I am a Victorian Soul, who lives in a small townhouse that was built in the mid 1970's, not a huge Mega Mansion!! I just recently lost my Hubby Joe, who was a Retired Letter Carrier. I worked night shift as an RN on a Hospital based Rehabilitation( Physical Medicine) Unit for 37 years before I had Knee Replacement Surgery and officially Retired in 2019 after 41 years working in Direct Patient Care ... I am so glad that we retired at 62 years of age and got to spend that time together before he passed....I still do love Retirement!!!!

I DABBLE IN A BIT OF THIS AND THAT!!!!

" IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO BE WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN"
George Eliot
George Eliot was actually a pen name for a woman named Mary Anne Evans......

BLOGGING FOR FUN AND FRIENDSHIP!!!!!!

Monday, July 15, 2024

Paint Projects & More Changes in the Living Room

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Debbie-Dabble Blog!!

 
I am so happy you decided to stop by!!
 
Blogging has always been a stress reliever for me along with an avenue to share my passions which are my home and my garden.....
 
  Joe would want me to continue doing what I love to do so with that being said.....
 
I am going to start posting again on a regular schedule.....

I will be posting on MONDAYS and THURSDAYS....

And when I can, I will add a Saturday Snippets post on SATURDAYS... 


As always, click on each picture if you would like to enlarge it....
 
 
 PINTEREST
 
If you would like to Pin my pictures, please click on them to enlarge them to do so....
 
 
 A NOTE ABOUT COMMENTS
 
I enjoy reading your comments and will return the favor by visiting and commenting on your blog or reply to you directly here if you do not have a blog but I do have my comment section set to Moderation due to spammers and hackers so your comment will not appear immediately...
And since I have a very busy life, like most of us do, it may take me awhile to return your comments but I promise I will....
 
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In my last post, I shared The Feast Day celebrations at our church for it's name sake, Saint Maria Goretti....

 Along with 2 closets that I reorganized to my liking....


 Click HERE if you missed that post!! 

 

I want to Thank to Linda, over at Life and Linda, for choosing my post, Patriotic Home Tour and Tablescape, as one f her features from last week's Love Your Creativity Linky party!!



Thanks so much, Linda!!

Please stop by and link up to this lovely party!!


I had every intention of doing the 2nd post on how I decorated my Kitchen with Hens & Roos and Bees for the Early Summer months but I have been Busy and did not have the time to take the photos for that post!!!

So instead, I will be sharing my mini remodel in my Living Room today...

I had decided to paint the brick/stone paneled wall in the Living Room after seeing aged looking brick walls on a lot of You Tube videos....
 
Originally, I had planned to do it after Easter but never got to do so because of everything that happened with Joe and his passing....

After I packed up all my Living Room Patriotic decorations last week, I figured it was the perfect time to do so...

This is how it looked when we first moved into our townhouse in 1978.....

Over the years, I painted it twice......

First a solid cream color and then about 15 years ago, I decided to do a faux paint finish using a sea sponge and plastic bags with the colors of the Living Room which are peach and aqua.... 

 

 As I mentioned , I have been seeing a lot of aged brick/stone walls on You Tube and Instagram in Cottagecore design and now in what I am seeing called Moody Romantic, which to me is very Victorian looking, almost Goth, with the use of deep rich colored walls....

Anything Old is New again and Vintage and thrift shopping is now reigning supreme!!

Bloggers are a bit behind in these new decor trends and still seem to be stuck on Farmhouse....

 About 40 years ago, I added Peel N Stick mirror tiles to this wall and a decade later, realized that the only way I was going to get them off that wall was to take the paneling down, which I did not want to do....

 I then watched a Christopher Lowell show where he disguised a huge mirrored wall by hanging curtains and making it look like a window!!

I loved the way it looked so I did the same thing!!!

This is how the wall looked with my Summer Patriotic decorations....

I always hang a seasonal Wreath on the mirror.....

I decided to use paint that I already had in my stash....

This was a can of "Ooops!" paint from Lowes .....

All Lowe's have an area in the Paint department where they sell discontinued samples of paint and paints that were returned by customers because they did not like the color or it was the wrong color....

 I bought this can for $2.50 about a decade ago.....

 

I added a few squirts of brown craft paint to tint it a bit darker....

I was looking for what I could use in the way of a reddish brick color and I saw I had this can!!

Perfect......

These are the tools that I used.....


I used the sponge brush around the wall edges and the sponge to apply the paint....

I applied the tan first and then followed with the reddish color.....

I then traced the indents in the paneling using the tan paint to form the grout lines....

I finished one side and under the faux "window" the first day....

Can I tell you just how much I LOVE how it came out......

 It was a big hit on my FB page too!

For those of you who have visited here before, you know I keep a Seasonal Tree up year round so the Tree is now stripped down o the lights, waiting to be decorated in my Late Summer "Under the Sea" theme.....

