My house is shaping up to be very neutral with a lot of whites, grays, and blacks.
It feels like a peaceful, serene space amidst my very hectic life. I love it.
On the flip side, I’ve been feeling a strong desire for some color.
Here are a few photos I have pinned that really speak to me…
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Having my pinned photos on my mind, I woke up one morning with some “brilliant” idea to cover my stairwell in colorful stripes to add a little peak-a-boo hit of color to my house.
Here is a before shot…even before we started construction.
One of my wonderful sponsor’s, Frog Tape, sent me a box of tape that has been burning a hole in my closet screaming to be used. Now, I just needed an adjustable ladder so I hightailed my way to Home Depot to rent one early Saturday morning.
I placed random widths of tape the length of the wall taking extra care to make sure then were even with the use of a long level.
Here I am, bright eyed and bushy-tailed early in the morning.
Disclaimer: I’m so NOT using this ladder the right way.
Ladders are not meant to be straddled, let alone set on en-even stairs, let alone dangling above a flight of stairs without hanging on to anything.
Don’t try this at home.
I finally made it to the bottom of the stairs where you can see my taping became much more spaced out as my stamina began to drop off.
Here I am looking worn-out after hours of taping, painting and climbing up and down that dang ladder, trying hard to quickly finish my project before my time was up with my rented ladder.
And here’s the after.
I actually had more stripes and two more colors planned (black and a deeper blue) but fatigue and time got the best of me. I will say that my Frog tape didn’t let me down in the crisp lines and no paint bleeding department. Worked like magic!
I started to get a little “uh-oh” feeling early on in the project but the mister told me to just keep going hold any judgements until it after was finished.
So would I call it a success?
Hmmmm?
Remember the movie Jerry Maguire where Tom Cruise gets a “brilliant” idea to completely change the way the sports agents to business so he stays up all night writing reports to everyone in the company. When he awakes the next morning he realizes he made a huge mistake and his “brilliant” idea backfires on him.
I would call this my Jerry Maguire project.
Yes, it’s pretty cool but just not right for my space.
The Mr. had to go rub salt in my wounded ego when he referred to it looking like Easter.
Re-thinking it (as well as a new coat of paint for the banister).
*Thank you again to Michelle Rasmussen of Wondertime Photo for the three after pics.*
*Thank you also to Frog Tape for providing me with the best tape ever!*
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!
You’re so brave to even attempt this! I’m not really feeling the colors either but I have to admit that I am impressed with the finished product – I don’t think I would ever have the patience to make such perfectly straight lines! I think this is still an awesome idea – but maybe just with colors that better flow with the rest of your gorgeous space? Can’t wait to see what you do!
It sounds like you made up your mind, but I think it looks great! I like the little pop of raspberry with your stool and the stripes. It works for me, but then again, I’m going thru my own “add more color” issues, too! 😉
Oh, please don’t give up on it! I think that the addition of the darker blue and black might just be the ticket. That, combined with a gallery wall of mirrors or something, really could take it to the next level. I really do love it!
Something about the colors are a little off but you CANNOT repaint over it after all that taping and work! I would suggest just painting over the raspberry and green stripes with grey and navy. Maybe some darker colors would ground it more (less Easter!) and tie it in with the other rooms?? Either way I am sure you will make it fabulous!
I think it looks great!!! Perhaps instead of completely exing the strips idea all together.. Paint over the fuchsia and green with your grey and black. I think it will eliminate the “Easter egg look”… Leave the yellow as the punch of color…
Let me know what you think!! 🙂
I’m with the others suggesting you keep going with it! I think a charcoal stripe, and possibly a bolder and darker color (like navy or “your” yellow) would help with the Easter look.
I like it and think it is unexpected. I think you should live with it but then again I liked when you painted your door and you didn’t. That door may have looked fab with this in place but you painted over it. Boo!
Well I don’t know what you’re talking about Michelle…I think it looks fantastic! Don’t change it! You did an amazing job and it really looks great!
