Today I’d like to share with you lessons that were learned in my brother’s living room this week-end.
Lesson #1: I am the world’s greatest sister. Almost 30 hours of painting/slave labor will get you that title. *Pats self on back.* Little brother has a lot of projects ahead of him.
Lesson #2: Don’t paint your living room purple and minty toothpaste. The next owner (and his sister) will hate you.
Lesson #3: Always check behind bookcases. They may be hiding things…like brick walls.
Brother had a mini panic attack. I told him no sweat. He can paint it charcoal and add a piece of wood for a faux mantle. Stick a clock over the vent. No problemo. Panic attack averted.
Lesson #4: Grey is a finicky color. Little brothers don’t like light grey…like Sherwin William’s Argos. Color fail.
Lesson #5: Sherwin Williams will add tint to make your paint darker if you hate it. The walls will then be painted with Grey Matters. (The same color as our master bathroom and basement. It’s a good grey!)
Lesson #6: The stained trim in the living room no longer makes me want to throw up in my mouth but white painted trim would make this room look fantastico. Feel free to leave comments letting little brother know what you think…either way! I think I almost have him convinced to paint it. Almost. So close. Come on little brother!
Lesson #7: My dad taught me a trick. Milk Duds work as antidepressants when your brother makes you paint his entire house. My dad is a wise man. But I may have overdosed.
Lesson #8: Improving a room is totally worth painting away your week-end. I do, however, miss that purple.
I’ll share some of the other before and afters this week. I’m a little sad I live 4 hours away. Oh wait. No I’m not. I missed my couch and neutral walls…and white trim.
How’d you spend your week-end? Any other ideas for the brick funkiness? Should we have another poll on painting the trim? ;)
***I’m sharing our house tour over at Karen at Home today! Be sure to head on over and check it out here!***
Today I’d like to share with you lessons that were learned in my brother’s living room this week-end.
Lesson #1: I am the world’s greatest sister. Almost 30 hours of painting/slave labor will get you that title. *Pats self on back.* Little brother has a lot of projects ahead of him.
Lesson #2: Don’t paint your living room purple and minty toothpaste. The next owner (and his sister) will hate you.
Lesson #3: Always check behind bookcases. They may be hiding things…like brick walls.
Brother had a mini panic attack. I told him no sweat. He can paint it charcoal and add a piece of wood for a faux mantle. Stick a clock over the vent. No problemo. Panic attack averted.
Lesson #4: Grey is a finicky color. Little brothers don’t like light grey…like Sherwin William’s Argos. Color fail.
Lesson #5: Sherwin Williams will add tint to make your paint darker if you hate it. The walls will then be painted with Grey Matters. (The same color as our master bathroom and basement. It’s a good grey!)
Lesson #6: The stained trim in the living room no longer makes me want to throw up in my mouth but white painted trim would make this room look fantastico. Feel free to leave comments letting little brother know what you think…either way! I think I almost have him convinced to paint it. Almost. So close. Come on little brother!
Lesson #7: My dad taught me a trick. Milk Duds work as antidepressants when your brother makes you paint his entire house. My dad is a wise man. But I may have overdosed.
Lesson #8: Improving a room is totally worth painting away your week-end. I do, however, miss that purple.
I’ll share some of the other before and afters this week. I’m a little sad I live 4 hours away. Oh wait. No I’m not. I missed my couch and neutral walls…and white trim.
How’d you spend your week-end? Any other ideas for the brick funkiness? Should we have another poll on painting the trim? ;)
***I’m sharing our house tour over at Karen at Home today! Be sure to head on over and check it out here!***
I'm with you white trim is a fresher updated look! I like the idea of painting the brick and adding shelves to it. You are a nice sister to help...painting is a lot of work!
ReplyDeletewhite trim will lighten the heavy feel of that room right away! and i would definitely paint the brick- since the walls are greay i would paint the brick white i think. he could even build bookcases on either side and make it like his tv/entertainment area.
ReplyDeleteWhite trim, definitely! That is a very interesting brick wall...What about white like the trim? Is that too light? Too girly? ...and I apologize, but since you asked...this weekend my husband and I witnessed the inspection on our soon to be new home! I've told everyone I know personally and I am way too excited still so now it's going to the bloggers I follow. :P
ReplyDeletepaint the trim white. ang
ReplyDeleteDefinitely white trim! I hate painting trim, but it's so worth it!
ReplyDeleteLove the new look. Yes, paint that trim. It's a pain but it'll be worth it! And no, you will never go back and do it, so do it now!
ReplyDeleteAh - I can't even notice the trim.... paint the brick! Great wall color though, and you win Sister-of-the-Year Award!
ReplyDeleteI vote to paint the trim and the brick. Both in white. That job is probably going to require more milk duds.
ReplyDeletePaint the trim. Trim over the fireplace. Nice gray!
ReplyDeletePaint the trim & brick! :)
ReplyDeleteThat gray is awesome. Nicely done, big sister. The bookshelf made me giggle. I'm glad you were there to prevent panic attacks. Faux mantel is a stellar idea. Pat yourself on the back again for that one. This room is shaping up already!!
ReplyDeleteLove your ideas about the brick wall. I recently saw a really pretty brick fireplace {probably on Pinterest but I can't remember} where they painted the brick the same color as the walls-which was a cream color-and then added a big white mantle in the center around where the fireplace would be if they had one. It looked really pretty! And, I definitely vote white trim:)
ReplyDeletepaint the trim bro. paint it.
