DIY Geometric Cube Painted Floor

<center></center><center></center>For the longest time, I've had <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-balcony-floor.html" target="_blank">plans to paint a geometric cube pattern</a> on an exterior floor. I really hoped to get to do it on our balcony porch in Brooklyn, but we moved before the weather gave me a good chance to patch the cracked concrete. When we moved to the Valley house I thought this little back porch area we have just off the kitchen and living room would be the perfect chance to scratch that itch!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5747.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5747.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I ended up going with a <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/05/bathroom-reno-progress-and-new-sputnik.html" target="_blank">tumbling block tile</a> in the bathroom, so I wanted this pattern to feel different. I saved this image a while back and it felt like the perfect inspiration - the proportions seemed easy enough to recreate (which, WRONG. Triangles, you kill me!) and it seemed like it wouldn't be too crazy on the eyes when painted on a large surface.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo MVML23.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/MVML23.jpg" /></div><a name="more"></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The first step was cleaning the concrete. We used a power wash sprayer to clean the old concrete and then we tried to not step on it before we got the first coat of water-based porch and floor paint down. I ended up watering down the paint because I wanted the finish to be a little mottled or translucent, so it almost, almost looked like a stain instead of paint. I mostly just didn't want the solid, flat look of a painted floor. Not that I was trying to age it, but I also didn't want the floor to look brand new and I think the watery paint helped get that look.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5507.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5507.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then Kate and I worked to tape out the beginnings of the pattern. We knew we wanted the pattern to be on the larger side, so we made the main criss-cross pattern 12" wide.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7447.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_7447.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then it was time to put our heads together and do some serious math. I don't hate math at all, but I can't remember a lot of what I learned in trig and calculus, but luckily my smart husband has a memory like a steel trap and he busted out some formulas that helped us figure out the right angles. The most helpful measurement ended up being the hypotenuse (which was a little under 27 and 3/4"). Once we had that line measurement, we could back our way into the distance between the other angles and lines and it was easy to mark and then lay down the diagonal lines of tape.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo bIMG_7450.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/bIMG_7450.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7454.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_7454.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It felt a little tricky when we were in the thick of it, but it really wasn't all that bad. I think I was just nervous because I knew every measurement had to be spot-on perfect for the pattern to look right.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo bIMG_7481.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/bIMG_7481.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vIMG_7486.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/vIMG_7486.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Somehow I can't find the photos of this part, but I divided the 27.71 hypotenuse number in half to figure out the dimensions of a diamond. I draw and cut out a diamond shape on poster board and used it like a stencil to trace out the smaller diamond in each of the larger diamonds. I also used a straight edge to make a line connecting the side point of the smaller diamond with the larger (you can see this in two photos down).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7465.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_7465.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We watered down more porch and floor paint and filled in the shapes. We used Benjamin Moore's Titanium on the background, the white is Swiss Coffee, the yellow is Ochre and the darkest gray is Martha Stewart's Seal.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7496.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_7496.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Kate and I have pretty steady painting hands, so I felt comfortable free-handing the lines, but it wouldn't have been too hard to tape off the small shapes one by one for perfectly perfect lines.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5509.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/IMG_5509.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There were some spots that the tape pulled off the bottom layer of paint, but I think that had more to do with the concrete prep than the paint or the tape. I could have easily just touched up the lines and called it good, which we did to a little of, but we used a light hand there and even ended up lightly sanding the whole floor to take some of that new edge off. (again, that was a personal preference thing).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 5.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/5.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The result was just what I was hoping for. I know this floor is going to take a beating, so I didn't want it to look too precious from the get-go. We put two coats of porch sealer on top, and so far no big problems with scraping or flaking, even in this 115 degree heat! :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 9.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/9.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love seeing the pattern peek through the living room doors, and the girls love playing a crazy version of hopscotch on the pattern. We're excited for better weather too, when we can really start to enjoy the porch again and eat our meals outside. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

DIY Geometric Cube Painted Floor

For the longest time, I've had plans to paint a geometric cube pattern on an exterior floor. I really hoped to get to do it on our balc...

