Moody Blue Powder Room Reveal

Hello!

I hope you all had a great weekend and put that extra hour from daylight savings to good use.  I don’t like the early darkness at all, but the extra hour of sleep was lovely.  Still thinking about all of you on the east coast who are affected by Hurricane Sandy, especially now that it’s going to get darker even earlier.  Hoping and praying for electricity first, with recovery to follow quickly.

But, I’m happy to report that the powder room I gave you a sneak preview of last week is DONE!  The delay is due to my late-in-the-game decision to add crown molding, after I had already painted the bathroom.  Note:  Do the crown molding BEFORE painting and save yourself some headaches.

Without further delay, let’s get on with the pictures!

The color I chose is “Gentleman’s Gray” by Benjamin Moore.  I absolutely love it.  I had originally wanted “Hague Blue” by Farrow & Ball, but 1) it’s not available around here and 2) it’s about $120 a gallon.  This was a very close second, and fell in love with it the moment I opened the can of paint.  It’s really that pretty.

I decided to add a gallery wall in here because we had a lot of artwork around the house that hadn’t been hung on the walls.  It’s funny, this house is larger than our old house, but the wall space is a lot different since it’s very open.  So, I went around the house and picked up some pieces that were already hung and others that weren’t, and hatched a plan by laying it all out on the floor first.  After many rearrangements and adjustments, I ended up with this.

It worked out well, because I had a great blueprint to reference as I was putting everything up on the walls.

TIP:  Here is my high tech tool that really makes quick work of a gallery wall.

Yes, it’s a stick with a screw in it.  Here’s the trick – when you’re hanging a picture, and you’re not sure where exactly you want it, you use this as your guide.  Pretend you’re hanging your picture on the wall, but hang it on the screw instead. 

Then position the picture where you want it, and press on the picture so that the screw makes an indentation in the wall.  Then, nail your picture hook on the wall and hang your picture!

I had a couple of gaps, so I picked up the wooden key and the mirror at TJ Maxx.  I love how they add another layer of interest and dimension to the wall, and I love that they were cheap – $10 each! 

Plus, the key picks up on the geometric pattern in the rug – totally accidental, but it looks like it was by design, doesn’t it?

I admit it, I’m a cheater on the crown molding – I used the corner pieces to avoid having to do mitre cuts.  I tried, I really did, but I am still not getting it.  I think I need an intervention – the only way I’m going to learn is to have someone show me, in person, how to do it.  My husband just got a double-bevel compound mitre saw, and is convinced this is the key in doing crown molding.  Maybe it has magic powers or something.  But, even with the cheater corners, it still looks nice.

Here’s a shot of the sink and mirror – sorry for the glare – hard to shoot a good photo at this angle. 

I would love to get a gold mirror in here.  I saw this one on One Kings Lane last week:

Can you see it?  Totally would work in there.

The other thing I like about the new color, is that it’s a better contrast with the Palladian Blue (Benjamin Moore) that I have in the hallway.  Before, the colors were too similar to one another, and didn’t gel the way I thought they would.

So yes, I did redo this space 18 months ago, but that’s what this blog is all about, right?  Here’s how it’s grown in the two short years that we’ve lived here.

Shortly after we moved in:

Robin’s Egg blue with a pretty stencil:

Gentleman’s Gray with a bold gallery wall:

The hardwood flooring installation starts today, and if you follow me on Facebook (yes my blog has finally gone social), you saw that my house is a total chaos zone right now.  I’m really looking forward to getting things back in order. And since we’re gluttons for punishment, we started the fireplace makeover as well. I’m nervously optimistic – it’s just something totally different for us, and the biggest issue is that we want to preserve the tile work in case we decide to go back to the old look at some point. So, that makes it a wee bit tricky. 

Lots on the docket this week folks!  And, the best thing about today is that it’s my 18th wedding anniversary!  🙂

Linking up to:
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia – Tuesday Treasures
Savvy Southern Style – Wow Us Wednesdays
Home Stories A to Z – Tips and Tutorials
DIY by Design – Fall into Fall Party
The Shabby Nest – Frugal Friday
Atkinson Drive – Do Your Thing Tuesday

TDC Before and After

42 Comments

  • Reply
    Andrea
    November 5, 2012 at 2:14 pm

    love the new look. The wall colour is gorgeous, and the gallery wall is perfect. Great job!

