Paint is up on the walls in the new dining room and it. is. dramatic!
I knew I wanted a dark, grey-green for the walls and could visualize the perfect color in my head. However, it proved a little difficult to chase down that color in real life.
Go to the hardware store looking for “white” paint and there are literally hundreds of variations of white to choose from. Want a medium-dark green? Well, there’s “Barney-the-dinosaur’s-tummy” and “the-90’s-ate-my-baby-hunter-green” to choose from… (Apparently, it is asking too much to find a cool-toned green that doesn’t want to start partying with mauve like it’s 1992.)
Well Martha Stewart saved the day.
Admit it: we love Martha Stewart. And we hate Martha Stewart. And we love to hate Martha Stewart. But homegirl has one sophisticated paint line at Home Depot!
My living room is Martha Stewart Living “Picket Fence” and the old dining room is Martha Stewart Living “Zinc”… And now the new dining room is Martha Stewart Living “Chard”.
When I want a color that doesn’t look like it came out of children’s crayon box (even one of those awesome 120 count Crayola boxes), I find myself reaching again and again for those MS Living paint chips. Most of the colors have a “muddy” quality to them that adds sophistication. [By the way, Martha is so not paying me to promote her paint color line. I wish! Darn her good taste and dynastic capabilities and complete obliviousness to my existence.]
Yeah, new paint color. I dig it.
(Except for that weird header trim thing above the fireplace. I am not so certain about that in these pictures… Should I paint it out to match the wall?)
Maybe you’ve noticed that the fireplace also had a bit of a makeover…
So much better now!
Fun story. After hearing about how much brick just sucks up paint, I bought an entire gallon of flat black paint to be safe. And used approximately 1/10 of it. If that.
The fireplace was fine after one coat! I brushed it on with a Purdy angled brush and used a little craft paint brush to poke into any cracks and crevices.
I then gave it a second coat to use up some extra paint and feel better about myself.
I now have lots and lots of flat black paint leftover.
I am still torn on what color to paint the chairs. (I know, *so* yesterday’s news. Sorry for my indecisiveness.)
I have this fabric headed my way to reupholster the seats:
So black totally makes sense in my head. But I don’t want to make everything too dark, so white is still fighting for its place. But black… A nice graphite-y, satin-matte black! The turmoil!
So that’s all for the dining room currently…
Just kidding, I totally have secret projects up my sleeve that I’ve cleverly managed to mask in the photos above – muahahaha. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen sneak peeks. If you follow me on Instagram (hint, hint) you may see more…
love it! love the color!
Thanks Cassie!
thats the perfect green. i love MSL paint colors. you're right they have more of a sophisticated quality to them. loving what you've done so far!
Thank you Kerri! Yay – another MSL color lover! 🙂
Perfect colors. The black and the green are so you and gorgeous!
Thank you Julia! It's been a hot mess in there lately, so it was so nice to clear everything out for these photos and really get a good look at it – I'm excited for the next steps!
What a refreshing change from all the neutral toned rooms popular today. I just love it, and can hardly wait to see what you have up your sleeve.
Thank you Jeannie! I'm afraid I don't do neutral very well 😉 I'm so glad you like the new wall color!
I like that header trim thingy above the fireplace white. I think it breaks up the dark colors nicely! Love this paint color!
Thanks so much for the feedback Megan! 🙂
Really digging the color scheme you have going on! Having extra flat black paint, can come in handy for random little projects!
Oh and I'm team white. From the photos, it really seems to brighten up the room. Plus chunky molding steals my heart.
Thanks Trisha! Hehe, yes, I may never have to buy black paint ever again 😉
Thanks for the vote for the white molding!
I love the color. I've used Martha paint colors before and have been happy with them. The leopard print will go great with that green. Great progress!
Thanks Jennifer! I'm so excited to see the leopard with the green walls!
Oh my GOSH. I LOVE the colors in this room! Those dining chairs are gorgeous and the leopard is going to look absolutely perfect with them!!
Thank you Amy! Eeek! I'm so excited to pull it together!
Martha never lets us down! great job. this is going to be GORGEOUS when you are all done!
Like a good neighbor, Martha is there… 😉
Thanks Trina! I want to stay up for approximately 72 hours straight and just knock out the rest of it! But I should probably sleep and eat and go to work and stuff.
i love the black brick!!! the white header trim thing looks great white, really breaks up the dark colors. white chairs would really bring it all together with the trim and you could always do black accent chairs at the head of the table 😉
Oooh, what a great idea! Thanks for weighing in Summer!
Such a gorgeous color! I'm so freaking excited to see your completed dining room. I don't think that I would paint your chairs! I think the wood tones are very pretty. Maybe stain them a darker different color?
