DIY: HOW TO GRAY WASH WALLS

After packing up and putting away the summer seashells & details, I wanted to start to neutralize our home for Fall. One of the ways I do that is for the spaces to be void of any accent color. With that said, the white washed / turquoise dining room wall needed to go! And in one afternoon - away it went. I cleared the space in front of the wall, put down my drop cloths - on the floor and the table - and brought in the paint colors I had in the garage.  I used the existing colors we already have on our walls: Lamp Room Gray, Cinderblock, and Crosby (a dark brown.) I didn't want any of the whitewashed turquoise to show through, so first I painted the wall with the lightest grey (Lamp Room) which is also the color on the other walls in the dining room and entrance.

Bye-Bye Summer!

After the base coat of grey was applied, I started to mix my "paint concoctions" (as someone commented and made me smile). The mix was only applying water to the colors I poured into my mixing bowls.

This one was a little bit messier than the white wash walls, so I did use gloves. I didn't have enough sponges, so I cut the ones I did have in half (and they were easier to hold anyways). For mixing the paint with the water, I used a chip brush and sponge stick. When I applied the was to the walls this time though... I pulled a Bromstad: I used a water spritzer on the wall sprayed over the section I had just painted. Doing this made blending SO MUCH easier....

One afternoon with color and it really changed the mood from Summer to Fall.

 

 Although the wall color was already making a difference, something still felt like it was missing from the space.

The room was missing layers.
Layers of textiles, like a rug and heavier window panels. And this was when I decided to just "go for" the Gallery Wall
(click italicized/bold words to read about how I made the No Template Gallery Wall )

I did have the collection of thrifted art sitting in the dining room for a week after

painting the dining room wall.

And it was after I did the wall and pulled back the furniture, I brought back in the old sisal & black chenille rug. I had removed the rugs last Winter to go with a lighter look. Now the old rug looks new again...

Summer to Fall Transition

I set the chairs a little different in the space too. Although I did still use the Drop Cloth Bench Slip Cover (made earlier this year) I only used 3 of the slip covered dining chairs, running along the back. It works better with the length of the table since I still kept the leaf in it to make it larger. The 3 chairs repeat the 3 frosted glass light fixtures - which I now removed the basket weave sleeve from.

After removing the shell necklaces and starfish from the Beachy Bottles (previously on the buffet in the living room) I brought them into the dining room... and appropriately filled the basket with my wine cork collection ;)

The branch in the corner I found on the side of the road last year, and had used it on the buffet for Fall. I love the way the bottles just look old now. Maybe I'll try some twine around their necks for texture.

 

Re-using the colors we have in our home helped give the space a cohesive look. The rustic wall finish layered with the woods, prints and textures in the space really helped make it feel more cozy for Fall... and it was all from just a simple shift of accessories and re-using some left over paint stored in the garage. What extra paint do you have just sitting in the garage? Why not try a new finish for an accent wall for Fall?

Thanks for stopping by and

have a great weekend!

(Hopefully a SAFE and DRY one away from Hurricane Irene.)

LINKING POST TO:

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