Recently, we painted our the beat-up, thick wood trim in our 77 year old home in hopes that it would brighten and update the space. And boy did it ever! I’ve already shared the huge difference painting the trim made in our living room turned mom cave.
I couldn’t believe the transformation the paint made in our dining room and wanted to share it, but I needed a little something in the wall art department. And yay, I finally figured it out this week, so here it is.
I was struggling to find a piece for this space! I tried nothing, I tried lots of little somethings, I tried a huge honkin’ chalkboard (“16 days until Christmas” graced my board in January), but nothing worked.
I hung this sign from my friend Pamela and loved it in the spot, but the other side still needed something else. I was stuck. On Monday, inspiration struck and I was in a project whirlwind.
I saw the below picture pop up on my Instagram feed on Monday. My friend Ashley at The Handmade Home shared it, her post was on Decorating with Photos and making a simple cork board, isn’t it lovely?
I pretty much freaked out when I saw this because I finally knew what I wanted to do. I would not be surprised if an actual light bulb appeared over my head at that moment. 😉
I bundled up the kids (we have three under four) and ran to HD to have the sign color matched. I had a bulletin board in the attic that I had redone, but never truly loved, so I dug that out. On Tuesday, I got to work deconstructing the board in the hopes of painting it the same color as the sign.
Here’s that pic again, you can see me tearing it apart right above Lily’s head:
It was a bigger task than I had imagined. Remove 300 thumbtacks with needle nose pliers? I can do that. Peel off fabric? Okay, no biggie. Peel hot glue off of wood and cork? Uhhhhhh… HOT MESS.
But I got there. And when I started painting the cork, and realized that paint just wasn’t going to cut it. I needed something to hide the bazillion holes and missing cork chunks that my sloppy DIY left behind.
I racked my brain for something with texture and found it in my stash: burlap. I would paint the burlap.
Did a little mock-up (above, right), and it was perfect. I was getting giddy. Painted the edges to hide the blue, cut the burlap to size, use adhesive to spray it down this time, and got painting.
Between naps and meals and breaks all day, I got it done and hung last night.
I added the “Tomorrow is Fresh with No Mistakes” print from my friend Lindsay, some Instagram photos, snips of kid artwork, and quick B&W prints from our printer.
I’m in love. It’s big, it’s neutral and cohesive, has an old texture, and is full of personality and life. Our life. 🙂
Here’s the before and after of our dining room. I really didn’t think we did that much in here until I saw this comparison (I always do that to myself). But if you’re thinking of painting your trim, this may make up your mind.
Same room, same cheap painted hutches, same spray painted $5 chandelier, same thrifted table. We painted the walls an updated greige (MS Sharkey Gray) and the trim white (Valspar Bistro White), and added larger, more cohesive wall art.
update: We sold our home in September 2014, here are the updated pictures we used in our listing!
I’m so glad we painted that darn trim white. 🙂
Tiffany Blue says
I love your board. I am trying to paint some burlap white for a bulletin board What type of paint did you use? What type of brush? How many coats of paint did it take? Please provide a few more step by step details? Also, did you use same paint for wood trim and burlap?
Ann Marie Heasley says
Hi Tiffany! I used eggshell latex paint that I had color matched, I don’t have a particular favorite brand. I think I used a 2″ wide paint brush. This color took two coats, looking back I probably would have painted the bulletin board first and waited a day, then attached the burlap with spray adhesive, then painted it all. I did the spray adhesive then attached the burlap and then painted it all at the same time and thought that it was a little tricky to get in the nooks and crannies. I did use the same paint for the wood trim as well. Normally I do a primer over the wood, but since this hung on the wall, I didn’t see it getting much wear and tear. It’s been over a year (this was written Feb ’13) and it still looks great! 🙂
Hope that helps, let me know if you have more questions!
Tiffany Blue says
Ann Marie,
Thank you for answering my questions. Have a blessed day!!!
Jodi says
Love the huge change the paint and larger wall art made in your dining room. Great job!! Have you thought of painting your chairs white as well. I love the wood table, but think white chairs would work better with the white hutches and trim. Just my opinion.
JoLynn says
Beautiful! This might be a silly question (since no one else asked it), but what kind of adhesive did you use for the burlap? I am ‘SO doing this! I have an old ratty looking cork board that I’ve been meaning to put up in our dining room, and this is just the make-over it needs!!
Ann Marie Heasley says
Not a silly question at all! I used spray adhesive. Looking back, I liked that it was fast to apply and when I do it again, I’ll use the spray adhesive again. BUT! It left a super sticky burlappy mess on my hands. It cleaned up easily and then that was done but be aware of it.
Almost a year later the bulletin board held up great! In fact I’m looking at it now, haha. 🙂 I’m going to make a white one for our entryway as well.
Thanks for taking the time to comment! Good luck and let me know how it goes.