ReplyDeleteI concur about the charcoal on the fireplace. It'll help give some dimension to the room and make that area receed instead of pop out at ya.
I wonder if the old homeowner thought about when he'd discover that little gem? Sly those sellers can be...like foxes. Ours hid their animals and pee stains/smells (though I'm still not sure how).
Paint the trim. It's just too 80's looking. It would look much better and way more modern.
ReplyDeleteJust hopped over from Karen at Home - you have a beautiful home! And a very lucky brother to have a sister helping him with his new home! I totally think the brick would make a great faux fireplace - and paint the trim! It'll look awesome.
ReplyDeletePaint the trim, paint the trim! Yuck. And I also agree about painting the brick, and about the faux mantle. Listen to your big sister, she is wise!
ReplyDeleteOooh, a trap faux fireplace. Fancy. It looks so much better. Definitely paint the trim white-- it'll brighten up the room even more.
ReplyDeletePaint the trim! And the brick, too! Then add a dark gray mantel.
ReplyDeleteIt will look stupendous.
Paint the trim. :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, those are the gleaming-est hardwoods I've ever seen! oh la la!
Way to go sis!
ReplyDeleteI personally love white trim... so I would vote to paint it! And the brick wall... so many possibilities!
dee dee
Awesome paint job!!! You MUST paint that trim, it's an order. It's just way too thin and insignificant to be treated as a feature. I think the brick wall is brilliant and a nice, charming touch in the room. I think your idea of painting it charcoal and adding a mantle is brilliant.
ReplyDeletePaint the trim!!! The room is coming along beautifully, but the stained trim screams 1980's. I love the brick wall as well, and yes, it can also be painted. LOVE the floor. You are an awesome sister....can you come over and help me paint?
ReplyDeleteI totally dig the weird brick wall- so many possibilities....
ReplyDeleteYou're the best sister! I would not have been that nice!
ReplyDeleteWow, those hardwood floors are gleaming!! I love the brick, however, I think it would really pop if painted white along with the trim.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for kicking off the home your today! Your home was a hit as I knew it would be!
My vote is to paint the trim. Love the brick - I would paint that too, but I would probably paint it white to make it stand out in the room.
ReplyDeleteThe whole brick wall behind the bookcase trick! What a cool thing to find. Oh yes, paint that trim white. Especially once the fireplace is painted grey, the white trim will match so much better.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great sister!
That is crazy about the brick behind the bookcase!! Purple and mint is probably the next hottest color combo, so I'm thinking you might want to paint the brick alternating purple and mint?
ReplyDeleteNo seriously. Your idea for that mysterious brick a good one. Little brother should always listen to you. ;)
i can't believe that brick wall! what is on the other side? a fireplace?? so weird that they hid it perfectly with the bookcase!
ReplyDeleteTEAM WHITE TRIM!!!
Wow you are the best sister ever! I can't wait to put my sister to work this summer. HEHE! I agree white trim. Sorry little brother!
ReplyDeleteLol and i can't believe there is a surprise brick wall. weird!
Paint the trim, Marshall. You are outvoted here! White trim will look amazing. I love the color and laughed really hard at the hidden brick wall. Definitely paint that, too.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it with the crazy paint colors?!? Our previous owners went with brick red, dark orange, and dark green *belch* ew. I actually think the brick wall is a plus! I would have been psyched to have an interesting element surprise me. I vote paint the brick and the trim white. I'm dying to paint my trim and doors white. Painting over wood is the only thing my husband vetoed. Boo. If you convince little brother, I will need a word for word reinactment so I can use it to hypnotize my husband.
ReplyDeletePaint the trim! Those floors look amazing, btw. I hope your bro bought you dinner, and drinks. Lots of drinks.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling the grey love, but I'm still not sold on painting the trim. I'd have to see the room with furniture in it before I decide one way or another.
ReplyDeleteAs the big brother, I just know sooner or later family will ask me to help paint. But now I'll do it and I'll be nice about it too.
The floors look fantastic!!!! Paint the trim! No question.
ReplyDeleteYeah, come on, little brother...do what big sister says...she's right, ya' know, and always will be...that's what I say, at least, coming from experience and, since I will remain in that 'older than thou' and 'knowest all' position forever with my younger brother...white would 'clean it up' and make it very more contemporary/masculine... ;)
ReplyDeleteIt looks great!!! I don't think I have seen floors so beautiful and shiny before. Tell him to paint the trim or he will have a bunch of bloggers after him! You are an awesome sister. :)
ReplyDeleteThat room looks FANTASTIC! And you're totally right about painting the fireplace and adding a mantle.
ReplyDeleteWhilst Pinterest browsing this afternoon, I came across this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.addicted2decorating.com/john-alices-family-room-the-reveal.html
Looks like it could be an improvement on baby brother's bricks...
yes, the trim as is makes the room look dated, paint it! the brick makes an awesome accent to the room, too bad it's so orangey :(
ReplyDeleteDefinitely paint the trim! No question! It'll be an immediate modernization (it's possible that I made up that word). He could go get one of those super cool vintage mantles, attach it to the brick and then put candles int he "fireplace" area. That would be cool
ReplyDeleteIf it were my space, I'd absolutely paint the trim a nice, crisp white and the fireplace bricks as well. I feel like the red brick takes the focus away from those gorgeous floors!
ReplyDeleteYou are the best sister ever - you should reminder your brother of that fact frequently
ReplyDelete