Friday, February 15, 2008

pottery barn can do it...why can't I?

If you've been to my house, you know that it is mainly decorated in tans, browns, earth tones, more tans, and more browns. why is this? I envy people who can embrace color and splash it elegantly around their house. I guess I just live in this safety bubble of brown.



well, with showtime in less than 22 days, I thought I would try to finish up the baby room. In the latest pottery barn baby magazine, I noticed apple green was a popular wall color. The thought of a bright, fun color gave me the nervous sweats at first, then I decided to go for it. Off to Home Depot I went with a mission to paint Lucy's walls apple green.

I bought all the paint, came home, slapped it up, looked at it for 9 days, and decided that this neutral-safe girl just can't do it. Sixteen times a day I walk into the nursery, stare at the walls, and leave with the color green still glowing in my eyes. Can that be soothing for a baby?




So, yesterday I ran back to Home Depot in search of a more "soothing" green. Not mint chip, not apple, not grass, not seafoam...just NEUTRAL, soothing, EARTHY green. I have to say, I feel a LOT more comfortable with the color, but am I jipping my baby of a FUN entrance into life? Am I being too conservative?



Here are some samples of 3 of the 6 colors we've tried on the walls. None of them are true to how they look in the room, so it is very hard for internet viewers to help me out on this one. Maybe just some general suggestions would be nice. Vibrant or neutral? Fun or safe?

Or just send me a decorator in the mail. please.

13 comments:

Amy said...

I LOVE whatever green you chose in the 1st pic. with the frames on the wall. I think thats the one. Can't wait to see the nursery complete!

HeatherM said...

i love the apple green.i know i am not seeing the whole room but it doesn't seem too strong. with stuff on the walls it could tone it down, or some lighter colored over sized drapes to soften the green.

amanda jane said...

hey, I know my opinion is well, unsolicited at best. BUT here I go any way. if you're timid about color; only do one or at most two walls. then it won't over power you but you get the pop you want. and don't forget there will be alot going on in that room beside the walls, furniture always softens of intensifies. we have done lots and lots of color in our home and have learned how to make it work, but it all comes in baby steps! good luck. I like green #1, it looks sweet.

Chantel said...

We went through the same thing painting Crew's room before he was born. I picked "Key Lime Pie" and I hated it it... until we moved all the furniture in and set up the bedding. Once we got it all put together the color played off everything else beautifully. I think the first green is totally cute. Move your stuff in and give it a try. I'll bet you'll like it too!

Amy said...

I love the #1 green. I think it would look great with all of the baby stuff in it. Go bold!

Oler Family said...

I love both of them. I think it depends on what your accent color is. Is that color bright or soft? You are really good at decorating, whatever you do will look amazing!!

Jen Giorgis said...

Okay....don't know how much my opinion really matters. I am generally a neutral girl as well. I do like the tone of #1 green best, but do slightly agree there is a bit of color shock there. Have you thought about just going one shade lighter on that same palate card? I'm sure it will look great, but at the same time I never like one room in my house to stick out like a sore thumd feel like it does't flow with the rest of my house. You have to find a happy medium. One time, I had painted one wall in my kitchen red and after 6 weks I couldn't take it anymore and painted over it. I just didn't love it and it never sat well with me. Find something you love and that sits well with you. Good Luck!!!

Jen Giorgis said...

P.S. Sorry that was so long, and please look past all the hideous typos.......

Marie said...

Whoa! Ambitious Ali, painting the nursery with three weeks left. Amazing!

I love the first green picture. It actually reminds me of my bedroom. Just a moment and I will go get my paint chip sample......I'm back. My bedroom is Laura Ashley HOME found at LOWE'S and is Moss 4. It's a little on the dark side but very smooth and soothing. I love how rich it feels, especially against the white trim.

Now, I would not recommend my bathroom color with is also Laura Ashley but is Apple. YUCK! Maybe it's the brown trim that we never changed out because we thought we would tile the floor and then change the trim, but the color just isn't setting right with me.

The one other green I have in my house is in Claire's room. We actually left this room the same color it was prior to moving in but I found a paint chip to match in case I wanted to buy decor for her room and needed something to compare it too. (I keep all my paint samples in my wallet so I can whip them out on command.) Anyways, it is also found at LOWE'S in their Signature Colors by Waverly Home Classics and is Sea Grass. This is a light, soft, pretty green that goes well with accents of pink. It has worked out perfect for Claire and Kate.

I hope this helps, but I'm pretty sure it won't because if you are anything like me, you won't be able to make any decisions during these last three weeks of pregnancy. I feel like such a scatterbrain!

Tiffani said...

OK, you don't know me but I am Sheena's friend. Personally, I like the apple green color, it is more appealing to me. To make it more feminine you could find a fabric with the same green, brown, cream and pink in it (I'm thinking stripes)for curtains. Good luck, and I look forward to seeing the end result!

Anonymous said...

The first picture is really cute.

sheena said...

LOVE THE BRIGHT! You can do it!! But I will say I think greens are the HARDEST. Jonah's room is green, and rather bright--it didn't turn out exactly how I thought but when does it?

melissa ellen parker said...

I think you did the right thing going with the more neutral shade. I'm not sure if I'm saying that because it's what I would have done...but, I think you did the right thing. I can rest assured knowing you won't deprive your little Lucy of anything she might need. She's almost here too. AMAZING!