Which paint color do you like best?

Dear Chicago House,

Remember how everyone of your walls was brown, beige, taupe, fawn yuk, yuk yukity yuk? Well "brown makes me frown" and it is fast becoming  distant memory. You have a new color palette and as I have had quite a few requests as to the colors I have used, here we go. This is the easy going, relaxing color palette of your ground floor.

In the dining room I have used Behr Maiden Voyage and Benjamin Moore mayonnaise

In the Family Room I slapped on a couple of coats of Behr Relaxing Green

Then in the living room I selected a shade darker than the relaxing green and used Behr Herbal Mist

The sun room (which in fact was the only room that wasn't brown) got freshened up with the lovely Mayonnaise by Benjamin Moore 

And my latest paint project is my office which has come to life with Behr Aqua Breeze
 

The only room not pictured is the kitchen, which, while beautifully done with cherry cabinets ,is so NOT my cup of tea. I'd love to paint them but am terrified I'd ruin them forever!

Which one do you like best?

Love from

Creative in Chicago

XX

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Categories: Brown Makes Me Frown, color, Paint it baby

Something on the walls! Office decor progress

Dear Chicago House,

Let me start off saying a big thank you to all the birthday wishes last Friday. In that post you did have a little teaser to the progress I am making in my office, it seems to take me ages to get anything done around here but at last I am making headway. I have already shared  the paint job which took years off you, going from drab brown to a fresh "aqua breeze"

Now I have got around to  hanging some art on your walls, this takes me a little longer than the "normal human" because I am a self confessed art snob wanting pieces that are completely unique and insisting on creating everything myself.

Tadaaa!

I got handy,dandy with the drill and installed an Ikea Lack shelf then came my creations, the Sea and Sand string art (it was destined for the St Louis town house but I just love it here!), some gorgeous sea glass, a box frame of simple polished pebbles and some rope vases for some arty supplies.

And pulling back a little here is my desk
 

And lets take a little flash back in time to see what was.

Arrgghgh

Love from

Creative in Chicago

XX

Categories: Beachy, Before and After Magic, Brown Makes Me Frown, Decor, decorating, On the Wall, wall art, Windows

The Power of Paint

Dear Chicago House,

You know that room in your basement that used to look like this and now looks like this?

Well it's time to take a bow because it has been featured over at The Power of Paint, a  site dedicated to all things PAINT!



Love from

Creative in Chicago

XX

Categories: Before and After Magic, Brown Makes Me Frown, Featured

Transforming a Brown Home Office

Dear Chicago House,

A creative's work is never done, it is the same in my professional role as a web and graphic designer and within your walls.

Here is the big project I am about to tackle ...the office.

No surprises that yet again brown is the hue of choice in that room, everyone will know by now that brown makes me frown, so it is going to go. Be ready to welcome crisp white trim and soft aqua breeze walls. I have purchased the paint, prepped  the walls and dragged in my huge step ladder so I can tackle the vaulted bits.

I have been collecting ideas and posting them on an office board on pinterest

The light is wonderful in this room and very conducive to creativity, it will be even better when the brown is gone and I feel like I am on the beach.

Love from

Creative in Chicago

XX

Categories: Brown Makes Me Frown, Paint it baby

Decorating: A dining room before and after

Dear Chicago House,

I thought it was about time I shared another decorating before and after with you. This time it is the dining room, I am very slow at getting things ship shape and with all of your rooms this is "in progress" but worthy of a share.

Lets start with the before and hey guess what color you were? That's right, another brown/beige room complete with hideous curtains.

And by the wave of my internet wand here we have the room as it is today, and oh so fresh after years of brown. Behold the magic of paint!

Out with

• Dark brown trim
• A chair rail that was too low
• 1980's window treatments
• Beige walls and yikes,wallpaper

In with

• White painted trim
• A better placement of the chair rail
• Cream walls with a fresh pop of turquoise (Behr Maiden Voyage) for a contemporary feel
• Lots of natural light
• Simple gromet curtains(Henley Rand from Ikea)
• Furniture!
• Some greenery - no silk plants for me

To Do

• Wall art ...I have something in progress
• Removal of that funky chandelier
• Purchase of a new light

This is such a cheerful room to come into


Love from


Creative in Chicago

XX

Categories: Before and After Magic, Brown Makes Me Frown, Decor, decorating, Paint it baby, Windows

More Basement Before and After: Shelves and Storage Closets

Dear Chicago House,

12 months ago your basement looked like a revolting dungeon, it is amazing what a little lot of white paint and 10 weeks of painting whenever I had a spare moment can do.

Now you may have been rather unpleasant but you do offer great storage ... see that long wall of cupboards (if you are British like me) or closets (which is also me, as I am America too!). They are just fabulous, who doesn't like storage.