  • Reply
    Maury @ Life on Mars
    November 5, 2012 at 2:27 pm

    Amazing! That rug absolutely pops with the wall color and the gold of the frames and I love the pictures you've picked out. This powder room is awesome!

  • Reply
    Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
    November 5, 2012 at 3:09 pm

    LOOOVE it! the color is amazing with the collection of frames!

  • Reply
    Lisa @ Shine Your Light
    November 5, 2012 at 3:25 pm

    Awww happy anniversary! Hope you are doing something special to celebrate. Making sneaking in a Monday glass of wine together or something!

    The bathroom looks beautiful in the blue! I love the depth of that color! I haven't picked up a sample pint of it yet but am planning on doing so this week. Thanks for inspiring yet again!

    And the gallery wall looks amazing! Totally digging how it extends the full length of the wall.
    One more thing: the compound miter saw doesn't solve the crown molding mitering issue. Apparently it's a complete miracle if the corners ever come out perfectly, according to my brother who is a carpenter. That's what caulking is for 🙂 Your corner pieces look great and the crown molding adds so much to the space I think!

  • Reply
    Lisa @ Shine Your Light
    November 5, 2012 at 3:25 pm

    making=maybe 🙂

  • Reply
    Wendy
    November 5, 2012 at 6:38 pm

    Gorgeous! I love the contrast between a dark wall & gold frames!

  • Reply
    Calypso In The Country
    November 5, 2012 at 8:05 pm

    I love that gallery wall and the color is just so beautiful! That look is my favorite of the 3 your have done in there so far…definitely leave that one for a while! Happy Anniversary!
    -Shelley

  • Reply
    Sheila
    November 5, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    Love it. It's gorgeous and there are some very pretty things to look at when you are in dispose. If you want a gold mirror you might consider spray painting the one you already have unless of course it is a very expensive piece. Just a thought.

  • Reply
    Sara
    November 6, 2012 at 11:06 am

    I love this bathroom! I like the color and I like the gallery wall. I have been thinking it was time for a bathroom makeover, and this one has me anxious to get it done!

  • Reply
    Denise Sabia
    November 6, 2012 at 12:57 pm

    amazing! i love it.
    denise

  • Reply
    Brandi
    November 6, 2012 at 2:36 pm

    Wow, Jenny! Your bathroom looks great. The best I've seen in a long time. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leading me to yours. I love your style. You have a beautiful home!

  • Reply
    Carmel @ Our Fifth House
    November 6, 2012 at 3:29 pm

    It looks amazing! That color is just beautiful!

  • Reply
    To The Moon and Back
    November 6, 2012 at 9:06 pm

    Wow Jenny! This looks amazing! Love how it all turned out. Great use of the space and all the artwork you had. Love love love it!

  • Reply
    Janette - The2Seasons
    November 7, 2012 at 1:07 am

    That's a great look. I love the dark walls and the gallery wall in that space.

  • Reply
    Kelly @ thelilypadcottage
    November 7, 2012 at 1:20 am

    This is so gorgeous! Such a bold statement, I love it.

  • Reply
    Cindy Ritchie
    November 7, 2012 at 1:24 am

    I love the new look! That color is so timeless and your gallery wall is fantastic. Great tips for hanging also.

  • Reply
    Angela @ Number Fifty-Three
    November 7, 2012 at 2:41 am

    Gorgeous! I love the wall color, the gallery wall and the gold frames. It all came together perfectly!

    Angela

  • Reply
    Jemsmom
    November 7, 2012 at 2:59 am

    I am so in love with your bathroom!!! I had a mini gallery in my old bathroom but I love the scale of this and on that color is stunning!!! Would you share where you got that awesome rug?? Thanks for sharing such wonderful pictures of your home! The hanging screw thing… Brilliant!!!!!

  • Reply
    Melissa @ The Inspired Room
    November 7, 2012 at 3:46 am

    I love it!! Gorgeous gorgeous.

  • Reply
    ℳartina @ Northern Nesting
    November 7, 2012 at 3:47 am

    LOVE LOVE the new look! Your gallery wall looks fabulous!

  • Reply
    Gillian Layne
    November 7, 2012 at 9:10 am

    Love it to pieces!!! Great job. 🙂

  • Reply
    LL from KS
    November 7, 2012 at 1:00 pm

    I absolutely love the new look! It is so much more interesting looking! Looks like its from a page out of a Nell Hills book! Great job! I love the dimension the new pieces added, and don't you love when happy accidents happen ( the key matching the rug pattern)? That's when you know you are going in the right direction!

