Patti writes:

Patti in her girlfriend's mom's 1960's eyeglasses -- recently cleared from the time capsule 1960 house.

I just stenciled the stars onto the wall behind my bookcase headboard, (a peachy pink wall) and used silver metallic. It is AWESOME! I can’t get over what an impact it made. I made one star on paper following Karen’s instructions(8×10)… then reduced it on the copier by 75% and 50% so they’d all be the same… then traced them onto the stencil blank and cut them out. You could also use the stencil with a clear gloss paint on a flat wall. Wouldn’t that be cool!

I also sent a pic of the label on the silver paint, color is Shimmering Silver, bought at Hobby Lobby. It was $7.99 but I used a 40% off coupon. All the other paints are Sherwin Williams Super Paint. Bedroom is Peach Blossom #6624 (interior flat).

And… I also, just in the past few days, painted my drab garage doors and stenciled the starbursts on a few panels. I used the same stencil from my bedroom but turned it sideways, big star on the left on the left door and flipped it on the right door. I have a really hard time being ‘random’!

I’ll be starting on my kitchen next month. Because, as you know…the fun never stops!

I asked Patti a few more questions, she responded:

…I stippled the garage because the doors are kinda textured. I used the same stipple brush for the bedroom but used it more like a regular brush, kinda sweeping over all the edges so it wouldn’t bleed under. (The silver paint is silky.) It was easier when I decided, halfway through the bedroom wall, to use stencil adhesive. I didn’t have to use stencil adhesive on the garage because the door paint was still a little tacky.

…Not counting the price of the wall paint and only counting the cost of actual materials used it’s more like $5. I barely used any of the silver paint and adhesive and only one stencil sheet. But if you have to go out and buy it all new, $20 is close.

Thank you, Patti, for sharing, and Happy Birthday To You! The bedroom is awesome, indeed. And readers, I already asked Patti where she got that wonderful bedspread. “eBay,” she said, “$29.98..more than I normally spend but I love it.”

Get stippling, tribe. Here’s the pattern: Three starburst stencil projects — including a free pattern

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Of course, it’s only now that my office studio remodel is almost done that I discover that you can buy plastic booties to put over your shoes or socks when you are working in a dusty area doing your home improvement project. Denise was here last week helping. We spent like 30 hours in that room. We wore our socks the whole time. I think I pretty much destroyed three pairs. Then, electrician dude is here this week and I see these. I love these. I did like TWO PHOTOS SHOOTS with these plastic booties to wear when you are remodeling your house. I STYLED THIS PHOTO, I peaked up the little bootie points and modeled H2T just like Tyra teaches on ANTM. I did not choose new socks, though, these are what I was really wearing. I wanted to *keep it real*. 

I called Pignatelli Electric, my electricians, they said the guys just these booties them at Carr Hardware (nearby hardware store) or Caligari’s (Lenox hardware store.) I also jumped over the ULine Catalog, where you can get all kinds of Booties in bulk. In my experience, Uline always has an amazing selection and great prices; my husband wants to buy stock in Uline, but we think it’s a private company. Indeed, search “booties” on Uline and 14 listings snap crackle pop right up: Super Booties, Water Resistant booties, Skid Resistant  booties, Boot booties, Polypropylene booties, and Kinetic Bootie Butlers to store your booties efficiently. However, I don’t think I see any booties as cute as mine. The cute pointy toe makes a big difference, it elongates and also has that I Dream of Jeannie retro vibe.

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Yes, these photos are all of Julie’s beautiful showhouse design (not my living room). When we first moved in 10 years ago, all the trim was a bright white. It may have been Atrium White — which has a pink tinge. Atrium white did not please me. I began to experiment with off-whites, and with the help of a friend in the painting business, came up with a custom off-white that is based on linen but with most of the yellow taken out. I have quite enjoyed my off-white trim… and the paint finish still looks great (Graham Ceramic Satin)… but still, 10 years have gone by… and if I can muster the energy and the GUTS, I am ready to make a commitment to a true color. It may be this green, or darn close: Benjamin Moore Rosemary Sprig #2144-30.

