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Thursday, September 22, 2011
Updating an Entry Way and a Gallery Wall..
I've been working the last few weeks on updating my entry way. It was the first room I decorated when we moved into our home more than 10 years ago. The first thing I did 10 years ago was to paint my entry walls in a two-part Ralph Lauren leather wall/glaze technique that required a lot of patience and a few adult beverages.
In fact, my leather glaze technique on my entry way was pretty much the first and only large DIY project that my husband and I had "attempted" to do together. Unfortunately, he threw in the towel minutes into the project because he didn't care for my slightly elevated tone. I had strongly suggested that he move his butt and work faster stippling the wall because my glaze started drying too fast. I can even show you where the elevated "discussion" happened causing my glaze to dry:
Yep, my dear husband left me hanging mumbling something about me being too "bossy". My point to him was women who DIY together understand "elevated" instructions as code for "hurry up sister, my wall is about to be jacked up"! Any girlfriend would never get all "sensitive" and stuff but rather she would kick it up a notch, right? Ok, well thanks, I knew you would agree with me! ;)
So anyway, this wall is kind of symbolic to me for the above reasons. We chuckle about it now and I went on to finish the whole thing myself, which really makes the wall special to me. However, I have been torn as I have been working on the room about repainting the entry way or not. Dear husband says he's ready for a change (hmmm, flashbacks?). My girlfriends are divided. Some say that I shouldn't even think about painting it and some say I should have repainted it years ago. I was on the fence about the wall, so I decided to just start revamping the room to see if the modern touches really update the leather/dark wall.
The first thing I did was to switch out my old traditional rug and find something fabulous that really popped and was an updated design! If ever anything showed how my taste in home decor and style has evolved over the last 10 years, these two rugs show my evolution:
I fell in love with these fabulous modular carpet tiles made by the company FLOR that you attach and turn into a rug. These tiles are from the pattern Sophistikat in Palm color. Here is a picture of the original pattern:
but when I received the tiles, there were so many different design possibilities, I just created my own that worked in my space! How cool is that! This product is such a fantastic concept that I did a whole post here with more details and an easy tutorial if you're interested. You will not believe all of the choices that FLOR has to offer and I can't wait to show you some of my favorites.
The next thing I did was add more wall decor to finally complete my gallery wall:
I did a post last week on how to paint the glass in frames to create chalkboards and featured some of my chalkboards on my new gallery wall:
If you missed the easy chalkboard on glass tutorial, you can find it here. I also added some gold leaf large letters that I picked up at Hobby Lobby for $5.00 each (they were 50% off).
I made a scene in the middle of Hobby Lobby when I stumbled across these fabulous antlers:
I loved them in black but decided to paint them cream to really stand out against my dark wall.
Thank goodness for great spray paint! It opens up a whole new world of possibilities and turning something that doesn't quite work into the exact color that we want! I just primed these guys with professional Rustoleum spray primer (fast drying) and let them dry for about an hour. I then spray painted them with Valspar paint in the color Biscuit. I love how they turned out:
I finished the room off with a new modern bench that I recovered and I added three ceramic planters with gorgeous silk orchids:
I love orchids and wish that I had a green thumb so I could truly enjoy them. Instead, I have to get creative with really good silks and I did a post several months back on how I mix silk orchids with naturals to make them look real if you're interested you can find it here.
I still have a few more touches to add to my entry way but overall, I'm pleased with the updates in my entry way and I feel better about that dark leather wall. Sometimes by adding a few updated pieces, a room can really be transformed. I think bringing in the cream and the modern pieces really helped. I may still change the wall color down the line but for now, I think it works.
Don't forget to check back on Monday for my post about my new rug and Flor carpet tiles. Also, tomorrow I am so excited to guest post on one of my very favorite blogs, Tatertots and Jello! If you have the chance, I would love for you to come visit me over there tomorrow.
As always, thank you so much for your comments, emails and notes! I so love hearing from you and would love to know your thoughts about my leather wall!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Cheers!
Sharing post with these fabulous blog link parties here
Also sharing with Thrifty Decor Chicks Before and Thrifty Decor Chick!">After Partya>
you have done a great job its beautiful, i love the rug and the antlers and the frames, the atlers look fab cream against the dark walls too, what a lovely first thing to see when you walk in your home, its great. xxxx
ReplyDeleteWow...love your changes and just did the exact same RL wall treatment in one of my bathrooms. And since I have so much paint and glaze leftover, you've given me a great idea to also redo my foyer with the same treatment. Oh, and I can totally sympathize with the "husband helping" thing. It would have happened the same with me, too! Some things are just better left to us girls...