  • Reply
    Dayle @ A Collection of This and That
    November 7, 2012 at 4:28 pm

    I like the idea of a gallery in the bathroom.

  • Reply
    Judy
    November 7, 2012 at 10:17 pm

    The new wall color is stunning. I remember the robin's egg blue reveal – I'm partial to that one only because it's my favorite color. Love your gallery wall. You've really taken that room to a whole new level. I would love for you to link this up to my Fall into Fall party going on right now. Hope to see you there.

  • Reply
    Megan W.
    November 8, 2012 at 1:07 pm

    Bravo, for going with a "wow" statement in a small space. Afterall, people spend a considerable amount of time in that space right?
    But please share where you picked up that Pop O' Color rug, because who ever is selling that must have more fun items. THanks.

  • Reply
    Kim @ Savvy Southern Style
    November 8, 2012 at 1:47 pm

    Jenny, this is absolutely stunning. It looks like it is straight out of a magazine. Love the wall color and with the gold frames it is pure perfection. How exciting to get new flooring.

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    November 9, 2012 at 6:59 pm

    That "how to figure out where the nail hold should go" idea is pure brilliance. Totally copying it.

    -Cindy

  • Reply
    sandi
    November 9, 2012 at 7:11 pm

    i love dark colors in small places! that room is amazingly put together. love the pictures, key, rug… everything about it. great job.

  • Reply
    Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
    November 10, 2012 at 9:53 pm

    Oh my this is just gorgeous, love the color and that WALL!!!
    XO
    Kristin

  • Reply
    VictoriaVM @ Frankfully
    November 11, 2012 at 4:25 am

    I love the wall color and the gallery wall! Especially since that's what you see when you look in the door! Much better than the regular bathroom stuff! So gorgeous!

  • Reply
    pam {simple details}
    November 13, 2012 at 4:53 am

    Such a FABULOUS job, Jenny! The moody paint couldn't be more perfect with all the gold frames, and the floor to ceiling gallery wall is really stunning!

  • Reply
    Athena at Minerva's Garden
    November 13, 2012 at 5:04 am

    Wow, Jenny–I am drooling over these pictures of your bathroom redo, and getting ideas for our little teeny bathrooms! I love what you did!

  • Reply
    Sam M. | Atkinson Drive
    November 13, 2012 at 2:40 pm

    GORGEOUS room! I'd love for you to join my "Do Your Thing" link party!
    http://www.atkinsondrive.com/do-your-thing-link-party-week-2/

  • Reply
    corinna ashley
    November 13, 2012 at 8:56 pm

    Don't get me wrong- GORGEOUS powder room… But, I am completely dumbfounded by your hanger contraption. I had a "shoulda had a v-8" moment and slapped my forehead. You're a genious!

  • Reply
    Eclectically Vintage
    November 14, 2012 at 1:06 am

    I'm in love — the color, the paintings, the whole shebang! I had floor to ceiling paintings in my little powder room but just moved them into another room. Now my poor naked little bathroom needs a major makeover! Thinking about going bold myself!
    Kelly

  • Reply
    Suzy
    November 14, 2012 at 1:10 am

    Your powder room makeover is gorgeous! Love the gallery wall. In fact I love it all! Can you tell me where you found your hand towel?

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    November 14, 2012 at 2:07 am

    Lovely. Simply. Lovely. I just finished my laundry room and am most unhappy with the color I selected. I might go Gentlemen Gray! Thank you for the hanging tip! Love that tip. This bath is by far the best. That would be a keeper.

  • Reply
    Babs
    November 14, 2012 at 2:15 am

    LOVE your powder room makeover…the Gentleman's Gray color is perfect with the gallery wall. Cute rug, too!

  • Reply
    Penny @ The Comforts of Home/From Harvest To Table
    November 14, 2012 at 2:07 pm

    I am visiting from Kim's Savvy Southern Style. I LOVE your powder room. The gallery wall and paint color are fabulous!
    Penny

  • Reply
    Sam M. | Atkinson Drive
    November 20, 2012 at 1:54 pm

    You were featured at the Do Your Thing link party this week! Come grab a button: http://www.atkinsondrive.com/do-your-thing-link-party-week-3/

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