The summer holidays are hurtling towards us and with them the prospect of a lot less free time so we're spending most of this last week of term-time trying to get our bedroom painted.
I made a start last week by painting over some of the dark blue so that we could pin down which colour to choose from our short list. At the moment no. 3 is favourite but it's hard to be certain as the colours change so much depending on the time of day and which lights are on…
We'll live with the colours for another day before committing ourselves to a paint purchase and then it will be time to dig out the paint rollers and full steam ahead. Though I must admit that I'm not looking forward to the doing bit of having a new-look room – I must be using muscles that don't get a lot of use during knitting as my arms are aching already and I've only undercoated part of one wall! Thank goodness we only do this once in a blue moon (it was last decorated 16 years ago – H finished painting the skirting boards and hung the curtains the day that Amy was born!)
Talking of blue moons there is one happening on the 31st of this month. It won't actually be blue coloured but is called so because it's the name given to the second of 2 full moons taking place in a single month – something that doesn't happen very often.
Enjoy the rest of your week x
little cotton rabbits 
They are all lovely shades Julie, I can see why you are finding it difficult to choose.
I have to admit to getting someone in to do it all now, they’re quick and mess free. I love having newly painted walls but oh boy do I hate the process, sending you my best wishes for it all and don’t overwork those knitting muscles!!
I love the expression ‘once in a blue moon’ !
V x
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Lovely muted shades, I know what you mean about decorating. It’s wonderful when it’s done, but a bit of a nuisance at the time. I find the very pale grey-green I have in a couple of rooms really changes colour in different lights. Sometimes it almost seems to vanish. Anyway, good luck with it all, it will be worth all the aching arms in the end! CJ xx
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Hi Julie, Lovely colors on the wall. I’m actually not that wonderful in choosing colors for walls, due to the fact that they do change color all throughout the day. BUT I think all your colors are great and it will so nice after it is all done. I’m with “V” don’t over use your knitting muscles!!!
Good luck and it will be beautiful in the end.
xoRobin
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I never knew there was really a blue moon! Very interesting. I know it’s not actually blue but called a blue moon.
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This is my favorite part : choose paints to decorate!
We are re-decorate home with paint and news curtains et some new things too!
the last time we hung the curtains that was also the day my little Miss was born! so funny as I read your post!!!
lovely colours you try!!
And your blanket is so beautiful…
Miss
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Hi Julie, the first thing I did before reading any of your words was look at the colours and pick my favorite – it was no 3!
Good luck with the painting xx
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They’re all beautiful but I would have to go with number 2 just cos I love grey! Happy painting! x
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Lots of lovely paint shades to choose from, and your crochet blanket looks so pretty on the bed. I hope you get the painting done quickly so you can relax and get back to your beautiful knitting.
Good luck with the decorating!
Helen xox
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I love the way you choose paint colors! =} my vote is for #2 as a first choice and then #3 as a second choice in case you’re taking a survey…
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Choosing colors is such a hard job — BUT, I don’t think you can go wrong with that beautiful crochet blanket on your bed. My eyes would go straight to that — your walls could be purple and I wouldn’t notice LOL!!!
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I agree number 3 is the one I chose before I read your choice. Great neutral.
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Well, I never knew about the blue moon, thanks for that 🙂 You are so wise to use tester pots first, paint just never looks the same as in the paint leaflets.
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And “across the pond”, I vote for number 2! Looks best with your beautiful afghan.
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I love the colours you’re debating. Glad I’m not the one who has to make the decision! 🙂
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Where did you find the pattern and yarn for the beautiful afghan? How much yarn did it take to make it? Love it!
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I absolutely love #2. Every variation with the changing light looks fabulous. It picks up the blue/gray in your gorgeous afghan and it almost seems like a ‘blue moon’ colour. I realize that it will look very different in real life and that colour is such a personal preference but just scroll down your post. Look at 2 in each lighting with the afghan in site. So pretty. I’ve done a lot of painting in my life. I joke that my house used to be 1500 square feet but after painting it so often it’s only 1400 now. The worst part is the prep. Good luck with it. Thanks for inspiring all of us with your beautiful life.
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I have faith in your impeccable choice of colour. Whichever one you choose will look wonderful.
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Oh, I love to enjoy a change of paint color! It’s so refreshing. I too found my eyes drawn to numbers 2 and 3. I settled on 2 as my favorite, because of how it echos the gray “sashing” of the blanket, (which is gorgeous BTW). Having said that however, I think #3 is lovely too, and it probably has a different impact in the actual room than on a computer screen. I look forward to seeing the “after” pics. Drink lots of water (and take lots of bathroom breaks!), and lots of gentle stretch breaks to keep down the muscle soreness.
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I have often wondered what the end result of your squares looked like so was pleased to see it in all its magificence on your bed. Ever since I first saw your blog (less than 2 years ago) the squares have been my first eye-draw because of the beautiful colour combo.
Painting is such an UHhh area for so many of us. 16 years sounds about right for me. Good luck.
Have a good holiday with your two. And the chickens…they look like such fun.
Love your blog, just realised I should let you know.
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Beautiful crocheted bedcover, Julie. I’m voting for #7. I always like light colored walls They are much more cheery and make the rooms look much larger. I like the warm tone of #7. I’m sort of an off-white or pastel paint kind of gal (or wallpaper), but #7 isn’t bad. I can clearly see that hue in your bedspread. Everything you do is gorgeous and outstanding, so I can’t wait to see the “after” picture(s).
