walk on the wild side

Today we have some very daring wall treatments to show with you that really express a wild side:  animal print. 

(found here)

Now, it is not something that I would think to do in my home immediately, but there are always ways to take something bold and dramatic and make it more understated by choosing the right colors.  Many of the photos we will share with you today are wallpaper.  And while we love wallpaper, we wanted to show you that you can totally get this look (with a lot more freedom on color and style) with paint.  So today, we will share with you some inspiration for wild walls and tomorrow: the tutorial.  (I wonder what the boy will think when he comes home to animal print on our walls tonight).

First stripes, then spots:

Here, a beautiful, bold zebra print in navy blue.  I love the bold choice of navy and white and how they kept that color scheme going in the graphic art choices.  What a great, modern space.  But you can do animal print without being quite so bold... (from here)

This room uses the same inspiration of zebra stripes, but manages to feel understated and elegant by using a soft, taupey gray with a warm white. (from here)

If you like something in between the two, try stripes on the softer side played up with a bold color in an accent area (like these awesome green chairs). (from here)

Moving on to the spotted:

Talk about drama.  These leopard spots look like the real deal.  (from here)

But these are slightly less dramatic (although still quite the statement). I love the simplified look of this wall compared to the previous one. (from here)

And again, these spots make a great backdrop for something bright and fun.  (from here)

Stay tuned for the tutorial on how to get these looks without wallpaper in your home tomorrow.  We will share color tips, painting ideas, and show photos of the whole process.  How wild are you?? 

See you then!

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help me pick a color to paint my closet

So, I have a problem when it comes to keeping my closet organized.  When I first moved into this house, I was in love with my new closet.  It has two levels for hanging cloths and lots of built-in storage compartments - a big step up from the boy and I sharing a tiny closet in our various apartments. I thought keeping my closet organized would be a breeze.  That lasted about a month and now its back to disheveled.  While Lisa and I were staging our last project we painting the inside of a closet as an afterthought.  We had our color ACK with us and hadn't used it anywhere else, so we thought why not? read more »

play space.

As you all know, I am not yet a mother.  I hope to be one someday, but in the meantime I get my baby fix through this job and my two beautiful nieces.  The boy and I spent our weekend with one of them and let me tell you, I don't know how you all do it!  She is 18 months old, full of spunk and energy and a joy to be around - but man is it exhausting!  We picked her up Saturday morning and returned her (safe, sound and happy I might add) Sunday morning.  Between singing songs, drawing, making pizzas, walking on the beach, and very messy meals I learned two things:  1.  It is impossible to keep a clean house with a toddler running around and 2. you parents must all be brilliant, patient, multi-tasking, creative geniuses.  It got me thinking about play spaces.  They seem essential.  I know not every home has a whole room free to designate the playroom, but it became apparent that we needed a small space that was home base for books, crayons, dolls, toys - and more importantly free of all the things not toddler proof (like scissors, electronics, sharp cornered coffee tables, etc).  It seemed our house was an accident waiting to happen...  

So today I thought I'd share some creative and functional play spaces for your little loved ones.  It seems to me that whether your play space is a whole room or just a corner there are a few key ingredients to make it work:

1.  Color

I love how this nursery has the color on the floor in the form of a cushy rug and allows the walls to be a blank canvas for the creations of the kids who play there. 

Similarly, this cute space has a colorful ceiling letting the main wall be a gallery for books to inspire reading. 

2.  Storage

A refurbished armoire makes a great play station for kids...  Close the doors and it is all hidden away, open them and let the kids get creative! 

Get creative with your storage.  No one says you have to use simple bookshelves if you have a beautiful old wagon that will do the trick! 

3. Some creativity:

An activity seems essential.  I love this play kitchen! 

But if you lack the room for that, why not use one wall to allow their imaginations to grow?  A simple mural (this one is interactive) takes up no space!  

