painted house

I painted the rooms in my house white. 

Ralph Lauren's Pocket Watch White (#WW01) to be exact.  It's a clear, warm white that doesn't feel yellow and it looks great with all the wood molding.  The Home Depot no longer carries Ralph Lauren paint but they have all the colors in their computer and can color match any RL color in Behr paint.

I've wanted to paint every surface in my house white for a while now and then I found this vase at TJMaxx for nine dollars. Its sense of laid back sophistication spoke to me and I was immediately inspired to bring this same feeling to my home.

 

We've been savoring ever bit of summer around here so I've only had a chance to declutter the house and paint and there's not much to look at.  Plus it's nearly impossible to photograph a white wall - there's nothing for the camera to focus on.  But the fact that I took a bunch of boring, poorly lit photos of my walls is not going to stop me from writing a post - because I am a blogger and I will "make it work." (Project Runway reference and I'm loving this new season - but I digress.)  So here goes:

Kitchen table area painted white...

Family room painted white...  (no artwork on the walls yet)
 

Dining room (love how the color compliments the not-so-attractive molding)...
 

Entryway...
 

And while I was painting the walls I decided that we needed shelving by the kitchen table to help us stay organized and to keep clutter off the table so I painted an old black bookcase.  I used Ralph Lauren Basalt (VM121) which is a white color with just the slightest hint of blue. 
 

Then I stocked the shelves with items that we use everyday - those items that constantly end up on the kitchen table and have to be cleaned up before we can sit down to eat. 
 

Thus far, the shelves hold:
 

A basket for extra napkins,
 

votive candles for dinner, 

Chai tea bags and turbinado sugar for mom,

More candles and canning jars that we use for just about everything - from vases to candle holders to drinking cups to pencil holders. 

 

silverware for setting the table,
 

some plates and bowls,
 

notebooks and pencils (these never had a home and had to cleared off the table before nearly every meal),
 

must-read magazines,

 
And this vintage glass hen dish that I thrifted several weeks ago.  Because all these useful, practical, functional items were getting a bit too serious and this hen adds just the right amount of whimsy.

So there you have it - the "painted house in progress" tour.  I'll post more as I add pieces, paint anything else that holds still long enough, and otherwise decorate.  In the meantime, hope you find a way to add some whimsy to your days.

Comments

[aracne]

I am going to move in about two months and seeing your pictures gave me new courage to do so: you seem to be pretty well organised and everything has such a fresh look, congratulations!

[kristyn]

love how you added all the organization to the dining room area with kitchen tools!! how fun!

[Denise]

it looks really good! love your shelving close to the table. perfect.

[Beth]

I give you a lot of credit for all that painting. It looks wonderful. I wish some of your zip could get over here. I have a lot to paint. Your white looks great.

[Andrea]

Love the white but I am especially in love with your bookcase. It looks fantastic! I love all the baskets to store your things in. Just wonderful. Hope you enjoy the end of your summer!

[LisaInCT]

Love the organization near the table using the bookcase - GREAT IDEA!

[Jenny]

I love new paint - what a yummy white. I also love the white bowl with brown rooster on your shelves - my grandmother had that bowl! Your jar of turbinado sugar has me itchin' for a cup of coffee - I just switched from Sweet n' Low (which I've used and loved for YEARS) to turbinado and I am in heaven. Enjoy your new white walls! And welcome back :D

[Ruth]

I love the shelf. All the treasures it holds are super. Looks beautiful.

Love the clean, crisp look of white.

Loving this season of Project Runway, too.

Ruth

[Jodi]

A white backdrop is perfect to showcase all that is precious in your home. I can only imagine how your beautiful quilts must just *pop* in each room. I'm sure they're striking. Whew....you must be so tired after all that painting and reorganizing.

[christina]

I love it! My living room, dining room, and hall way are all a very similar white to what you used. It's a perfect, uncluttered shade.

[dani@little fists]

Love, love, love.

Especially that shelf you added with the vintage goodness and canning jars.

Again...love, love, love.

[Jolene]

gorgeous! I love your shelving, so practical and it looks great. oh to have a house without toddlers... :)

[Lisa Q]

doesn't fresh paint just make you feel so good about your home? I'm almost done with the painting here...it looks so good. I love getting a peek at your house. The painting looks great with your trims. I love the shelf and how you have it all arranged with things that you use regularly...so inspiring. Enjoy your weekend! Great catching up with you!

[Puma Clyde]

Hi, i just located out about your page today.Man i love the way your work looks, you're actually know the best way to let old materials look wonderful.I'm gonna look over all of you are webpage.

[jane]

Your new shelving came out great! You've inspired me to look differently at my shelves in our breakfast room. Off to see what I can do with them!

[Stephanie]

So fresh and clean, love it! I have too been bitten by the end of summer cleaning, organizing, redecorating, and painting bug. I really love your new shelf and that white with a tint of blue is really pretty. Love all of your jars, candles and other items you filled the shelf with, great idea!

[Rosemary]

wow, love the look of you home, it looks so fresh...great painting job!

[Karen]

It's looking great, Larissa. I love the hen, and the whole bookshelf-saving-table-cleaning. I need that!

[Imene]

Wow!! amazing look. I love it! I love also the idea of being able to paint my walls in a couple of years without any little helpers ;o)

[allison]

love the white! i can't tell you how inviting that kitchen shelf looks. i just want to come over, plop myself down, and have a nice cup of tea. and light candles! what a beautiful everyday ritual.

[leslie]

the organization you have there must feel SO good!!!
i love the look!
and i LOVE white, too.
i want to paint our den white this fall.
i need a clean slate!

[alyssa spring]

LOVE LOVE LOVE the open shelving...ecspecially the big jars of tea and sugar...so perfect for that spot. Everything looks so crisp and homey and warm at the same time...great job!

[theresa/t does wool]

wonderfully organized and beautiful~

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