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Redecorating…like everything…

Guys I’m on some crazy redecorating kick and I just can’t seem to stop. My brain keeps bouncing from one project to the next, which it normally tends to do, except I haven’t finished anything. So now our whole house is sort of torn apart and nothing is done, but that’s ok, or ok-ish…

cuz I have a plan. And as the Mr. has learned there is no stopping a woman with a plan in her head, even if said head is filled with 2,036 ideas all pinging around at once!

Since I don’t have any finished projects to share (although check out my bathroom I posted earlier this week!) I’ll give you a sneak peek at my living room plans.

You already know that I started painting my living room on a whim… and I finally decided on a color. Benjamin Moore Brittany Blue, after painting a million different swatches over my walls I decided to just go one up on the paint chip from the Santorini Blue that I had. Here I’ll show you the difference –

Blue Paint Colors

I love that it has the same tone, but it is so much more neutral and a bit warmer in my house. I can’t wait to show you all, but for now just trust me that it is so much lighter and airier. Which brings me to the next part of my plan – more color!

Somewhere along the way my living room started to take itself too seriously, it became all white and blue and felt a little too stuffy and untouchable. Now that’s not the case, trust me (and my chocolate milk stains), it is lived in, but I wanted to bring it down a notch and make it more casual and fun.

The big thing holding me back in here seems to be the fireplace tile. I know it is only 3 years old, but it just feels too busy all of a sudden. And too modern, and I swear it is looking at me all the time just begging to be swapped out for something more casual and cozy. I know it’s kind of crazy to retile something so new (just ask the Mr., he’ll tell you just how crazy he thinks it is…), but there is not a lot of square footage to be covered here, so it’s going to be pretty inexpensive to switch it out.

Here’s a crappy phone pic of the new stone we are going with.

Stone for a fireplace

I love the more natural stone look and it will be so much more neutral, so I can really have fun switching up my mantel decor. Here is my hilarious attempt at photo shopping a little mock up, clearly it will look much better than this – assuming the tile guy isn’t going to hit copy and paste over and over…and yes we are hiring this one out. I have a done a lot of tiling myself, but never with a ledge stone like this so I’m going to leave this one to the pros.

but you get the idea…

 A fire place sitting in a living room filled with furniture and a fireplace

 You can check out what it looks like now here

More mediocre photo shopping coming your way, but here is the direction I’m going. I’ve been wanting to add more of a navy/brighter blue in my  house ever since I painted the playroom dark navy. Now that my walls are more neutral, the darker blues fit right in, and a few pops of (gasp!) red are making their way in too. I know, my all white everything loving self, is just getting wild and crazy over here with color.

Pillow

SOURCES –

Pillows Pottery Barn

Lantern Pier 1

Planter – IKEA

The tile is supposed to come in next week, so let’s all cross our fingers together and hope I can share this room soon!

Oh and don’t forget to enter my Pottery Barn $300 gift card Giveaway.

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31 Comments

  1. Ugh, wish I saw this before. Just painted one coat of Santorini and it’s too dark. Can I do a coat of Brittney on top for 2nd coat or do I have to start all over with Prime

  2. Love love love your fireplace! We are having our fireplace re-tiled and your fireplace is serving as our ‘inspiration’ picture. Any chance you recall the name of the stone you used or recall where you found it?? I went to a couple of tile stores today looking for something similar but everything I’m finding is either very tan or has really wild color variations. I really want the ‘texture’ to stand out but don’t want it to look too busy – if that makes any sense. Anyway, just thought I would go straight to the source and see if you happen to recall the details? Thanks!!!

    1. I don’t recall the name, I found it a local store sorry! Fireplace tile can be so tricky I searched and searched for this one, maybe bring a photo of mine to a local store and they could help you find something similar? Thanks!