Thanks Kae! I'll admit, I've definitely considered staining the chairs but I'm completely put off by the work needed to sand them down. I don't have a closeup of the current finish, but pictures are much nicer to it than reality is – think bad speckled 70's. In fact, the current finish looks much more like paint (faux wood) than actual wood! Sad day.
This is why you're one of my most favorite bloggers! This room is SO fierce! I like the chracter that leaving that random bit of trimwork white adds! And those chairs, honey, drool! I know youll find a great way to use that flat black paint, never feel bad about extra paint!
Thank you Corinna! You're so sweet! I like that – "fierce"! Totally going to steal that as a "direction" word for this room 🙂
Those walls are amazing!! Can't wait to see more.
Thank you Tanya! I'm bursting at the seams to share the next step in this room makeover… 🙂
LOVE!! I think the fabric would look amazing on the chairs. Would you consider painting the chairs or table lighten it up? Or maybe some bright art would help bounce light? I can't wait to see the direction that you go…gorgeous!
Hehe, speaking of bouncing light… That's coming up soon! 🙂 I'm definitely going to paint the chairs… I just need to pick out the perfect color still! Thanks Ashley!
I love that green color so dark and moody. Your dining room gets great natural light too. That leopard print fabric is really going to set the dining room off. Thanks for the link because I was thinking about upholstering some seats in leopard print.
The fabric just came in and I have to say, it's *much* more vibrant in real life than in photos online – there's definitely some bold orange in it. But I love it!
LOVE the color you chose and you are right about the MS line of paints, I always gravitate towards her color options as well 🙂 I'm undecided about the white space because on one hand I like how it breaks up the color but then wonder if it would look more cohesive if it was painted? Either way I think it looks great! The fireplace update makes a huge difference in the room too and I can't wait to see how you pull everything else together. Thanks for sharing at The Makers!
Thank you Katie 🙂 That's my thought process too – would it look better if the white didn't cut off the wall so far down? I like the fireplace so much more now! I just need to find/make a modern fireplace screen next!
What a pretty color! I love a dramatic wall color if there is plenty of natural light. I think your room is going to be so lovely when it is finished!
Thank you Abby! We have these incredibly dark solar shades on all the windows in our house, and they really do help drastically cut A/C costs in the summer, but I had enough of it on the dining room window and pulled it off to reveal streams of glorious sunlight! Thankfully, that particularly window doesn't get much direct sunlight, so hopefully I can keep the shades off that one for good!
I found your blog awhile back and instantly knew I had found a kindred spirit. I love to see all of your projects and thrift store finds! I love the idea of making this space your dining room. The green looks awesome. Once you put a piece of art or mirror over the fireplace, then decide about painting the trim above it. Normally, I would not, but as it is now, I think it would make the ceiling look taller if it was painted the same green as the wall. Also, I don't know what the plans are for flooring, but if you put a colorful rug under the table that will add interest as well. I LOVE the leopard fabric for the chairs. My vote is to spray the chairs black and leave the table as is. As usual, whatever you choose will be FABULOUS!
Aw, thank you Tracy! We are so thinking along the same lines! My thought process exactly! You totally "get" my vision for the room 🙂 Thanks for your vote for the black chairs – that's the way I'm [heavily] leaning too!
Wow! That looks AMAZING! I love it so much! I am wishing I was as brave as you with your dark color choices. They are awesome. I never, ever would have though to paint that room that color. And now I have a mad crush on it!
Jenni
Thank you Jenni! The dark greys were my gateway into dark colors, so it was fun to go for an actual color this time. This colors is so much fun in the morning and afternoon with sunlight streaming in!
I love the use of dramatic dark paint in dining rooms it really sets the tone and mood I think. Cant wait to see how you decorate and finish it off 🙂
Thank you Michelle! I'll do my best to roll out more updates soon! 🙂
So bold and beautiful!
Thank you so much Taryn 🙂
Brynne this room is incredible! I love that paint colour – I've never had the guys to go dark but it works so well in your dining room. Can't wait to see the rest of the room as you reveal!
Thank you Sammi! 🙂
hi brynne, i really love this beautiful dining room of yours and you're on my top three from last week's The DIY'ers! i will be pinning this on my pinterest board♥
thanks for sharing! huggies♥
rea
Thank you Rea! I love the DIY'ers link party – so excited!! 🙂
Love the colour, love the idea of combining it with that FREAKING AMAZING fabric. I would paint above the picture rail to the ceiling but that's just me. Can't wait to see what you do with the chairs – my immediate thought was white but I'm curious about going black 😉 I'm sure they'll look ace no matter what you choose xx