Saturday, February 12, 2011

32 Project Teal {my side challenge}

Sure, I am working on this month's challenge, Project Photography, but I decided to add another challenge to my plate.

I am challenging myself to inject teal into my kitchen.  There I said it.  I decided that if I put it out there, I could do a better job of holding myself accountable...

Plus, as much as I adore organizing, I also adore my home and playing with it's potential!

Our kitchen has come a long way since we moved in....

BEFORE:


AFTER: 


And as much as we love all that we have done to lighten and freshen up the space {especially painting out the cabinets}, we still have oodles on the ol' wish list.  Like new counter-tops, updated backsplash {I am dreaming of white subway tiles} and some new hardwood floors throughout.  But hey, I am a blogger and daycare mommy.  It's not like I am rolling in the home makeover dough... so sometimes it's all about working with what you have and making what you have work...

Which means, since I can't go out tomorrow and replace my uber ugly green laminate counters, I MUST find away to make them tolerable.  My new obsession with teal just might do the trick.  Here's hoping!

I decided that I am a giant fan of mixing shades of green, with teal.  And I definitely have green in my living room, and a different tone of green in my kitchen.  Teal will hopefully be my linking color, bringing more unity to the two spaces.  And giving them a fun and fresh new feeling at the same time!

I took my first step last weekend.  I switched out a green candle with a teal vase up on our kitchen shelving display!  And I luuuurve it!

 
It's crazy the difference a $7 pop of color makes to the whole display!




That one vase was my inspiration to keep going with the color infusion!

What colors are you smitten over lately?  Anyone bringing in fresh colors through accessories, to give your space a whole new feeling?  What is the easiest way to change out a color scheme for a whole new one, without breaking the bank?

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32 comments:

  1. JessFebruary 12, 2011 at 8:48 PM

    Love it!! I'm a teal fan too and I'm about to re-do my bedroom from black/grey/silver/white to white and teal.

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  2. DomesblissityFebruary 12, 2011 at 9:01 PM

    I'm in the process of making up our bedroom from floral pinks (not very husband friendly LOL) to black/chocolate/oatmeal. It's only the bed linen I have to worry about. I have dark timber furniture and cream curtains and the walls are cream.

    We've got new birch coloured Ikea furniture in our living room and I'm going to go chocolate as well on sofa covers to cover our floral lounge suite.

    I always think cushions are a good, cheap way to change the look of a room. There are so many painting applications out now for painting kitchen bench tops and tiles.

    Not sure if you get it in the US but we do here in Australia and that's the Canadian Candace Olsen and her program "Divine Design". She always has innovative ideas on painting to change the look of a room.

    http://www.hgtv.com/divine-design/show/index.html

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  3. Pine Tree HomeFebruary 12, 2011 at 9:03 PM

    I find that I am drawn to greens. While I thought I would love teal in masses, I find that I like it just here and there. I've painted a couple of accent pieces a teal called Bahama Sea and its beautiful.

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  4. elisabeth (bovagoods)February 12, 2011 at 9:03 PM

    i love teal. it's such a happy fresh color and it goes well with almost every other color. it looks great with green, red, brown, gray....i have some teal here and there through out my house and i just don't ever get tired of it. i can't wait to see what else you come up with!

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  5. AbbyFebruary 12, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    I am a HUGE teal fan.
    ATM I am trying out teals and purples with white =)

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  6. TysFebruary 12, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    I totally see teal in your kitchen! I know you'll make it happen and look fantastic!

    I have dark granite, dark cabinets, and ss appliances... so lately I've been really really wanting some WHITE accessories to help pop! I tired shopping my house, and I have nothing.

    So time to start thrifting and see what I come up with :)

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  7. ElsaFebruary 12, 2011 at 9:14 PM

    I am a HUGE fan of any shades of teal & turquoise. I just did my office in teals and gray and shared it on my blog on Friday. I just love how colorful and cheerful it is in any room.

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  8. FrancesFebruary 12, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    I love teal too, but recently in my home I love red. Bright red, deep red, burgundy--doesn't matter. My kitchen is painted a buttery yellow--supposed to be yellow with blue accents--but red just goes so well with it that I can't resist it. My house just isn't big enough to take red walls lol :)

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  9. Jenn @ Peas and CrayonsFebruary 12, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    I play with teal and green together in my home a lot! <3 The obsession started in high school and even carried over into my wedding colors =) I'm a tad obsessed!

    xoXOxo
    Jenn @ Peas & Crayons

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  10. Jen @ The Decor SceneFebruary 12, 2011 at 9:56 PM

    I love teal and only have a little bit in my home, butI will be addding more. I think I might repaint my bathroom a light teal. Teal, white and beige. Just found inspiration for it at Home Goods yesterday. I will blog about it soon.

    I love to switch out small decor over the year and switch out some curtains and my duvet also. Just brings new life to a room. Can't wait to see what else you add.

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  11. JoFebruary 12, 2011 at 10:19 PM

    Your teal vase is gorgeous. I think it is the perfect accent colour for the brown in your kitchen. At it looks great with your green too. I'm in the process of changing my colour palette from warm and dark (red/gold/brown) to cool and light (turquoise/olive/white). I've made a few small steps so far, with a few more to be made once I have painted the yellow walls to a more neutral colour. The Nester had a great post about how she changed her colour palette. Here is the post: (http://www.thenester.com/2010/09/how-to-change-the-theme-of-your-decor-without-breaking-the-bank.html)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Cat@BudgetBlondeFebruary 12, 2011 at 10:40 PM

    I looove teal!!! It's one of my fav colors. Sigh and I love your glass vase too! Have a wonderful weekend Jen!
    xoxo,
    Cat @ BudgetBlonde

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  13. Chandeen @ Designed by ChanceFebruary 12, 2011 at 10:44 PM

    I have always been drawn to warmer colors, but I love the way the teal vase looks in your kitchen.