ReplyDeleteJoi
oh girl! I am loving that new rug!!! It really makes the space! Its all beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteYour transformation looks stunning! I am absolutely in love with your chevron carpet tiles. The pattern you created is fabulous and as a piece, it lightens and brightens the space so much.
ReplyDeleteHave a great night,
Erin
Love everything about this not the least of which is that fabulous wall. Glad you can laugh about it now. That rug is wonderful, heck, all your stuff is great.
ReplyDeleteThank you SO much ladies!! The rug is even more spectacular in person I have to say! I can't stop walking by and looking at it! The same rug comes in 5 different colors too. The one in colbalt is over the top!
ReplyDeleteHave a great night ladies and thank you again so much!
Your husband must be my husband's 'soul brotha'. I remembering wanting that leather look, but not having the patience to do it. Like all the palm trees, etc. on the gallery wall.
ReplyDeleteThis is just beautiful! Love the rug...it makes the entry! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThose tiles are fabulous. Thanks for sharing your source. Your entry looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWHAT! You got those antlers at Hobby Lobby.... I'm going there tomorrow ;) I just finished a gallery wall in my home too. I LOVE them they are so fun! Your entry way looks amazing and the rug tiles are amazing! Great Job :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow! There are so many wonderful ideas in this post. I adore your new area carpet and can't wait to learn more. I like you pattern way better than the ad. Thank you for sharing your story about painting with the Hub. I did a similar wall treatment ALONE and have a few dry edge marks. I also did it 10 years ago in an effort to cover up little finger marks left on the flat wall finish. I learned quickly that flat wall paint and kids do not mix.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what others say I think its very well thought off I must say the Chairs are Nice, as well as the Rugs and there`s no chance of missing that amazing paint job Keep it up I a loving it......!!!
ReplyDeleteI think it looks very elegant! Love your gallery wall; I'm hoping to do one myself once we are in our new place.
ReplyDeleteI have a wall in my entry way that's desperately in need of becoming a gallery wall. Thanks for the inspiration! Your space looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteSo much to love here! The gallery wall is gorgeous, so is the table display, and those super cool FLOR tiles are a-ma-zing :D
ReplyDeleteShelley
www.westermanfam.blogspot.com
That is so elegant...loved the carpet
ReplyDeletevisiting form the shabby nest
Rasha@ mychampagnetaste
First thing that grabbed me was that fab carpet. I love the way you put it together. (even more then the display!) It is the jewel of the room. Great choice.
ReplyDeleteYou had me giggling over the get a move on it discussion you had with the hubby. So true, a girlfriend would just get it in gear. Why IS that?
Great post. Loved it. Have a wonderful weekend.
Your wall looks fantastic! I try to avoid projects with my husband...enough said. It's just better that way. Enjoyed your story.
ReplyDelete~Pam
pamspaintparlor.typepad.com
OK, first. Your painting story with hubs made me totally crack up! But seriously this entryway is AMAZING and you have so many incredible ideas and inspiration in one post! And I really like your version of that rug better then the original! SO PRETTY!
ReplyDeleteWhat a Lovley Wall :)
ReplyDeleteand do not miss.....
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WELCOME :)
Håkan ( The Roseman)
I love the new look of your foyer. By keeping the walls as they already were, it now looks very updated Ralph Lauren'ish! That's a good thing! Take care.
ReplyDeleteThe rug is AMAZING! I'd love to have you link up at my new linky party -
ReplyDeleteCreative Genius @ http://www.thecreativepaige.com
I love the eclectic look of your entry- the wall, gallery wall and rug are just fabulous. I'm currently decorating my entry which has dark wood paneling (similar in color to your wall) and am also including accents of sage green. Looks Great! New follower:)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I had to read the couple paragraphs aloud to my husband about working with yours... and he just kept saying...sounds like you. Love it! Love the fact that you have enough guts to actually publish it! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteCyndy, this room, OMG, is so awesome. Your style is beautiful.. and the leather treatment, WOW stunning, I know you might want a change, I completely feel your struggle..You and I would have so much fun together.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Anne
Your wall looks awesome!! Don't even get me started about me and the hubby trying to do projects together- never ends well!! :)
ReplyDeleteI've been on the hunt for a runner for my long entry hallway, but never thought about carpet tiles - DUH! Thanks for the inspiration! I'm pinning your photo so I don't forget. :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, my hubs and I don't DIY too well together either. He just doesn't GET it. Gah. :)