Murals in the Home
If money wasn’t an object, we could all remodel and have fabulous kitchens… But a fabulous Kitchen Makeover with little to no money…now that…THAT takes some imagination. Maybe that’s why I was thrilled when a friend asked if I could swing by and give her some ideas for her kitchen. This is what I found when I got there:
I’ll give you a few seconds to lift your jaw off the floor before I go on…
When it comes to Children’s Playrooms, this one is about as colorful as it gets. It’s actually in a non-profit center for children in need. A friend of mine who was volunteering there a few years back, asked if I’d be willing to lend a hand giving this room a fresh coat of paint. When I walked in, the walls were white, and I looked down at the carpet and thought, ‘Yep, this room needs an update!’ It was then that I was told the carpet had just been donated, and it wasn’t going anywhere. Yikes! So what do you do when you have bright blue carpet, that mixes multi-colored farm and exotic animals together!? The only thing that came to mind for me was….If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em!
If you’re looking for artwork that makes an impact, without being too bold or in your face, a Silhouette Mural is a great way to go. This is one I painted for my dentist so she has a calming, delicate backdrop when she’s working in her office between patients. These days, you can find graphic patterns like this in vinyl. But with painted silhouette murals, you’re not limited to the pre-cut sizes. You can paint them the exact size you need to fit a particular space. And, best of all, you can paint them in what ever color you choose.
Sometimes it’s the simple touches that can make children fall in love with their bedrooms. A few cherry blossoms here… a couple of dragon flies there… and BAM! A once-boring bedroom becomes a fun place to hang out.
One of the very first murals I ever painted was for an expectant mom who wanted a Frog Prince Nursery for her soon-to-be-born baby boy. He’s in 3rd grade now, but to this day, his nursery is still one of my favorite projects of all time. I think it’s because of the mother’s fabulous taste. She didn’t want some Winnie the Pooh mural in primary colors. She wanted something classic, yet understated. She even pointed to a book of nurseries done by designer Wendy Bellisimo. I was in awe. I knew I could paint it, I just wasn’t sure how to make the overall effect look airy and muted.
We all have areas in our home that we’d rather not spend time in… but with a little paint you can make the most of the mundane. Whether it’s a boring laundry room, or a narrow hallway, murals can liven things up without taking up any space.
One of my favorite rooms in my home is actually my laundry room. Not many people can say that. And, I don’t even have one of those new, beautiful, high-efficiency washer and dryer sets. I have the plain, old fashioned kind that are getting up in years. The room itself, is not that impressive either. Just take a look at this Before picture:
Quick! Grab the camera! This teenage bedroom is CLEAN… and heaven knows it won’t stay that way for long. It’s got a pretty spiffy paint job too, if I do say so myself. Just the fact I used the word, “spiffy” should have my daughter’s eyes rolling…right…about…NOW! Ahhh, the joys of raising a teenager! Before my daughter’s room was blue with pearlescent stripes and covered in One Direction posters, it belonged to a little girl who still played with the toys you now see put away on top of her closet. But as she entered her teenage years, it was time for a more grown up look, and she knew exactly what she wanted.
Remember the chevron pattern I recently painted in a craft room? I promised to bring you updated photos once the furniture and other things were back in place. Well, now I can deliver. I went back to check out the finished room, and it’s such a fun place now, I just want to move in and start crafting!
