ORC Fall 2024 Week 8 | Finale of the One Room Challenge!

For the last and final week of the One Room Challenge, I aim to show you what a little bit of paint can do to transform a space in a BIG way!! Originally, when I chose to have this 'Gardener' ranch plan built 20 years ago, I exercised my trade skills and chose a color palate for this home in tranquil, earthy, serene colors. All those that visited my home always commented on how calm and soothing my spaces made them feel in our wooded location in the Carolinas. I really appreciated that, since I entertained plenty of frantic Moms that craved some peacefulness, after taking care of their families on a day-to-day basis including the sometimes-hectic pace of child-rearing and pet caring. This scenario definitely included me! It also included many of my daughter's friends throughout her growing years and I think it set the tone, for a calm environment where some could unwind and find calm.

Speed through decades later and another lifestyle for a couple of empty nesters is on the rise! While the woodland setting hasn't changed much, life certainly has presented itself with some alternate plans for the future. While comfort is key, I also plan to curate a space that brings more sophistication and continuity to our ranch home. Which now brings me to the final chapter of updating and refurbishing the Great Room. An open plan is quite the challenge, and with some current elements remaining in the space, there will be some twists and turns for sure! So, what does this mean, one may ask...sift thru my previous One Room Challenges of 5 years ago and then follow along for the Final Reveal of it All!!

The Fireplace

Here is where I raise my magic wand, and the wonderful crew of painters carry out the task of painting the 2-story chimney chase!

Taking me back in time, I remember why I chose the light-colored authentic slate tiles. They brought an earthiness to the home that set the stage as a main focal point to the Great Room! They were installed in a randomly fashion, and each piece is unique in its own rite. The textured surface speaks for itself. The colorways of tans, grays, and browns are quite rich and provide many options to contrast with the walls around it. The mantle was hand carved of Canadian Pine and complimented it well. For now, I am giving it a bit of a facelift and surrounding it with a more current tone and painting it with Sherwin William's 'Knitting Needles' interior flat paint coating. It is from their "Timeless Colors'/Living Well (inspire) collection. While still providing a calming neutral shade, this gray is more subdued and softer with some cooler purple undertones. 

Kitchen Too?!

...oh, and I am having the Kitchen painted as well!! It wouldn't be a Great-Great Room without refreshing the adjoining spaces. Even though the kitchen project will have to carry out into the Spring ORC 2025, as a Designer, I am always planning a few steps ahead. Painted a "sagey" green as part of the original color palate, I figured it needed a vanilla coating before undertaking any additional changes to the space. Now I can take stock.

Here are some before photos--

As the maple shaker style cabinetry has ambered through the years, a sallowness carried throughout the space, and I aim to change that. Also, as the trees outside the windows grew up, it stole some of the light coming in on the east-facing side of the house. Remember to check back in the Spring for the scope of this project!

Inspiration

This is a big one!! And where it comes from will surprise you as it often times surprises me. Sometimes it appears in everyday life, sometimes in dreams, many times in nature, and also in globe-trotting. Recently I traveled to the Nordic countries, and what I experienced and got to view with my own eyes left indelible treasures in my perspectives. If you are not familiar with the Danish way of life termed Hygge, originating in Denmark and practiced throughout Norway and Sweden, it is a lifestyle than encompasses all things of comfort. It shows itself in cozy ways of living in the home and the rituals practiced in these parts of the world. It makes perfect sense that countries that need to create more light around the darker months because of their latitude, also engage in the art of wintering and nesting in the home. In fact, half of this world practice the same no matter the latitude closest to the north pole. One of the many reasons I always enjoy a cup of hot chocolate once Halloween comes around and we follow daylight savings. (even though the highs are in the 70's and lows in the 50's)!! My woodland setting here in the South, starts to shed her leaves at this time, and the trees are pretty bare, and the days get shorter and shorter, increasing the need for light and signaling a change of seasons and the need to create hygge in one's own home and make room for the cozy season.

While this also the season for expressing gratitude, I want to give many thanks to the creator of the One Room Challenge, Linda Weinstein, for allowing us the opportunity to redesign a space in our home each season in an 8-week challenging environment with many supporters in this wonderful community. Be sure to check them all out here! And appreciation also goes out to Apartment therapy, the main media sponsor of this event.

I am also grateful to all the folks that follow the EarthenChic Blog and hope that they find inspiration in all their remodeling endeavors in the future!

...from the light of my home to yours,

* Deb *