Gosh I don’t know I really like it! Maybe if you paint the hallway wood wall a light blue to pull it in?
Oh I really love this idea! I think it looks fantastic even though the colors are a little off. Definitely that pop of raspberry in there…I love how it plays off the stool. Maybe keep the raspberry and one other color and swap the other two for a dark charcoal and lighter grey? Whatever you do this is a great, bold start!!
I love it, but maybe a different use of colors. I think if you went a little more with different hues of blues and grey s you’d hit the nail right on the head!
🙂
Great job though, seriously. Sometimes you just don’t know how a project will turn out until after it is completed.
I love the pop of “happy” it adds to your space.
I might change the baby blue to navy, but other than that I say stick with it.
You give me inspiration/ideas for my own hallway. Thanks for sharing.
What a wonderful idea and unexpected surprise! Paint the banister high gloss black. Then I would paint over the green with a navy and paint over the pink with a gray. Maybe add a black pin stripe in there as well? I think this would get rid of the easter aspect and would make it flow better with the rest of the house!
Either way, I LOVE
I really love it, I’m with the other readers and think maybe changing a couple colors it would look less pastel/easter egg ish. Don’t give up on it, it looks great now and I know you can make it look fantastic!
Love it but I think the soft blue and green are throwing me off. More bold colors would make it really pop! Looks awesome though wonder woman!
Love it but I think the soft blue and green are throwing me off. More bold colors would make it really pop! Looks awesome though wonder woman!
I needed to see these pics of you on the ladder to motivate my lazy tush to paint my own stair hallway (much tamer treatment, lol). I love how the candy colors really pop against the whiteness of your main floor decor. how fun!
on second look I think it would look even.better. if the banisters painted black to bring in the countertop color. cheers!
Oh no! So sorry…
I really think it would be fun to have just a few big pops of color in your home like you originally wanted… but maybe this wasn’t the right space? or palette? or something else? Keep working on it… something will feel right. Maybe a bright banister? Great concept though!
This is a perfect space to work with a stripe. My thoughts as a designer are this – cover this entirely and start over. See the shade of gray on your front door which one’s eye can subliminally capture while being positioned in front of the set of stairs? Use that shade of gray as your ‘base’ shade – use 2 additional shades of gray (one lighter than this and one darker than this) – add one very intense color (red, yellow, blue?). Design your stripe pattern and then re-rent that ladder for another Saturday and make it happen!
What you have in this current configuration is a nice combination of pastels – but it is placed in a setting dominated by studies of light and dark. And this is why it will not work. Your selective statements of bursts of color have been quite, quite excellent. This is the place where you can really make that statement.
Don’t be shy about it…
I LOVE this. You have the most patience for this! I would love to do this…
xo,
nancy
Michelle you are incredibly talented! I would never have the patience to tape off all those lines! So impressive.
Are you crazy! I love this wall! Don’t get rid of it! If you don’t like the colors maybe do as others suggested and switch out some colors or add pops of the two colors you ran out of energy for. Then add some fun stuff to the walls and you’re golden. Really, I’m lovin’ the wall!
I love it! I think it’s a – uh-oh, going to echo your mister, but not in a bad way – like an “easter egg” on a DVD – a hidden surprise. Maybe it’s the color palette you don’t love? They seem somewhat more pale than the other sorts of colors you’ve used in other projects and your last house? I think it’s totally awesome, though. And I know how much work it was (I striped my bathroom after being inspired by your previous entry way. Whew. Hard. Or maybe just tedious)
One question: what kind of finish is on your walls? I’m guessing you were able to choose since you did such a major reno. We have that sort of mottled thing going on that’s so common in contemporary builds. It makes taping and striping a nightmare. Even with Frog tape. And especially when you don’t have the original color to create that seal barrier Frog recommends.
Also – what color will that banister be? It looks like a high gloss black would play off your counter top and even pull from the dark curtains really well….. (painting all those curvy bits would frustrate me to bits!)
Thanks everyone for your kind comments! CD-I use eggshell on my walls.
