random...

[kaalee]

brilliant: From the TED conference last February: Sir Ken Robinson talking about how creativity is educated out of people. I have a new crush. ♥ Video. About fifteen minutes long, and just brilliant. This man makes me want to call him and discuss many things over tea. Wonder if he wouldn't mind a random phone call from a first grade teacher

Comments

[florahart]

Like I ever don't have advice

[kaalee]

I love when you have advice. ♥

We actually have [if you can believe it] two living room spaces. There's one downstairs [dark] and one on the main floor. We're using the downstairs one for the TV and such, but I want the one on the main floor to be for talking/reading/entertaining/kaalee drinking tea in the morning/evening and being all happy. I'd like warm colors. My mother made us a gorgeous blanket in a cranberry color, so I want that to be able to live in the living room as well. I love burgundy, but going too dark would take away from the light we *do* get in the room, so I'm trying to figure out what lighter sort of color would give warmth and also let us have burgundys and other such colors there...

also, yeah, we really do have to make sure we tape and tape well, otherwise it'll be awful. there are MANY instances in this house where it's clear that the previous owners weren't really all about the taping. ;)

I have taken your father's number off speed dial.

[florahart]

well, warm and with cranberry might be a goldeny or peachy color.

I think one thing to keep in mind is that a color that's gorgeous in the amount that is on the little color chip thingy can be totally overwhelming actually in a whole room, so it's not a bad thing to go okay, it's really this deep turquoise that appeals to me, so I'm going to go three shades lighter and just have morelike a hint of turquoise on the actual walls. Or whatever.

[kaalee]

yeah, I was thinking a golden, too. There was a really fantastic color on the walls in our old house that might work. I wonder if I'll be able to find something like it.

that is a good point. OKay, and here is where I embarrass myself. I've always rented, and never been in a house that would let us paint the walls, so I've never actually painted walls at ALL in my adult life. Do they let you buy small *samples* of colors and such [like at Home Depot] so that you can test out a few colors in patches on the wall and then decide?

[yodels]

Random phone calls/emails from educators are never unwanted. Go for it.

When it comes to painting rooms I'm all about the use of bright colors, but that's just me. Susan Sargent is my guru.

[kaalee]

I wonder if he'd think the same way as you. He is all famous and a *Sir* and all. ;)

Oooh, thank you SO MUCH for the link!! <3 <3 <3 I totally get inspired by different sites and seeing pictures and things!

[mereol]

omg, kaalee! i suck as a flister!! Congrats on the wedding. How was it? (Lovely, I'm sure...)

[kaalee]

htank you!! it was wonderful, actually!! :)

[inspiredlife]

I second flora's suggestion of a peach or golden color. If you get a lot of natural light in the room it will look gorgeous in the sunlight and brighten gloomy days.

Once you narrow it down you can purchse small sample cans. My suggestion would be to get your faves, paint a decent sized swatch of each and live with them for a couple of days. Look at it in the morning night, at night. with your lights, the blanket. I did that with my bedroom and after a couple of days, I'd decided against two of them.

As for actual painting, it's all about the taping. The actual paint job is fairly easy.

[kaalee]

It's funny, as there was a sort of golden color on our walls in our old house and I really liked it. I wonder if I can find it again. ;)

How big would you call a decent sized swatch? 1 ft x 1 ft? 6in x 6 in?

Yeah, I keep hearing it's all about the painting. :D :d :D

[inspiredlife]

I'm sure that you'll be able to find something similar that calls to you. ;)

I did about one foot squares. I had four samples and after a couple of days, I knew that two of them, much as I loved them, wouldn't work in my room. It became a question of just choosing the one I more liked from the other two.

Good luck! If I were closer, I'd totally come and help. A couple of years ago tons of mates were into adding color to their house (myself included). THere were plenty of weekends filled with painting, pizza, beer and loads of fun. ;D

[robriki]

FWIW, my living room faces north, and although it has three windows never gets much light. We painted the walls a wicker color, and have cranberry/maroon on the windows, a throw, and the couches are hunter green with gold/cranberry stripes.

Also, at my brother's wedding last Saturday, he said the kitchen cabinets were coming out on Monday (like two days after the wedding) because he'd finally have time to think about something other than the wedding.

[kaalee]

oh, that is good to know. THank you!

Aww. I totally understand. How was his wedding? Lovely?