    After reading so many blogs with so much white (I noticed this is big right now) I want to incorporate more white into my house. I love how bright and clean it looks. So far I have three little bud vases, and a white throw. It's not much, but this stuff takes time.

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  14. AlexisAnneFebruary 13, 2011 at 5:51 AM

    I'll look great! I am a huge fan of brown/teal together. You could keep your eyes open for some simple photo prints (or I'm sure you could take some yourself) that have some red,green, and teal in them to tie it all together- and then hang a few vertically on that little strip of brown wall you have to the right of the cabinets.

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  15. LainieCohlFebruary 13, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    I love this! Where did you get the framed print behind your teal vase? It is so simple yet lovely.

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  16. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2011 at 9:25 AM

    My new colour obsession is turquoise and pink (not together)! Not necessarily in my house but in my wardrobe for sure.

    We just moved and our home was originally painted in dark grays, mushrooms, yellows...not my taste. We just splashed it up with some light blue/light gray paint and it made a world of difference. The art on our wall really makes it pop!!! It's like we have a whole new bedroom and living room now! Paint for us was the cheapest way to update it all!

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  17. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    I have been a huge fan of teal this last year too. When I redid my bedroom it was all teal and gray, and I noticed the other day when I took the doors off of one of my cabinets that I had a ton of teal/turquoise in my kitchen too. I have found there are two reoccuring colors going on in my house, avocado green and teal. works for me. Good luck.

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  18. Heidi @ Sweet Birdie's NestFebruary 13, 2011 at 1:33 PM

    I have a purple dining room and a red kitchen, so I'm trying to incorporate more of both colors in my brown, brown, and tan family room. :)

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  19. Nikki WelchFebruary 13, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    Love it!

    Did you happen to get those floating shelves at Ikea? I love the way they look!

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  20. CarlyFebruary 13, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    Teal (and all its variants) is my favorite-favorite! I have turquoise and green in my kitchen right now. It adds so much cheer! Good luck with further teal integration :)

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  21. NorellFebruary 13, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    I'm not going with the color of the year - honeysuckle, because I did it several years ago. Most of it is gone now. I am loving green, teal and turquoise this year!!! I've done green and white for the past couple years and this year I can't keep my eyes of anything turquoise.

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  22. NorellFebruary 13, 2011 at 4:14 PM

    PS - I am craving the beautiful vase/glassware you added to your kitchen!!!

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  23. NicPic PhotographyFebruary 13, 2011 at 4:49 PM

    Hi!! I have a question! Can you tell me how you were able to put the wine glass rack in the shelf? Do they sell it at Ikea? Please email me at Nicben314@gmail.com or put a comment on my blog. I'm dying to know. love the look for my dining room!! thank you.

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  24. Jane @ The Borrowed AbodeFebruary 14, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    I think the teal is a great addition!
    Second, I am so in love with your little bar shelving area. I think I'm going to channel it as inspiration in my nearly-nonexistent dining room.
    Lastly, why on earth anyone ever thought that GREEN counter tops were a good idea is beyond me.

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  25. NikkiFebruary 14, 2011 at 11:36 AM

    If you're not fond of your backsplash, you can paint it!

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  26. Jamee @ A New Kind of NormalFebruary 14, 2011 at 12:38 PM

    We just recently painted our laminate countertops to make them more tolerable until we can replaced them! We used Giani countertop paint and it was super easy to do! For around $50 we got a whole new look for our kitchen! Here is a link to the post that I did: http://www.anewkindofnormal.com/2010/12/holiday-home-tour/

    Let me know if you want more info!

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  27. Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}dFebruary 14, 2011 at 1:38 PM

    Love the teal! Definitely add more!

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  28. Jackie KollFebruary 14, 2011 at 2:03 PM

    What color did you paint your cabinets and what color is on the wall - I love them both and am always looking for good colors.

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  29. IHeart OrganizingFebruary 14, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    Yeppers, those floating shelves are from IKEA and they are fabulous! :)

    Jackie - the colors are Behr's Navajo white on the cabinets and the wall color is Behr's Belgian Sweet.

    Thanks!! :)

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  30. DaliaFebruary 22, 2011 at 11:45 AM

    Love love the teal glass vase!!!! Where did you get it???

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  31. offtoworkigoFebruary 22, 2011 at 7:03 PM

    My sister painted her ugly blue laminate counters with a laminate paint that was sort of a gray/black/brown thing from the local home improvement store. There was a clear overlay coat that made it useable and smooth. Go to your local giant Home Depot or Lowe's and ask in the paint department to find out what they have for laminate counters (my sister asked for Formica paint). You might be surprised what a $40 project could yield.

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  32. IHeart OrganizingFebruary 22, 2011 at 7:27 PM

    Here is a link to the vase, I suppose I should remain my project, "Project Turquoise" http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00115398

    I can never tell the dif between the two colors... I think IHeart them both!

    xoxo,
    Jen

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