The shelves around the fireplace are finished, painted and 1/3rd of the way filled!
I find myself gravitating more towards a minimalist look when it comes to my home, which this wall definitely was pre-shelves. There’s enough junk-amalism that comes along with 4 boys that I need my decor not to add to the revolving mess. Now that I have these shelves I’m trying to strike a balance between not junking them up with clutter vs. carefully curating them to look quiet, functional and interesting. Make any sort of sense?
In other interior news, the walls going down our stairs are getting on my nerves (again). Let me take you back through my journey of insanity…
At first the walls were stark white…too bland.
So then I went to the other extreme an added color. A bit too much color. This had Easter nightmare written all over it.
I then had to sand all the raised lips lines that the painted stripes created and repaint the wall. That was a lot of fun.
Next came the Birch Tree stencil in black. Wrong.
Alas, the Birch Tree stencil in gray appeased me…which is what it looks like today.
I’m always relieved when I see real life designers like Emily Henderson or Sarah Richardson have a vision, test it out, then realize it was a mistake.
This is apparently my “Test it out and that was a mistake” wall (for the 4th time now).
It was a fun fad but now I’m over it.
I want something fun there but not fad-ish.
A new banister would be nice too but for now, I think I’ll paint it and see what that does for me.
Here’s some inspiration that’s speaking to me from my Pinterest boards…
Source I have planked walls all over my house and I love them.
If you gravitate towards minimalism but don’t want stark and cold, planked walls give the perfect amount of visual interest.
Yep.
That’s what I’m leaning towards.
Done.
Now to break the news to the Mr.
Hey there! I’m Michelle; I’m an Passionate DIY’er and in constant pursuit of how to bring beauty to my house full of men (3 boys + 1 hubby). Stick around and see what I’ve got up my hard-working sleaves!
Girl, you’re speaking my language! Staircases are tricky, with the extra tall ceilings and how they’re cut by different levels. We put up tongue and groove (super knotty and textured) and painted it all white. http://ourhumbleabodeblog.com/2014/05/01/dont-have-a-cow/ It’s the perfect solution. There’s some texture and interest, without overpowering. And everything pops against it. Can’t wait to see how yours turns out! 🙂
I’m SOOO in love with your plank wall. It’s stunning. If I wasn’t convinced before…I sure am now. Thanks Amanda!
I have a stair wall that has been bugging me since we moved into our house. Someone suggested a gallery wall but it is partly in the kitchen/dining room upstairs and partially in the downstairs living room so I think it would be awkward. I am considering board and batten but haven’t told my husband…sure he will LOVE that suggestion(insert eye roll here)! LOL
Oh girl, my husband has the eye roll down perfectly. I think it’s become his conditioned response to ANY project I suggest, good or bad, big or small. Good luck! 🙂
ANND all of a sudden i want to do a white plank wall! After seeing these pictures over and over again!!!! I will have to butter up the husband before i suggest it though…maybe take him out to dinner and let him pick the movie….yeah that might work!
I love it! I might have to steal your idea about the Mr. Always gotta butter these fellas up before we lay out the project agenda! Good luck to both of us! 🙂
Definitely plank walls! I love your other stairs as well, but I know exactly what you mean – an idea is fun and wonderful, then you get the itch for change – plank walls will look great! Just my opinion, and my addiction to lighting, but that stairway is perfect for a hanging chandelier or minimal hanging lamp… Just an idea!
Yes, totally agree. We currently have a can light there. I’ll have to see if I can figure out if a conversion kit would work for a hanging chandelier.
I recently had a staircase “fail” too. I had visions of painting all the (ugly, yellowish wood planks) a creamy white. I started on the bottom of the stairs that had wood planks (icky ones though) As soon as I had the white primer up, I knew I could not do white it was too stark for our home. So I took a chance on a colour without bringing the paint chip home first (mistake) and beige turned out looking peach! double yuck. Back I went and found a decent tan colour. But it’s not what I wanted and the upper staircase with the yellowy wood has not been touched yet, so everything is mis matched and I just can’t figure out the space at all. I wanted it fresh & light looking, like a cottage style look.
Why are staircases so difficult!!!! :/
What material do you use for your plank walls?
It’s actually a tongue and groove, mdf boards that fit together.
I want to be just like you when I grow up. I’m so impressed amazed entertained! Nice work
How sweet are you?! Thanks Kayla!