Pink Chalk Studio » Blog Archive

Eggshell

Sep 3rd, 2007 by Kathy

So glad I went with the Eggshell finish over Pearl. I like the flat look. Anything shinier would have been bouncing off the walls in such a small space.

We’ve been in our house for 3 years. My powder room has looked exactly like this for all 3 of them. It started with a need to replace the potty, from there I decided it was high time to paint the walls and replace the fixtures. No where to go but up.

Just like my knitting, I like to see how it all looks finished before I start. Pottery Barn’s partnership with Benjamin Moore was made for people like me. There’s a new palette every season. The colors aren’t new, they just go through the 1,000’s already in existence and put together combinations that say ‘idyllic suburban farmhouse’. I decided to be very last year and go with Shenandoah Taupe AC-36. They also carry a good number of sample jars of the current season’s palette at the paint store. I’m in love with Sweet Pear 389 but can’t decide where to put it.

Let me tell you, this is the darkest hue I’ve ever painted a room. Now that it’s cured, new stainless bath lighting and hardware installed, and some favorite smaller framed prints hung, we love it. It was touch and go for awhile!

I’m still mulling over a color to paint the mirror. Too much white on that wall. If you have an opinion be sure to leave me a comment. I love the light fixture. Next on the schedule is a new vanity. I want one of those furniture looking cabinet all-in-ones with granite on top. If I could just make up my mind.

Posted in Musings, Craftiness | 38 Comments

38 Responses to “Eggshell”

on 03 Sep 2007 at 10:18 pm1Pam

I love it! Is it a full bath or a powder room? I’ll be interested in how the eggshell stands up to steamy bathroom use.

And on the mirrow, I still like it white, I’m predictable that way, but black might be dramatic!

Love the wood flooring! Its all so clean and pretty!
on 03 Sep 2007 at 11:09 pm2Anuja

I ve been reading your blog for a while now! Love your crafts…
The room looks lovely! How about dark brown for the mirror?
on 03 Sep 2007 at 11:45 pm3Megan

Oh, love that colour. Really love it. My own opinion is that the mirror is just right in white, but I am sure whatever you decide to paint it will change my mind and show me the error of my ways.
on 03 Sep 2007 at 11:57 pm4French Knots

The taupe looks lovely, very elegant. I am a big colour fan and have some bold colours in my home too. I like the white of the mirror against the wall.
on 04 Sep 2007 at 12:25 am5Stephanie

I’m not sure I’m seeing the color correctly on this ‘puter, but how about a deep plum for the mirror? or burgundy or wine or whichever of those deep reds goes with the wall? I think the white looks fine, but a little spark of one of the reds will give it a bit of drama.
on 04 Sep 2007 at 1:37 am6Kristin L

White looks good, but expected. My first thought was cobalt blue (I love blue), but later I decided that tangerine would really be much better
on 04 Sep 2007 at 2:28 am7katrin

i’m voting for a dark, deep and rich red. very dark, but not really with that blueish tone a burgundy would have.
the wallcolor is very nice, and i think this calls for a contrast…
(or maybe i just like red because our guest-wc is red? *g*)
on 04 Sep 2007 at 5:59 am8Adrienne

IT looks very good…can’t see what color you choose!
on 04 Sep 2007 at 6:02 am9Ashley

Hey, maybe Sweet Pear’s perfect use is that mirror!

(Although I love the crisp white against the taupe. Maybe I’ve been reading too many pottery barn catalogs )
on 04 Sep 2007 at 6:18 am10Charlene

Looks great! I would leave the mirror white until you replaced the vanity. If you want to add color, hang a colorful art piece or bright towels or vases on the shelf in the bottom of the cabinet above the toilet. Just my 2 cents.
on 04 Sep 2007 at 6:21 am11laurie

Oh, I love it!!
on 04 Sep 2007 at 6:26 am12ummhana

I love the color. I took a look at the before and I now see that the room is a half bath and I am amazed at the transformation. The white made it look really small and stark…the color you chose makes it look warm and inviting. I am about to undertake painting in the house when my little one goes for a week at moms. I am really nervous about the whole thing. We have a very small home around 1200 square feet so I have really been struggling with the paint issue. You have given me a bit of inspiration.
on 04 Sep 2007 at 6:41 am13Katie

Wow. It looks really nice! I’d stay with the white mirror but right now I’m on a crisp white trim kick. So maybe I’m the wrong person to ask.
on 04 Sep 2007 at 6:45 am14Miss Sassy

Wow - your bathroom looks so nice and the color is very pretty. I kind of like the white on the trim of the mirror.
on 04 Sep 2007 at 7:23 am15anne

Hmmm — I like the thought of some orange or orange/red on that wall. The books reflected in the mirror inspired me.
on 04 Sep 2007 at 7:24 am16Anina

I really like it. My house doesn’t have a single light-colored wall. Darker colors are addictive, watch out.
on 04 Sep 2007 at 9:09 am17sue

Gorgeous!
on 04 Sep 2007 at 9:25 am18lindiepindie

It’s beautiful, Kathy! My prediction is that you’ll start picking darker paints from now on. I was always afraid of color until we did our bathroom in a dark brown. The rest of the walls now have nice color on them. )
on 04 Sep 2007 at 9:37 am19Tiffany

I love dark woods, I think the mirror would be amazing in a rich chocolate color. It would give you something grounding, and act as another neutral color within the space.
If you used chocolate colored frames on the art it would be a really chic and cohesive look.
Tiffany
on 04 Sep 2007 at 11:07 am20Heidi

I’d also suggest waiting until you get the new vanity before doing the mirror. Rather than a color, have you considered a metallic? Silver? (Love the dark colors too. I’m big on colorful paint.)
on 04 Sep 2007 at 11:59 am21Johanna

I love the paint color! Wonderful! Although I really like combinations of colors to create a fresh look, I must say I think the mirror looks great as-is. I could imagine bringing in a little color by sitting something on its ledge? (Not sure if that’s the right word )

Greetings from Germany,
Johanna
on 04 Sep 2007 at 12:06 pm22Ursa

I love everything as it is. Instead of painting the mirror, I would add a cool rug which would add a punch. With a rug, it is easy to change the room if you decide it needs more or less color. Good luck with your decision. We still have more painting to do in our house.
on 04 Sep 2007 at 12:54 pm23meg

Lovely! We also spent part of this weekend painting the bathroom. It’s amazing what a difference a coat of paint will do for your outlook, right?

