It’s a Gray Area

There’s nothing extraordinary about this post. All I did was paint. It’s not that hard. You can do it. You probably have done it. Big freaking deal. But my living room is finally looking like an actual room in a real house and not a pit of despair, so I think that’s definitely worth writing about. In order to maximize the drama, I’m going to start by showing you this before photo.

Disgusting Living Room

That’s not my house.

Oh, I am just too funny! OK, here’s the real before.

Yes, much less drama there. Just a whole lot of white walls. I despise white walls. I know there are people who love them and I’m not judging. If you want blank, blah walls with zero personality, that’s certainly your prerogative. I’m sure your white walls look very boring lovely. But me… I love color! So I went super bold and painted my white walls this lovely shade of…

Yuh huh! Gray is SO a color! One of my favorites, actually. That’s why I painted my bathroom Excalibur Gray and my office Dior Gray. This one is called Stamped Concrete, by Sherwin Williams. Ahh, yes. Who wouldn’t want their living room covered in stamped concrete? Doesn’t the name just evoke peaceful evenings at prison home? Depressing name aside, I actually love it.

This color shouldn’t come as a shock. After all, I already shared my design plan for this space with you, remember? (Yes, I updated the couch. Good eye!)

There will eventually be a lot of color all up in here, what with my peacock dining room and olive couch, but I’m counting on Gray to keep all of the other crazy colors in check. Gray is the voice of reason. Gray says, “Chill, bold colors. Keep it down. You don’t need to be loud to be heard.” And the other colors listen. They all listen to Gray.

Hey, did you notice this post is pretty long already and I haven’t shown you much of anything? What’s with all of these delay tactics? Well, I’m trying to make a mundane post more exciting for you by building suspense. I do this so that you may have a more satisfying literary experience. You’re welcome.

And the after pics start… now.

I know. The light switch plates are missing. It’s not because I was too lazy to put them on before taking photos. I’m… um… thinking of dedicating a post to their installation. Yeah, that’s it. I really feel the internet is lacking in light switch plate installation tutorials. It’s an advanced project. I might have to make a video…

Hey, remember I promised you a close up of my trim once I finished painting it? Of course I didn’t forget. It came out awesome. Here’s my most vexing corner. (A close up of the previous picture above.)

I know, right? I rock. You can tell me so in the comments.

I’m also pretty excited to finally be able to hang up something decorative in my crappy house.

Yup. That’s a giant squid. Why? I don’t know. But I love it!

Things are looking pretty good over at my crappy house, eh? You’re probably not feeling all that sorry for me anymore, are you? Hold that thought.

Boom! There you go.

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36 Comments

  • Lisa B.

    LOVE the gray. It’s a lovely shade of gray. A responsible yet elegant gray. I love the peacock blue and the green couch in that rendering you did. I can see how this is a labor of love for you. And you crack me up, my wise-ass, sarcastic friend!

  • Jill

    You’re going to have a peacock dining room? Excellent! I’ve always loved James McNeill Whistler’s Peacock Room, although yours will probably be a little less over-the-top.

    • My Crappy House

      There are SOOOO many grays (greys) to choose from. And they look different in every room! I think this would look great in a bedroom. Let me know if you end up doing it and how it comes out!

    • My Crappy House

      Haha that picture reminds me it can always be worse! I like your take on my dangly bulbs. Industrial, right? lol

  • Lisa

    Um, there is something extraordinary about this post and it’s that GIANT SQUID WALL HANGING. Awesome. Pretty sure squids are going to be the new owls.

    • My Crappy House

      I know, right? He almost looks like he’s underwater with the reflections from my sparkly light overhead. Squids for the win!

  • LaFawne

    You need to change the name of your blog to ” My Semi-Crappy House” because what you have done so far? Beautiful!!

    Your renovating skills/determination are amazing-Love seeing what you have accomplished.

    Your writing style is so down to earth. I love home decorating/redecorating blogs but some are so….snooty!

    Keep on keepin’ on Your readers will be patiently waiting.