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Side Tables and Seating from Chairish

You guys were so nice about <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/07/onyx-x-base-side-tables.html" target="_blank">the side tables</a> I designed. Thanks for all your kind words and encouragement to start selling them myself! Maybe that is down the road a bit. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7884.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_7884.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I mentioned before that the side tables were inspired by <a href="http://shop.chairish.com/products/1950s-italian-marble-and-brass-end-tables-a-pair?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=1950sitalianmarbleandbrassendtablesapair" target="_blank">these vintage Italian beauties from Chairish</a>. I love these SO much and am jealous of the lucky person that snags them!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Chairish8.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/Chairish8.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><a href="http://shop.chairish.com/products/marble-top-side-table?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=marbletopsidetable" target="_blank">This table</a> has a similar vibe and is even more affordable. I love the stone top!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Chairish7-1.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/Chairish7-1.png" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><a href="http://shop.chairish.com/?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=ChairishHome" target="_blank">Chairish</a> is an amazing resource for really special pieces at affordable and very fair prices, especially when compared to sites that sell similar vintage goods! My favorite things to shop for on the site are chairs and side tables. They always have a really cool selection of super-unique vintage pieces. Here are some of my currently-available picks (and actually Chairish invited me to choose more than 30 favorites in <a href="http://shop.chairish.com/collections/little-green-notebook?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=littlegreennotebook" target="_blank">a collection they featured here</a>)! I'm sort of dying over those leather barstools...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Chairish2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/Chairish2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.chairish.com/products/hollywood-regency-velvet-swivel-chairs-a-pair?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=hollywoodregencyvelvetswivelchairsapair" target="_blank">Silk velvet bergeres</a>  //  <a href="http://shop.chairish.com/products/contemporary-gilded-greek-key-cocktail-table?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=contemporarygildedgreekkeycocktailtable" target="_blank">Greek key cocktail table</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Chairish6.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/Chairish6.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.chairish.com/products/green-velvet-camelback-sofa-with-fretwork-legs?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=greenvelvetcamelbacksofawithfretworklegs" target="_blank">Green camelback sofa</a>  //  <a href="http://shop.chairish.com/products/upholstered-quadrille-zig-zag-console-table?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=upholsteredquadrillezigzagconsoletable" target="_blank">Quadrille console table</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Chairish5.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/Chairish5.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.chairish.com/products/jonathan-adler-upholstered-chair?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=jonathanadlerupholsteredchair" target="_blank">Jonathan Adler chair</a>  //  <a href="http://shop.chairish.com/products/burgundy-velour-grant-ottoman?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=burgundyvelourgrantottoman" target="_blank">Moroccan style ottoman</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Chairish7.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/Chairish7.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.chairish.com/products/kravet-upholstered-green-settee?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=kravetupholsteredgreensettee" target="_blank">Kravet settee</a>  //  <a href="http://shop.chairish.com/collections/little-green-notebook?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=littlegreennotebook" target="_blank">Scroll bench</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Chairish4.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/Chairish4.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.chairish.com/products/mid-century-swivel-rolling-chair-with-pillow?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=midcenturyswivelrollingchairwithpillow" target="_blank">Floral desk chair</a>  //  <a href="http://shop.chairish.com/products/safavieh-noatak-distressed-oak-side-table?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=safaviehnoatakdistressedoaksidetable" target="_blank">Cerused wood side table</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Chairish3.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/Chairish3.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.chairish.com/products/modern-leather-wood-bar-stools-a-pair?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=modernleatherwoodbarstoolsapair" target="_blank">Leather bar stools</a>  //  <a href="http://shop.chairish.com/products/mid-century-baker-end-tables-a-pair?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=midcenturybakerendtablesapair" target="_blank">Baker end tables</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Chairish1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/Chairish1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://shop.chairish.com/products/new-restoration-hardware-chesterfield-sofa?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=newrestorationhardwarechesterfieldsofa" target="_blank">Chesterfield</a>  //  <a href="http://shop.chairish.com/products/mid-century-lane-side-tables-a-pair?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=midcenturylanesidetablesapair" target="_blank">Lane side tables</a></div><br />P.S. Don't forget that <a href="https://www.chairish.com/app/?utm_source=littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com&utm_medium=bloggers&utm_campaign=littlegreennotebook-seating+tables&utm_content=ChairishAppPage" target="_blank">Chairish has a really fabulous app</a> for iPhone users. It's a great and super easy way to list furniture to sell on Chairish, or just an easy way to shop on the go. I actually like to peruse the new listings in bed before I go to sleep. I'm guaranteed sweet dreams that way. :)<br /><br /><i>Chairish is a long-time sponsor of Little Green Notebook. Thank you for supporting our collaborators! :)</i>

