A while back we decided to repaint the dining room end of the lounge a slightly warmer colour. It was red when we moved in, and I’d already painted it a pale off-white. But it was too cool, verging on cold.
Teresa demanded something more yellow, warmer. And she was right! We chose ‘cupcake’, from B&Q’s Valspar range. I made a small start quite a while back, just with a sample pot. I finally got a proper pot full a while later, and today I painted the bookshelf alcove.
I also went to work upgrading the bookshelves themselves. There are four, each of which is a different depth (well, two of them are the same). Originally they were just rough planks, resting on little wooden brackets. They still are, but I wanted to put a nice decorative face on each of the shelves, so I bought some trim from B&Q, cut it in to four pieces, cut them to size, and then tacked them on.
I took the trouble to prep the painting area with Frog tape, at each stage. Whilst doing so I noticed how nice the shelves and trim look, with their contrasting colours/grains (even though both are pine). So I took a pic, as I was about to paint them white.
The gloss white paint, from Permoglaze, is absolutely fab. One of the best domestic paints I’ve ever had the pleasure of using. Sadly it seems the once massive Permoglaze range is currently being run down. I’ve put one coat on so far. I’ll do another tomorrow. The contrast between white gloss and the new matt yellow-ish colour, ‘cupcake’, is really nice. Just what we wanted!
Later the same night:
Got to be patient. Second coat of white gloss won’t be thoroughly dry till tomorrow, 10 a.m. Then I’ll be able to load up the books. Have to say I’m very pleased. The ‘cupcake’ colour is exactly right, warm, soft, cosy. And the gloss white woodwork, with the nice ogee facing, really sets it off.
The next day…
Mostly filled with art books at present, plus some miscellaneous and the omnipresent military/Napoleonic stuff! We may put a curtain rail and curtain across the aclove, so we can shut it off as and when we want to, to de-clutter the view.