Hugs,
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love all the colours! I would find it impossible to choose x it will look gorgeous when it’s done. x
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And will there be a lovely new sideboard for knickers in this newly decorated room?
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Thanks Vivienne. So far so good – my knitting muscles are a bit stretched but not suffering too much – I keep telling myself it will be worth it in the end!
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Yes CJ, the doing bit of Do-it-yourself is really not much fun, but the thought of how it will eventually looks does help 🙂 x
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Thanks Robin. It’s amazing how much a colour change change isn’t it? And it does make for a difficult choice but we’ve made our choice and so far my muscles are coping! x
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It’s fun finding out where these everyday phrases come from and makes you wonder what phrases that reference things today will be in use in a hundred years time.
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It’s always nice to have a change isn’t it – makes you feel like you’re living somewhere new until the smudgy, grubby little finger prints start to cover everything! Thanks Miss x
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Thanks Brenda. Painting is underway – it’s very exciting to see the room being transformed! x
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Grey is a great colour, so many different shades but in the end we decided that 2 was a bit too dark for the whole room and the previous colour was very dark. It’s coming on well now, thanks Laura x
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Thanks Helen. I think the crochet blanket is the reason we’ve got around to re-decorating. So far it’s going well but it’s taken 5 coats of white to cover the dark blue so is taking a bit longer than planned! Thankfully it’s good weather for drying paint quickly! x
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Thanks Sheri, it’s been so hard to decide but we’re pressing ahead with number 3, fingers crossed it will look ok when finished!
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Thanks so much Anna. I’m so pleased with how the blanket turned out 🙂 x
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Thanks Peg, it’s looking good as a backdrop to the other things in the room x
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You’re so right Sharon. The paint leaflets and samples they provide are completely different – even the colour printed on the tins never really matches what is inside! x
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Thanks Cathy x
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It’s never an easy thing to commit to is it? Especially when there’s lots of work involved, you want to be sure you’re going to like it afterwards and we’ve made some dodgy paint decisions in the past like most people I expect! x
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It’s Jan Eaton’s square target block – there are full details along with the yarns I used on my ravelry project page:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bunnyknitter/misty-mark-2
Thanks Jackie x
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Thanks Crystal. Like yours, our room may well be smaller after this painting – it’s taken 5 coats just to cover the dark blue that was there before and you’re right the prep is the worst part! x
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Thanks so much Gill, I hope you’re right! x
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Lots of water is very good advice Wendy – it’s so easy to forget to keep drinking when you’re working on something and the urge to press on and just get the thing finished means you don’t always take a break when you should! Luckily I seem not to be aching too badly yet 🙂 x
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Thanks so much for letting me know Abbi and for your lovely message x
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I’m so looking forward to sharing the ‘after’ pictures Kimmy, mostly because that will mean it’s done – no more paint flecks in my hair or on my glasses and lots more knitting time! x
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Thanks Tess, choosing paint colours is pretty impossible – in the end I think all the pondering and deciding gets a bit boring and then it’s just a case of pick one and hope for the best! x
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Yes, there absolutely will! A lovely big 6 draw one to house my knickers which will be delivered next thursday, so excited! 🙂
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how can you go wrong? they are all great colors!!! ANd what a change, going from a dark blue. The worst part of the painting process for me is always moving all the furniture and ‘stuff’; I’m always ready to do a MAJOR purge after that!!! Good luck. Be sure to show us the final product!!! 🙂 (love that crocheted afghan!!!!!!!!)
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Number 3 was instantly my favourite before I saw it was yours.
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#3 is nice and neutral, but 7 seems to brighten the room a bit and has a warmer tone. Depends on the size of your room. The lighter tones will definitely make it feel a bit larger. And I’ve always loved your blanket. Especially color selection.
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Is Benjamin Moore’s sag Harbour Grey there? I have it in my bedroom and love it.
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That is what it looks like before I paint a room in my house. Swatches of color everywhere. :o) I was thinking #3 as a top choice before I scrolled down to see what your thougths were on the colors. Lots of prep work. Can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Off to purchase the kitten pattern. LOVE! It is brilliant! Simply brilliant!
Have a nice weekend.
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Fabulous moon photo. I love my house rabbit “To The Moon and Back” and the photo says it all.
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Thank you for explaining the lovely phrase with “blue moon”! I love the word and didn’t know the meaning at all (I will now use this in French, because it is very poetic and better than our “à la St Glin Glin”)
I have the same feeling as you about the “doing bit of having a new look room”.
I hope you are doing well (not in pain…)and the result will smashing and rewarding after all your efforts! ♥ Anne
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You’re right Steph, the worst part is all the shifting of furniture and this time we made the mistake of still using the room throughout so there was a lot of shifting going on! Happily it’s just about done. Thanks for the afghan love x
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mmm, it’s a nice neutral colour isn’t it?
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Thanks Laydilyke. A larger, brighter feeling room would definitely be a change from what we had before.
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Sadly not Candice, though I wish it were – what a fabulous name x
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Thanks Kathy and thanks too for buying the kitten pattern -I hope you have fun with it x
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I used to read “Guess how much I love you?” to Amy when she was little, it was one of our favourite books and that refers to loving to the moon and back. Give your rabbit a little cuddle from me x
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I suppose it is a language thing because to me “à la St Glin Glin” sounds more poetic! Thanks for the good wishes Anne, I’m a bit achy here but all the hard work is done now and it was definitely worth it. I’ll hopefully take some pictures soon x
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