4. And finally: Chalkboard! 

Whether you have a lot of space for a whole wall...

Or just a corner, our chalkboard paint makes a great addition to any place space.  As you know it comes in all of our colors and is completely non-toxic.  Check it out! 

Enjoy! 

Photo credits:

1&2: Simplified Bee

3: Better Homes and Gardens

4: her blog

5: mali-mo

6: elmueble

7&8:  QHP

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chalkboard fun!

There is nothing more fun that watching children's faces light up when they see our colors on their walls.  It's one of the reasons we love doing what we do.  So you can imagine how much we enjoyed our day on Tuesday spent at the Lincoln School in Rhode Island where the halls were a constant sea of smiling faces all excited to use the chalkboard space we were creating for them.  read more »

Pond. Catnap. Buzz. Bee

Today I wanted to share with you a room that we recently completed for a wonderful couple and their expected little girl.  Completed may not be the right word.  In fact, they themselves did all the hard work.  They painted (A LOT!), lugged up furniture, decorated and lovingly made this room a nursery for their expected little one.  We came in a few weeks before the due date to stage the nursery for a photo shoot. 

 

Photoshoots are really fun for us.  We usually arrive armed with accessories, throws, pillows, rugs and artwork to place in a way that looks the best through the lens of the camera.  

Here is Lisa rearranging some stuffed animals that looked a little funny through the lens. 

The parents painted this dresser in catnap (the same color as the ceiling and trim) and then completed the drawers in our chalkboard finish of bee.  

We brought in this custom chair from LTS (which is painted in QHP's pebble) and framed piece of art to create a little reading nook in the nursery.  

We also brought this extra large canvas which we had painted in our chalkboard finish of buzz to break up this large wall.  Its a super easy, super inexpensive way to add custom art (if you will) to your space. 

We worked with the talented Greg West on the shoot.

It's a constant back and forth... from the room, to the camera, to the computer and back to the room to tweak this or that.  Greg has a great eye and would suggest moving this or that slightly to best fill the frame.  

Here is a wide angle shot from Greg that shows most of the room.  That chevron rug usually lives outside my office, but we thought it worked well in this space.  We've shared more photos of this project on Project Nursery.  Be sure to check it out to see the rest of Greg's shots and this fun nursery! 

catnap / pond / bee / buzz

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Weekend Paint Projects: Painted Lamp Shade

Happy Friday!  It's time for another installment of Weekend Paint Projects! 

 

To refresh your memory: every other Friday we will post a detailed how-to of a project that you could easily accomplish over a weekend.  Some of them will be super simple, some more involved but all of them will be real projects we've done using paint to spruce up the place.  The goal is to inspire you to do the same.  We are firm believers in the power of color and what better way to add it to your life than with easy weekend projects. Every time we post a weekend paint project, there will also be the chance to win a quart of paint for your own weekend project.  How do you win?  It's simple.  Comment here or on our facebook page about a weekend paint project you've been dying to complete and a winner will be chosen at random and announced the following Tuesday.  

Today's weekend paint project is pretty easy and fun to do.  Plus, you'll feel like an artist when it's completed.  I give you: the painted lampshade.

First things first: you need a lamp.

This is what mine looked like when I started.  Plain wood lamp with burlap shade.  You'll notice in the following photos that I painted the base of the lamp.  I'm not going to go into detail on how I did that today, because we have enough to talk about with the shade, but it's a simple formula of sand, prime, paint.  We chose our color wisp.

Step 1: Draw design for shade

I chose this design because I love the look of the profile silhouette.  I've been seeing them everywhere and I thought someday I could do a male version on a different lamp and use them on our nightstands.  Cute, huh?  But today.  It's all about the lady.  First I sketched the drawing in pencil and then I traced over it in sharpie.  You will want your design to be dark so you can see it in the next step.  The options are endless here.  You could do your initials, a quote or anything you dream up, but if you want to use mine you can download it here. 

