Light Mint Kitchen and Dining Room.

For the last several years, my kitchen had rocked Behr's grasscloth green, and it was an awesome color and to be honest, it was possibly my favorite color in the house.

When I first purchased my home in 2004 it was salmon pink, and I'm sure it was a popular color at whatever interval the previous owner's decided to paint it that way, however, it just wasn't my thing.

Over the last few years I had gone to more blues and neutrals in my home and the green just didn't seem to flow with the Subtle Taupe living room color. Shame.

I decided I wanted a light mint color, given that I loved the mint in my den so much, I picked one shade lighter off the same paint card and had at it with Lowe's Valspar paint in Aspiration.

The card color looks NOTHING like you'd imagine, but SUCH a beautiful PERFECT, calm and relaxing neautral LIGHT MINT. It's seriously THAT beautiful. Here are some cell phone images of my new paint color, it took ONE coat and a day of moving things around, but I am so happy. It flows perfectly with the Subtle Taupe in the living room.

**EDIT** New Photos off Camera:

BELOW LO RES. CELL CAM IMAGES:

 I am a messy painter...

(Below: new paint color, old green color, and previous owner's salmon color haha)

(Below: Mommy's little helper )

Living Room Updates

Please ignore my half "rear" attempts at photos inside the house. I finally did an over the sofa wall and I semi decorated for fall (all be it I am posting after Halloween)..Thanksgiving is around the corner, so I'd like to think I am still okay;)

(Below: I used an old nursery wall hanging plaque and painted it with chalkboard paint, cute refurbish!)

(Below: I made that book page wreath out of a hanger and old pages, nothing more) :)

I'd been spying pinterest and have wanted those cute large striped curtains I have seen on a few blogs. Most were hand made. BEAUTIFUL. Of course, no retailer makes them, and people on etsy want $100 or more per panel (I know it's worth it, but I am beyond paycheck/paycheck living right about now). ;) I decided it'd be worth my patience to just spend $39 for the alternative: A west elm shower curtain.  I'll hang them later but I think it will look great in my silvery sage living room :)

*UPDATE: here's one of the panels, sorry for the crummy cell phone quality, but I love it - I should have ironed it, but I'm too lazy).

I only bought one panel and will probably purchase the other sometime around next pay period, then I'll take a photo, but if you type in west elm shower curtain in pinterest, you'll get the idea;) It will look great:)

*EDIT: 3 January 2013: A Photo of the West Elm shower curtains during Christmas:

Adios Ripe Wheat Walls, HELLO, Calm & Serene!

(Above: After images)

When I first bought my house, almost 10 years ago, I splurged and bought 5 gallons of Behr's Ripe Wheat.

Now, I know what you're thinking; FIVE GALLONS?!

Yes, it was the first time I EVER painted. EVER.

Little did I know a whole gallon would have plenty done the trick.

But for 8 years, I've literally been in a love/hate relationship with the Ripe Wheat walls. Sure, they were beautiful, primarily in Christmas when I had  a rustic Christmas theme going, however, they just were NOT me.

So a few months ago, I took myself to Lowe's and purchased a new color, it's beautiful!

I can best describe it as a silvery sage color but VERY neutral. It's just..

I LOVE IT.

So here are the befores (gag):

(Below: Clearly, MUCH older pictures of my home,

my hardwoods actually looked decent).

 (Below: Picture was I'd say 4 years old judging from Ethan's infant bouncer,

I've since painted the entertainment center white).

 And, now for the during/afters :)) These are mostly cell images (sorry, I'll get it together one day)



AND the big after: I think I am going for a coastal cottage theme.

I purchased the Beach Sign at a local craft store, my hallway has my book page wreat I made and the lower picture shows the transition between colors. The curtians are NOT mine, but it's what I want in there. Currently I just have white sailcloth drapes. I will keep hints of vintage reds and minimal oranges alogn with coastal colors. I'll be sure to post more once I have it complete.