Written by: Joyce Konstantinow, owner & designer
Drywall & Taping is complete. What a significant difference it has made in the space by removing the drop ceiling. The room appears larger and more open. What a mess sanding new drywall makes, something to remember when renovating. Oh well, spring cleaning will just begin earlier this year.
For this project the shell of the room has been updated with new drywall for the ceiling, wainscoting on the walls, vinyl floor replacement, & under cabinet tile backsplash. The cabinets are in good condition so only the frame will be stripped & repainted/stained and then an update of hardware.
Painting – selecting the color proved to be challenging. As a designer I love color, but selecting the right color requires more than just saying; that’s pretty. Careful consideration of the look & feel of the space, the influence of natural light & incandescent lighting, adjacent rooms, and the emotional impact are only a few details to consider. For me & this ol’ house it was the patina & aging of the woodwork and outdoor influence of the historical grey barn. Yes, the barn actually cast shadows of grey onto the space during certain times of day. So after many hours of contemplating & sitting within the space, this ol’ house spoke to me. It’s message; go neutral. Some may say “boring”, and to be honest that was my first thought of resistance. But, from experience I have learned to listen & feel the energy, so my decision was SW0036, better known as Buchram Binding or sandy beige and OC111, Simply White on the wainscot, ceiling, & crown.
The neutral wall color will be the backdrop to featured art, window treatments, or other points of interest with creative touches that personalize the room. One thing to remember when using neutrals is to utilize texture and other design elements like scale & repetition. Selecting an accent color makes for easier changes with the seasons or as your tastes shifts.
Watch & follow as the room comes to life! Next phase is installing the floor and under cabinet tiles. Meanwhile, I begin the process of selecting fabric for the window treatments.