Side Tables and Seating from Chairish

You guys were so nice about the side tables I designed. Thanks for all your kind words and encouragement to start selling them myself! Mayb...

Read more »

New House Color!!

<center></center><center></center><center></center><center></center>We just passed the one year mark here in Arizona. What a year it's been! There, for sure, have been some hard moments, and we miss parts of living in the city like crazy, but overall, we're so happy and grateful for this past year. Mostly, it has been <i>wonderful</i> to live so close to family and of course I've loved getting to turn this house upside down! I can't believe how much has changed since last July. The exterior was the most recent big change and I'm so happy with how it turned out!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 41.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/41.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/paint-products/aura-waterborne-exterior-paint#piSheen=631&advs=0&tab=2" target="_blank">Benjamin Moore</a>, a company I love and support whole-heartedly, saw that we were planning to paint our house and reached out about donating the paint. What an AMAZING help that was! The house needed a ton of prep work before the paint, and we made some big changes to the exterior structures with a contractor, so the labor alone ended up taking most of our exterior budget. Getting to work with Benjamin Moore on the paint was a dream come true! :) But I'll get to that in a minute. Here's the story of how the exterior of our house has changed this year, and a few plans for finishing up.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0348.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0348.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Remember when the house looked like this? Gingerbread everywhere. Cream body and brown trim. Black, scary sun shades on all the windows (which are helpful for keeping out the sun, but man, are they UGLY!).<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0350.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0350.jpg" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_4572.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_4572.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The first big project was changing out the front door. It's hard to show in pictures just how much of a transformation this was! The old door was only 80" tall, which felt so squatty with the tall vaulted entrance. <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/08/new-front-door.html" target="_blank">Here's the post</a> on changing out the door.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0351.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/1DSC_0351.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We chose a 9.5' tall double door. It fit the vertical space much better, but the door was blocked in the front by the weird front facade area.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo wDSC_0416.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/wDSC_0416.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo aDSC_0425.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/aDSC_0425.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My original thoughts were to just remove the front panel and open everything up all the way to the roof basically.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo wDSC_0420copy.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/wDSC_0420copy.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">But after we opened it up, the proportions felt so weird again! Too much was exposed, although, I was loving how much light was streaming in to the entry after getting rid of that partition piece!</div><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_4879.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/IMG_4879.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Our contractor was nervous about losing the cross beam altogether as well, even though it wasn't technically the load-bearing beam. So we came up with an idea to bump up the beam and add angled beams in too, which we would mimic all around the exterior of the house, where all the gingerbread used to be.</div><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_4890.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/IMG_4890.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">All the turned columns were replaced with chunky square beams and instantly everything felt more modern and more balanced.</div><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_5064.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/IMG_5064.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo vIMG_5049.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/vIMG_5049.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Once the exterior structural changes were almost done I went to my local Benjamin Moore store (Color Wheel on Stapley and Main) and looked at swatches for a good long while. I talked to them about different paint lines too and got their advice on that and finishes.</div><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_7481.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/IMG_7481.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Benjamin Moore has so many wonderful colors it was tricky to pick a favorite for the house. I was drawn to the greeny grays the most and picked up a couple of chips and even a few sample pots to put up.</div><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_7486.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/IMG_7486.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_4727.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/IMG_4727.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I put <a href="http://instagram.com/p/ns2TAewW9g/?modal=true" target="_blank">this photo up on Instagram</a> for a reader vote. It seemed pretty split, which I expected. They're all great colors! (Top to bottom: Fieldstone, Desert Twilight, Rockport Gray)</div><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_4764.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/IMG_4764.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I really tried hard to make it not be the name the put me over the edge, but <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/deserttwilight" target="_blank">Desert Twilight (2137-40)</a> was my favorite from the get-go. It was a little more green than I originally thought I'd want, but more and more I was in love with the shade and the idea of a greeny gray house. (Or at least I didn't want a color with very blue undertones and I felt like my other top choices swung more blue). I put up a big sample on the front and the back of the house, so we could see what Desert Twilight did at different times of day.