So, without further adieu…
And finally, there’s this:
Thanks for joining me this week! It’s been a blast doing the makeover, meeting so many cool people, seeing the beautiful country side of Pennsylvania, and telling the story. I love my work.
So, until the next makeover… see ya next week 
(to see what others are saying about the makeover, go to #certaprofoyer)
With the painters working away and the shopping basically done, I still have time to do a little more painting myself. You all know I’m a DIY enthusiast. (Heck, I even give my residential clients assignments to get them involved in the creative process of designing personal and beautiful rooms- am I telling the truth, Leila?).
But here’s the thing; when you get the help you need for those big gnarly projects (like a two-story entry for example??)…
(thank you, Steve!)
it frees you up to tackle those little projects that are really easy to do yourself.
I’d normally have this homeowner painting with me, but I’ve got her digging through her basement for family heirlooms and taking pictures of her kids for the silhouette project in the dining room.
Here’s what I’m tackling to complete the makeover…
We’re on the final push now, there are just a few things left to tackle and the rooms will be done- shining in all their glory for you to see. Check back soon!
(Seems other people are getting in on the action- so go to #certaprofoyer if you want to chime in on this project. Do you have questions? Wanna get a free copy of the article about this makeover in CertaPro’s Envision magazine? Follow the details on twitter.)
Back in the day, I worked at Shabby Chic (way way back when it was on Sacramento Street in San Francisco). I had the best job there- I was in charge of shopping for flowers at the Flower Mart every Saturday and arranging at least 5 bouquets every week. I loved it.
Entries and dining rooms and are perfect rooms for flowers- they add a splash of drama and color. I like fresh contrasting colors in simple arrangements. The flower shop near Macungie had a gorgeous selection. See for yourself…
One of the reasons I enjoy working with CertaPro Painters is that I can trust them to take of everything- the paint, the hard to paint places, the homeowners, and their homes…
they care for their clients the way I do…
They keep going even when we’re clearly in the way!
I mean seriously- they can get anywhere…
Joe and Lisa Costa own the CertaPro branch here in Greater Lehigh Valley. They did a terrific job of managing their crew, caring for the homeowner, and working with my design ideas.
With everything under control, I was free to go shopping! You know how much I love shopping and decorating with vintage. For me, it’s not about being chic, it’s about re-purposing, updating classics, using what you’ve got… you know the drill.
ANYway, I found the coolest pieces at this little antique shop on my trip. They gave me the perfect idea for this family.
This little video explains it better…
(go to #certaprofoyer to see what others are saying about the makeover)
Looking over the rooms, I decide to go with a simple plan- a modern Colonial look with fresh versions of traditional colors, clean lines, and cheerful accents. Here’s the color palette:
This will be the entry color. I could use more colors to divide the space, but this fresh green will keep everything feeling wide open. I like that. I'm going to paint the front doors and all the trim on that wall in this color too. It's a great way to tidy up all the shapes and windows on this wall and draw the eyes towards the stair rail and chandelier
I'll go with this softer green for the dining room. Green isn't usually my first choice for dining rooms, but this room gets plenty of light and using a similar color as the entry gives the rooms easy flow between each other. I'll have the ceiling painted off-white so the pretty white crown molding will stand out and define this room.
When I first saw photos of these rooms, I thought I'd want the railing to be black, but when I actually got to the house, it was clear that the railing needed to be warm and quiet to keep this tall narrow space from feeling too crowded. How'd I choose this color you ask? CertaPro Painters was priming the railing in a light gray to get ready for black. But when I saw that color, I grabbed my paint deck and found this muddy stone color instead. Perfect!
Black is classic and I think I can use it to give the little heirloom dresser a strong silhouette. I'll use this for the chandelier too. The slender arms of the fixture will relate better to the Windsor chairs this way.
Every room needs a gorgeous color to add dimension to a quiet color plan. I'll use this to squeeze the country out of the red cabinet and push it more into Colonial look.
I'll bring in some heavy pale curtains for the dining room to dress it up a bit. I'll get long drapes and hang the curtain rod near the ceiling. The windows will look more dramatic and the wall will feel taller which will balance out proportions of the 2-story entry.
I have to change out that dated brass chandelier in the entry for a modern version of the classic lantern shape. I also prefer shades to clear bulbs in spaces like this because the lighting has to be easy on the eyes from all levels.
That’s basically it. Simple and to the point. This is a clean modern look with a traditional feel that works with the architecture of the house as well as the family who lives here. So, CertaPro will get started on the walls while I get shopping.
(ps. We’re using Sherwin-Williams new Emerald Paint- I think it’s the best no VOC paint on the market. I used it for the DIY videos too and was instantly converted)
