Scott and I do not possess interior design skills nor any real sense of style or color. When we were married folks asked us what our wedding theme was. ‘Wedding theme? What wedding theme?’ We didn’t have a theme but folks didn’t want to hear that. We took to responding ‘labs and quilts’ then making our escape while they puzzled that out.
So we don’t have a theme for Elizabeth’s room. I’d like it to be cheerful (duh – who wants a cheerless childs room?) but really don’t know how to accomplish that. We’d like a change for our room too. It’s been 8 years since the last paint job, and who knows when we’ll have time, energy, and opportunity to do it again. I’m guessing another 8 years. So its good to paint now.
Enter our dear friend Mel, who possesses a keen sense of style and color and IS good at this stuff. She brought over many paint chips and several child bedroom designs. She helped us figure out what we liked and a color scheme thats pretty darn nifty and will grow with Elizabeth. The pink confection bedrooms are sweet while the child is an infant, but less charming as the babe ages.
Anyway – here’s what we’re leaning towards for Elizabeth Katherine. I think we’ll do the leaves on the tree as peoples hands. We’ll also do chalkboard paint below the window. Fun, huh?
These particular colors are Dunn & Edwards, but we’ll select a low fume paint and ask the shop to tint appropriately.
The dark green will be the leaves and accent color, DEA170 Sea Turtle
Pale green for walls, DE5561 Lazy Caterpillar
Brown accent color and tree trunk, DEA160 Hope Chest
Rose accent color, DE5094 Berry Riche (not a typo).
We are less decisive with our own room. We are going to pull the bi-fold closet doors and replace them with a yellow curtain.
Here are two combos we are leaning towards:
Yellow for 3 walls, DE5331 Pasta
Brown accent, DEA160 Hope Chest
Purple on the curtain wall, DEA145 Wine Stain
Or possibly swap Purple for Aqua
Aqua on the curtain wall, DEA132 Ocean Oasis
At least, I think that’s what we talked about. Looking at them again, I can’t remember. Certainly yellow curtain with yellow on other three walls.
And Elizabeth was fine today. Better at nursing today – I folded the blanket to block her view outside of the circle of my arms. Previously she seemed to get distracted by the doings at the next cribside. Today she remained more focused. Every time she slowed down I jiggled things a bit and she resumed her work. Good baby girl.
Good job with the nursing!
zero VOC paint is also availible. I’ve used Natura by Benjamin Moore. They also make one called EcoSpec. I consulted with my local (Massachusetts) paint rep when we needed to paint while I was pregnant. She said she specifies either of these paints for hospitals and NICU especially. I don’t remember them being more expensive. Also sometimes deeply tinted colors end up with more VOCs depending on the company’s tinting system.
Have fun!
Gwen
If I ever get married, the theme will be “we’re in love and getting married! yay!” because I’ve been to weddings where the theme took over and got ridiculous.
Adorable baby room. Smart not to go with cutesy-infant.
True Value hardware carries low VOC paints and is less big-boxy than Lowe’s or Home Despot. Our True Value also has a really great paint guy. It’ll be novel to paint and not have the house stink of latex for weeks after. The weather has warmed a bit so we’ll also be able to ventilate at least a little.
Wedding themes – I love it Elizabeth. I think yours is the best theme of all. Theme taking over – yes – I think that explains in part why Scott and I have been so resistant to the whole ‘theme trend’.