Purple and I go way back …
way, way back to the One-Eyed, One-Horned Flying Purple People Eater.
That song brings me way, way back to memories of my sister Janet. And in my memory, Janet played the role of the Purple People Eater. And I the one asking not to be eaten.
And while purple was my go-to color in grammar school, somehow I never had a purple room. Pink and green – with an alternating combo of pink walls followed by green walls – when I shared a room with my sister Carol. That room-sharing situation lasted from birth through high school.
When I graduated from high school and graduated to a room of my own, I painted it (all by myself) a hue of Tiffany blue.
And that is when my love affair with paint rollers and paint brushes and drop cloths began.
At that time, purple was never a room color option. Seems I outgrew that grammar school color fascination …
or so I thought.
Turns out my daughter has outgrown purple too.
Though, to perfectly honest, her purple room was my idea. She was still little when I graduated her from nursery to big girl room. Turns out, I channeled my inner purple-people-eater-loving-grammar-school-girl when I created this room for her.
I had also embraced the flower. Stenciled on the walls. And furniture.
When I first created this space (a space that has been “well worn” over the years) I had draped a sheer white piece of fabric over those hooks. Trying to give it a romantic look …
and create a faux headboard in this tiny little space.
The balloon shade I had made used to have a pretty, sparkly hanging bead edge. But somewhere over the years, the beads have disappeared …
picked away.
I changed out the hardware on the Crate & Barrel armoire with knobs from Restoration Hardware. But I didn’t get enough. Miscounted. So we ended up with a bad mix-and-match mix-up of hardware on the dresser over the years.
As an aside, the armoire will be getting a coat or two of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Pure White. And proper, matching hardware.
I also plan to count – and count again (to confirm) — before buying the hardware this time around.
I thought I was so clever when I made this artwork. You know, to match the stencil.
A stencil I made myself. Because my daughter loved Monsters Inc. At one point, I stenciled her bedroom door with Boo’s flowers. It was a a stay-at-home mommy’s burst-of-creative-energy-after-pre-school surprise.
And then I had the genius idea to add rhinestones to the flowers. You know, as seeds. I’m pretty sure I glued them on with Super Glue …
… because prying them off the wall this past weekend was not fun. Or easy.
😉
Yesterday I gave my daughter a very important life lesson. A life lesson in how to paint a room …
and together, with paint brushes and paint rollers in hand, we bid a fond farewell to her One-Eyed, One-Horned Flying Purple People Eater room.
Linda
Sharing: * Between Naps on the Porch *
I remember the first room I ever painted. My mom taught me. You may have created your own little painting monster. Can’t wait to see what you do in there now.
She was a real trooper too! Whenever I try to get her involved in things she’ll typically get bored after like five minutes. But she stuck with it to the end! 🙂
I think it’s precious but can’t wait to see what you TWO have been up to! Have a great day ~ xo Heidi
I always wanted a purple room, but never got one. My mom was not a fan of purple, and in an 1876 farmhouse one needed to cover the walls with wallpaper to keep the lathe and plaster together. First it was light blue, then dark blue, then orange and yellow. Can’t wait to see how Molly’s ends up!!
I cant’ believe she hasn’t made you paint this room before now! It was a great effort – the stenciling and the rhinestones
She’s wanted to change it for a least a year now. Maybe more. I was holding out because this summer I’m swapping kid rooms. So when Sam’s in college he’ll have the smaller space. And Molly can move into his larger room. A h.s. girl needs her space, after all. And she wants that space to be all white. So this is a mini gender-neutral-wall-color room redo ….
🙂
Such a sweet little girl’s room–have fun revitalizing it together! I look forward to seeing what I know will be the fabulous “after”.
Beautiful job!
i am holding back the tears of purple welling up in my eyes and getting ready to see what beautiful design you guys come up with and how the mom daughter paint job goes.
I’m excited! The young girl that lives inside me loves room makeovers.
I’m 38 years old and I love purple – so much so that I just painted (another) room purple. I just redid my master bath with a color called Pure Purple. http://stacyrocks.com/master-bathroom-overhaul/
Years ago (about 10 or so) i painted one of the guest bedrooms of my house (which has since become my office – I swapped out the guest room/office designation) what I call a periwinkle purple. And it has remained that color as I still love it. 🙂
I have plenty of the pure purple paint left and I am planning on doing vertical stripes of that and possibly the periwinkle purple (if I can get the cans open (it is in those plastic twist top Dutch Boy paint cans and it is stuck good right now) and if it’s still good – if not then something likely very similar in color) in my basement “foyer”. So there will be plenty of purple walls in my house.
So yeah, I believe if you want purple (or any color) you can/should have it. Granted, I own my house and I live alone (except for pets who don’t seem to have any strong decorating opinions) so I can do whatever I like – and I do. 🙂