"If you hear a voice within you say, 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." --Vincent van Gogh

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

A Big Blank Wall

Well, if I'm to believe the dashboard when I log on to my blog, this is my 200th post. However, I'm pretty sure if you add up the number of posts noted over there on the left, it clocks in at around number 188. Strange. But since I would like to host a giveaway, I'll go with 188 and start making plans! My 2 year blogiversary is in February, so I may just have to throw a party.
I'm not sure how a week of the new year has passed already. I haven't even blogged since New Year's Eve! I haven't set a lot of goals or made any resolutions this year. I know what I've gotta do, but we'll see how it goes. I do have one particular goal in mind, however. I have this large (maybe 7-8 feet wide) blank wall next to my kitchen table (above). It has been clammouring for some art work but I've really not been inspired. Until now. So I'm thinking that I want to make a rather large (for me) art quilt to hang here, and my inspiration for the piece is below:

I took this photo in Santa Fe in June. I love these poppies. So the idea is formulating in my mind and as soon as I get some other things out of the way, I want to start working on it. It's a bit daunting, but I just have to believe in myself.
Another kitchen project that has me befuddled. I really want to paint my cabinets. I really hate the color, it is an orangy-mid tone oak. The flat center piece of the door is particle board (as best I can tell). The trim is wood, and the drawers are wood, but that inside panel is el-cheapo builder grade yuck.

Now, I painted these same cabinets in our master bath and they look great! They are a dark chocolate brown. My problem with the kitchen is that I'm just not sure what color I want to paint them! I could paint them white (easy answer) or black (might look cool), or a lighter less-orange honey tone, ivory with a dark glaze, or just about any color under the sun! Eventually I want to replace my countertops (they are white-ish laminate now) and tile the backsplash. I would also like to tile my floor, maybe with terracotta tiles. I love the spanish influence. I do like my walls, which are a pale brownish green. Anybody have any suggestions???

10 comments:

TracyB said...

Ok I'm a wood snob, which I'm sure you probably know from our past conversations. The thought of painting wood, is like nails on a chalkboard for me. It's wood & eventhough it might be cheezy wood, how about applying a dark stain? You could have the dark color, but the wood grain would still appear through?

Sue said...

Ohmigosh! You have so much ambition. You will make a fantastic quilt for you kitchen...like you say - believe in yourself!

Sequana said...

How bout just paint the cheap part and leave the good wood as is?

and yes, that would be a killer quilt on that kitchen wall - be a nice sound buffer too.....*S*

Anonymous said...

LOL, I'm the wrong person to give suggestions for redecorating as I just don't do any but I love the poppy picture and can't wait to see what you come up with in the way of a quilt, good luck.

studioGypsy said...

hi-ya michelle! love the poppies photo! looking forward to your fabulous piece too, i believe in you! ;) now about them cabinets. i remember watching something way back on HGTV where one woman took the middle slats off of her cab's and added long wires from top to bottom. then just painted the edges of the cabinets. someday when we have a house, i would love to do this... but could be a fun alternative for you, rather than picking a paint color... ;) xo

Anonymous said...

I am kind of a wood snob also. Plan of replacing the cabinets when you get the floor and counter top done. Taking the center panel out may be possible but getting it together again may be difficult. Maybe a different hanging scene at the center of each door (different sized wall flower baskets where you could change the flowers, (dried or fake) with the seasons.

Wiseguy

Cathie said...

I just saw the other day on HGTV those same kind of cabinets. They painted the cabinets white and the insert panels they painted a beautiful color. Now what color you paint yours is of course up to you. A verdi green (kind of an antique looking rag painted green I think they used and it looked gorgeous. When you get sick of the color, just pop out the inserts and paint with fresh paint while the base of the cabinets stays white.
I here Tracy - I'm kind of a wood snob too, but I will admit there is nothing more fresh looking that clean white cabinets - particularly with a pop of gorgeous color!

morningDove said...

looking forward to the evolution of the poppy quilt for your wall.
btw - the photo is gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

another hgtv addict here - one episode either painted (or stained) the outside in a dark brown, then adhered a woven grass or bamboo type of mat to the center. trim out the center with some molding or some nice trim glued down and walla!

Elizabeth said...

How about using one of the colored stains??? They come in fab colors that way you could get the color and hide the yucky orangey yellow. You could pick a color to complement the Poppies- like a Turquoise!!!
That Poppy Quilt is going to be a stunner- lots of mixed media????
Big hugs!
Elizabeth