Well, Michelle, not only I admire you deeply for your tenacity and hard work, but I’m amazed by the result. I DO LOVE IT. No Jerry Maguire in here. Just BEAUTIFUL stripes. You’re so talented!
Well, Michelle, not only I admire you deeply for your tenacity and hard work, but I’m amazed by the result. I DO LOVE IT. No Jerry Maguire in here. Just BEAUTIFUL stripes. You’re so talented!
i really did like it at first glance, and don’t hate it at all! I think it’s definitely different and fun! but if you don’t think it matches your house’s esthetic, i think doing the bannister is a great idea. So even if you paint back over the stripes and do the banister a color, i think you would love that. The pop of color could be something as simple as the banister and it would look totally intentional and brilliant! Good luck!
i really did like it at first glance, and don’t hate it at all! I think it’s definitely different and fun! but if you don’t think it matches your house’s esthetic, i think doing the bannister is a great idea. So even if you paint back over the stripes and do the banister a color, i think you would love that. The pop of color could be something as simple as the banister and it would look totally intentional and brilliant! Good luck!
i really did like it at first glance, and don’t hate it at all! I think it’s definitely different and fun! but if you don’t think it matches your house’s esthetic, i think doing the bannister is a great idea. So even if you paint back over the stripes and do the banister a color, i think you would love that. The pop of color could be something as simple as the banister and it would look totally intentional and brilliant! Good luck!
i really did like it at first glance, and don’t hate it at all! I think it’s definitely different and fun! but if you don’t think it matches your house’s esthetic, i think doing the bannister is a great idea. So even if you paint back over the stripes and do the banister a color, i think you would love that. The pop of color could be something as simple as the banister and it would look totally intentional and brilliant! Good luck!
i really did like it at first glance, and don’t hate it at all! I think it’s definitely different and fun! but if you don’t think it matches your house’s esthetic, i think doing the bannister is a great idea. So even if you paint back over the stripes and do the banister a color, i think you would love that. The pop of color could be something as simple as the banister and it would look totally intentional and brilliant! Good luck!
I think it looks fun! However, I do agree with those who say to add the dark blue and/or black. Is there a way for you to do that without standing on that crazy ladder & giving us all the “heebie jeebies”??
After studying this again it is the banister that I don’t like. It needs to be white I think. It is the banister that doesn’t work IMO.
Call me crazy, but I love this!
ORRR.. you could do some sort of ombre effect on the railing. That could be awesome. Or an ombre effect down the wall.
I think it’s fun! I love the hidden, unexpected pop of color.
I think it’s unexpected, sassy and right on target! I’m afraid I wouldn’t change a thing.
1. Thanks to you I used Frog Tape on my last painting project. It really does make a difference!!!
2. I agree with those here to say don’t give up entirely…consider some black and white photos or repainting some of the stripes, but it really does look great!
I think it looks great, but understand that it wasn’t exactly what you were going for. I bet if you did add the black and another deeper color somewhere it would make it a little more “adult” feeling. BTW, I’m not sure if you have a short extension ladder, but we used one for our similar stairway by putting the feet on the floor of the upper hallway back against the baseboard of the wall opposite the stairs. Then angled it across and rested the top end (with those rubber mitt on it) on the wall. Just a though.
Thanks for sharing and ouch, I bet you were sore the next day!
I’m with everyone else in that I like it,and I don’t think you should give up on it entirely. I think the addition of some bolder, deeper colors would tame down the Easter egg effect. All of your inspiration photos from Pinterest had deeper colors along with the lighter shades.
I just had to go back and look again and I think it is the light baby blue that feels off to me. Remedy those stripes with a deeper blue (or other deeper colors) and I think you’ll have the look you were going for.
I think that it looks cool! Maybe to echo the darker brown of the floor, adding a little bit of a darker color {like so many said before} would help balance it out?
Great job though!
