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The Breakfast Nook: One Room Challenge Week 4

I promise not to make this entire post about paint colors, but ugh! The breakfast nook is only 10’X4.5′. Why is it taking so long to paint? How is it that I have worked every spare moment of the past three weeks, and I have so little to show for it? These are questions for the universe. No earthly answers are required.

Currently the the breakfast nook looks like this:

After working out most of my teenage angst last week, I hit another little snafu with the paint colors. Once I finished painting the windows, the Agreeable Gray walls did not match at all. Instead of being agreeable, they turned a very contrary pink. Lighting is weird, and I have so much to learn.

Perplexed again, I turned to my design team (aka our Instagram Followers). Together, we decided to scrap the Agreeable Gray. Now, we are back to three colors, Mount Etna on the windows, Tidewater on the ceiling, and Citilite on everything else. Done. This dead horse will suffer no more beatings. If my estimation is correct, and it is probably not, I believe I have about four more hours worth of painting left. After that, I will keep the paintbrushes handy for touch-ups.

The Floor

Although I hoped to be writing about windows this week, I had to revise our schedule and move ahead with the floor installation and the DIY table. Both of these tasks require a compressor and a finish nail gun. A good friend has loaned both of those items to me, and I need to return them next week.

As I mentioned in the week one post, I will be laying down plywood over the existing hardwood so I can stencil it without damaging the original floor.

This week, I purchased all of my supplies from our local Lowe’s. As I was loading 2x4x10s onto my cart, an employee paid me the best compliment. He said,

“Can I help you with anything although you look like you know what the hell you’re doing.”

I have received more than my fair share of condescending comments from male employees at hardware stores. His comment was a refreshing change. My answer?

“Thanks, but I do know what the hell I’m doing.” 

And we both laughed.

I will install the plywood floor in three pieces. The 2x4x10 in the photo is just for planning purposes. The frame and plywood will be installed horizontally, not vertically as the picture implies.

The Table

Although we did consider a variety of small ready-made tables for the breakfast nook, we settled on a DIY bar along the longest window wall.

I have a piece of beautiful maple plywood leftover from the library table. A long, narrow table will keep this small room feeling open instead of cramped. I have four adorable vintage school chairs that we will use at the bar.

(pictured below in our library)

This week, we did receive a piece of good news from Linda, founder of the One Room Challenge. Because of shipping and construction delays related to the large number of natural disasters, the challenge has been extended by one week. The revised room reveal date is Thursday, November 16. I am grateful for the additional time, and I hope this helps everyone who has suffered these past few weeks catch their breath.

I realize that this post has been decidedly unfunny. My apologies. My sense of humor is stuck in one of the paint cans. If you are not already, please follow BHH on Instagram. I post plenty of real-time updates on our IG Stories. Instagram is a nice supplement to our weekly blog posts.

Now, head on over to Calling It Home to see all the progress from the Featured Designers and the Guest Participants too. Plenty of people have moved past the painting stage. Those lucky ducks…

Start from the beginning:
Week 1 – The Breakfast Nook
Week 2 – The Breakfast Nook
Week 3 – The Breakfast Nook

20 Comments

  • Andi
    Posted October 26, 2017 at 1:04 pm

    It’s looking so good! Not sure if I have been completely oblivious, but I just noticed the blue ceiling! I love it! Or course, I love all pops of color. And by the way, that must’ve been the greatest feeling in the world to get a Lowes compliment 🙂

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 27, 2017 at 8:03 am

      Thank you! I painted the ceiling first, a couple of weeks ago, I think. 😀 Everything is starting to blend together. The ceiling will stay blue, but I am still waffling on that particular color blue. I’ll make up my mind after I finish the floor.

      And yes, getting a compliment at Lowe’s felt fantastic.

  • SH
    Posted October 26, 2017 at 1:08 pm

    The paint colors for the nook complement the nearby kitchen palette so well. But now onto the floor and table–getting exciting! And I really enjoy your IG stories–great updates; I feel like a neighbor invited over several times a day.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 27, 2017 at 8:05 am

      I am so ready to work on something new, SH. Let’s do this! 😀

  • Emy
    Posted October 27, 2017 at 7:31 am

    It’s looking great! I’m so excited to see your floors!

