Monday, September 14, 2015

Not the dining room


The other day, I asked you to guess what room I was painting and some of you guessed the dining room, because I said it was a mess.

Wrong! ;)

I was working on my office/sewing room.


And this was the dining room, while I was painting.


Oops! Sorry about Mini's butt under the table ;)


Here's the before that I showed in this post.


And here's the after:


It took me four very long messy days, but it's finally done.

The dining room, not so much, but I'm working on it.

More on that later ;)

Anyway, the first picture in this post shows the colors pretty true to real life, but for whatever reason, the yellow looks super bright in most of them.

(You'll see what I mean when we take a look at the opposite side of the room.)


Here's the little built in desk area, where I write letters and do calligraphy:


I'm looking for another chair, but this one will do for now.


All my reference books, paperbacks and some biographies are on this side.


Most family pictures were grouped together on the top middle shelf.


On the other side, I have my childhood books...


two of my favorite horse show trophies and the ribbons that came with them (I used to compete in Hunter/jumper and dressage) ...


I also brought out all my photo albums, so that they were easily accessible and I grouped together all the school projects that my kids gave me over the years, when they were little.


My shelves are not really "decorated", as you can see.

Instead they are working shelves that also hold precious memories.

Since you can see this room from other places in my home, I did try to make them look as nice as I can, but without making it impossible to get anything off of a shelf and it's organized, so I know where everything is :)


Here's the before of the other side:


And the after:


Wow, that looks bright! lol

I swear it's not though.


I took a few pictures so that you could get a better look at my desk, that some of you had asked for.





And here's the reality:


Well, kind of....

I took the papers and bills off the desk ;)

So that's it.

I wanted a cozy, cheerful, but kind of serious room and I think I achieved it.

It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I like it ;)


See what I mean about the colors in the picture below?


That's pretty true to what it looks like in person, as well.

Weird, huh?

I think I've said this before, but the drapes in my house always seem to look grey in pictures and they're sage green.

Oh well, I never claimed to be a great (or even good) photographer :p

Anywho...

If you look at that picture again, you can kind of see a little bit of yellow next to the spoon rack.

I'm testing out another yellow in there, that's a shade lighter, but it seems kind of bright, so we'll see.

What I want is the rooms to flow from one to the next, but not be all the exact same colors, just variations, if that makes sense.

Wish me luck!

xo
rue


PS 

Just in case anyone wants to know, the colors are Behr's English Custard and Olivine.


65 comments:

  1. That's it! I had a feeling about the colors, very pretty! And really, your office/craft room is your reflection of your life. It's you! Kathleen in Az

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    1. Thank you Kathleen :)

      It's nice to finally have this room done.

      xo

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  2. Your office looks like such a bright and delightful place to work...love the transformation.
    Mary Alice

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  3. WOW, what an undertaking - you have been a busy bee, Rue! I bet it is so refreshing and fun being in that space now.

    You have a lot of neat do-dads, I wish I could visit you and just hear all the stories and memories behind everything you treasure and have saved over the years.

    Hugs.

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  4. It is lovely! Serious but yet "Rue" to a T.
    Brenda

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  5. I love your new happy space! I love the colors and think they blend so well together! It is so bright and cheery and inspiring...don't you just want to sit in there all day and take it all in??!!! I would! Much love and hugs to you sweet friend! It's gorgeous and I know was worth every hour of those 4 days!! HUGS!!

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  6. your cottage is to die for! I love it! I love a creamy yellow for wall color its so cheerful and we all need that.i enjoy your blog very much.

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    1. Thank you so much, MEME! That's very sweet of you to say :)

      xo

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  7. I love it, Rue. It looks so cozy and that desk is amazing. xo Laura

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  8. True to life colors, do not translate, via our blogs. It's just so.

    You did a marvelous job. And it must feel so great to have it done.

    Hugs...