Where did I find this color? In a story some time ago on the DC by Design blog – and it’s this story that convinced me, my trim would/could look great painted green. These photos are of designer Julie Dastvan’s bedroom design for the 27th annual Historic Ellicott City Decorator Show House. I chased Julie down for the name of the paint color. She kindly got it for me. She said this green trim color was already used in this bedroom — it was the one element that she could not change and had to work with. I think she did a fantastic job. This room is just lovely — timeless, I think.

Don’t miss the ceiling — that’s stenciling in two layers, flat and glossy paint. Hey, how about I also stencil a design like this across ginormous living room/dining room ceiling; these adjacent, open rooms together measure 15′ by 45′. I have a lot of ceiling. Oh my aching back and neck. I can feel their protest already.

Interestingly, when I was initially painting my living room / dining room, I could see from inside cabinets that a minty green had once been used on the trim in my room. Intensity-wise, my 1960s (?) green seems like it was lighter than this BM Rosemary Sprig. You know the color — an almost hospital-like minty green. I am aiming for a not-too-dark, not-too-light…

…Benjamin Moore is calling Rosemary Sprig “bold and saturated.” It may be just right… Yes, gasp!, a light avocado? Shhhh! BM surely does not want that word to get out! Of course, trying to guess whether colors will work from photos and on computers only gets you pointed in a direction. Let the games and sample-pint purchases begin….

But, Reality Check: Do I have the real drive to paint all my trim, really? There are 3,000 little pieces of dentil molding dentils in the ceiling beams. 3,000! And while my DIY ambitions usually extend just as far as DIY-check-writing, painting is one thing that I do myself. My ambitions for spring updates may be an overstretch, given time and money realities.

Meanwhile, this week I will go get a sample of Benjamin Moore Rosemary Sprig. I’ve heard good things about their new Aura line of paint — it’s a latex that’s supposed to look just like oil. I’ll paint it on cardboard or something like that, though. Not the trim. So I don’t have to commit.

Credits:

• Angie Seckinger, photographer
• Designer: Julie Dastvan of Dastvan Designs (301) 330-9595

Julie’s description and source list for this project:

A regal town and country master suite created using deep jewel tones, rich textures, and handsome furnishings with timeless elegant touches and treasures from travels abroad reflect the lives of my aunt and uncle, Doris and Lee Caldwell, to whom I dedicate this master suite.

The Oscar de la Renta fabric used for the drapes and bed canopy was the inspiration for the design.  Red velvet chairs with a tailored linen ottoman and a queen tufted bed draped in luscious fabrics offer an inviting place to start and end the day.

The stenciled ceiling design was inspired by a traditional octagonal coffered ceiling, and the walls were finished using a faux linen technique.  The custom pinched moiré area rug has the look of a priceless well-worn antique carpet.

Finally, the irresistible draw of the balcony invites you to take in the views from the comfy outdoor seating while wrapped in a warm throw for those chilly fall evenings.

Credits:

Art/Accessories: Avery Art, 202.506.4180; Century, Henredon and Robert Allen showrooms, Washington Design Center; Hollis & Knight, 202.333.6999
Drapery Workroom: Drapery Designs, 301.330.4418
Fabrics: Kravet, Duralee, Old World Weavers, and Robert Allen, Washington Design Center
Faux Finishes: Anna-Marie Gallart and Karen Furman, 301.252.7974
Furniture: Century, Washington Design Center, 202.488-4400; Henredon and Hickory Chair, Washington Design Center, 202.554.3340; Hollis & Knight; Kravet, Washington Design Center, 202.479.0144; Offenbacher’s, 301.881-8565
Lighting: Annapolis Lighting, 301.231.4994; Hollis & Knight
Paint: Sherwin Williams, Enchanted Forest Shopping Center, MD, 410.203.2912
Rug: The Fernhill Group, 410.531.8990

Thank you, Julie! Thank you, Angie!

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