Kev went out of town last week, so I decided to have a little “surprise by design” style home improvement fun in his future home office/studio space.
The day he left, I bought sample pots of paint…
…and stared at swatches on the wall…
I went with the second sample from the right- a Sherwin Williams color called Roycroft Mist Gray…
I painted it it high…
I painted it low…
I wore the same t-shirt for three days in a row.
I got lazy last year after applying only 2 coats of sealer to the floor in this room, so when I was done painting, I got busy sanding off some “Max stains”…
…and then sealed the floor two more times…
There are four coats of Varathane on it now…take that, Mr. Maximus Minimus!
Kev came home late last night and I showed him everything we still have left to do in the room the room this morning…
Thankfully, he was still smiling after I told him about what I have planned for the ceiling and for around the windows at the far end of the room. Here are a few inspiration pics I’m going to show a local carpenter to see if he can help us build/install it all…
A local carpenter that I may or may not have made an appointment with already. (hee hee)
That’s gonna look AWESOME! You sound like me, sneaking around with decorating. I’ve done that all my life, trying to get the men to MOVE IT! Nothing like jumping in and starting to get them on board! Sometimes it’s the only way to accomplish anything!!
i love your drive, your taste in decorating, and your sense of humor. wonderful post!
Agreed! =)
You are a girl after my own heart. The progress so far looks amazing, and the expression on Kevin’s face is priceless : )
oxox
Jennifer
Love, love, just love everything about your plans, inspiration sources and your drive & ability to pull it off! Yet again.
Layla, I love the board walls, but my husband says they will not be insulated enough if they still show the spaces like these do….how did you deal with that? I really, REALLY want these walls in my new house that I want to look old…he’s having a little trouble with that concept, too, but he loves me still.
🙂
Hey Donna!
Not to fret- just install your planks right over the top of dark gray-painted drywall and be sure to use nickels as spacers so you can see the gaps between the boards! 😀
Happy decorating!
(PS- One of our wood walls is an interior wall, and the exterior one has insulation and cinderblocks behind it so we haven’t seen a change in our electric bill.) 😉
Got it! Thanks SO much. He will feel much better!
The walls look great and so do those floors!
I love your inspiration pictures and think everything will look great in the room. My husband would be so happy to come home and find that much already done. And there’s no shame wearing the same shirt for painting three days in a row. You looked so cute. My painting clothes are a little more on the sloppy side.
Wishing I had your energy right now. I may have to paint my closet doors that clay red in the Sarah Richardson photo. Looking forward to seeing your office transformation!
how fun!
i have always been in LOVE with Sarah Richardson’s Farm house!
SWOON! 🙂
happy decorating! 🙂
Job well done!
I get so excited when I see that your working on a room that we haven’t seen in awhile. I remember when that room was a guest room with an old bedframe that you gave to Kevin’s parents. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.
Anything new yet with the guest bath “other-side”?
Liz
Looking good!! That color is so pretty. You’ve been one busy girl. I have always adored that entryway/mudroom Sarah did! Ohhh I can’t wait to see what you end up with!
Love it! And love your go-get-it-done-girl drive!!!
~Kim
You go, girl!
Your guest room is going to be stunning. When will you be taking reservations?
Love the paint color, looks great!
Wow… you are so inspiring Layla! I need to get going on some projects…
L-O-V-E! Especially the cheery cherry color with the warmth of the earthy wood tones. And, love, love, love giving surprises to those we L-O-V-E! Overboard on the “loves”….
This is going to sound odd, but was Kevin hanging with 30 Seconds to Mars last week? There’s a guy in photos with Shannon and Jared that looks just like him.
What a gorgeous paint color!! I really love it!
I LOVED the mud room in Sarah Richardson’s farmhouse. I loved EVERYTHING in that farmhouse season….sigh….can not WAIT to see what you guys do with the office 🙂
I LOVE that little nook between the 2 red-painted doors: great inspiration!
It’s looking great. I love the color you chose and I admire your drive and focus, that is going to be a great room when you’re done. I tend to do little projects while the husband is away too, but you’re much more adorable than I…seriously, you’re so cute, even down to your cute shoes!
Did you teach your new kitty photography?
Oh, me likey.
I wonder if I could get Geek-Man to create that kind of thing for me? I can dream…..;)
Can’t wait to see the room evolve.
Holy Cow I love those red doors in that hallway! And that ceiling light! Your wallcolor is terrific, by the way 😉
Hey I wondered the same thing as Grace, except the kitty part! I love those mini-double doors on the closets too. Can’t wait till I get a house to have some fun!
