Saturday, March 21, 2009

Bargain Chocolate

A couple weeks ago, I dropped by Lowe's to look at paint colors. We were on our way home from church, and J and the Blessings just read in the van while I ran in.

I got myself a handful of paint "chips" in the color range I had in mind. I'd never browsed the browns section before, but for some reason I have had brown on my mind for this bathroom. About the time I finished gathering paint chips, the paint lady finished up with her customers. C. used to work in the Home Decor department at our Lowe's ("our" Lowe's being the one out of which we do most of our install jobs), and we enjoyed getting to know her as we worked with her on installs of blinds and shutters. I think she just might think we're nice folks, too.

So, I asked C. if they had any "ooops" paint I could look at before I left... just in case. She goes behind the counter and holds up a can of paint. "This one's only worth about ... a dollar this way. It lost its handle, and we'd have to send it back. Want to find a color you like?"

This can of premium paint (usually sold for $20.50) wasn't even tinted yet! So off I went with my paint chips to the stain department. Why the stain department? Because we have lovely oak cabinets in our bathroom, and finding a brown that neither blends with nor clashes with oak is a bit tricky. Since I didn't have time to go home and hold all my paint chips up to my cabinets, I found the sample in the stain department that most closely matched them (in my mind's eye) and used that for color comparison.

Several minutes later, I walked out of the Lowe's having paid $1.08 for a $20.50 gallon of Belgian Chocolate paint. I was giddy all afternoon with the thrill of the deal!

I got permission this Wednesday from our friends/homeowners to paint the bathroom. Thursday found me busily taping away (because I'm lousy at cutting in), then painting. Though I took pictures along the way, I decided to wait and post the finished product.

For a reminder, my previous nesting attempts in our bathroom are shown in this post.

And here it is now:



(I had to lighten this shot excessively to get the window mistreatment to show)


We've talked about framing the mirror, but in the meantime I was inspired to use these sheers (do you remember when we bought them, Mama??) for the mirror and the window.

Input? Constructive criticism? Note: Constructive criticism does not include telling me I'm out of my ever-loving mind to paint my bathroom this color. :-)

9 comments:

Kathy said...

I love it! I have two different friends who had their bathrooms painted brown and I always loved the way it looked. {They both have moved to different homes now.}

Anonymous said...

criticize you? Are you kidding. Chocolate is the new Navajo white. :)
Ruth Bloom

Genene said...

Those sheers brought a smile and memories =}.
I love the look; think you will enjoy it and not regret the change.
I must admit the color choice suprised me but you are indeed a liberated woman.

Genene said...

BTW, did you paint the interior of the door?

Kolbi said...

Ooh, I like! It is close to the color of my living room, which I call chocolate pudding, but don't actually remember the color name. And paint for $1!! So exciting!

Laurel said...

Thanks ladies! I feel so affirmed. :-)

Mama, I haven't painted the door... yet. I will probably be digging out the white paint for the trim and door and give it all a fresh coat. But I'm not in a rush.

Tracy Crowe Jones said...

I cannot believe how incredibly productive you have been lately. Please send some of that energy my way.

Jessie said...

It looks great! Thanks for posting more pictures-plus getting a bargain always makes me love things more :)

Eryn said...

i love browns! i think it looks great and how can you go wrong with such cheap paint!