Step 2: Transfer drawing to lampshade

  

To do this, simply tape your drawing to the inside of the lamp being sure that it is centered and the ink is facing the side you will be painting on.  You should be able to see an outline of your drawing through the shade.  Turn the lamp on to see it more clearly.  Then just trace the drawing onto the lampshade using a pencil. 

Step 3:  Paint!

Simple.  Trace over the lines you've penciled onto the shade.  Then erase any pencil marks still showing. 

Step 4: Marvel

a note:  I used a burlap shade partly because it is what I had and partly because I like the look of burlap shades, but the process is much easier when using a shade made with linen or other smoother fabric.  The burlap made it hard to see my drawing clearly through the other side and also made the painting less precise because of the texture.  I happen to like that look of free-hand, but if you use a linen shade you will not have that problem. 

ps.  we used our color wisp, not only for the base, but for the shade also.  It's the softest purple you will ever meet.  

What do you think?? 

As always, remember that when using our paints you don't need to be concerned with toxins, VOCs, or even odors.  All of our colors are completely organic, non toxic and safe making them the perfect choice for your projects!  Don't forget to comment here or on our facebook page for a chance to win a quart of paint in the color of your choosing! 

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small spaces. big color.

What a week it is turning out to be for us here at QHP.  Lots of things happening - and they are all good!  So because my mood is positively glowing, I thought it would be fitting to share with you today some nurseries that are just as bright and cheerful.  

We love when the spaces you create for your little ones use big color.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a sucker for a soft and serene nursery, too - but I respect the courage it takes to go bold and adore the results.  Check out some of our favorite little rooms that use big color:

Like this amazing space which mixes color, texture, and custom features to create the ultimate bedroom.

Try Bolt, Torn Skirt, and Jump together for a similar look:

    

Or use golden tones with reds and oranges to create a warm, inviting, colorful space. 

Try saddle on the walls and breathe on the ceiling...  then throw in accents in Jump. 

    

What a pretty little room.  So sweet and still full of life. 

Try using Twirl with Street Scene and Whisper for this look:

How fun is this room with its bold walls, bright accents, and creative prints? 

Try Vintage Tux, Truck, and Street Scene:

  

And finally, this moody blue/green is stunning in this modern nursery. 

Try Minnow: 

Happy Painting! 

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Lily Claire's Room: Part I

Good Morning!  Today marks the first of a three part series from Jamie describing her adventure in creating a new room for her daughter Lily Claire.  Enjoy! -Andi

Lily Claire's Room Part I:  The planning process

Let me preface this post by saying: I am not a professional designer. I am not even a designer. But I do love beautiful things; don’t we all?

Since we bought our house in April, I have become more interested in beautifying my surroundings. I think it’s partly because I get to make all the decisions (okay, Josh helps, too). Pinning has become a favorite pastime. After our wedding in May, I turned my Pinterest attention from flowers and favors to making our house a home. There’s so much to do, though, right?

The guy who lived in the house before us, I assume in preparation of potential buyers, painted the entire house a really boring beige-yellow color. This dull color, in addition to the lighting, makes each room seem sallow and washed-out. I was not a fan. Because the majority of our cash on hand went to our down payment, our options to spruce up our humble abode were limited. I decided the majority of the money we DID have should be spent on paint.

You would not believe the difference in our kitchen when we changed the color from that drab yellow to a gorgeous, rich turquoise. The cabinets and counter tops I hated before were transformed! Even though we still have plans to change those in the future, it is now one of my favorite rooms in the house. It’s amazing what a little color can do to go a long way. We also changed the look of our master bedroom with a dark gray color that accentuated the furniture and furnishings we already had.

Then I found Quiet Home Paints. It has changed my life. Not only have Andi and Lisa blessed me with the opportunity to work for them as their marketing intern, they have been my source for infinite color and design ideas for our house. I love that I get to share our journey with you step-by-step… I hope you, too, will find some inspiration and creativity running through your veins after reading our posts, especially this one!




