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.
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:
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.
The prize is 500 points and comment o’ the day status. You know you want that. Or do you?
Luisa says
Hi-
I haven’t read any comments but I think the selection of the rugs, curtains, art, and other elements should come first otherwise you might lock yourseleves in with the ceiling color (which I think will look good with color on it …). Good luck!
Jessy says
A DIY Anonymous Meeting’s : “Confessions Corner”
Chris from VA Beach says
“Why are YOU in timeout??”
Melanie Redman says
Hold your horses…..!! Wait, patience is a virtue. I would definately wait till you have sorted out the rest of the room, especially your lighting… you might have enough textural elements going on, that the ceiling might need a breather, and the re-invented beams, might be enough goings on up there – besides, do you really want to draw attention to the ceiling anyways???
Darlene says
Caption?
Easy.
‘An adult time-out corner’
Kat says
Do you know about catalogliving? You should look it up for a good laugh :)
YoungHouseLove says
Yes. Hysterical. We love it so much.
xo,
s
Diane Marrero says
Anxious to see what you choose for the ceiling.
My caption: “Who’s in Time Out?”
Julie says
I wanted a glamorous metallic grey for my powder room (ceiling and walls) and was bummed about Home Depot not selling Ralph Lauren paint anymore too. But I did find something else which turned out better than the RL paint would have (metalic paints are tricky to get a nice finish with).
I used a hammered metallic paint which comes in 6 colors made by Les Faux-Finis du Monde and comes in 850ml cans. I mixed 2 parts silver to one part Pearl White to lighten up the color a little. Because the paint has a very slight hammered texture it paints and rolls on much easier that other metallic paints.
It turned out really nice! Everyone who comes over raves about it and it looks especially glam at night when the crystals from the ceiling mount chandelier reflect off it!
I checked their website fauxfinisdumonde.com (which is not very good) and they sell their products in Canada and the U.S.A, but their site doesn’t mention anything about their plain blue/silver metal cans of metallic hammered paint (which I purchased this summer at my local hardware store: RONA-Studio (450) 424-6328).
Good Luck.
Julie
Kate says
Someone may have already suggested this, or you may have already nixed this idea, but I thought I’d give it a shot. What about adding some texture/metallic sparkle by putting some tin ceiling tiles? I don’t know how it would look in your space, but that was the first thing that popped into my head when you described what you were going for. I don’t know if it would look good with the beams, but it is just a thought!
Meghan says
I know I’m missing the point of this thread, but that lamp is awesome! Can you tell me the source?
YoungHouseLove says
It’s from Home Depot a while back. I think it was $40 for a floor lamp so we thought it was a great price for a classic drum shade floor lamp.
xo,
s
Julie says
Been thinking about your ceiling (ok, obsessing -but it’s what I do and can’t help it! lol) since reading and commenting on this post the other day. I am new to your blog and toured the different posts, projects and pics (aweseome!) and to be honest I’m not feeling the metallic paint for your ceilings in there. Just my opinion, but I see a matt finish paint color and then rolling a few coats of clear super high gloss varnish. Kind of like this room(copy/paste the link below and view the photo of the bed with red bookcase as headboard – the ceiling reminds me of your living room):
http://curbed.com/archives/2011/01/31/previewing-the-bunny-williams-story-in-the-febmarch-elle-decor.php#
J
Julie says
Been thinking about your ceiling (ok, obsessing -but it’s what I do and can’t help it! lol) since reading and commenting on this post the other day. I am new to your blog and toured the different posts, projects and pics (awesome!) and to be honest I’m not feeling the metallic paint for your ceilings in there.
Just my opinion, but I see a matt finish paint color and then rolling a few coats of clear super high gloss varnish. Kind of like on page 170 in this months Elle Decor(or copy/paste the link below and view the photo of the bed with red bookcase as headboard), the ceiling reminded me of your living room:
http://curbed.com/archives/2011/01/31/previewing-the-bunny-williams-story-in-the-febmarch-elle-decor.php#
J
Rebecca says
The lamp says to the chair: “You know that guy John? I see him around sometimes. He turns me on.”
jimena salgado says
Hi! Where did you buy the lamp?? Thanks!!
YoungHouseLove says
Home Depot a while back. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Launa says
Did you ever use metallic on the ceiling? I tried a light blue Martha Stewart metallic on our bathroom ceiling and it was so uneven and the paint stripes never went away even after 4 coats. If you had better luck I’d love to hear your tips!
(Here is the link to the horror ceiling horror show in case you are interested: http://aplaceandaspace.blogspot.com/2011/05/guest-bathroom-1.html)
YoungHouseLove says
Nah, never did it. Heard a lot of horror stories, haha. And now that we’re laying stuff into the room we’re pretty certain we just want the ceiling to disappear (as opposed to being a “feature”).
xo,
s