2014 was a year of change. One that found us downsizing from a large space into two smaller ones. Which, despite a desire to lighten the load, still leaves us with a storage building full of unplaced furniture. We hope to clear it out soon.
One of the small spaces is a brick, mid-century ranch with an open living-dining room concept and separate kitchen. Our initial impulse was to remove walls separating the kitchen but we fought that urge, instead opting to work with the original layout. This allowed us to pay homage to the integrity of the classic design while avoiding hasty remodeling decisions.
To combat tight spaces we painted interior walls white. The next decision involved a colored ceiling to give walls the appearance of floating upward versus stopping definitively and boxing us in. We chose a pale, light, grey giving a crisp, clean finish against the stark white paint. The result is subtle with just enough hint of color to shake things up.
Aside from making our space feel larger, white works well in that art takes center stage. Drama jumps off the walls, particularly since our collection consists of brightly colored pieces -- a blend of folk, classical, and fine art that is a feast for the senses when you enter the room. Books are also a focal point with colorful dust jackets providing an additional element of interest.
Photos illustrate the effect we were after, and, hopefully, the power of white.
Tip: Do you feel trapped by small spaces? Escape with white walls. The mind can be easily tricked with a simple coat of paint.
One of the small spaces is a brick, mid-century ranch with an open living-dining room concept and separate kitchen. Our initial impulse was to remove walls separating the kitchen but we fought that urge, instead opting to work with the original layout. This allowed us to pay homage to the integrity of the classic design while avoiding hasty remodeling decisions.
To combat tight spaces we painted interior walls white. The next decision involved a colored ceiling to give walls the appearance of floating upward versus stopping definitively and boxing us in. We chose a pale, light, grey giving a crisp, clean finish against the stark white paint. The result is subtle with just enough hint of color to shake things up.
Aside from making our space feel larger, white works well in that art takes center stage. Drama jumps off the walls, particularly since our collection consists of brightly colored pieces -- a blend of folk, classical, and fine art that is a feast for the senses when you enter the room. Books are also a focal point with colorful dust jackets providing an additional element of interest.
Photos illustrate the effect we were after, and, hopefully, the power of white.
Tip: Do you feel trapped by small spaces? Escape with white walls. The mind can be easily tricked with a simple coat of paint.
