It’s Pinterest Challeng reveal day, it’s Pinterest Challenge reveal day, it’s Pinterest Challenge reveal day! Woo to the hoo bring on all the amazing project-ness! I love Pinterest Challenge reveal day. Mostly because I tackle one project and add precisely 32 new inspiration pins.
As mentioned last week back here, the Pinterest Challenge winter edition is in full swing. I’ve been a little secretive about my project and the inspiration behind it. Does it feel like you’re on double super secret probation? Like on Animal House? But I have mentioned that the project is staircase/baluster related. So without further ado, I bring you my Pin-spiration, which originates from Martha Stewart.
Is it blatantly obvious what I decided to do now? If not, here’s the first of what will end up being way too many project reveal pictures.
Oh such bliss! When I first started this project, I hadn’t intended to use the same blue color scheme as in the Martha Pin-spiration photo. But after some soul…scratch that…color searching, a blue pallet was the obvious choice. Actually, this project was a bit of an epiphany moment. It was during the color choosing process that I realized how many blues and sea foamy colors are running rampant throughout our home. Thus, it was only natural that this trend continue with our balusters. In fact, I’ve already picked out a couple colors from the balusters that I want to use in one of the rooms upstairs. How about another reveal pick? You got it!
I’m just going to throw this out there. This project was HARD! It wouldn’t have been so hard if it wasn’t for our 100+ year old, un-square, and un-level home. I know I sound like a broken record but old homes are difficult to renovate! I am planning a little “how to install balusters” post for later this week so this post can be dedicated to all things pretty and painting related. Speaking of the painting, choosing the colors was also a hard step in the process.
So many blues! I’m addicted to the Valspar color options at Lowes, so I started the color selection process by selecting one section of the blues and bringing home ALL the chips in that section. I then chopped them up so I could “play paint chips”. And I played, and I played and I played some more. I originally thought I wanted to choose 16 different colors, one color for each of our balusters. But choosing 16 blues and putting them in ombre order proved way too difficult. Choosing 8 colors was hard enough. In the end, I chose two sets of three chips (you know…the paint chips come with 3 different colors on them with their own little ombre-ness to them). Then I just found two more colors, one really dark one and one really light one, to round out the field of 8.
I didn’t need much paint, so those little Valspar paint sample tubs were just the ticket. They only come in one finish, satin, which was ok by us. The $2.94 price tag per tub was all the convincing I needed. So home came the paint tubs and I bunkered down for a Saturday of baluster painting.
I didn’t want brush strokes to show up on the finish, so I decided to use some 1″ foam brushes to apply the paint. Those brushes worked like a dream and I’m extremely happy with the resulting finish! Since finding ombre spray paint would have been next to impossible, using the foam brush was the next best thing, even though it was a time consuming process. I was hoping to get away with only two coats but a third was a necessity.
So pretty! Next step was installation, which I’ll fill you in on later this week. But I should mention why we chose to paint first and install second. The balusters did get a little scuffed up by the table saw and during installation, but it was far easier to touch up a little paint here and there afterwards than it would have been to paint them in their entirety after installing. So Colby, my amazingly awesome carpenter…I mean…boyfriend…I mean fiance (ick…I still don’t like that word…I can’t wait to just call him my husband…150 more days to go…woo hoo…but who’s counting), spent his Sunday afternoon installing the balusters.
The entire time he kept commenting, “these are so cool”, “man these look awesome”. I think he doubted my inner designer. He should know better by now! In reality, I just think he was frustrated that we’ve had the balusters for about six months now but I made him wait to tackle this project until a Pinterest Challenge rolled around. He’s such a good (patient) man!
So remember how I mentioned that there’s this recurring blue theme throughout our house? One of the reasons I declared the blue pallet the primo color choice had to do with that hallway gallery to the left. That’s our ski map art project (read more about that back here) that’s full of blues. The balusters are a great complement to those maps and pictures.
Let’s take a little peek down the stairs, shall we?!
Equally amazing! Except that it’s totally obvious now that we’re missing the cap on the newel post. Doh! We still need to fix that, give the banister a little sand down/poly love, and refinish the floor. But we’re inching oh so much closer to calling the hallway/staircase redo complete. Now would be the perfect time to remind you that only a year and a half ago it looked more like this:
That’s a whole lotta ugly! On closing day our home’s color scheme definitely wasn’t a pretty ocean-ie blues. Nope…it was brown. Tons of brown…brown paneling, brown shag carpeting, more brown paneling and shag carpeting. It was bad! In fact, this post has inspired me to start working on a house tour page showing all our before/progress pics. The house is starting to really come together so I don’t feel so bad giving you guys a MTV Cribs style, behind the scenes, let’s open of the fridge and check it out kind of tour. Although maybe we shouldn’t open the fridge and reveal it’s contents. There’s totally a keg in there right now full of Colby’s home brew! But anyway…back to the pretty.
Ahhhhh…that’s better. You can even get a sneak peak of the staircase and the balusters from the dining room, although it’s much more subtle from that direction. Mostly because our hallway is pretty dark.
So before I bid you good evening, I encourage you to link up/check out all the other Pinterest Challenge projects going on out there. Stop by any one (preferably all) of our four hosts to see what amazingness is going on:
That’s Erin at The Great Indoors, Katie at Bower Power, Sherry at Young House Love, and Cassie at Hi Sugarplum. And for those of you who have just found me, I encourage you to come back for more shenanigans and DIY adventures as we bring new life into our old home!
Pssst…Don’t forget to check out our under construction home tour page! Anywho, enough about me, what have you all been up to? Any fun and exciting projects? Do share! And check out our how-to when it comes installing balusters here.