But your chipboard laminated cupboard doors were brown and ugly just like the rest of your basement. They got the primer (Kiltz) and white paint treatment (semi gloss) too and my my don't they look so much better.

The wall of storage delight even offers some open shelves which got a styling makeover recently with a few treasures.

I did worry about the durability of painting the laminated doors but so far so good...they had three coats in total and have stood the test of giggly girl teens crashing into them.


Love from

Creative in Chicago

xx

Linking with

addicted2decorating | homestoriesa2z |

Categories: Before and After Magic, Brown Makes Me Frown, Paint it baby, Pretty

Decorating a Sun room: progress

Dear Chicago House,

Forgive me if I am mistaken but isn't a sun room for a little light therapy", painting it a yucky dark color and filling it will heavy furniture sort of defeats the object don't you think. I mean look at yourself, you should be ashamed

But that was during the reign of your previous owners and this is now.

Bye bye to

• Weird ceiling beams ( they were decorative ??? anyway)
• Gross green walls...this was the only room in the house where the walls were not brown
• Wood stained trim
• A valance that extended the whole perimeter of the room

Hello to

• White woodwork
• Simple ceiling
• Fresh neutral walls
• Light

The room is not finished yet, I need a coffee table of sorts and some lamps, but it is a fabulous place to lounge.


Love from

Creative in Chicago

XXX

linking with

notjustahousewife | homestoriesa2z | addicted2decorating |  flamingotoes.com/ homemakeronadime.com | .iheartnaptime.net | sistersofthewildwest

Categories: Before and After Magic, Brown Makes Me Frown, Paint it baby, Windows

Guest Room Makeover: Before and After Reveal

Dear Chicago House,

Are you excited? Over the next few months you have lots of family members visting you ...all the way from the UK.

Now, do you think they will feel welcome in a guest room which is dark and dreary with shag pile carpet and "oh my god look at those drapes"  ?

I think not. So lets fast forward and see how your guest bedroom looks now.

I think this light airy room will be much more their cup of tea, don't you?

Out with

• Shag pile carpet
• Brown Trim
• Brown walls
• Heavy drapes
• The necessity to have two lights on in broad day light

In with

• Fresh soft green walls
• New light carpet
• Simple gromet curtains
• Loads of natural light
• A comfy bed ready to dive into
• An empty dresser, ready for your guests to fill.

I know which version of the room I would rather lay down my head in!

Love from

Creative in Chicago

xx

HandymanCrafywoman | Home stories A2Z | homemakeronadime | sistersofthewild | notjustahousewife | adiamondinthestuff | bunnyjeans | livelaughandcraaft | addicted2decorating |

Categories: Before and After Magic, Brown Makes Me Frown, Paint it baby, Windows

More Basement Makeover

Dear Chicago House,

I am pretty bad at getting round to posting updates on some of your more eye popping makeovers. I look at the picture below and ask myself how we ever convinced ourselves you were are lovely house to buy. This is the bar area in your basement. Yuck yuck yuckity yuck! I mean there is nothing nice to say is there?

Are you ready for the after?

ahhh that is so much better, not perfect by any means but it's no longer quite as disgusting.

Here is what I did

• Painted all the paneling ( read about that here)
• Primed and painted the cabinet doors white
• Replaced the hardware on the cabinets
• Primed and painted the formica work surface black.
• Got my husband to smash that weird shelf thing on the right hand side
• Framed some contemporary scrap book paper in a set of simple clip frames

Much better!

Love from

Creative in Chicago

XXX

My entry into Domestically Speaking’s Power of Paint Party is sponsored by Appliances Online and the Bosch Washing Machines.


Linking with

a beach cottage |Home stories A 2 Z | Thriftyhome | therosehome | Domestically Speaking | bluecricketdesign | organizeanddecorate | shabbycreekcottage | somewhatsimple | Not so simple Housewife |remodelholic | HandymanCrafywoman |

Categories: Before and After Magic, Brown Makes Me Frown, Paint it baby

Ugly Paneling in the Basement

Dear Chicago House,

The award for your brownest room goes to the basement. You are clad in dark brown 1970's paneling. Did you know that colors can generate emotions? Red can make you crazy and green relaxed. Well for me brown is instant depression. Popping a Zoloft every time I go downstairs is not an option!

I am almost embarrassed to share your cruddy glory, but here you are.



Now in your defense you were rather messy in these photos but there is no denying something has to be done and fast!

It's time to paint.

Can you see a paint can just in view on the bottom photo? Get ready for action.

Love from

Creative in Chicago
XXX

Categories: Brown Makes Me Frown

Ugly Brown House

Dear Chicago House,

You are brown and brown makes me frown. With dark brown trim, walls every shade of beige and window treatments fit for a funeral home.

Bring on the light!

It's all going to change.

Love from

Creative in Chicago

XXX

Categories: Brown Makes Me Frown