I’ll be of no help with the mirror debate. I have one that’s been awaiting a fresh coat for two years; still can’t decide.
on 04 Sep 2007 at 1:44 pm24patti

I think it looks nice like it is- but I also think a wonderful rich dark brown would look great too!
on 04 Sep 2007 at 7:00 pm25Lisa

I want color on my walls also. Have been here 6 years and still builder-off-white. Love the color. Was going to say I love the white of the mirror against the trim, but also like the dark burgundy idea some people suggested.
on 04 Sep 2007 at 8:04 pm26Cathy

Your updated powder room is lovely. In a practical sense, I would pick a color flattering to your family’s skin tones. :^) Looking at the dabs of color on the Pottery Barn/Benjamin moore site, I would pick Exotic Red or Million Dollar Red. Or Misted Green or Gentleman’s Gray. And I would paint the little cabinet over the potty too, since they’re both painted wood. Caldwell Green might have potential too.
on 04 Sep 2007 at 9:01 pm27dorie

very nice! I love a gray room.
on 04 Sep 2007 at 9:34 pm28Mama Urchin

It looks like it’s just out of a catalog. Nice work.
on 05 Sep 2007 at 3:24 pm29Judi

We just redone our upstairs bath and it looks like the same color we used also and we really love it. The lower walls are white tile with white fixtures. And a walk in shower, but the kicker is we put a trim board and ceiling trim in a glossy stain of deep burgandy, called Cabernae and it is beautiful! We went with the brushed nickle Victorian side lights, towel bars and faucets. What a difference that deep glossy burgandy made! There is a window with a white blind too. A lace curtain valance adds to it. Now add the burgandy and fat fluffy white towels! Sigh……so nice!!!
on 05 Sep 2007 at 8:11 pm30sharon

RED! Definitely needs a barn red or spanish red mirror.
on 06 Sep 2007 at 8:45 pm31Chara Michele

I absolutely love that wall color!! Actually I really like the white mirror, but I could see changing it, just not sure what color:) So I guess I am no help!
on 07 Sep 2007 at 6:35 am32Laura

I love the new look! I think the white looks fine but agree with some other comments that mention orange or tangerine for the mirror. I think they would be fab accents to that taupe. And I really, really like your pedestal sink–vanities are so heavy. I have always lived in apartments with bathrooms that have more furniture than space, so that could be coloring my opinion here. If you do choose something colorful for the mirror, I would probably also toss in a small throw rug to pick up some of those colors and disperse them around the room.
on 08 Sep 2007 at 1:14 pm33Sandy

*since you asked*, I would do a freehand black and white checkerboard or big fat odd polka dots AROUND the mirror on the wall, not on it. If you tire of it, just slap on more taupe! And tell your daughter she will grow into her gorgeous hair- mine did and loves it now!
on 11 Sep 2007 at 10:31 am34Linda

It’s a great color. I agree with you about too much white in the room. Hm. Maybe a taupe in gloss for the frame, or the baseboards? I’d also might think about replacing the little cabinet over the toilet with something like green-tinted shelving with nickel accents.
on 11 Sep 2007 at 8:14 pm35wendee

My first instinct is that the mirror and cabinet should be either the same color or complimentary somehow. If the mirror goes to a different color (especially a darker, dramatic color) the cabinet might stick out like a sore thumb. That being said, there are so many color options that have been thrown out… - burgandy, deep brown, reds, oranges - all would be very pretty with that lovely wall color.

Isn’t it amazing what a few color / hardware changes will do to a room?!
on 12 Sep 2007 at 9:42 am36Stacy

I’m actually an interior designer (not that it makes me an expert by ANY stretch!) and I hope that doesn’t make me sound like a know-it-all-my-way-or-or-the-highway! I always tell people that so much of interior design is your own personal taste. You start with what you like and build on it. I LOVE the wall color! And I like the mirror the way it is too. If you want to work more color into the room, how about using one color as the primary for all accessories? For instance, maybe use a deep red or wine color for some towels, candles, a vase or two…the ‘little’ things around the bathroom to jazz it up. Maybe even fuschia if you’re feeling wild!
on 12 Sep 2007 at 9:40 pm37Pink Chalk Studio » Blog Archive » Another One Bites the Dust

[…] My new kick has been to try and do something unfinished around my house at least one day out of the weekend. That could be something big, like the powder room painting (thanks for all the advice, boy do I have some great ideas to implement!), or pulling something off my inactive work in progress pile aka the jumbo bags. A project moves from being an active WIP to an inactive WIP when I cry Uncle and give up all realistic hope of completion in the near term. That’s when the pile moves from the floor to the bag. […]
on 20 Sep 2007 at 6:53 am38Paula

Hey, I feel your pain around the bathroom issue. Mine typically look like the Motel 6 !!

I love the color you put on the walls. I’m thinking a nice soft aqua would look fabulous for the mirror frame.

But hey, taking into account my Motel 6 look, you are already miles ahead of me !!