 
Honestly, I could not be happier with how this wall came out!!

My son Joey even likes it saying " Hey! That looks alright!" when he saw it!!!

Here is the contrast between the side finished and the one as it looked before....

 
Well, you know how it is that when you do one project, you get a case of the "Might as Well"s....

You know.......you step back and think , Gee! I might as well do this and I might as well do that!

It is like a snowball rolling down a hill.....

Getting bigger and bigger.....

So I looked at the wall after I hung my things back up...


And realized that the cherub shelves that I bought a long time ago in Gabes were blending right in with the wall.....

Which I did not want.....

So I figured that I "might as well" paint them too!!

I got out my Spray Shelter and a can of Rustoleum Metallic Gold Paint that I had in my stash...

You can see the difference....



Gold and Brass is back in style Big time but it never was out of style in my home!

Now, back to the wall.....

The following day, I painted the rest of the wall......

This side with the painted shelf......

Now I know many of you will think this is too dark for you....

BUT

For ME...

It is exactly what I wanted as I love deep rich color and the ambience it creates....

I have started to decorate the Living Room in my Late Summer "Under the Sea" theme and hung a few things on the mirror of the faux window....

Personally, I LOVE the way it looks......




I put candles in the sconces on the wall which I forgot to put on when I took the pictures...


With the lamp on.....


 
Notice how the cherub shelves now stand out....

Cost to do this.....

Not a dime because I used what I had in my stash.....

I bet you thought I was done , huh?

Well.....

Those "Might as Well's" hit again!!

I also was toying with the idea to paint the bottom of the wall , below the chair rail in the Living Room, a deeper shade of Aqua....

Again, I have been seeing a LOT of aqua used in You Tube videos and on Pinterest....

Now I have had my Living Room painted peach and aqua for over 15 years as it was a popular color combination in Victorian times and you know my style is still Victorian....

So I once again, got out the can , that was about half full, of the paint I used 15 years ago and yes, it was still good!

BUT....

It was too light so I did my research and ended up added a bit of Hunter Green ( what I used to paint below the chair rail in the Dining Room) and blue ( what I used in the Den) to darken it a bit!!!

I decided to also do the same faux paint treatment that I did originally......

 Here is what it looked like for the last 15+ years....


And now.......

Again, I used a sea sponge to apply the paint.....

In the hall....


It creates a textured look......

A few more photos.....


 
 
 
 It is almost a perfect match to my Spring/Summer drapes!!!
 

Again, I am very happy with the look and the change in my Living Room.....

To me, it created a more "Country Victorian" look which is what it was called in the 80's....

I guess it can also qualify as Cottagecore or Grandma Chic which are the new terms for this style of decorating...


I know this look is not for everyone BUT it is what I like and that is all that matters, right????

One of my favorite You Tuber's is Arlynn from Arlynn's Country Craft Corner, recently suffered the loss of her eldest daughter....

She also finds comfort in decorating....

She recently redecorated a bedroom in her home that was used for her grandson ...

She wanted the room to "grow" with him and showed all the beautiful ideas and things that she had for this room....

Sadly, she received a ton of comments as to what they thought she should do with the room and what they liked instead which actually was none of their business....

In a follow up video, she addressed this by saying that she posts what she likes, what she thinks her family will like and what she think looks good in her own home and what she loves ....

It brought her to tears...

She is NOT asking for advice or for other's opinions on how she should have done it differently....

She posts because she simply wants to share what she did and what she likes without anyone else's opinions...

I TOTALLY agree with her!!

If it is not your cup of Tea then please drink that Tea in your own house and be quiet....


 I too have gotten my share of snarky comments which is always quite disheartening after you go through the trouble and all the time it takes to do a post...
 
I am 66 years old and not looking for unwarranted advice....

Sorry but this is just something I had to get off my chest after seeing her video and seeing how upset she was by it...

 

Speaking of Arlynn, I have been checking her Amazon Storefront for a set of lamps that she listed there that have been out of stock....

I looked the other day and there was one set left in stock because apparently as soon as they come in, they sell out.....

So I had Joey order it for me as I do not even have an Amazon Account!!

Shameful, I know!!

Since, I have "darkened" the Living Room to create the mood that I love, I wanted a bit more ambient lighting....

And these are perfect for on top of the TV Entertainment Center!!!

 
You can see I have this area stripped down and ready to decorate...




I love that they look like candles as I always have some sort of candles here....

They were a hit when I posted them on FB so I am sure that when they come back in stock, they will sell out again quickly!!

OKAY......

So that is my mini Living Room Remodel!!

And it did not cost me anything....

Except for the Lamps!

 I hope you will stop by to visit again on  THURSDAY when I will continue my Tour of the Living Room decorated for Early Summer with Hens & Roos and Bees! 
 
