Sunday, July 09, 2006

My Red Wall


I was inspired by Susannah, who was inspired by Laini, to share my red wall. I grew up in a "white wall" family and have mainly "white wall" friends. My lil sis Boho,aka Denise, was the first person to introduce me to "pow" decorating with color. Years ago, we decorated her tiny Texas appartment with her, then favorite color, chartreuse green. We painted end tables, a coat rack and window sills, in 105 degree weather and purchased various chartreuse throw pillows and other items to accent the room. Oh, and lets not forget the stenciling we did here and there with a few random shell shapes. (chartreuse shells?) Anyway, we draped sheer muslin around the windows, tied with rope, and Deni then added her remaining "beachy" treasures to complete the ambiance of her small abode. It all looked fabulous and was one of those "forever" bonding moments for the two of us. We were over-heated and exhausted when we were done, but the pride we felt outranked any physical discomforts. I remember leaving her appartment, as an excuse to return, just so we could open the door and both say, "Oooooo!" Evidently, many of her appartment neighbors were green with envy. (sorry for the corn :)
Flying back home on the plane, I could not erase my plastered smile because we had such enormous fun. However, upon returning to my "white wall" home, while unpacking my chartreuse covered clothes, I thought, "My god! What an obnoxious color!" At that moment, tired from the trip, I had forgot about the giggly green fun, the inspiration and the charming impact of her little haven.
So, now years later, after getting insanly bored of living in a "white wall" house, I decided to go to the extreme and paint a wall red. I was tempted with serene green, mellow yellow and barely blue, but "red" was calling my name. So, against my hubs well expressed opinion, I took the plunge and got the red. Not just any ol' red, a black red, deep and unexcusable. My brush stroked over the wall once. I looked around to see if anyone was watching, even though I was the only one home, and out loud said, "This is going to look like a bloody murder!" I took a deep breath and added more paint, against my shrieking brain, and the color began to speak to me. I started falling in love with it and even relished it's second coat knowing it was only going to look even better.
Now I enthusiastically tell everyone, "You have to come over and see my red wall!" as if it's an exotic expensive treasure that I have purchased, and I've decided....that it is.

14 Comments:

Blogger boho girl said...

it IS a treasure!!!

and i have snuggledupagainst you on that couch with tea and giggles.

reminiscing about our decorating together in Texas made me feel all warm and gushy inside. so what i needed today. it is seriously one of my most treasured memories, Dar. perhaps that is why i want to relive it with you when we do my future nursery. you were a chartreuse angel to me at that time in my life and my apartment was fricken awesome!!!!

i love you so much. i feel like the luckiest sister in the world.

and what is it about the color red on walls today? Carsten is downstairs painting half of our kitchen burnt orange/red!!!

ps. i got those firefly lights at IKEA and yes...was totally thinking about adding them to our decor project! like-minded seestors.

5:34 PM  
Blogger boho girl said...

oh and speaking of red...i bought some rhubarb today at Wholefoods and thought of you.

remember when you used to eat them all the time?

i got a hankering today. hmmmm...

5:41 PM  
Blogger turquoise cro said...

Phew! I LOVE a red wall sweets! Guess what color my living room walls are??? he he and I have a blue color on my hardwood floor!It doesn't sound good but I love it! I haven't painted anything now for a good 2 years! I bought a turquoisey color for our bedroom but never did paint! You two girlys sure do have FUN! love and prayers, xo

6:40 PM  
Blogger Darlene said...

Den~ I sooo remember craving rhubarb...dipped in salt mind you!

that was 25 years ago...dang, time flies.

and Texas will always be a special time all it's own...that trip produced other stories too....all for another day.

and I'M the luckiest sister infinity :)

6:46 PM  
Blogger Teresa said...

I love your red wall. Good for you for being so daring and going against the grain. I live around a bunch of white wall people too, you should have heard the gasps when i painted my wall chocolate. Scandalous!

9:43 PM  
Blogger Sarah .B. Scott said...

It's a beautiful shade of red! At our first house I went crazy and painted the family room with 1 red wall, 1 purple wall, one bright blue wall, and 1 bright green wall. I think it was a bit overwhelming to visitors! LOL Our current home has mostly shades of yellow. I plan to have not white walls. Our bedroom is purple, but not bright purple like the first house.

Anyway, love the color you chose! I have sheets that color!

11:32 PM  
Blogger Susannah Conway said...

i'm sitting here looking at my red wall and pretending it is yours - i LOVE that you had already done 'the change' to colour - see? we really are sisters :-) can't wait to come and sit in that cosy couch for real and snuggle up against beautful you
xx

5:09 AM  
Blogger Drea said...

You and your sister are so artistic! I love it.
Wish I had a sister lol.

Love the colors in that room.

1:43 PM  
Blogger liz elayne lamoreux said...

i love this story! and how you describe the wall you now have. it is gorgeous! color on walls can change everything can't it?

3:50 PM  
Blogger ::Bek Geach:: said...

Dar.. that is a gorgeous red wall. I have a similar sisterly bonding experience to do with paint and a small apartment. And it too was a great bonding experience for us also.

I had all these great colours in mind... and I intended on using them ALL... so we did!!

My place looked like a fruit bowl. And I LOVED it.

ONE of the walls was the same kinda "Buddhist Red" that you have on yours... only my couch was not near as inviting.

Gorgeous space, for a gorgeous lady.
Bx

4:19 PM  
Blogger boho girl said...

inviting is a good word for that couch.

we're both so small that we literally shrink down into it and her husband has to call our names to find us.

kidding...well...sort of.

4:28 PM  
Blogger Laini Taylor said...

Love love love it! I'm all in favor of red walls -- and all other colors, indoors and out. Imagine if our neighborhoods could look like that island in the Venetian lagoon - Burano - where all the houses are blue and pink and gold and purple and orange and everything but white! Yay for red walls!

4:41 PM  
Blogger Colorsonmymind said...

What delicious memories...the heat and the green and I loved most of all how you left only so you could return and say "ooooo". I could see your two beautiful faces when i read it:)

I grew up in a white wall home too...love the red wall...wish I could come over to see it

Hugs

6:01 PM  
Blogger Letha Sandison said...

Hi Darlene! Denise just emailed me your blog link, welcome!! I met you at her bridal shower but I am sure that time is a crazy, happy blur.

I love the wall!!! I love that you did it in spite of the fear of the color and your hubbs comments! Good for you!! I painted my living room bright blue and my kitchen bright green and am loving living in color. You and Susannah are making me want to find a place for red :)

XO-Letha

8:04 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home