    On a side note, I love the paint color name Mt Etna. I used to live on Mt Etna and it’s my favorite place in the world. Especially when it’s erupting at night. 🙂 Also, she sings. It sounds like chandelier crystals bumping around. <3

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 27, 2017 at 8:06 am

      Thank you, Emy! I would love to hear more about living on Mt. Etna. Did you ever feel scared?

  • Chad
    Posted October 27, 2017 at 7:59 am

    I liked the black windows in the mock-up and I like them now, too. I also think it ties in well with the kitchen. At least you’re happy with everything in the end.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 27, 2017 at 8:08 am

      Thanks, Chad. I think my hesitation with the black is that I was thinking about that color in too many places instead of just the window frames. I couldn’t “see” how it would look in my mind, even with the mock-up. Once that image clicked in, I was able to move forward.

  • Jenny
    Posted October 27, 2017 at 9:59 am

    I’m so excited to see the floors! I really like the dark windows and the light walls–it’s going to look so good with the wood bar, chairs, and stenciled floor!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 27, 2017 at 10:03 am

      Thank you, Jenny. I am so excited to work on something new in the Breakfast Nook. 🙂 Thank you for following along.

  • Madeline | Teal and Gray
    Posted October 27, 2017 at 2:04 pm

    I am so looking forward to seeing the floors! And I really do love the contrast with the darker windows.
    Choosing paint is so tough. I am planning to paint my room a color that I’ve been hoarding a gallon of for 4 years and then I casually asked my husband if I should do another color. He said “NO.” so sternly (unusual for him) that I guess I will be going with it. The uncertainty is real tho.

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 28, 2017 at 7:28 am

      I cannot wait to work on something new! Your husband sounds similar to Andy. Right after he finished painting the Agreeable Gray, I said, “I don’t know if I like it.” His response?

      “I only paint once. It will be fine.”
      😀

  • Summer
    Posted October 27, 2017 at 2:26 pm

    Stacy, it’s looking amazing. Lighting is so so tricky! I have learned through much waste of whole gallon cans that sample pots are my new best friends! lol

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 28, 2017 at 7:35 am

      Thank you, Summer. I hesitate with sample pots because the paint quality is not as high. I don’t want to take the risk with critical areas such as windows and door frames, even if I paint over the sample with a higher quality product. That said, it is an excellent option for many, so thank you for commenting.

  • Catherine
    Posted October 29, 2017 at 4:42 pm

    I can’t find a picture of you working on your door recently with a heat gun, but could you answer some questions I have about it? Are heat guns effective when you might possibly uncover lead paint? Our house is from 1780 and undoubtedly has lead paint somewhere…do you use a respirator when working? Maybe a separate but longer question is: would you ever do a post on the most valuable home tools you have for renovating your house?

    Thanks in advance!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 30, 2017 at 7:57 am

      Hi Catherine, Thank you for your questions. I love your idea of a longer post about the tools I use the most around BHH. I will write that post very soon.

      Here are the answers to your questions:
      1. Are heat guns effective on lead paint? Heat guns are perfect for removing lead paint, especially dark colors that seem embedded in the wood. That said, a heat gun is not hot enough for a long enough period to truly obliterate the lead in the paint. Proper lead precautions are still necessary.

      I would agree with you that a home from 1780 will have lead paint in it somewhere. You can buy lead test swabs (affiliate link) via Amazon or at your Lowe’s or Home Depot. Keep in mind, that wood might have many layers of safe paint over lead paint, and the swab directions address how to get accurate results.

      Although a heat gun does not remove the lead, it does make it easier to gather the paint residue. The heat liquifies the paint, and the scraper collects it into a lump. The lumps harden quickly with less flaking and fine particles.

      2. Do you wear a respirator? I always wear a respirator when I am working with projects that likely have lead paint.

      Again, thank you for your questions. 🙂

  • Beth
    Posted October 29, 2017 at 5:27 pm

    Stacy, I love your plans for this space, and I can’t wait to see the end result! The floor is going to be amazing!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 30, 2017 at 7:31 am

      Thank you, Beth!

  • Kalila
    Posted October 29, 2017 at 5:35 pm

    I can’t wait to see what you do with floors! And I love the vintage school chair!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted October 30, 2017 at 7:31 am

      Thank you, Kalila!

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