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  9. I seriously love it, Rue! The custard and the olivine truly complement each other. They really do cheer you up and are inspiring! Bright and Bold looks perfect to me (even if it isn't in real life) it's beautiful! Have a great week! Hugs, Christine

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  10. What a lovely space you have!

    Have a great week ~ FlowerLady

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  11. I like what you've achieved here Rue ... and I'm with you on the flow between rooms, variation on a colour scheme, works well.

    Have a lovely week.

    All the best Jan

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  12. I like what you've achieved here Rue ... and I'm with you on the flow between rooms, variation on a colour scheme, works well.

    Have a lovely week.

    All the best Jan

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  13. Beautiful colors, gorgeous furniture, priceless memories. And my favorite part is your "room for photo albums" and the collections of your children's art projects. You have such a "homey" home.

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  14. That is a really a pretty shade of yellow. I know how hard it is to choose just the right shade...I painted my kitchen this spring, I call is neon lemon parfait, actually it isn't quite that bad...
    Your desk is absolutely gorgeous, what a fantastic piece of furniture.

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  15. Gorgeous colors!

    Rooms need to be functional and sometimes that means they can't be decorated. Enjoy your fresh space.

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  16. Rue, your office/sewing room is very organized now. I've always wanted a craft room, but my house is small, so I only have a guest room. I like the green color of the book shelves. You can do Calligraphy? I learned this many years ago too. Wow, your desk looks like an antique. Your new space looks great. :: )

    ~Sheri

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  17. Wow! Painting your bookshelves must have been a bear, but they look great! I've had that problem with colors looking neon on my blog when the photo itself showed the true colors. Who knows?! You've got a fabulous room to get creative in, and your desk is an amazing old piece. Thanks for sharing!

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  18. Form follows function. Not all spaces can or should be decorated just so. I actually like the brighter yellow. I think it makes the wood pop, but I agree that if it was really that color you might get tired of it quicker.

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  19. OH...how lovely! The colors are beautiful and let your furniture pieces shine. So cozy. LOVE it!

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  20. It looks wonderful but I am in love with the sewing machine and cuckoo clock, desk etc no matter what color the walls are :)

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  21. It looks wonderful but I am in love with the sewing machine and cuckoo clock, desk etc no matter what color the walls are :)

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  22. It looks amazing! I love it! the color looks great and I especially love that old fan and the wall clock. Are they vintage or reproductions? Your rooms are so pretty!

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  23. I love, love, love the color of the built-ins! I still have no idea how you moved that desk to paint. It is so pretty, but looks like a beast to move. You definitely keep yourself busy! When you are done there you are certainly welcome to come here for a while and see what you can do ;-)

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  24. The room looks fabulous, Rue! Love the cheery yellow! And that gorgeous, unique desk has always been a favorite of mine! I'd love to see the smaller wood looking piece better... it has an interesting, unusual shape. Maybe you could share that with us one day... inquiring, nosy mind want to know! LOL! ~Hope you're having a great week! Rhonda

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  25. It looks fabulous. I love those built in shelves. I'm all about needing storage in my small home and I'm in the process of working on my craft/spare room.

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  26. It looks great, Rue! I know you were fretting the work entailed, but it was so worth it and now it's done! I did not ride, but have a lot of friends who did and I recognized those ribbons right away! Impressive! And calligraphy, huh? I used to do that, too. I love it and recently, my kids were asking me about it and I thought about doing it again. Maybe I will. Of course, I don't have a fancy office. I will be at my kitchen table...and I am not painting that room!!

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  27. Such a pretty cheerful room to create in! Love the yellow!

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  28. Rue, it is lovely! Bright and cheery! It was an excellent choice. I am looking forward to seeing the kitchen colour.
    Hope you have a wonderful week.

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  29. I love the room! It looks warm, cozy, homey and so welcoming. The colors are great!

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  30. It's beautiful and so very cozy! I'm not good at capturing color with a camera either.