[email protected] says
Looks BEAUTIFUL!! Great color!
gfmpainting says
Nice post and GFM Painting paints nothing but museum quality oil paintings reproduction reflecting the quality of the original artist artwork. Every painting is hand painted by skilled artists and we do not use digital printing techniques like glicee printing.
Tara @ Suburble says
Oh, that is a great take on a bulletin board! I wouldn’t have ever thought of using bulap – it’s a nice way to add texture to something that is often utilitarian and not-so-pretty. I adore that you have the “Tomorrow is fresh with no mistakes on it” quote on your board. Anne of Green Gables is one of my favourite characters ever!
Painting the trim was the way to go! I can’t believe how much it transformed your room! Well done!
Jana says
Looks great, any ideas on a room for new baby? : )
Ann Marie lives here says
Thanks, Jana! I like similar colors to this room to keep it light and bright, but with BOLD pops of fun color! Girl: coral, bright pink, mint, bright yellow. Boy: emerald, bright yellow, peacock blue, turquoise, cobalt blue. Think fun jewel tones mixed with pale colors. Right now the room shared by our three little ones is light beige with white and wood and bright colors as accents. Here’s my pinterest board with kids’ rooms: http://pinterest.com/whbsblog/kid-rooms/
Thanks so much for asking, this was fun 🙂 and you reminded me that I have no baby room inspiration pinterest boards!! AHHHH!!!! Must. Go. Make. One.
Sarah @ The Ugly Duckling House says
Your mother and I never loved each other.
Ann Marie says
knick knack patty whack give a dog a bone?
Angie in the Thick of It says
Said the liar. Not. (What the flip is going on HERE? I love both of you two for these comments.)
Angie in the Thick of It says
I just decided I would go to all my favorite blogs and leave random, nonsensical comments. Thank you for the inspiration 🙂
[email protected] says
Ooo, fancy! Love the painted trim and of course, the bulletin board!!
Ann Marie says
aww thank you, Michelle! I feel fancy now. 😉
My own site said I was spam this morning, if that makes ya feel any better about getting flagged. So weird! I see nothing spammy about your comment, I’ll go put my filter in time out.
Megan says
It is amazing the difference white trim makes! Love your board. Nothing better then the joys of your life surrounding you :).
Ann Marie says
Agreed, it makes me happy to see them up there 🙂 Thanks, I’m happy it’s done, haha!
Erin @ DIY On the Cheap says
The dining room looks beautiful! And I love the cork board. You did a great job!
Ann Marie says
thank you so much, Erin! It makes the room so much happier 🙂
Elizabeth @ Southern Color says
The room looks great! It’s amazing what paint can do 😉 I especially like the photo board, I never would have thought to paint the burlap. Thanks for sharing for the Pinterest Challenge!!
Ann Marie says
thank you, Elizabeth! It really is amazing, and we see it time and time again but it still is a huge surprise. 🙂 I’m happy you came over to say hi, have a great day!
Stacia says
Uh. You’re house is like the cutest thing ever!!
Ann Marie says
and you are like the sweetest person ever 😉 thanks, Stacia!
Kelli says
I love it! It’s everything wonderful! I also love anyone that uses the word “honkin'”. It’s one of my favorite adjectives. 😉 AND…I love the jars on the bottom of your hutch. Just picked up four at ReStore last weekend. (I already had one.) Anyway…you get my vote! 😉 k.
Ann Marie says
I love people who use honkin’. We were meant to be. 😉
yay for your score!!! I got the bottom ones at a garage sale and I hate telling people that, because IKEA no longer makes them, and Target’s are way expensive. But YAY, you found some thrifted too! 😀
Dwija {House Unseen} says
It really looks like a totally different room. Amazing!
Ann Marie lives here says
HEY! Thanks girl 😉 it feels different too. Paint works wonders for wanting to keep a room clean…
Miranda says
Wow! It looks so good! Nice work!!
Ann Marie lives here says
thanks, Miranda! big hug to you 😉
Melanie says
What a transformation! I really love that burlap bulletin board.
Ann Marie lives here says
thank you, Melanie! I feel like I want to start slapping it up all over the place, haha. It really adds nice texture.
Laura @ House Of Joyful Noise says
I never would have thought of painting burlap. But it came out great! Maybe helps cover up that horrible burlap smell that fabric usually has too. Totally love the new family board. And the before and after of the room painted….WOW! What an impact a small change can make. I really want to hang the cross back up. Maybe on the left wall? Or maybe it went to an even better place. But LOVE the changes, otherwise! Great job. Got to be happy with that!
Ann Marie lives here says
yes! good call on the cross, I have a nail in the wall waiting for it next to the other hutch. 🙂 Thank you for mentioning that, Laura. I forgot to take it out after we painted!!
thank you so much for the sweet compliments 🙂
Bekah says
What an update!! It looks so great!!
Ann Marie lives here says
thank you, Bekah! And thanks for popping over so quickly and leaving a comment from your phone. I know that’s a pain and so your sweet words mean that much more to me 😉