Whitewash Job

Remember how ugly our brick fireplace is? Of course you do, because that was the last post I wrote (sorry for not updating more frequently -- it really is insane how all consuming moving can be). So, now that we have new living room paint (yay Sanders!) and floors, the fugtacular brick fireplace must be destroyed. Like seriously, I would love to take a sledgehammer to it. Some demolition happy people suggested we rip it out entirely, and we are indeed considering a major overhaul somewhere down the line. But for now, I just need to tone that shit down. Way down. Justin Bieber's publicist down. So paint is the obvious answer.

I'm sure a white painted fireplace would look great (non sequitur sidenote: I totally have that side table but bigger).

Look how easy quirky Miss AB Chao makes it look.

I also like the look of Morgan's charcoal painted fireplace, over at Ye Old Brick House.

But I think what I want is something not quite opaque... more like this:

How cute is that house, by the way?

Or maybe even less opaque, like this.

I don't know. It could turn out super kooky, but I'd like to try whitewashing before I commit to completely covering the brick. I think a lil rustic feel would be a nice foil for all my shiny disco furniture.

What I want to know is: have you ever whitewashed brick? Did you use lime like an old school badass? Because I'm kind of into that idea... did I ever tell you that I used to make daguerreotypes when I was a full time analog photographer? I like chemicals.

If not lime, then what? I don't want a plasticky, hermetically sealed look.

At least not until my chemical laden plans fail on an epic scale.

[Remodelista, AB Chao, Brick House, Blue Rose Gold, Design Ties]

Big Booty Wood

Apologies for not giving y'all the attention you so richly deserve, especially since I truly appreciate all the feedback and comments you've offered on our quest for the perfect floors. Let me just say that I'm so busy I can barely remember my name anymore. Having our house on the market has been INSANE. Like, we don't live here anymore insane. I barely have internet access, we are surviving on salt and grease laden take out -- despite which I have lost several pounds from stress -- and Ike isn't sure where to call home. Still we've managed to decide on flooring. Drum roll please...

It's engineered white oak in a 6" strip with a natural, matte finish. I'm hoping it will look like this floor:

Because that floor is sex on a stick.

I was (ok, and still am) more than a little worried about the wide plank, but it was the best quality material I could afford and that's the only size it came in. Luckily a kind commenter directed me to these floors, which have renewed my lust for big booty planks:

Freaking orgasmic, I tell you. Dinesen makes some of the most fabulous flooring I've ever seen, but I'm betting the farm that it's waaaay more pricey than what I bought.

Those boards are ridiculously long, and look at how little variation there is... gajillion dollar floors for sure.

I'm still a little nervous that I might tire of the bigger is better look, but these photos are going a long way towards convincing me otherwise.

What do you think? Fat or skinny?

The Perfect White?

So now that I have a fantasy house to help decorate, I've been busy as a bee collecting inspiration pictures and ideas for The Inlaws. Priority #1 is a complete kitchen overhaul, and I'm sure we'll discuss that ad nauseum later. For now I am preoccupying myself with determining an overall color palette for their house my vacation getaway. The space is not ginormous, but the ceilings are super high, it has tons of windows and it gets a lot of light. The floors are warm polished marble, like so:

The current neutral running throughout the house is not horrible, but it's a little too yellow (more yellow than this picture). The aqua walls have to go -- too cold and contemporary. The Inlaws have employed fairly traditional decor in the past, and I feel like my task will be to ever so gently nudge them toward clean lines with casual finishes. I'm headed for slightly more modern but still very comfortable (and hopefully with a splash of drama), as befits a super radical 70's pool house. They seem willing to go to there.

With that in mind, I'd like to solicit your ideas for the perfect white. The ideal candidate would stand 6'2", do dishes, and be sexy as hell. Or, you know, just look great on the walls. I have some ideas of my own, but I'd love to hear yours.

Help me out, peeps. Nothing too clinical or super ultra light. Something versatile and welcoming.

And... go!