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  31. You've done a fabulous job, Rue. The colors are warm and friendly. It's the perfect place to be creative. Kathi

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  32. first i'd say . . . never apologize for mini's butt! it's the best thing in there! LOL.
    and second . . ..
    i'd say that's an enchanting room. i especially like the little shelves over by the cuckoo clock.
    you've blended history and charm and wit and memoirs with a little bit of sunshine. the colors are perfect.
    they make the grand old desk look even richer.
    well done rue! and what fun! XOXO♥

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  33. I have read to always go a shade lighter in paint than you want it to look on the walls. We painted two bedrooms and one office a light yellow and it pretty much photographs that way. I also have a painted blue sideboard piece of furniture in my kitchen area, and for the life of me cannot get it to photograph it's real shade of blue. Always appears much brighter than what it actually is for some reason. Paint is weird. LOL. My husband always does the painting. I just get in the way.

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  34. I love what you did! So cheerful and organized! I have a room...supposed to be my office/storage....it's a mess! I need to repaint too. Gorgeous desk...a family piece perhaps? I have a roll-top...so I can hide my mess! ;)

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    1. Hi Donnamae :)

      Thank you! No, the desk was actually purchased by my mom in South Dakota, when she had an antique shop years ago. It didn't sell, so I ended up with it. Yay me! ;)

      xo

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  35. I love paint color names! Yours are pretty sounding and gorgeous on the walls! I love the texture on your walls too! What a magnificent desk! Was it a one of a kind find or passed down from family? Anyways, your office looks lived in and comfy. I'd say that's perfect!

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  36. Look great Rue. Love the color on the walls. So bright and cheerful. That desk my dear is awesome. What a beautiful piece.
    Kris

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  37. I'm in love with that room - pure and simple! Yup.

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  38. Don't you love it when one project lands all over the house? I think the reality looks pretty darn good. We will not be discussing my sewing room/office anytime soon. :)

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  39. So cheerful! It looks absolutely beautiful! I think those are great colors to head into fall and winter. Enjoy Rue!

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  40. Love it Rue! The color is perfect with your beautiful desk.

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  41. It looks fabulous! So much work! I'm sure your'e glad you got it done, and the colors are so, so beautiful.. That desk is incredible!!

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  42. Oh my, what a lot of work! We have built in bookshelves and they're not easy to paint (or so my husband tells me -- haha). The colors are so warm and cozy, and highlight your beautiful things so much more than the cream. Love the desk, the cuckoo clock, the fan, the rocker with the floral seat . . . it all looks so homey and charming. Great job!

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  43. Simply gorgeous Rue, I know how much work it is to paint book shelves, dry and then put everything back together. The wall color is so warm and inviting. I love Behr paint too. Your home is charming!! Love your desk!
    xo

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  44. I love it, Rue! The room has more "personality" now with the yellow and green. I can't believe you painted all that in 4 days AND got the room back together. That's actually pretty darn quick. It takes us forever to get anything done around here. I also think the room is so charming with all the books and family photos and treasures from your children. I recognize those clay pinch pots. I think every child in American makes those when in grade school. I still have the ones from my kids, too.

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  45. You have created the most perfect room here Rue. I love the enormous old book on the table, such character and very tactile. However, YOUR DESK, my goodness, what a beautifully crafted piece of furniture. A treasure indeed in a perfect room. Absolutely love it xx

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  46. It is often hard to get the colours true in a photo, for sure. Your yellow is so much more cheerier, Rue, and it makes your dark furniture pop. I love that huge window in your workroom. I love a room where I can look out on the world, or just the back yard!

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  47. Anything you do seem's to take my breath away. Your home is so cozy but exude's elegance. The desk is to die for. I love that your beautiful piece's are utilitarian , not just looking pretty on a shelf. I remember a few post's back , seeing a dust pan you use and I thought, ok she can't get any more fabulous.
    Love how you kept some of your children's art displayed. I have pottery and drawing's my 18 yr old son has done on display .You really nailed it with the horse item's. I showed a QH, western and reining.
    Your alway's a delight and no one can duplicate you and you don't fall into the trend category, you fall into RUE'S category.thank you for sharing your delightful new color.Take care , TT p.s. I left you a reply on Benita's blog about "red celery".Also I commented on The Women's Room, we're on the same page about food !!!

