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)
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…
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)
So, it all starts here with the ‘before’ photos of the rooms…
Entries like this can be tough to navigate when it comes to color...
I'm not sure why people don't think to paint their stair rails- I can't wait to get my hands on these!
The homeowner creates beautiful vignettes, but they'd look better against gorgeous paint colors...
The dining room has a pretty eclectic mix of styles... I especially like the Windsor chairs.
And while CertaPro Painters do the heavy lifting painting the two-story entry I'm going to tackle this cute little heirloom cabinet...
And that little red country number over there.
What would you do with these rooms? What colors would you choose for the walls? I’ll give you the run down of my plan tomorrow, so… until then… see you tomorrow.
BIG NEWS!
Last month CertaPro Painters sent me to Macungie, PA to re-do a dining room and 2-story entry for their Envision magazine. And I’m posting a few times a day this week to share details about the makeover AND spill the beans about the obstacles we faced, the colors we chose, the team that made it all happne- the behind the scenes stuff!
Check in often, here, on my blog, my facebook page or at CertaProUSA’s facebook to see the story unfold!
We’re getting the word out about how to choose the perfect paint colors to personalize your home, so share the posts with your friends and let me know what you think about the whole darn thing. I’ll be back!
(seriously, I’m posting ‘before’ pictures later today!)
