Young House Love

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Sherry’s Lamp-Watching Chair

Call me crazy, but I wasn’t really on board with Sherry’s latest “furniture arrangement” when I saw it in the corner of our living room. I know she enjoys lighting as much as the next gal, but a chair dedicated to staring at a lamp seemed like something straight out of Lovely Listing.

Ceiling Swatches Chair

Once I looked up I realized that my wife still has most of her marbles (key word: most). She just put the chair there so she could stand on it and tape some paint swatches to the ceiling. Whew. Not so weird after all. Well, she’s still über weird, but for a host of other reasons.

We’ve been debating what to do with those large white ceiling rectangles (between the grey-washed beams) for the past few days. From wallpaper to bold color and everything in between, we’ve pretty much considered it all. Anything dark or too saturated was quickly nixed since we worry that our standard height (8 foot) ceiling just can’t handle it without feeling like it’s closing in on us. And going with an even softer platinum gray than the color on the walls is a nice safe backup idea, but we’d love to do something a bit more fun. Which is when the concept of bringing in something metallic (either paint or even wallpaper) could potentially luxe up the whole room while reflecting lots of light (so the room still feels airy and open). So we grabbed a few swatches from Martha Stewart’s new Precious Metals paint line at Home Depot:

Ceiling Swatches

We were both quick to eliminate the two swatches on the left (too dark) and aren’t quite sold on the other two lighter metallic swatches on the right (they actually don’t seem to read as metallic enough from a few feet away, perhaps because they’re on a ceiling and not a wall). Does anyone know a faux finishing technique to create a glossy champagne or eggshell colored metallic ceiling? I know the term faux finish can strike fear in anyone who has ever watched Trading Spaces (me included) but there have to be some good techniques out there… right? Maybe? We’d also love to hear if you have any other metallic paint experience (any specific brands you recommend?) or even if  you’ve come across some metallic wallpaper that you love.

As for what we’ll ultimately go with, we promise to spill more details when we actually make a decision and have some progress to share. Maybe it’s smarter to wait to see what we’ll do in the way of art and curtains and then pick up a light tone from one of those things for some subtle fun when you look up. Like a super soft silvery celery color if we go with a green rug or bold curtain panels that include some green…

We’re clearly still in “think on it” mode. But at least we’ve got a good spot to sit down and be alone with our thoughts. And that lamp.

Update: A commenter mentioned a caption contest and it’s so on. Feel free to leave ’em in the comment section. Here’s the pic again for ya. Captions. Go.

Ceiling Swatches Chair

The prize is 500 points and comment o’ the day status. You know you want that. Or do you?

Comments

  2. Tiffany P says

    Caption:
    Chair: Please Lamp just go on a date with me…. just one date.
    Lamp: Geez Chair, you have backed me into a corner on this one…

    Reply

  5. Jen says

    http://bit.ly/gU9vPe

    Pearl powder? Add it to your regular paint color (you can do the white/clear version, or if you wanted to add a subtle green/blue tint you could get the colored pearl powder instead.

    I painted a tropical mural once (pink/purple sunset, black palm tree outlines, and turquoise blue water) and added the pearl powder to the “ocean”. It shimmered quite nicely when the light hit it, but not so much to as to be annoying.

    Reply

  7. BrookeReviews says

    Every time I see the words wallpaper and ceiling, I cringe and get physically ill. This is only because when we bought our house, there was wallpaper (circa 1980’s) on the kitchen ceiling. When we started working on getting it off, we realized that it covered more wallpaper (circa 1950’s)! What a mess and a lot of hard work! :) That was enough to make me never want to look at wallpaper again, unless it’s in someone elses pretty house. :)

    Reply

  9. Sanja says

    ”They’re putting a caption contest on us? Well, not before this staring contest ends! And you better stop giving me that evil eye thing!”