 
 Stay safe, healthy and most of all, HAPPY!!

Thanks to those who took the time out of their busy day to spend a little bit of time with me!!

If you do not have a blog, PLEASE  give me some way to reply to your comment, maybe by including your email in your comment.  If I can not find a way to reach you, I will reply on the post where you commented so please check back......


I am linking up to these parties:
 
 

  THURSDAY
 

    Please take some time to visit these terrific hosts and all those joining in on the fun!
 



 

11 comments:

  1. Good morning, Debbie -- I love what you have done in your living room and the aqua paint on the wainscoting is gorgeous!! At one time, I had a dark chocolate brown living room -- the room had a big bay window with white plantation shutters -- absolutely gorgeous, if I do say so myself!! I love painting rooms -- my husband used to say our rooms got smaller as I added another coat of paint to the walls!! Enjoy your day -- Patty

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  2. I think your "new" brick looks warm which reminds me of Victorian. I also get satisfaction from using things from my stash. Enjoy your projects and the healing it may be bringing. blessings

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  3. Wow Debbie!! You are on a roll! I love the changes, that brick wall looks fabulous. I am a color girl and I adore dramatic walls so this is right up my alley! I've been involved with a bunch of "one thing leads to another" projects around here too and it feels good. I always love stopping in to see what's new. You have tons of energy! Be well my friend!

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  4. I can see why you chose those lamps -- they work so well and have a nice glow. I agree -- we all post what we like, who we are. One needn't compliment but usually even when it's not totally your cuppa, someone can find something positive to say. Or, as my mum used to say -- if you can't say something nice, say nothing at all, unless asked specifically. (Not always easy to do, I might add, but we try!)

    ReplyDelete
  5. When you post things on a public forum, you run the risk of getting the public's opinion on what you have posted. That's just reality and common sense. Getting defensive about your choices only shows they're getting under your skin. It's your home, your decor, your personal habits, so do what you like, but again, In Public=Public Opinion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by...Unfortunately , many people were not taught by their parents that if you have nothing nice to say than Say Nothing... and many do not do what I do which is scroll through , keep my opinion to myself and say nothing... I guess I just think that most people are as kind as I am by not commenting ....I often wonder how they would react if the tables were turned on them and they received the snarky comments.... Have a good day!
      Hugs,
      Deb

      Delete
  6. WHAT A REFRESH!! You jumped in with no fear and it looks fabulous. Great job. I especially like the aqua on the bottom half of the wall. I was reading without jumping ahead to the photos and was holding my breath, lol, and voila! Gorgeous! When you bring up a person's style - well, it's just each to their own. I love and appreciate your Victorian style. It's isn't for me - my style is more unfocused lived in, lol. Both of my daughter's style is what I call "Pottery Barn" which I think is the new whatever farmhouse is called. Modern Farmhouse? It's okay. Boring to me, but they love it. I am especially not a fan of the new houses in my area with white siding and deep black trim on all the edges and eaves of the house. And no shutters or anything. But, I guess it is very popular because I keep seeing more houses like that. And if everyone's house and style was identical, it would be a pretty boring world!!!
    I just remembered. I have all my grandmother's furniture and it is all in original finish. My son's first wife was always offering to paint it for me. Ummmm, no. Even if all the cool kids are doing it.

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  7. Oh wow! You sure have been busy! What a transformation a little (or maybe a lot) of paint can make. I love that you are not afraid to make big bold changes and I am thrilled that you LOVE how it turned out. Is there anything worse than tackling a project with what the end product will look like in your mind and then find out that it's not turning out the way you envisioned it? It all looks fabulous and I am all for big changes with a little paint and elbow grease.

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  8. Don't forget to join us over at the Creatively Crafty Linky Party every Wednesday through Sunday
    https://creativelybeth.com/creative-crafts-linky-party/
    Followed and Pinned!
    Creatively, Beth

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  9. I totally agree--if you don't have something nice to say, just move on!! There is no rule that you have to comment on something you don't like. We all have different tastes and interests, and there's no "right" way to do anything! I'm so sorry for your friend Arlynn, and for the negativity you have received also. We create and decorate for our own souls, if you want my opinion, and that doesn't have to be approved of by anyone! That said, I think your wall looks wonderful! Great job. It looks like a lot of work. :) I don't think it's too dark at all. I think it's homey. :) Visiting from Senior Salon Pit Stop.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jennifer,
    Thanks so much for your very sweet words of encouragement..... Some people just have to get their opinion in no matter what....I take the high road and say nothing.... Glad you enjoyed seeing my latest painting project.... I, personally, love it and you are right...It does make my LR more homey and cozy and comforting and I need that feeling right now....
    Hugs,
    Deb

    ReplyDelete

I always love to read your comments and opinions!!
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