What do a professional painter and a manicurist have in common?

They both tell me "NO" when I pick a color!

This whole thing started several years ago and it's happened more than once.  I go to a shop for a manicure.  They tell me... "Pick a color".  I do.   Then I take it to the table with me and they say... "not a good color".  And they get up and go get another one.

I'm pretty easy going and I figure, hey... that's their business. They should know... so I just go with it.  I've never been sorry.  They're on to me now, so they keep a record of the good colors on my card and never ask me to pick a color.  Whatever!  It works!

SO!  Last night A.J. Farley came to talk about paint colors.  Michael dragged the rolled up carpet that I bought for the little room out into the living room where there was more light.

A.J.  brought his "deck" of colors (that's what we designers call it).  He asked me what I was thinking and I pointed to the rug and said.. "I was thinking of something in that oatmeal family with maybe white trim - to keep it light.  Then I can add colors with pillows, etc."

A.J. hesitated... oh...  maybe a tenth of a second before he said... "No.  I think we'll do it a grayish blue."

(I'm beginning to detect a pattern in my life.) 

He had the grayish blue paint on the left leg of his painter's shorts (a color that he uses often because he says it's a blue that plays well with others). I looked at it with the carpet... hesitated... oh... maybe a tenth of a second and said.. ."Works for me".

As soon as he said it, I could see it.  He was right.

I think he was a little surprised that I agreed so easily.  He was still trying to talk me into it.

Bring it on, painter-man!

I think the color choices I've made in my life that were the biggest mistakes were "safe" choices.  I always regret not taking the chance - not going for the bolder choice. (Unlike my blue kitchen cabinets that I LOVED)

SO!  Next Tuesday is Day #1.  Our job (read... Michael's job) is to get the room E-M-P-T-Y by next Tuesday.

I'll try to take some before and after pictures - and maybe some in the process pictures.

Here we go, yo!

Ever made a color choice you regretted?

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It doesn't matter where you start...

      ... as long as you start.

That's my new(est) theory.

When I look at my house and all that needs to be done, I'm completely overwhelmed and I do... you guessed it... nuttin'.

So!  I'm gonna "chunk it" - take it apart in pieces that I can handle and do it as I am able.  The little bedroom (otherwise known as Richard's old room) is where I'm going to start.

A couple of months ago I got one of those "hurry-you-can't-miss-this-sale-or-you'll-regert-it-for-the-rest-of-your-life" emails from Pottery Barn.  As much as I LOVE the goodies from Pottery Barn, they are not generally in my price range.  BUT... they had this rug - only two sizes left - and it was waaaaaaay cheap if you happened to be able to use one of those sizes.  Wonder of wonders... I could!  So I bought it!

As much as I say I'm tired of red and green and blue, all of my designing travels seem to land me on red. This rug was no exception - red, blue, and kind of oatmeal. (picture below)

It seemed bright and light and cheery and so, I ordered it.  While it looks all cherry red in the picture (and the little stripe looked gray even though the description said blue), when the rug came, the red was more of a coral and the blue is kind of teal.

At first I was disappointed, but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it.  It was a departure for me, which is a good thing.  The colors are soft and I think it's going to be great!

A.J. Farley is coming tonight to talk about paint colors. Talking to A.J. about paint colors is fun!  He's been painting for quite a while now and he really enjoys what he does and all that he's learned about color from the designers he's been working with.  I'm excited!

I'll keep you posted!

Did you ever buy anything that turned out to be different - but better - than what you thought you were buying??

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Celebrate good times! Come on! Sing it!

:::: WHISTLE ::::          ::::APPLAUSE::::          ::::BLOWING HORNS::::       

 Step #1 -  The Appraisal - Done!  We passed!   The house was appraised high enough for the refinance!

Only 1 step in what seems like a million, but a big one, none-the-less!   The load of bricks on my chest just got a little bit lighter!

What do you feel like celebrating??

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Color me stressed!

I'm trying to refinance my house.  Ok.. no big deal, I thought!  Riiiiiiiight!

The last time I refinanced, I used the lender that already held the mortgage so the hassle was minimal.  This time?  Geez!   I need to take a 2-week vacation just to fill out the paperwork.

AND THEN... there's the appraisal!   With house prices continuing to take a nose dive, I have NO idea what the appraisal will say my house is worth.  AND... there is a certain number that we need to see, or the whole deal is off.

So I looked around the house and thought.... CRAP!  (well.. I kinda thought "crap")

It occurred to me that I really couldn't afford to have a house with "issues" for this appraisal.  I won't go into the exact extent of the issues, but I enlisted Richard's help and he kindly gave up 2 very long nights to help prepare for the appraisal.

He's also going through this process.  (In fact, it's HIS fault I'm doing this too.)  ANYWAY... I really appreciated his time considering he was trying to do the same thing at his house at the same time.   What a week!

I think it will be about a week until we hear the results of the audit.  I'll be back to either whine and rationalize or to celebrate.  We'll see which next week!

Thanks, Richard!!

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