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Sunday, February 15, 2009

Am I Blue? Not Anymore! A Blue Monday Metamorphosis


It's another Metamorphosis Monday, and a Blue Monday as well. I've combined these two into one, with a metamorphosis tale that moves from the blues, to . . . well, seeing red!
Visit Smiling Sally for more Blue Mondays, and
Between Naps On The Porch for more magical Monday Metamorphoses.

Thank you, Sally and Susan, for being such gracious hostesses!

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I love flowers in clay pots.
I love brick walls.
I love bl
ue skies.

But, sadly, I didn't love them painted on these walls. This was our powder roo
m, when we bought That Old House nearly a year ago:

This little half bath is at the end of our "butler's pantry," (the rather grand name we give to the passageway between our kitchen and dining room, which we hope to restore someday). There is a walk-in pantry on the other side of that pocket door.
I felt guilty, wanting to repaint this room,
because clearly a lot of time
and effort went into creating it.
But, I got over it:


Goodbye to the blues!

We painted the powder room to match the dining room, Tucson Red, #1300, from Benjamin Moore, with the beadboard wainscoting and woodwork in Moore's Atrium White for some relief from the intense red in such a small space.

A crystal sconce that matches the dining room fixture replaced an undersized brass-plated one. The vanity and sink are serviceable and in good condition, so while I'm not crazy about them, they will stay for now. We replaced a worn faucet with a simple, classic polished nickel one. I love polished nickel; it has the look of old silver to me. My Dad thinks I am nuts. He is a very practical fellow, and told me, "Nickel tarnishes!"

Yes, Dad... that's the whole point! :-)

There is a window over the sink, so I needed a m
irror on the opposite wall, and was looking for an old fashioned sort like my grandmothers had in their homes. It needed to be fairly large, and (of course) cheap.

I found it at Home Depot, of all places:
It was only about $30. It's beveled, and there is an
etched-glass floral border around it -- just like I remember.

You never know where that just-right article may come from, do you? I'd spent months looking for the right mirror (sometimes finding the right mirrors for other rooms but not this one!) and there it was, waiting for me, just 6 miles away at the big box store!

Still to be done: curtains!
I'm thinking a nice chintz, or maybe a red & white toile; what do you think?

Next post: Color! And my panic at choosing it
and using it, when I had to choose and use a LOT!


57 comments:

  1. Oh, I love the new color!! You did a great job...love that new/old-fashioned mirror too!...Debbie

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  2. Lovely color! Wonderful transformation.

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  3. I am so glad you "got over it." LOL
    I love the color, and my eye could not help but notice the pocket door. I have a thing for pocket doors. :D

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  4. very nice, beautiful transformation and if we get to vote, i say toile, i have none in our home YET but its one of my favorite fabrics
    thanks for sharing
    janet

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  5. Oh, the red is sooooo much better, and your mirror is just the perfect touch. Beautifully done. Hugs, Marty

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  6. Beautifully updated with that gorgeous red. I would consider black and white toile.

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  7. Love the tuscan red next to the white! gorgeous!

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  8. Oh, I'm sure your wall thanks you for the beautiful new color! It's so lovely! I love your mirror too! What a lovly transformation.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  9. I love it! I love how you painted the wainscot white. The red is beautiful!

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  10. Hi Cass, I love the new wall color, very warm. And I love the mirror too. What a deal!...Christine

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  11. WOW I have blue, yellow and pink... you take your blue away!! That's what makes the world go round.
    The mirror is PERFECT. I have a couple old etched ones also. I would go with toile. Very chic.
    Cass your mom and dad's pictures are so beautiful. My mom just turned 90 last week and I thank God everyday that she is still healthy and in her own apt. to this day.
    Yes that is LOVE
    Love Claudie
    xo

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  12. Love the new color! Sophisticated and lovely!

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  13. Very, very spiffy! Love what you did. Ben Moore rocks!

    Happy Blue Monday...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  14. The new wall color is lovely - it makes such a difference. I really like the mirror. Happy Blue Monday.
    Sweetie

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  15. I really enjoyed looking all your photos for Blue Monday. I love the change to red too. I hope you have a great week!

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  16. Cass,
    It is lovely! Everything you have done in this house I have adored. That mirror at Home Depot, well I'm do for a trip. I love the nickle faucet too. Cindy

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  17. Hi Cass, ;)
    Just beautiful!
    I love this transformation.
    The sconces and mirror are perfect in here.
    Wonderful job!

    Thank you for visiting my blog and your kind words. I really appreciate it.

    Happy Monday!
    Blue and Met... ~Melissa :)

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  18. Yes, what a beautiful transformation!
    Thanks for adding what colors your used. I am lookin for a red, I love the one you used.
    Thanks
    *Really Rainey

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  19. Oooo, it's just beautiful I love the colors and as someone else suggested..I think a black and white toile would be beautiful there. Happy Blue Monday and have a lovely week,

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  20. That bath looks fantastic....much improved! Also, we have used Dove White, too, and it's a great color. Linda

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  21. I think you've made a giant improvement. I did not care for the original either. Thanks for sharing. Happy Blue Monday.

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  22. Oh my what a metamorphosis! The new color is nice as well.

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  23. Hi!
    Love your make over! It's beautiful! Great job done! As for curtains, I would put some beautiful white lace up. Have a great day!!

    Sherrie

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  24. I love the color. There's something about a bold color next to white that just makes everything more exciting. I really like the sconce. I am looking for a chandelier like you have in your dining room to put in mine.