</div><br /><img alt=" photo zIMG_5257.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/zIMG_5257.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo bIMG_5053.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/bIMG_5053.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was a little apprehensive to make the final call, but I knew I'd love the color, especially once all that icky brown color was gone.</div><br /></div>We chose to use the <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/paint-products/aura-waterborne-exterior-paint#piSheen=631&advs=0&tab=2" target="_blank">Aura exterior line</a> in a Satin finish for both the body and the trim. My Benjamin Moore store said there's nothing like it on the market that resists color fading and paint deterioration as well, which were both problems we could see the house has had in the past. My wonderful team of painters (Eagle Painting) loved the product and commented multiple times about the quality of the paint. They were super impressed with the coverage.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7990.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/IMG_7990.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was an exciting day when the painters sprayed the first coat of Aura on the back of the house! So pretty! So dramatic!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zIMG_7507.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/zIMG_7507.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7503.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/IMG_7503.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5586.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/IMG_5586.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Aura paint is actually self-priming, so we didn't need to use a primer on the back at all, but the front of the house gets a lot of full sun and there had been some damage from the elements. And since I wanted to paint out the weird shake shingles on the front of the house, the painters decided it would be a good idea to spray a coat of primer on the front. I knew the shake would never be a consistent, solid color the way that the siding looks, but I think the layer of primer helped even out the shake shingles. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5740.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/IMG_5740.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think painting the shake out helped unify the choppy look of the house so much! I almost painted out the brick for the same reason, but I think I'm glad we kept the brick as-is for now. It was tricky to find a stopping point with the brick and I didn't want to paint the floors or the fencing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 47.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/47.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We might figure out something to do with the brick down the road, but for now I think the new house color is in harmony with the tones of the brick. Such an improvement!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 42.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/42.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As soon as the white trim went on, I finally felt like I could catch my breath and let go of my worries about this project! It looked SO much more fresh with the dark trim gone!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 44.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/44.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We chose White Dove (OC-17) for the trim and Onyx (2133-10) for the doors. All Aura, all satin.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 48.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/48.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We decided to keep the front door red in the end. I love how it looks against the Desert Twilight color! I was worried it would look Christmas-y, but it really doesn't. I actually think the red tones down the green a bit too.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5818.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda013/IMG_5818.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, I'm sure you noticed, but we still have a way to go with the exterior of the house before we can call it good. We're saving our pennies right now so we can replace the roof next spring. It's expensive and not fun to spend that kind of money, but we've known about it and it is what it is. In the shorter term, we're going to have a mason come out and fix some of our broken bricks and then add matching brick to the bases of the two new columns flanking the front door. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 43.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/43.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Looking down the road maybe a year or two, I'd like to change up the landscaping. Not sure with what, but something less twisty and curvy and fussy would be my preference. But truly, I am SO happy with all the changes we've accomplished in only a year's time! Every single one of our neighbors has stopped by to say how much they love it too and the validation feels great! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4572.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%205/IMG_4572.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 45.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/45.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And OF COURSE, thank you, thank you, thank you to the wonderful people at <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/paint-products/aura-waterborne-exterior-paint#piSheen=631&advs=0&tab=2" target="_blank">Benjamin Moore</a>, both local and corporate, for helping us to transform our home! We could not be more happy with the product or the outcome. :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 41.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda014/41.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

New House Color!!

We just passed the one year mark here in Arizona. What a year it's been! There, for sure, have been some hard moments, and we miss parts...

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