Love your inspiration pictures from Sarah’s farmhouse. Do you love that place as much as I do? You any Sarah are my favorite decorators. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.
“I may or may not have made an appointment with already.” just cracked me up! Lookin’ good in that room. Isn’t it amazing how much we can accomplish when we are wanting to surprise someone??!
Can’t wait to see your finished room! I love your inspiration pics. I wonder if Sarah is ever going to have a new show. I sure hope so. So glad to see that someone else paints in her jammies!
You are adorable! (and your house is adorable, and your husband, and your dog, and your cat…hahaha). Love your blog!
Love the color you painted. I also love the ideas you want a carpenter to help you with. Lovely.
OMG!!! I love the red doors too. I’m redesigning my family room and I plan on painting my 3 interior doors that same red. With the same rich brown woods. I can’t wait to see your room when it’s finished…
Enjoy
awesome job!! It looks fabulous.. when my husband’s gone I just eat ice cream and watch chick flicks- way to go! 🙂
Here I was, perched on the edge of my seat, laughing at you and ogling the monitor. When you think, you have your hair pulled in a ponytail. When you paint, it is all hanging down looking gorgeous. Yeh, we all look gorgeous when we paint. I really need to send you a picture of me, when I paint, just so you and Kev can crack up and roll on the floor.
I, too, wondered about those plank walls but hated to show my ignorance. (I have my limits)
Once I saw those red doors – I knew Miss Sarah was falling into the scheme of things, somehow. I love that farmhouse! LOVE LOVE LOVE that ceiling light. OH LUST!
Can’t wait to see what you come up with. We all know, that room will be stupendous!!!!
What’s a house without red???? You kids know how to live!!!!
I can’t wait to see. This is like Christmas and I am like a cheap date! 🙂
i am having the hardest time finding a true grey—did you find this looked somewhat blue once you were done? the photos look very grey and that’s what i want
I love the color – and what an awesome surprise! 🙂
What a wonderful way to end my work day (and then start the work night). Just what I needed was a splash of color to keep me going – you and Kevin are the bright spot I need some days and today was definitely one of them. After String Section, I will be back to check out the red doors and grey walls. I am so tired of mahogany paneling! Thanks for a burst of cheer!
You’re so funny! I know it will look great! Have fun!
Debbie
FABULOUS! love the color! what an excellent wifey you are! 🙂
You are good!!!
Layla, I love the ideas you have for this room! Those double closets are awesome and have so much architectural interest and character. I love the wood planks and the gray paint you already have going on in the room. Can’t wait to see the rest! Thanks for sharing 🙂
The color is just gorgeous…. and your future plans are “WOW”!!!! Can’t wait to see “Progress”!!! Welcome Home to KEV!!!!!! thanks Layla !!!! Terri
I can’t wait to see some more progress in there too, Terri! 😀
Awe-some! I love it! You have such great insight! Thanks for sharing your inspiration sources!
Sure thing, Dawn! Thanks for the sweet comment! 🙂
Pretty please visit me the next time Kevin is out-of-town.
hee hee! 😀
Wow. You are so talented. How do you find the time to do all of it? Love the room color too!!!
Thank you, Carol. 🙂 Fixing this old place up has actually become somewhat of a full-time job, but it was fun to do something for Kev while he was out of town. #IHeartSurprises 😀
It’s nice to know I’m not the only sneaky decorator/do-er! Love the gray, by the way! Painted our master a similar gray and I swear it’s brighter than white.
Thanks, Erin!
you’re too cute, friend. love that red color. DO IT. ;}
I’m very excited about the doors, too! There may be a trip to Cullman in our future. 😉
So so pretty!! It all feels so relaxing! Can’t wait to see how it turns out;)
Me too, Amy! 😀 I’m ready to finish this room up!
Love this redo! Stumbled upon you via pintrest.
Amanda- Huntsville, AL
Thanks, Amanda! 😀 Hope all is well up in Huntsville today!
Hi Layla,
I’ve been enjoying your posts for a very long time now, thank you for all you do. I, too, have hardwood floors that have a few pet stains. Would you give me some advise about how you removed yours?
Cheryl
I just used paper towels and water to wipe them up, then used a sanding block (wrapped in fine grit sanding paper) to sand the rest of the stain away. There was only 2 coats of sealer on that floor before, but 4 coats of floor sealer seems to do the trick at keeping stains from soaking in.
Thank you!