My daughter, Lily Claire, is the absolute love of my life. With her blonde, sunny hair and her infectious smile, she has brought so much joy to everyone she meets! I wanted to create a room for her that reflected her spunky style, while still keeping a foundation of continuity and harmony.

I began my process by looking online to get some ideas. I have always pictured Lily Claire in a pink room, but something didn't feel right this time. It just seemed so… cliché. Not in a bad way. I LOVE pink. But her last room was a light bubble gum pink, and while it was gorgeous… I wanted something different for our new house. Fortunately, Pinterest helped me find my dream bedroom for her. Although I pinned several different rooms and sent them to Lisa for her perusal, I soon found that I continually came back to this one.

(from chiccheapnursery)

I was so surprised that I was so attracted to a room that was… blue. I mean, it’s gorgeous, but definitely a little out of my comfort zone at first.  I don’t consider myself to be a person who thinks my daughter has to love pink and purple and can’t play with trucks or anything, but it still intrigued me that I was so in love with it.

But how was I supposed to turn this dreamy little girl’s room into my daughter’s reality using the room and furniture we have? There are several expensive and custom elements to this room that I knew we could not afford. That’s where Lisa came in… and boy, did she deliver! She started off by asking me how I wanted the room to function.  Here's my list:

• I wanted Lily Claire to be able to rest peacefully at night and for naps.
• I wanted a designated area of the room for her to read books and play with toys and crafts.
• I wanted to open up the closet and allow it to be used not only for clothing and storage, but also to be an additional area for her to access her toys.
• I wanted the room to be able to be easily converted in the event that we (one day) add a new addition to the family, and that addition just so happens to be a boy. 

After consulting with me, Lisa gave me several pointers on how to achieve the look I was going for without breaking the bank.

Her advice:

• Paint Lily Claire’s room with the main color chosen. 
• Remove closet doors and paint the back wall of the closet a corresponding, brighter color.
• Research ideas to replace the closet doors with some sort of curtain (i.e. cheese cloth, strips of ribbons, and/or beads) to show off the newly renovated closet.
• Angle her crib against the back corner of the wall by the window to open the room up a little more.
• Try to find a children’s round table & chairs to encourage her creativity and give her a place to do crafts.
• Start searching for fabrics in different patterns to use for the pillows and the Roman shades (Andi said she had a great tutorial on how to make a simple Roman shade. I’ll let you know how that turns out!)
• Consider doing a 4-5” stripe of color around the window to bring in pink without overwhelming the space with it.
• Be on the lookout for a creamy white shag rug (preferably 5'x7') to give her a soft space to play with toys and give the room a little more texture.

So, I definitely had my work cut out for me. Fortunately, I’m not in any hurry and perfectly fine with the fact her room is a work in progress. Stay tuned for my next post to see everything we’ve done so far. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. I know I was!

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bunking up.

Remember the sleepovers we used to have when we were little?  Slumber parties that involved eating pizza, drinking too much soda and rolling out your sleeping bag next to your best friends only to giggle all night long.  And the older we got, the more giggling happened... along with made up dance routines to NSync and MarioKart marathons.  Oh the good old days.   read more »

gingham.

Whew... the rain and wind last night. If you live anywhere in the Northeast I suspect you experienced some of the same. I don't know about you, but I love waking up to the sound of rain.  There is something so comforting about it.  Except when you start wondering whether you left the windows open, the towels out hanging over the fence to dry, and the bags of weeds you spent all afternoon pulling in the backyard.  If I left the window open is it worth it to get out of bed to close?  Did I leave those towels out there?  Will they blow away? Is that paper leaf bag disintegrating as I lay here and tomorrow I will have to rake up all those leaves?  And yet, I didn't get out of my warm bed to check.  I just stayed put and worried instead.  The human mind, I tell you...  it's an interesting place.   read more »