Omg this is such a cool idea, and looks awesome. I wish we had a second story on our house. *cries* I would LOVE to do this. Great job, the colors you chose are perfect!
Thank you! And I should admit…when we were house shopping I refused to look at ranches because I NEEDED stairs! True story. Thanks for stopping by!
I’m normally a lurker, but I had to come out of the closet and say these look awesome! I’m so impressed!
Thanks! And don’t be so shy…come out of the closet more often! Haha…nice use of the word “lurker”…I love it!
You clever clever girl! It is beauuuuuuuuuuuutiful.
Thank you! And FYI…Colby was wondering if you were alive so he’s happy to hear that you are (I told him to call you).
Looks georgeous!! Love the colors. Beautiful job, can’t wait to see more.
Thanks Mom! Such a slave driver! Can’t I rest?!?! Love ya Mom!
Very, very, very, very, very fantastic. Love everything about the project. You and Colby do great work. You will have a unique and beautiful home when you finish.
Thanks Pat! And yes…we are definitely going for a unique/beautiful home…it’s getting there! Can’t wait for you to see all the changes!
Awesome job! I think that’s one of those pins that I would think I wasn’t brave enough to attempt it. You pulled it off beautifully and it looks so great in your space. The before and after is amazing!
Thanks so much! I admit…I was a little scared to try this at first but then I realized it was just paint. You can always repaint if you hate it! Thanks for stopping by and leaving such a sweet comment!
WOW!! I love the ombre look, and I never would have thought to try it on the staircase. Job well done. 🙂 I’m visiting from the Pinterest Challenge, and I hope you’ll stop by my blog too. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and for commenting! Don’t you love the Pinterest Challenge for connecting bloggers?! Ok…I’m heading over to your blog right…wait for it…now!
Stopping by from the Pinterest Challenge! This looks so awesome. I never would’ve thought to do it, but it’s really cool.
Thanks! Leave it to Martha to inspire this project! She’s so smart!
That looks awesome. I have a slew of painted stairs on my pinterest boards, but have never seen painted balusters. Good job!
Thanks so much! And by the way…I totally love the name of your blog! It cracks me up!
I am loving this! This is making me want stairs in my house :).
Confession…when we were house shopping, I wouldn’t look at houses without stairs. I adore stairs! Thanks for the comment and stopping by! And I was just checking out your blog…sweet Pinterest Challenge Project! I loved it AND pinned it…fueling the cycle!
All I can say is W-O-W! Looks great!
And that entryway has gone through a major transformation. It’s so pretty now!
Awwww…thanks so much! We’re just starting to feel like the house is becoming pretty! I’m glad you like! And thanks for the sweet comment!
I found you through the Pinterest Challenge and I can’t express how amazing this project is. You did a fantastic job all your hard work was totally worth it!
It was definitely a sweaty, work your tail off project! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Great great job! This is so cool! Makes me wish we had stairs so I could do this! Ombre is so hot right now. Love how you applied it to a new area.
Oh my gosh…I know…ombre = awesome! I almost chose an ombre wedding cake too…totally digging it right now too! Thanks for stopping by!
I have the same thing pinned! I love this so much and your version is fabulous!
I live in an old house (100 + years) so I can relate to your old house renovation pain! Can;t wait to see what is next on your list.
Kelly
Sweet! We could be pin twins! Haha! Thanks for stopping by, I’m totally heading off to your blog right now to check it out. I love commiserating with fellow old home owners!
What a great application in your house. This looks great!
Thanks so much Jae!
I would never be brave enough to do this but it looks AMAZING!! Love, love, love!
Well…what can I say…I had my big girl pants on that day! Ahaha! Thanks for stopping by!
Wow, nice work! I am impressed at your patience. I think I would have given up after looking at all the paint samples. Your hard work paid off tho, and it looks great!
~em at small girl, big world
Awwww…thank you! Believe me…there were a few times when the paint samples almost went flying out the door!
Gorgeous!
Thanks Jill!
I love this sooooo much!! It looks amazing! Your house sure has come along way since you bought it 🙂
Thanks Tamsyn! The first year in the house was a bit rough but lately all the improvements have been so much fun! Thanks for stopping by!
Your stair rails are siiiick!! I love it, well done! 🙂
Haha…Thanks! And that’s totally one of my favorite phrases! It’s so fun saying something is “sick”.
How creative! You did a great job. I’m stopping over from the Bower Power Pinterest Challenge – I’m entry #328. I haven’t yet tackled a big home improvement project, but you give me inspiration!
Awww..thanks! And I’ve been staling…scratch that…cruising your blog. Such an interesting blog idea! It’s like a Pinterest Challenge 24-7! And your sewing skills amaze me! I wish I could sew…le sigh!
How precious! Gosh, how I wish I had stairs to do something this cute. Great job, and thanks for linking up with the Winter Pinterest Challenge!
Erin
http://www.tatumgreatindoors.blogspot.com
That’s what everyone keeps saying! And to think we’ve been taking our stairs for granted. We definitely appreciate them now! Thanks so much for hosting the Pinterest Challenge. I look forward to it every few months! And you’ve definitely earned a new blog stalker…I mean…friend! Love your blog Erin!
Psst… I featured you on my Pinterest Challenge round-up today! 🙂
http://tatumgreatindoors.blogspot.com/2012/03/wrapping-up-winter-pinterest-challenge.html
Erin @ The Great Indoors
Eeeeeee! That’s so awesome! FYI…this is the first time Angie’s Roost has been featured on another blog! You rock too hard for one hand! Thanks for hosting the Pinterest Challenge. Thanks to the challenge, I’ve found several new blogs to subscribe to and stalk…including your fabulous blog! I can’t wait to see what you do next!