Ok ladies and gents, I needs me an opinon.

My living room is currently white. I don't want it to be white anymore yet I do not want a bold saturated color as I have artwork and furniture that covers that area.

I was considering an off white or a very very light mint/sage. The living room has North, East and West windows so it gets quite alot of light and is open to another room and the kitchen/dining /foyer.

I was also thinking of taking 3 or 4 slightly different shades of the same light color and painting vertical bands of varying thicknesses with no particular pattern around the living room.

Thoughts?

Julian - interesting concept, these bands... I can't say that I know for sure how it would work out, since we don't have visuals, but you might also consider having stripes of either the same color with different sheens. This works best with very smooth finishes on walls.

The only concern I might have about the bands is that they might distract from the art as much as a bold color. Sometimes a bold color can actually work with art, but not usually with that much light bouncing all around everywhere.

In our somewhat sunny bungalow, we used a barely purple gray - I think it's called "popular gray" from Sherwin Williams that works well with our boldly colored art.

Question for the crowd - my mom, sister, and I are day-tripping to the Bolingbrook IKEA tomorrow (from Indianapolis), and I'd love recommendations for descent food in the area... Help?

Did you see these

oh, heck, click my name.

Yeah I remember those- I believe I made a comment about them...

My landlord encourages (that's right ENCOURAGES) me to decorate and paint (and reimburses me for the paint!) as she thinks my taste and style is quite nice- if and when I leave (not until I buy a place) she plans on keeping the mods I've made... So... painting is not a bad thing.

I think I may just go ahead and do it. I'm thinking a very washed out sage in two shades and flat and eggshell/satin finish...

I will carry the stripes into the hallway for visual continuity and to unify the otherwise seperate spaces... I'll post photos eventually...

Julian:
It sounds so interesting (especially the mix of the two paint finishes). We'd love to post the before and after photos - please send them to us at chicago(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com when the time comes!

Does anyone have any sources in Chicago who make custom acrylic furniture?

Does anyone here have any experience renovating a 2 flat into a single family home? I would love to hear about experiences, warnings, costs, etc.

Thanks

Only when I was kicked out of the 2nd flat.

RD-

My folks bought a 2-flat on Orchard (3117 N.) in '86 and my father embarked on transforming it into a single family home-while we lived in it. He did everything save the electric, plumbing and gas and it took from day 1 to the end about 6 years. Keep in mind this was while he worked and delat with two kids.

From what I remember about it I can say this much: the most important thing at which to look is the foundation and integrity of the brick and roof... You will most likely gut the house keeping only the floors, but you neeed to ensure that you have something good to work with otherwise you'll be up the river...

It ended up costing about 120k for the full gut (to the brick) and rehab. Keep in mind this was 1980's money so factor in inflation and whoa!

Call This Old House and pitch it to them... I don't think they've done a Chicago show in ages..if ever...

Does anyone know where I can find good looking wall stencils?

Julian, have you considered a pale, pale yellow? We have our living in room in a very pale yellow, and it gives it just enough color but it is still not overpowering.

This is what it looked like when we moved in:
http://tinyurl.com/hxxts

And this is what it looks like now:
http://tinyurl.com/eq2n9

http://tinyurl.com/je8r6

We painted the foyer a sage and then made the wall going to the second floor the same yellow to tie the two rooms together:
http://tinyurl.com/hfwfr

Hey! I'm a goober for not making those active links. Woo.

Alex-

Can I come and move in to your place!

I love the colors you chose-I definetly have some thinking to do. I guess the color for which I'm looking lies somewhere between very light, pale yellow and a very washed out sage while still being "creamy" and warm... Off to Sappano's this weekend!

On another note- I read in your blog about your distaste for the gmail spam recepies... If you are using Firefox you can download the CustomizeGoogle extension that allows you to remove ALL the text ads from your searches and gmail!!! It will kill the spam stuff too!!!

Oh, and for goobers- I once built a website for a client and forgot to activate the domain name. Yikes!

Sarah-

Again, Sappano's has some nice ones. The below sites look good as well.

http://www.dresslerstencils.com/ShowView/category/s/2
http://stencilease.com/default.htm

Well, remember that all good space is enhanced by not only artwork, but also coffeetable books! And I recently returned from New York and found one I must share-

It's not one of OPRAH's books (yet?) but I guess if it were, it wouldn't be "coffeetable."

boy with an 'i' - by David Montalvo
(barnes and noble link)
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=1425917933&itm=1

I think it's geared more towards MY Generation (late 20's, 30's). Sorry over-30's, unless you have a late-midlife crisis going on.

j/k

Julian:

Here's a link showing shadow striping done with ONE color of paint, and a clear coat:
http://tinyurl.com/omu6w

You can SEE how it looks like there are two different colors, but it IS all the same color, with clear stripes!

Over at BHG, browse the "Decorating in..." slideshows for some good ideas in Color:
http://tinyurl.com/pgv2w

Of course they won't have EVERY shade of yellow or green. But there are just enough shades to give you a sense of how that group of paint swatches you already have might look in the room you have.

Remember to look fully at each room, like let's say picture 4 of the green group. Yeah, it's toile and french provincial, but you could use some of the pillows, like these:
http://www.pillowsandthrows.com/tpb7l.html
Different style of furniture, and voila! Vibrant contemporary room.

Some people do look over a room fully, like I do, and others just glance at it and say "that's not my style" and don't even think about what the room color would look like IN their style.

Alex,
I love your choice of colors of paint, and how well they work with your art, furniture, and light. Also, the texture of the paint seems uncommonly smooth! What brand of paint did you use, and which colors?