Our Slutty Master Bedroom -- Now With Pictures (But Not Those Kind)

Yesterday I had dreams of meticulously cataloging our bedroom with my camera. To that end I hid all the extra pillows required to comfort a huge pregnant belly to sleep. I stuffed the cardboard boxes full of maternity clothes into the bathroom (I patently refuse to integrate that disgusting crap into my actual wardrobe). I made up the bed. And then... I was tired. Exhausted, actually. Apparently I only have about 30 good minutes left in a day before I start getting shaky and weird.

But I am a warrior, so I took a few pictures anyway -- just not as many (or as mind bendingly awesome) as I had hoped for. But pictures, nonetheless. Let's do this.

First of all, THANK YOU SANDERS! for enduring sample harvest 2012, in which I set out to try every Benjamin Moore color ever made. I'm actually really happy with Dior Gray. Sometimes it's purple, sometimes bluish, sometimes just gray. Always soothing and comforting.

So, this is not the ultimate configuration for our tiny bedroom... the rocker will probably get switched out and I need new lampshades and I did not style the space at all.

But you know what? I don't like a lot of shit cluttering up my space. It makes me nervous. And while I've been in a mad rush to acquire big basic pieces before baby arrives, I do believe in slowly collecting only accessories that you really really love. So it will all get there. Someday.

But let's talk about that ho-tastic bedding. You know, I don't buy a lot of brand spanking new stuff. I like vintage, thrift, antiques. But I draw the line at undies and bedding. I mean, if you want to get crabs and bedbugs that's your decision. Me, I like the delicious feeling of unconquered territory when I lay me down to sleep.

That meant new bedding, because my old linens were looking pretty haggard. I'm not sure how I feel about those crazy coral sheets -- I did order a new set in "blush," hoping they might be a little less HEY STRIPPER!. And then there is the giant faux lynx blankie. Practical? Yes. It will hide a multitude of sins, like leaves and maybe even baby vomit.

But maybe I like it better without?

Or with? I'm on the fence. It's twin size so I could always use it to cover Ike's new big boy bed or a sofa.

Anyway, that's what I have going on so far. I didn't really buy anything except for paint, Ikea linen curtains and bedding, so it wasn't an exorbitant makeover. I painted the frame around the Pop Chalee print... I think that's it. Minimal effort sans the endless repainting.

Ok, so maybe not minimal effort.

In case you're wondering, all the bedding came from Overstock and it was super cheap. I think I got a bedskirt, sheets, new pillows and the fur blanket for $200. Not bad.

What's bad is that our bed looked like this for five minutes before Ike came in and tore everything up in a mad frenzy of trampoline inspired gymnastics.

And that's why I can't have anything extra nice. So this will have to do.

I'm off to cut mats and other unfun stuff.

Hope you enjoyed the tour!

*** UPDATE ***

I forgot to include a before pic...

My eyes!

A Few More (Shoddy) Pictures of the House, Plus a HUGE Thank You to Sanders

I really, truly appreciated all your thoughtful comments and feedback on my last post. Leopard rug is scheduled to arrive Monday, so more updates on that soon. In the meantime, so many of you asked for the paint color I used in the front room that I thought I should repost it with the name of the color.

It's Benjamin Moore Dark Harbor, mixed 25% darker.

Let me just take a minute to say that I am a picky mofo. I can tear perfection into a million imperfect pieces. That's why Sanders is such a gem. In case you just started reading or don't remember, Sanders is the paint genius who manages my local Benjamin Moore -- he's also the brains behind the Ask Sanders column. Without him I would I have hideous turquoise walls that make me cry angry tears of anger.

If you live in Austin or thereabouts (one reader drove up from San Antonio just to meet with Sanders!), go see him before he starts his own paint consulting empire and starts charging for his advice. He's that good.

Plus look at his sweet little face! I love me some Sanders.

 Moving on: more Dark Harbor pictures. Wish I'd thought to shoot this with a color card so it would be truly accurate, but I think this is close. It goes from navy to almost billiard green, and everything in between.

Can't believe I am posting this horrible picture, but it's been raining forever so I haven't had a chance to reshoot without all the toys. I think I took one picture of this side of the room and gave up because it is a pita to shoot without off camera lighting. Anyway, you can see that DH does go a lot lighter when faced with direct sun.

While we're all staring at this dumb picture, let's talk about built in shelving. The front room is teeny tiny, so to save space I really wanted to build a nook around the sofa, kind of like this:

But with far less beige... Anyway, there are two problems. First, the chair rail. Yes, we can remove it, but blending in the texture is going to be a job x infinity. Second, I don't know if we have enough depth on that side of the doorway -- it's about 12." Any advice on how to handle this? Ideas?

Once again I am depending on you to solve all of my problems.

Why not get busy with world peace while you're at it?

Full Spectrum Paint = Sexxxy

If you are a paint snob like moi you know all about full spectrum paint -- paint that uses double the number of pigments and no black to project a magic crystalline rainbow upon your walls. On countless blogs I have heard acolytes preach the holy gospel of Donald Kaufman and Ellen Kennon, but I attend the church of Sanders P. Gibbs III and that meant no fancy full spectrum paint for me... until Monday.

Custom mixed Donald Kaufman color on the walls.

Yes, you busters are probably wondering where your paint update is, because that bizness should already be underway, right? Wrong. Sanders called Monday morning telling me not to panic, but Benjamin Moore just released their line of full spectrum paints, called Color Stories.

Holy $%^$&^*! More choices!!! Well of course I panicked (duh). And then I ordered up a billion samples to complete the crazy quilt that is my living room wall situation.

Verdict: complete and utter obsession. I'm not sure if I just like the colors better, or if I was smitten (once again) with the Aura paint base, or if there truly is something magical and sparkly amazing about full spectrum paints, but I must have it in my life. Must. Have. It.

Here's the color I settled on... no really, I'm sure.

Sander's cut it to a 50% formula for me (by HAND because he doesn't trust the computer!) since it went dark on my walls. At 50%, it's light and airy -- a little orangey, a little pink. Totally peachy keen.

Paintocalypse it scheduled for Thursday. Stay tuned for updates.