I actually really like it but totally get that’s it’s not you. Would you feel differently with a bunch of pictures hanging on the wall? PS nice job with the horizontal stripes!! Taping those just so is so time consuming. 🙂
I think if you added some dark grey or charcoal accent stripes it might give you the vibe you were looking for. And paint the banister before doing anything with the stripes because that might be throwing off the perspective a little.
I love it and think it is just a little outside of your box so it seems shocking so I say just tweek it a little. Not that I have any say =0)
Kim@reposhture.blogspot.com
I love the idea and you did an amazing job, but those colors don’t seem to flow with your house? Maybe some darker colors? I’m impressed, as usual! Awesome! Hey, at least you have the GUMPTION to do it instead of wondering…”what if”… like me and nothing ever gets done.
I agree with everyone about adding in some navy/charcoal/black! I’m not sure what colors I’d change though, maybe try photoshopping some options first?
ps- I refreshed that captcha 3 times and still struggled to read it!
I think it would look awesome with black and white stripes done the same way 🙂 but I guess that wouldn’t really help with adding color, I’m impressed that you got all that done in one day!
Yeah, please don’t give up on it. Add the darker colors…this is so cool!
I love it!!! I do agree that adding a black and gray over over the green and blue would be a little less Easter like. i love the raspberry color with your stool around the corner!
Ah! I’ve so had the Jerry Maguire moment, too! Ya know what though? Ya tried it! That’s all that matters. I would LOVE it if it were maybe black and white stripes with a rogue yellow stripe or something. I love the fluctuating spacing too! Just discovered your blog, and MAN have I been missing out!! ~ Virginia @ LiveLoveDIY
I like it! Its bold and fresh and fun, which is the impression I have of you anyway 🙂 Maybe keep the stripes and think of ways to change out certain specific colors. OR even go with one specific color, but I think you should keep the colorful stripes 🙂
Really cool! I’m impressed at your stamina. Here is a quick question- how do you get your lines level? I am planning a similar project in a nursery and have been struggling with how to get those lines level.
Thanks!!
I think there is a bit too much white. I think you would like it better if you added some deeper hues – black or navy would spice it up.
Oh, and totally envious of your ladder ability. I get so sick to my stomach even thinking about heights!
I think there is a bit too much white. I think you would like it better if you added some deeper hues – black or navy would spice it up.
Oh, and totally envious of your ladder ability. I get so sick to my stomach even thinking about heights!
you’ve done a great job! Perhaps darker colour would make it less easter egg ish. I think I would paint the bainster in a bright ‘pop’ colour (gloss of course!) Especially if you do paint over the wall. good luck 🙂
I loved your concept! If i may suggest something, you should do an ombré style stripes! darker shades of grey at the bottom working ur way up to real light grey!! But what do I know lol!! I love all your awesome projects!
I loved your concept! If i may suggest something, you should do an ombré style stripes! darker shades of grey at the bottom working ur way up to real light grey!! But what do I know lol!! I love all your awesome projects!
You are awesome! I love neutrals.
I did the something similar (only a lot more expensive than a little paint on a wall) once in my former house and ordered what we now label as the “fruit-striped” sofa. When it arrived, I felt ill. I wanted to return it, but my husband and daughter loved it and they wanted me to keep it. It was one of my ‘best’ mistakes. Thankfully, I can laugh about it now.
Thank the Lord for slipcovers!
I think it looks pretty neat, I like how the spacing and widths aren’t predictable. I wonder if you could do some sort of really neat massive huge floraly-mod stencil over it…
Keep the stripes, but only on the small wall you face directly when going down the stairs. I like the stripes, but there is just too much of it…reduce it to just that small wall, and you will have the statement you were looking for. I think continuing the stripes onto the bigger wall just got too busy, and wondering how it ‘vibes’ with the birch grove stenciled wall just around the corner. I even like the colors, but if anything I would change out the raspberry color to a navy blue or grey and call it done. Way to straddle a ladder!
This is AMAZING!
I think a natural brick wall would look absolutely awesome in that space! It would go perfectly with your white interiors as well. You can grab bricks in tiles these days to put together and get the same effect as a natural one.