The wainscoting is up! ORC Week 3

DIY wainscoting, color dilemmas, and when your family doesn’t share your design vision.

Week 3 of the One Room Challenge is up, and I was able to almost check off a huge milestone, something I’ve been wanted to do in this living room since we moved in 3 years ago- the wainscoting.    

(Psstttt… here’s the entire step-by-step DIY for this project!)

Want to see? 

You can get a peek at the pink ceiling!

I’ve always had trouble trying to figure out what to do with the fireplace wall.  It’s visible from the kitchen and library, and so I wanted it to be sort of striking.  I think carrying the wainscoting up the entire height of the ceiling does the trick!

I just brought the wainscoting up halfway on the rest of the walls. 

Okay, now the color issues.  So my thought was to either paint the wainscoting white, then do some shade of blue on the walls above. But the more I look at it, I’m thinking that a dramatic blue on the wainscoting, with white above, would look amazing!

Obviously, this just has one coat (that I slapped on with a brush).  But you can get an idea anyway.  

Notice that blue looking paint above the wainscoting that I’m testing?  It’s actually a white that has super blue undertones.  

Regardless of whether I choose navy or white for the wainscoting, the fireplace wall wainscoting will be white. I know myself well enough to know that I won’t be happy in a dark room- see the library wall color as a prime example!

What do you think?  Michael isn’t sure about it.  The first thing he said was, “it looks like a barn”.

I don’t think that fits into the “traditional living room” design I’ve been going for. 

BUT…I am trusting my gut on this one.  I think once the artwork is hung and accessories are in, it will be fabulous. 

Still on the agenda:

• Paint room
• Change curtains
• Change rug
• Build shelves/bench
• Add new pillows

Be sure to check out the rest of the beautiful spaces in the One Room Challenge!  You’re sure to get tons of inspiration!