  • Kim

    I lol when you mentioned the switch plates because I was just thinking “why didn’t she put the switch plates back on?”
    Love your plan and the colors. I went with color on my first two places and now am going with all white which is the only way I like white walls, with everything white.;-)

    • My Crappy House

      I’m not really going to do a tutorial. I just forgot to put them on before I took the pictures! I’m thinking if people can’t install a switch plate, maybe they should put down the tools and just back away…

      Good luck with the white. It’s not for me, but I have seen it done beautifully. I think it looks especially nice with dark floors.

    • My Crappy House

      Oh, I hope you have the patience to bear with me because the kitchen is pretty far down the pike. The next big project will be my wood floors. I definitely do have kitchen ideas though. I just need the dinero!!!

  • Melissa

    Imagine David Cassidy coming to your home and singing …”I think I love gray, so what am I so afraid of. I think I love gray, isn’t that what life is made of. Though it worries me to say that I’ve never felt this way”. Ok so I have no idea what made me think of that song but I do think I love that color and now have something to rethink in my house…keep up the good work! And the squid is “far out!”

  • Aferal

    Dior grey? Ooh-la-la! Can’t wait to see that one. AND I think grey is a great foil to the peacock you intend, along w your furniture choices (How’s mom coming along w gifting her fave daughter w the sofa? *SIGH*, I’m so in love w that sofa ever since you introduced us to it!)
    You tickle me, you truly do. Plus, you kick major reno bootay!
    You are awesomeness to the nth degree!
    I know you have a life beyond here, yet your posts can’t come soon enough!=^_^*=

    • My Crappy House

      For once, there’s no waiting. I already painted my office Dior Gray and it looks awesome. If you click on the link where I mentioned it above, it will take you there. Instant gratification!

      Hopefully, mom is saving her pennies for my couch. I should be ready for that by next year. It will make a fantastic birthday present. (Are you reading this, mommy?)

      I’m working on a couple more posts, so hopefully I’ll have the next one up soon

  • Charmaine

    I LOVE the gray!! I use a smokey blue gray green color in my living room just because of the name: Paris Boulevard…and it is awesome.
    If you go to the Musee D’Orsay in Paris where they have all the beautiful impressionist art their background color is a bluish gray. It sets up the beautiful art in a very peaceful way.
    Good choice!!! Keep on keepin on!
    C

    • My Crappy House

      Paris Boulevard sounds a hell of a lot nicer than Stamped Concrete. And now I think I need to go to Paris. Right after I get my kitchen.

  • Kristen

    As always, awesome, impeccable results! Emphasis on impeccable. My DIY attempts never turn out even half as professional-looking. Oh wait, you are a pro. Even advanced enough to install light switch plates.

    Seriously though, you are an inspiration.

    • My Crappy House

      Haha I’m faux pro. No one pays me to do this crap. I wish they would! I bet you anything that someone has Googled how to install switch plate covers…

  • Elaine in Laguna

    Your crappy house is turning into a beautiful home! I love the grays you selected with your white trim. Your painting is so professional looking, too. I must say here on the West Coast that I don’t have a wall squid. Adding that to the weekend list. Lol. Keep up the fantastic work and funny posts! You’re doing a great job!

    • My Crappy House

      Thank you! It’s slowly getting there. I’m glad to hear you’re addressing your home’s lack of squid. Not everyone is so proactive

  • Katie

    Honestly I have a lot of trouble feeling sorry for you, with your very own mitre saw and giant squid on the wall where I have a 650 sqft rental apartment in top-to-toe off-beige. I call it “ecru” when I want to feel fancy. (; That said, I’m grateful for a safe place to live, for my own creative spark, and for the knowledge and inspiration people like you provide! (I should mention – I found you through those wonderful bookshelves around your closet while poking around for storage ideas, and I may or may not already have a plan and a cut list/layout to make my own…)

    • My Crappy House

      I guess we can only make the best of what we’ve got, right? I’m sure you’ve rocked your ecru walls with your own squid equivalent! Let me know if you need any help with those bookshelves. (I mean help via email, of course. I’m not coming to your apartment to do any work…) You can contact me via… well, via the “contact” tab.

  • Megan

    I just stumbled across your blog from Pinterest today and I am sooo happy I did! I love reading your posts, you have a wonderful sense of humor. House looks great so far! Keep up the good work (p.s. I’m very jealous of your personal dressing room!)

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