Bedroom master
Behold, the master bedroom as it was:
Mmmmm, puke-green.
Spidey’s watching out for crimes to prevent.
Did I ever mention that this room was actually the original dining room?
The previous owners filled in two doorways to make it a bedroom.
That’s why it’s sheetrocked (and the one wall in the front room is, too) instead of wood.
I had a decent idea about what I wanted to do with the room before Robyn even left. One evening last week I went to Lowe’s, spent about 45 minutes deciding on what I wanted, color-wise, and then sought out a female employee to get approval, as what I’d chosen was somewhat daring.
And feminine.
Really feminine.
The Lowe’s employee validated my color choice, then tried to convince me I need to do an accent wall of fake brick.
This did not raise my confidence levels in her decorating skills.
“The house is seventy five years old,” I said. “Most of the walls are tongue and groove pine. The ceilings are even wood.”
“And a faux brick wall would be really bold with that. It would stand out.”
“I can’t cover up seventy five year old pine with plastic brick. We like to keep things simple, but with nice bold colors.”
We went back and forth, with her trying to sell me on various panels to use as accents for what I’d selected, and it took me about ten minutes to get away from her.
I spent the next several days fretting about my decision for the room. I worried that Robyn would hate it and make me redo it. Or worse, that she’d hate it and not tell me, choosing instead to live a longsuffering life in a room that turned her stomach.
I wasn’t able to work on the room at all on Monday because I was getting over being sick. Oh, speaking of that, I’m 100% back to normal. Drinking coffee, eating all my meals, everything. On Tuesday, I set a record for the amount of things done in one afternoon. That day I: tore out all the old crown molding / coves / quarter round, painted the new crown molding twice (with time for the first coat to dry in between), completely primed the walls, removed the light fixture and hung a fan-light combo, then painted all the walls in my new choice.
I was the fucking man Tuesday.
The rest of the week was spent finishing all the molding and fretting about the way the room looked. I was absolutely in love with it, but I seemed to be one of the only ones. Sure, people told me it was pretty, but they didn’t seem to mean it. Not like with all the other colors. I realize colors are a personal choice, and that I only have to please one person with the room, but still, I was hoping for a little validation.
Last night, I posted some preliminary pictures on a message board I’m known to hang out on. I wanted opinions from people who don’t actually know me personally.
Boy.
A large number of people hated it. I got teased (which I started, by saying I needed to spend today working on the wood shed to get my testosterone levels back up after such a girly color), told I would be run out of town by my wife, and had it suggested that I try to redo the room before she got back. It would appear that the color of the room is either a “love it” or “hate it” thing. There’s no middle ground.
Me, I loved it. Love it. I felt — and feel — that this room is my greatest accomplishment in Smallville yet.
But only one person mattered.
“Close your eyes,” I said, standing with Robyn just inside the front door earlier this afternoon.
She did so.
I led her slowly through the house to the master bedroom, babbling each step of the way about where we were and what she needed to step around or over. Finally, we stood together in the master bedroom.
Showtime.
“Okay,” I said. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“I hope you like it, but I’m scared you’ll hate it.”
“Me too. I want to like it.”
I took a deep breath.
“One…two…ready?”
“Ready.”
“Three.”
She opened her eyes and stared at the wall. Slowly, she turned all the way around, taking in the full effect of the room.
She said nothing.
I started to doubt myself, wondering if I’d really screwed the pooch on this one.
Robyn opened her mouth to speak.
Sorry for the dark pictures. My camera adjusts for the bright-ass light in the middle of the room.
The room is much brighter and lighter than it looks.
The top color is “silver smoke”; the bottom is “smoky grape”.
I love how the silver/gray of the top picks up the purple and ends up looking like a pale lilac.
And go Fred for NAILING the chair rail.
No that door hasn’t been painted yet.
“I LOVE IT!” she said.
Booyah.
Next time: a tale of the walkin’ dude.
Go Fred! It’s your Birthday!!
OR
I’m in ur bedroom
paintin’ ur wallz!!
Congratulations & Have a wonderful New Year!!
I love it too! Here. Let me show it to Brea. She loves all shades of purple.
Her response was… That’s cute!!
Good job Fred!
The color is not my cup of tea … reminds me too much of Easter eggs … but the design and workmanship is totally amazing, Fred. You rock - have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
It’s gorgeous, Fred. Then again, I’m an Aquarian, and I love all things purple - even had purple toe socks to watch the Donny & Marie show when I was young. OK, maybe that was too much sharing.
Happy New Year to you, Robyn and the Spud. May it be the best yet!
Cheers!
Love it! The chair rail rocks. Great job! What a guy!
I am stunned at how gorgeous that room looks! This coming from a person who thinks purple is a fine color for a grape, but horrible for anything else. It really made me gasp ( a good gasp). You Da MAN!
Happy New Year to you all
PS- glad you didn’t listen to the girl and get fake bricks as that would have really destroyed the whole scheme. Picturing fake brick there and all I can say is AHHHHHHHHH! MY EYES! MY EYES!!!! LOL!
I love it.
I love it too! I may have to steal your idea for my own room…
Although right now it is fake wood panels (ew), but when I move hopefully I will have real walls so I can copy you! It’s beautiful! Don’t listen to the haters. 
Very nice. You did a great job.
You did great! Glad you are feeling better too.
I love it too! But then, purple is my favorite color. I also love chair rails, and you DID do a great job. Booyah.
Aaaw, I LOVE IT!! That chair rail rocks! You ARE the man, Fred. And soo glad that Mz. Robyn loved it as much as you. Makes it worth it.
Super, super job.
It’s beautiful.
I’m weeping.
And chair rails rock!!!!
It looks stunning.
Does this mean Robyn has to buy new bed linen and stuff to match?
And aren’t you clever choosing a colour that ALL the cats will look good in?!
I love it! i think i might have to steal it….lol
I like it. Had you painted the whole room in that shade, I think it would have been overwhelming. Thanks to the two-tone paintjob, it looks great!
Thanks, guys. I can’t express how glad I am she liked it. I was having all kinds of second thoughts there at the end, despite my love for the room.
Robyn’s looking forward to picking out new bedclothes already.
Beautiful!
WOW! I agree with Dawn. The two shades and the chair rail…ROCKS!
Happy New Year Fred, Robyn and Spud. Smooches to all the And3rson fur babies.
You rock. The room is awesome. I hope Robyn has fun shopping for matching comforter, curtains etc.
Beautiful choices, Fred…very rich looking with the dark woods!
I’m glad your bug has departed
Looks like my daughters bedroom, which I did myself, so as you can imagine, I love the colors! My bedroom is Concorde grape. I love purple. Great work!
It’s lovely,Fred!
Um,have you counted the ghosts in the “before pic”?
Methinks that you and the pretty Misses are going to have an audience in your LoveDen!
Fred, it’s gorgeous–really. I can’t tell you how relieved I am you didn’t let that woman talk you into fake brick (shudder). You have better taste than that, though. The silvery-lilac color on top is especially beautiful. I can’t wait to see it with furniture and the new bedclothes Robyn picks out; I think it’s really going to come together then.
You ARE Da Man! Happy New Year!
I like both colors and I like the chair rail, but for some reason I don’t like them all together in one room like that. Maybe once there’s furniture and stuff it will grow on me. BE sure to post more pictures once it’s furnished!
whooohooo - I love it tooooo! and it really IS my birthday
I love it. I think you did great! Glad Robyn liked it too!