    Reply

  11. robin says

    here’s my caption:

    Little Johnny knew in his heart that one more time-out would ultimately make him invisible in his family’s home.

    Reply

  13. MS says

    “Now chair, this is our 4th therapy session and I don’t feel like you’re really digging deep, getting to the base of your issues…”

    Reply

  14. BoyMom says

    Brick Tamland: I love…carpet. I love…desk.

    Ron Burgundy: Brick, are you just looking at things in the office and saying that you love them?

    Brick Tamland: I love lamp.

    Ron Burgundy: Do you really love the lamp, or are you just saying it because you saw it?

    Brick Tamland: I love lamp. I love lamp!

    Reply

  15. Lindsey says

    Reminds me of a weird song we had to learn in elementary chorus:

    “Hey lamppost, whatcha knowin’… I’ve come to watch your flowers growin’… feelin’ grooooovy!”

    Reply

    • RM says

      Ha, that’s not a weird song, it’s a classic! Simon & Garfunkel! One of my favorites. I sing it a lot to myself when I walk my dog because she likes to sniff all the lampposts and in my head I always say “hello lamppost, whatcha knowin” and then the song kicks in :)

  16. Lindsey says

    I agree with Agent Scully and the other Lindsey – I’ve used the RL Candelight before, and it turned out great. You use this extra furry roller and it only takes one coat – the extra long pieces on the roller help give the paint the metallic look. I used a very dark color for my power room, but the slight metallic look is perfect. They have a few different ‘techniques’ that would give you different metallic looks. Too bad it seems they only sell RL in DC and Harrisonburg (of all places) according to their website. Maybe just using the roller would help? Good luck!

    Reply

  18. cori says

    you could do the faux tin ceiling!

    http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://decorativecrownmoldings.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/bez-nazvu.jpg&imgrefurl=http://decorativecrownmoldings.wordpress.com/2010/05/26/faux-tin-ceiling-tiles-in-glen-cove-new-york/&usg=__bqhSZWlamWjICucXQaeUQDShIIw=&h=640&w=480&sz=41&hl=en&start=8&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=59afFvXZXYHRmM:&tbnh=137&tbnw=103&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfaux%2Btin%2Bceiling%2Btiles%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=A6xRTbGKM4OB8gbyqOjSCA

    http://lh5.ggpht.com/_FfZMBBaCF8w/TDT2IMgETRI/AAAAAAAALq0/dbX7caoTUrk/s1600-h/diningroom2i4ip2%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.png

    Reply

  20. Sara says

    I am IN LOVE with stenciled ceilings!!! I’m considering this in my daughter’s room. This was my most recent inspiration http://happyhappyhousewife.blogspot.com/2011/01/stenciled-ceiling.html

    My friend has an old Victorian home and they did some kind of wash to the walls. I thought she said something about the paint being called champagne. It was kind of iridescent I believe. She has some home renovation stuff as well as her contact info on her blog rixarixa.blogspot.com

    Reply

  22. Alissa says

    Lamp: I told you not to make fun of the too small living room rug!!
    Chair: Shhh….be quiet…we still have 10 more minutes in time out!!

    Reply

  26. Ashley T says

    Maybe Valspar’s pearl? It’s designed as a faux (and the easiest faux I’ve ever done) but I wonder if you couldn’t roll the pearl of your color choice on to give it a sheen (although I’m not sure on the reflective properties). I think Valspar has some metallic faux as well but I’ve no idea if that would even work.

    Reply

  28. Mary-Beth says

    “Clara’s parents debated for days before deciding that her time-out chair should be made of chocolate faux-leather, to perfectly match the deeper wood tones in the rest of the house. The icy pale grey of the painted brick would stimulate her mind while in time-out, but not enough that she would forget she was in trouble.” Huh? Do I win?

