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Paint Changes Everything and Lightens It Up

February 24, 2021 by carole 4 Comments

Paint changes everything indeed.

Paint affects how you feel in your space, how your furnishings look and how the overall scheme comes together. Along with paint, I sneak in some wallpaper and other design elements to illustrate how to lighten things up. Dark and cozy still reign in my heart but we endured such a dark year. So let’s look toward the light to see how paint changes everything….

When darker elements distract from artwork and decor, paint has the ability to change everything.

Take, for example, my house. I thought it seemed like a tremendous idea 13 years ago to make this modern mountain house more mountain-y. So I painted the beams brown to evoke wood and I knew soon after that that was a mistake. 

A Frame Brown Beam Ceiling Modern Living Room
Catherine Nguyen Photography

After spending time in Palm Springs during Modernism Week (read here  and here for my inspiration), I knew the ceiling must change. After replacing the original windows, we needed to paint the trim so we decided to do the beams at the same time. I avoided the ultimate disruption of scaffolding, painters and mayhem for too long. Here’s the refreshed beams (along with a few other changes – can you spot them?).

Modern House Wood Beam Ceiling White Paint Changes Everything

Here’s another before-and-after from the kitchen which opens to the living room (can you see other changes?). It’s pretty dramatic because the beams don’t steal the show now, giving the artwork and furnishings top billing. The beams recede into the background as they now match the wood ceiling.

Modern Kitchen Beam Ceiling
Catherine Nguyen Photography

Modern Kitchen White Beam Ceiling

Faux painting really changed everything in the 90s and sometimes you just need to say “buh bye.”

Guilty as charged. I don’t think all faux painting is horrible and, in fact, I am considering lime plaster for a project right now. It has such a chalky, beautiful feel and translates well in both modern and traditional settings. I do think “sponging”, overtly “Tuscan” walls and other types of faux painting need to die a quick merciful death.

Exhibit A…this eat-in kitchen area in another home.

Faux Paint Woodwork Beadboard Banquette Kitchen Eating Area
Catherine Nguyen Photography

This beadboard banquette seating area sported an “aged” antiqued gel over white paint and the walls a yellowed plaster. Farmhouse meets Tuscany, I guess. The banquette provided great function when the kids were young but needed a more grown-up and lighter look. I snuck some wallpaper in alongside crisp white walls and trim….

Boho Moroccan Wallpaper Kitchen Eating Area
Catherine Nguyen Photography

This was time to also address the lighting and other elements in the family room that adjoins the eating area. Both needed a refresh (i.e. remove the ceiling fan with light kit) and a lighter touch. The “faux painted” bookshelves received fresh paint, the kid’s craft desk was removed, and the window seat became deeper with new drawers underneath. Before-and after pictured below.

Faux Paint Woodwork Walls Spanish Boho Decor Design
Catherine Nguyen Photography
Light Bright Boho Family Room Bamboo Blinds
Catherine Nguyen Photography

The loggia, directly off this family room, received a similar redesign. The whole house exterior was painted creamy white which lightened things up considerably from it’s prior taupey color. Fresh fabric tied it into the family room, as double doors are often open between these spaces.

Spanish Loggia Outdoor Porch Arched Openings
Catherine Nguyen Photography
Spanish Loggia Outdoor Porch Fireplace
Catherine Nguyen Photography

Paint changes everything for kitchen cabinets.

The kitchen in this same house also needed a “facelift,” including the addition of a window, new cabinet color and quartz countertops. Because the new window meant losing a cabinet, we added open shelves to compensate. The painted cabinets, originally a creamy yellow, changed out to a creamy white (only a professional who paints cabinets should attempt this IMO). Dark granite swapped out for the sleek, lighter quartz.

Spanish Kitchen Dark Cozy Wood Beam Ceiling
Catherine Nguyen Photography
Spanish Kitchen Light Counters Mixed Cabinets
Catherine Nguyen Photography

Not every kitchen needs a massive overhaul and this illustrates where good bones can be improved upon without a complete demo. Along with new paint, the new window and countertop add so much light to this space. 

The bathroom felt neglected once everything else was done.

The domino effect really happens so beware. Once you attack one part of the house, it’s difficult to stop. The bathroom simply needed the faux painting gone and new, light wallpaper did the trick. Now this 1925 home is done for awhile….

Gold Faux Paint Bathroom Walls
Catherine Nguyen Photography
Moroccan Wallpaper Light Bright Powder Room
Catherine Nguyen Photography

I love transformations that don’t necessarily break the bank, don’t disrupt too much and don’t require a complete overhaul. These homes show that if you initially invest in good bones then a little paint and other elements can really change everything. Read here for more paint ideas and here for wall ideas. xo

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Comments

  1. Anne says

    February 24, 2021 at 7:50 pm

    Wow – who knew that subtle Before and After photos are just as much fun to see as when there are huge changes?! Well done on all of it.

    Reply
    • carole says

      March 15, 2021 at 10:52 pm

      Truly, right? We are always presenting the big WOW reveals when some of the more subtle work we do is transformative. Thanks, friend! xo

      Reply
  2. Katie says

    February 25, 2021 at 2:30 pm

    Everything looks amazing. So much brighter!

    Reply
    • carole says

      March 15, 2021 at 10:51 pm

      Thanks, Katie – just a little paint magic works wonders!! xo

      Reply

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