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    1. Awww..... Tammy you are so very sweet!! I'm truly flattered by all your kind words.

      I read and commented back on your comments there, but hadn't gotten to this one until now. I'm so sorry. It seems I can never catch up.

      I really do appreciate you :)

      (((hugs)))
      rue

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  48. I like how you hung your ribbons along your section of horse books. I have a few hunter jumper ribbons from back in the days before I broke my tailbone taking a 5’ gate… from a standstill.. in a western saddle – yeah that hurt! After which I turned to Judging and have a beautiful ribbon I won at an International competition. I just keep it packed in a box trying to figure out how to display it and now I know! That is one humongous vintage book on your round table is it a reference book? Love your vintage metal garbage can - I think it has a team of horses on it but can’t totally make it out in the pictures. I have a similar one with a horse fox hunt scene on it that was my dad’s, it holds a very special status being horse themed and as I have so few family heirlooms unlike you!

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    1. Ouch! I think my worst accident was when I fell of my horse and fractured my arm.

      I'm so glad I inspired you to get out that ribbon. I think everyone should display an achievement or two :)

      Yes, those are a team of horses on the trashcan. I can't believe you noticed that! I posted about the book, but if you didn't see it, it's a Family Bible from the 1700s.

      xo

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  49. wow....that must have been a HUGE job..lots of stuff in there with the books and etc.(love your book shelves)
    I know you love color and it all looks like a very happy place. Any yellows or golds will appear extra bright with any light on it...I have a Tuscan Gold on my living room wall and it looks like a neon sign when I take photos in there...:) It's not really that bright until the sun or other light hits it.
    Your antique desk is so pretty....you are doing a great job on your cottage.

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  50. I think the fact that you did this in 4 days is amazing! It looks beautiful and your desk is a work of art. Isn't it strange how colors can appear to be so different via cameras, lighting, computer monitors, etc.? I think the yellow is such a happy color and I've always liked it in a home. You know, this is your room and your choices ~ who cares? :)

    Great job!!
    xo
    Pat

    P.S. I saw a home tour the other day that used varying shades of white, pale taupes, very light greys and each room flowed into the next without much change. I can't accurately describe it but the colors were all very pale, just a hint, and the entire home looked spacious and gorgeous! So see, your yellows are right on track ~ :)

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  51. Love the color combo. I especially love the difference color did on the white built in. xoxo Su

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  52. You did a great job! I am having some serious desk envy...I know it is not right to covet but OMGoodness, I just can't help myself!

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  53. You did a great job! I am having some serious desk envy...I know it is not right to covet but OMGoodness, I just can't help myself!

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  54. Rue, you've achieved cozy for sure! It looks amazing, and that DESK! WOW! It's is gorgeous, and I'm sure it looks just as pretty with bills piled on top ;)

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  55. The color combination is wonderful and the room is super warm and inviting. You hit this one out of the ball park!

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  56. Rue, are those beautiful walls plaster or stucco? Such character in them. I love your new colors and your shelves are exactly how I like to see bookshelves, full of books that mean something to you. The whole room tells wonderful stories about who you are. I would head to them when visiting and learn so much about you just from the titles. I've kept all the children's books, sending them to them a few at a time as my grandkids got old enough to enjoy them. There are still some they'll have to wait until I'm gone to claim.

    What is that wonderful fat book under the clock? A photo album? Such a perfect room of your own, Rue!

    Dewena

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  57. This is a very pretty room, Rue. I love the book shelves and your antique desk. The new paint looks lovely and matches your home so well.

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  58. I am so far behind reading but I had to say I love your room. I also love that the whole worlds before is whatever and the after is white but not you...

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  59. I really like the kind of these funiture for my house where give me comfortable.

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