    Reply

  30. Jenni says

    I know this is a bit off-subject, but way back when my Grandma’s house was built (in the…70s?), it was the fad to use a glitter gun when painting the (white popcorn) celings, to add some silver sparkle up in there. It’s definitely an old-fashioned look, but nostalgically speaking, I do like it in my gma’s house. (The glitter is pretty subtle-it just looks a bit like the twinkle of stars when you glance up.)

    While this is proooobably not the look you guys are going for (haha), I really do hope you guys find some metalic paint (or something fun) you love! Love watching the progress :)

    Reply

  31. Kenley says

    You could find a textured kind of wallpaper that tooks like a tin ceiling then do the same dry brush technique that you used on the beams. I think it would be a lot less expensive than a tin ceiling and maybe not as “heavy” looking. BTW my quote “hey lets have a staring contest…one two three…you blinked” :)

    Reply

  32. Jamie says

    Just read the babycenter post – don’t start convincing people to store their baby clothes, you’ll ruin my whole business model! hehe, j/k! Love you guys, I have been avidly reading forever… and we just bought a foreclosure, so I’ve been eating up your painting tips lately! Someday I would love to help you free up some space & make a baby clothes memory quilt for you, check out my site sometime, I’ve got a modern quilting style I think you would like! :)

    Reply

  34. KarenC says

    What if you painted the ceiling in a light gray base coat, and then taped off sections between the beams, using a metalic paint to paint one section in one direction and the next section in the opposite direction… kind of dragging the paint? It would look almost like a basket weave.

    Reply

  35. Renee S says

    I spent 3 years doing “faux finishing” and venetian plaster type stuff. Someone up above mentioned Modern Masters paint. They have fantastic color options, but if you choose to use it be prepared to work to get no roller marks showing. You have to make sure to pull the paint all in the same direction (roll one way). Each way you pull the roller, you’ll end up with a different sheen…it’s really hard to get a nice end result on a large area. I’d use that product more for stripes or as a base coat with a glaze or something over it.

    Another option is troweling on Lusterstone by Faux Effects. Their Champagne color is beautiful, and their products are all water based. The finish burnishes as you go and is really pretty. Your ceiling is split up into manageable sections with the beams, which is really nice when you’re working above your head.

    Google Lusterstone and let me know if you have any questions about it, I’d be happy to help!

    Love your blog! :)

    Reply

  36. Nicole says

    Not entirely related, but how tall is your lamp? I’ve been unable to commit to a reading lamp because most lamps feel like they would be too low to shine on books well. Are there any good rules to follow with reading light height? Thanks

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hey Nicole,

      It’s a little over 5′ tall. Seems to work well. It’s just a standard floor lamp from Home Depot from a while back, so if there are any specific lamp height rules (and there probably are) we don’t really go by them anyway. Haha. We just eye things and do what looks best to us. Good luck and hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  39. Rogue Designs says

    I agree – Venetian Plaster would be a great, but back breaking option. Given the fun you had painting the molding and beams, I’m guessing VP would not be a welcome suggestion.
    I love the Modern Masters and Benjamin Moore lines of metallics. The Benjamin Moore line is glaze – so you’d need to paint a base coat up there first. It reminds me of the inside of a seashell and I love it.

    Reply

  40. angel p says

    We used the Ralph Lauren Regency Metallic paint and I like it. I used it in my kitchen which tends to be a bit dark and it looks great. It was easy to apply with the correct roller and it only takes 2 coats. Kind of pricey but the effect is a lot of fun.

    Reply

  41. Rebecca says

    “While entertaining Clara with finger puppets, Sherry could finally sit and watch John do some work for a change.”

    Reply

  48. Brooke says

    I’m not sure if anyone mentioned this or not (wow, a lot of comments!), but their is an episode of Myles of Style where she did a gold leaf paint job on a dining room ceiling that I always thought looked so super neat. Find that episode!

    Reply

  49. Christine says

    How about adding texture, rather than shine or color? Like grasscloth… or a light gray linen… or something along those lines?

    Reply

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