  3. Kelly, did your fireplace stone ever come in? I am in the process of remodeling my fireplace and loved the stone look you are doing. I have a tile also on the floor in front of the fire place and was wondering what do you think of using a solid gray tile in large 12 x 24? I was going to have that installed and then order the stone once I find that to have replaced.
    Thanks Vicki ” Living on Lake is the best !

    1. Hey Vicki! Still patiently (ok not so patiently..) waiting over here! UGH, the new estimate is 2 weeks. I think the large tiles on the floor sound great, or you could even do one large slab of stone? Like slate or marble depending on your budget.

      1. Thanks Kelly for the advise. Over the weekend we had the large gray tile installed and now to pick a stone
        for around the fireplace. I am thinking of doing the marble sub tile. We are on our own to install so keep your fingers crossed. Good luck with yours and I hope it comes in soon. Thanks for all your post I look forward to them daily.

        1. Oh love marble subway tile! It’s going to look amazing, and subway tile is SO easy to install. Shoot me a pic when you are done, I’d love to see!

  4. i love your blog and the new colors you are going with, but..and i think this is my second comment on a blog ever…i adored your fireplace, i can’t imagine changing something so new and pretty…

    1. I know, I know!! I do love that tile, it just started to feel a bit modern with the rest of the house. Hopefully I’ll win you over with the new look :)

  5. Pingback: My Spring Mantel and a Linky Party! - The Lilypad Cottage
  6. I am so excited to see it all! I LOVED the feel of the Pottery Barn pillows when I saw them so I am so excited to see what you do!

  7. Kelly I think your photoshopping is quite good – and you’ll be so excited to have the new tiles there – it will be more neutral which means (as we all know!) more decorating ideas and choices! Is this a good thing – haha! Looking forward to seeing the changes you make :-)

  8. Kelly I can’t wait to see what everything looks like when finished. Love the two pain colors and good luck with the fireplace.

    Cynthia

  9. I love your blog. The fact that you are able to live near your family, by a lake, memories for your children. The paint colors you choose, to me, are the colors of the Sky and the Lake. Looking forward to the changes.

  10. Kelly, I love your new tile choice. It seems a little more natural and organic than your current tile. Just perfect for a house by the lake. Can’t wait to see it completed.

  11. Kelly, Love new stone, you are right I also thought the tile on your fireplace was just to busy. I like the more natural looking stone. Love your blog. Love blues, pale yellows, grays, taupes in living rooms with a splash of red, navy, or orange/ rust colors.

  12. Yes, Yes, Yes! I have been looking for the perfect blue to paint my bedroom and you just did all the ground work for me Kelly. I love the Brittany Blue! Mind you, I also loved your Santorini Blue. Love your blog and how your mind works. I often dream of new ideas for decorating and wake up all excited about the changes. Absolutely drives my Mr. crazy (tee-hee). I’m in the ‘gathering’ stage for my master bedroom redo. I stash everything away (and usually sew like a mad tailor) and then pull it all together the day the paint dries. TA DA!

    1. If you contact their 800 number, they can direct you to a store which has them in stock. I bought two pillow cases this weekend of the Allegra print at the Ann Arbor store which were sold out on-line. Good luck!

  13. Kelly, I think all the changes will be gorgeous! Love the new stone better. Can’t wait to see it completed. Hey! Erin is after me. I asked you first to come to Sunny Florida and redo my family room!!!

  14. I have the same stone as my back splash in my kitchen. It’s beautiful and you will love it!

    1. Me too, so funny how one little choice in your house can change the whole feeling of the room! Can’t wait to have it done.

  15. Kelly I think it will be beautiful! Love your new tile choice! The previous tile is also beautiful but yes – way more modern and not so “lily pad cottage.” I think the new stone will fit perfectly in your home. Can’t wait to see it all! When you’re done can you come and help me decorate my family room! It’s warm and sunny in San Diego right now… (what else can I say to persuade you!?) :)

    1. No persuading needed, I’m there friend!! You may have a hard time getting me to leave :) I can’t wait to see your dining room, I’m loving your choices in there so far, you need no help from me girl!

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