and personal space. Mixing textures and styles really helps add character to any room. I’m excited to blend some vintage pieces I have with more modern decor in my home now
Good wall colors are needed to be selected and one needs to balance the color of the room properly through matching the wall and floor color. Thank you very much for sharing this post here.
Hi Majestics,
I prefer to say coordinating, not matching.
The Knoxville Gray is breathtaking! What a gorgeous entry you will have. You are so right about embracing deep rich colors. Thanks to you and your color palettes, my game room is getting its second coat of Rolling Hills and it was such a great choice! Looks mainly green in the room and I love it!
I really, really do not like accent walls. Why can’t people switch to color on their ceilings instead.
I knew the newt would look fascinating (so unexpected as a ceiling color) even though, as I said, no newt/s anywhere near me please.
We are waiting for the next level reveals. If you keep parceling them out like this, I am going to develop anticipation neurosis. The sofa, the sofa?? And have you decided on both yet?
This is such an instructive post! The unfinished and finished images are the perfect illustration of all you say about accent walls, and about the need to wait until everything is done and the lighting (and furnishings and accessories) installed before deciding that the paint job is a failure or a big success. The second image gives us a coherent space, more restful to the eye, and I find it even brightens your dark colour.
Brilliant choices!
Your paint choice of Knoxville Gray is absolutely stunning! I’m walking around my house right now wondering what room can I paint that luscious color!
With so many choices available, your renovation could have turned out nice but without personality. You have done a wonderful job selecting details, colors and fixtures to make your home truly reflect your exquisite taste. Looking forward to seeing the finished project!
Gorgeous wall paint and the ceiling color is so atmospheric …
You’ve done a masterful work of re-creating – and probably improving on-
what was the original residence.
Thanks for all the education – you are amazing…
p.s. what is the ceiling paint color? did I miss it in a post..?
I had an audible OMG come out of me when I scrolled down to your color example of the painted wall at the foot of the stairs. It is luscious, beautiful, stunning, different, interesting–all the things you are, Laurel. You’ve brought your personality to your build! Gorgeous!
Stunning! I can almost hear you beginning to exhale🙂.
All your choices are soooo Beautiful!! I do hate accent walls, I feel like I’m going to tip over. Maybe wallpaper behind a child’s bed. That’s not always bad.
I have to admit when I saw the ceiling color in your last post, I thought you had lost your mind. But it looks stunning with the wall color. Just fabulous! The door molding looks great too.
Hi Terri,
Make no mistake; I lost my mind a long time ago. However, thank you for your kind words!
That door and color are fabulous!! Love it!
The door color is beautiful but I’m very surprised that the door hardware was not removed prior to painting especially with a dark color. Any spot missed will be noticeable and more prone to chipping. As I’m sure you know, dark colors are very hard to touch up.
Hi CR,
They removed the hardware on all the doors that don’t need to lock. If the hardware is removed, how is one supposed to lock the door? In any case, I can assure you no spot was missed. These guys are the most meticulous painters ever. Did you see how they taped up the steps?
So very true! It’s hard to be halfway through and start to doubt your choices. It’s even harder to have your spouse doubt you. I’ve learned to just shut off the naysayers, in my mind and otherwise, and keep the goal in mind. I’ve made far worse choices when I was trying to keep it all white and found the different shades of white a harder challenge. Thanks for showing us a complex and long project from conception to almost finished.
Hi Margaret,
Ugh, yes. I once had a client whose husband balked at a lovely sage green; not at all dark, but insisted it be formulated at 50%. Well, I walked in after the fact and was horrified by this pastel, anemic version of the color.
Oh my word, how beautiful! I’m so glad you found Chris. The first thing I noticed was how nicely the stair treads were covered. I love the colors. Would have never even thought to pick that color for the ceiling. Where did you find the extra rosettes? Did I miss a discussion of that? I love the character of the cracks and glop up there and that one rosette that wraps around the corner! I’m working up the courage and fortitude to convert my living room into a moody library, but am paralyzed and overwhelmed. Watching your project is inspiring and a nice distraction. 😉
Hi Beverly,
Yes, Chris is a God-send by way of Sarah who comments frequently. Chris works with a master plasterer who fabricated the rosettes and is making two rings for the two missing on the den casing.
That pic takes my breath away! I would never leave the space beside the stairs. And the ceiling color – superb! You are crushing the color choices!!
A remarkable transformation! Your vision and fortitude have brought you so far and created an absolutely stunning space. Onward to the finish line!
Good morning,
Seeing the entry painted was a treat for the eyes. It’s all so beautiful!
I do have a question about the plaster rosettes. Why is there one on an outside corner? That seems odd to me.
Hang in there. Seeing how it’s going to look when it’s completed is great motivation.
Hi Mary,
That’s a great question about the rosettes that wrap around the corner, and I’ve had the same question since I find that odd. They are original, and not something we did. Why they made that choice, we’ll never know.
Wow, it looks absolutely fantastic!!! I LOVE dark trim, and painting the walls the same dark color makes it all look so cohesive.
you know I love checkerboard floors!!
Laurel, one word for you about the color, well three – gorgeous, just gorgeous!
Good morning Laurel, I absolutely the Knoxville gray with the “swamp” ceiling color:)
Quick question, why did you paint the crown molding the wall color and not the ceiling color? Not doubting your decision, just trying to learn!
Thank you
Hi Christie,
That’s a great question and I don’t think that either would be wrong, however, if one continues the wall color including the crown, it does lift the ceiling height a bit. Painting the crown the ceiling color does the opposite. I debated this, but decided to keep the crown the same as the rest of the trim.
So beautiful!
Laurel, it’s all coming together! The doors look terrific and I’m now persuaded to add mouldings to our plain slab doors. Excellent application and the paint job is to die for. Can’t wait for your next installment.
The Benjamin Moore Knoxville Gray is luscious! Very dramatic and will look so perfect with the other surfaces when finished. Keep going – it is all coming together so nicely, and the painters are doing such a fabulous job. Love the saturated colors you are using in different rooms.