Before and After Color Palette Journey

Before I start, I just wanted to say what a wonderful time I

had this past week at the Haven Conference.

It was two and a half days days filled with so much wisdom and insight it will take me weeks to assimilate it all and make 
heads or tails of everything that was offered.

Here are the wonderful ladies who spent the last year of their life organizing this event.

Rhoda from Southern Hospitality, who is just as beautiful 

and soft-spoken as she seems on her blog.

And Marion with Miss Mustard Seed, who gave some truly

inspiring insight on turning your log into a business,

as well as, some great paint demos.


ALL of the speakers and presenters were simply awe-inspiring - starting on the first morning with John and Sherry of
Young House Love.

One of my favorite speakers was Rashon Carraway, 
also known as

Mr. Goodwill Hunting.

I will post a few other pics this coming week, and I am sure
 you will see any number of posts about this event.
(*disclosure - if you see several pics of me imbibing in red wine
in more than one of these pics, let me just say I have
a weakness.)  :)


I met some of my fave bloggers such as Rhoda, and 
Kim at Savvy Southern Style, 
Julia with Hooked on Houses and Kari at Thistlewood Farms.
But, most of all I got to meet 
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.


Yay me!

 I met so many other outstanding ladies whose blogs

 I love and follow, that I can't even fathom that I 

would ever get this opportunity.

Ok, but enough about Haven, right?  :)

I did walk away with something that I feel meant a great

 deal to me.  It was a personal revelation.

It was the reassurance about something that has been

concerning me for a few months now.

That is - my extreme change in the color palette of my home.

In fact, it came to me almost as an epiphany.

(yep, that's a big word for a big realization)

I have been secretly struggling with the decision to
 "de-red-ify" my home.

After years and years of having various hues of reds throughout my home, I began a design journey of

transitioning over to cooler and more 
soothing tones of Blues. 

And White.  

Because its almost illegal to not have White when one has Blue. In fact, I'm pretty sure they have laws against this in some states.  :)

So room by room, I garnered the courage to take away my treasured red accessories, paint over the red walls and basically - create a whole new design palette.

Would I regret it?  

Would I realize what I had done too late, and fall into a helpless, blithering heap on the floor wailing "What have I done?  What have I done?"

In some ways, I felt that I was having an affair with 

Summer Cottage Blue, and being cruelly unfaithful to Currant Red and Butternut Squash.  

In some ways, I felt like the fallen woman.  :)

But, it didn't take me long to realize that as I aged and my tastes changed, it was ok for my design preferences to change, as well.  

It wasn't that I was casting aside much-beloved 

colors who had seen me through years of style, but

 I was letting go of old friends and rejoicing in the 

fact that my new Blue and White friends were allowing

 me a new release on my design life. 

I secretly think red and yellow were ready to go.  I saw the signs.  Like little paint cans packed and ready by the door.

* I have since heard that they have found beautiful homes elsewhere and are happily ensconced with their new owners.  

But, for now - I am getting to know Blue and White.  I am figuring out their likes and dislikes. 

I am adding playmates such as elements of linen...

...and paisley.

A few wood pieces have been exchanged for some

beautifully painted ones...

-  along with sea grass and shells. 

So, while I appreciate where my style design has 

been - I look forward to where this new journey 

will take me and our home.  

And I realize - evolution takes place in every aspect of life.  From your hairstyle to your wardrobe to your design sense. 

Look at the changes that this small kitchen niche has experienced through the past few years.

(okay, okay - the niche didn't exactly have a choice since I kept painting my cabinets, too)

Here is how it all began about 8 years ago...

When we bought this home, it had solid wood 
cabinetry which the "DIY" Homeowner had
 "crackled" with this horrid application gone wrong.
Cabinetry Murder 101.


*( for the record, when attempting to make decisions about cabinetry color, do as I say and not as I do.
DO NOT apply color directly to cabs as your painter will
NOT be amused.)  :)

This is the beautiful green color they were painted.

The center cabinet doors were removed to create
a niche were I could display my lovelies.


Then I got a strong hankering for RED.


(hankering: noun - Southern slang,
a very strong desire for something that eats at your soul
until you get what you want.)

So I painted my cabs red, and thus also changed
 my niche - again.


(poor niche, it will need Niche Therapy to deal with all of its personality changes)


But, everything seems to have come full circle again and I am back to white cabinets.
(albeit not horribly done crackle finish)

Thus, a new look for my niche was born, as well.

Glass Canisters, a White Platter, my favorite White Rooster,
Blue and White Hydrangeas...
and a French wire basket.

Simple. Understated. Fresh.


Blue and White.

I think I will go write Red and Yellow a quick thank you note
for all their years of service and happiness they provided.

Appreciating the Details of Life…..xxoo, Barb










I am joining:
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for
Met Monday
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for
Masterpiece Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for
Tablescape Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
and
my new Haven friend, Kim
at Savvy Southern Style for
Wow Us Wednesday.