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  25. Love that new color! It is beautiful and I love your home. I am off to explore your pages a little more!

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  26. Hi Cass! Love the new bathroom colors and wainscoting and light fixture and mirror. I think you made some great choices. It really is a sophisticated room now!

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  27. Your change is just mahvelous! I just love it all! Aren't Dad's the funniest?

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  28. HAPPY BLUE MONDAY
    WHAT A GORGEOUS METAMORPHOSIS---TALK ABOUT A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY.
    I THINK A RED AND WHIT TOILE WITH RED AND WHITE VERY SMALL GINGHAM RUFFLE SIDES AND BOTTOM WITH RED SHOWER RINGS....IS THAT COLOR MORE A BARN RED???????
    YOU COULD ALMOST MAKE TOWELS WITH A TOILE BAND AND A SMALL GINGHAM CHECK RUFFLE
    BLESSINGS
    debbie

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  29. I will always say that flowers have their place in the home..but I would have to agree...that was not it!! Your room looks great..love the color!

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  30. That is some metamorphosis--I love it! Love that mirror, it's so retro.

    Have a great Monday ☺

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  31. Great transformation!! I love the crystal sconce and the mirror. It brings back memories for me too :-)

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  32. GREAT transformation! The room really warmed up!

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  33. Thanks for stopping by my Summer LR redo and all the gracious comments you always leave. I do so appreciate the visits. Hugs, Marty

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  34. What a nice pantry! Perfect size and it sounds like you have grand plans for it over time. I had to laugh at your red bathroom. I really like it. Years ago I tried to paint my back bathroom red. It has marble countertops and lots of wood trim. Well, I painted it four different shades of red and ultimately wall papered. I just couldn't find the right shade of red. Great job on finding the right one the first try! I looks very nice.- I couldn't help but notice the pretty pocket door too.

    More questions--Did you live in an older home before you moved into your current home? You have great taste and seem to have a gift for knowing what to do with just about every space in your home. I have collected pictures from magazines for years just to inspire my ideas---
    Thanks, Paula

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  35. OOOH, I love that red!!
    I would go with toile curtains, but that's just me. I'm sure you'll pick something fabulous!

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  36. Cass

    Go for the toile, it would make a pop in that space! Lovely, lovely home dear lady!

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  37. You did a great job,it looks fantastic.Probably even the prior owner would have been thinking it was time for a change.Thanks for checking out our kitchen transformation,I enjoyed your reaction.lol
    Cyndi

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  38. I love your transformation! It is so chic! I would vote for the toile curtains but I think I would go with a black and ivory toile! So elegant and French! Good luck!

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  39. Love it but then again I am partial to reds too. I have a red hall bathroom ceiling, red upper wall in our hallway, and now a red vanity in masterbath. It is just fab! Yours looks so great with the beadboard. I love the mirror too! Great job!

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  40. Cass,

    I love the bath. You really did a great job (the brick wall & plants were certainly a work of art but not yours!!) Home Depot has a few surprises. My daughter bought me a pretty beveled glass mirror that hangs from a ribbon. When she told me she bought it at HD I nearly fell over!

    Glad you have knocked one room off your list. I also read previous post about the silver...Good Score!!

    Thanks for visiting me on Blue Monday! :-)

    xoxo
    Jane

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  41. Fabulous job! I really really like it, right up my RED alley!
    Linda Q

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  42. Beautiful color! I love the etched mirror. It's such a wonderful transformation.
    Kelly

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  43. Cass, you just had to taunt me about the First Lady's gowns didn't you? I am just dying to see them. I want to spend days and days in the Smithsonian. I am so envious. If I wasn't a Southern Belle...I would spit! ;-p

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  44. Beautiful transformation!! I love the red with the white wainscoting and the mirror is just gorgeous.
    What a great job!!!

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  45. Great change. I would have felt bad painting over someone's hard work, too.

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  46. I seriously cannot believe you found that mirror in Home Depot! I got a coupon from them this month - if I spend a hundred dollars at Home Depot, I'll get triple Starpoints on my Starwood Amex.

    EPCOT at Walt Disney World - blue, yellow, CANDY!

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  47. nice colour! love the mirror.. beautifully done! Have a great week!

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  48. What a darling powder room. I love that color.
    Hugs;
    Alaura

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  49. I love the tuscan red! The flowers were cute but this is OH, so much better! Love your mirror...that's where the mirrors in my bath came from! :-)
    About those linen napkins, yes, they do have to be ironed. They come out of the dryer a complete mess! LOL But I still love 'em. Doesn't take long to iron them since they are flat and square.
    Thanks for stopping by! Susan
    P.S. Thanks for your Met Monday post. I can't seem to get around to everyone in a timely fashion anymore.

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  50. The blue was quite cute,but I do love your makeover much better.The red is truly awesome.

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  51. What a wonderful transformation.. thanks for letting me know this is "the place" to come lol... I love your header picture..
    hugs ~lynne~

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  52. It's beautiful. That red is the perfect color. Loved the story about the mirror. I did the same thing looking for my shower curtain, and finally found it at Wal-Mart.

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  53. Lovely bathroom makeover. Toile sounds good.
    Charlotte

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  54. Girl I just love your home...I got so excited just seeing the outside picture and now to see this great bathroom...WOW!! a job well done...thnaks so much for sharing..In my next life I want to be an old house..Hugs and smiles gL♥ria

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  55. Blue is my favorite color, but it wasn't doing anyone any good in your powder room. I love the re-do!

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