you are here [x]: Scarlet Star Studios > the Scarlet Letters > our house is red and purple!
<< before
keeping the computer cool
after >>
lsgl: the 100-day countdown is done!
June 27, 2008
our house is red and purple!
by sven at 10:58 pm
We've painted the house... Now it's red and purple!
The house was built in 2000, and due for recaulking and repainting. At last: our opportunity to get rid of that horrible, bland gray!
Selecting the colors was nerve-wracking. I spent hours and hours sitting on the corner across the street, holding up paint chips, trying to visualize the possibilities. Paint colors are like house guests... I really wanted to get to know the folks who'd be coming to stay with us -- intimately -- before they moved in.
As the first coats of "caliente" red started going up, the neighbors were dubious. They'd drive around the corner slowly, and shout questions out their car windows:
"Did you pick that color yourself?"
Yes.
"It's... Bold."
But, as the "kalamata" purple peaks and "aplomb" lavender trim started going up, I sensed people starting to warm to it. The best comment we got: "I like the color! The less beige in this neighborhood, the better!"
Amen, brother!
Most of the houses in this neighborhood were built all at the same time. Block after block of gray, pale tan, pale yellow, white trim... They're all going to be needing new coats of paint pretty soon. We're more or less the first to repaint -- and it would delight us to no end if it our "bold" choice inspired others to also get a little daring.
Besides wanting delicious new colors, we also decided that we wanted to go Earth-friendly. The paints that we used are from the Benjamin Moore "Affinity" line. They're a bit more expensive... But they're low VOC (volatile organic compound), last extra long, and are extra resistant to fading.
The paint job was done by Paintegrity -- whom we have nothing but praise for.
- they specialize in Earth-friendly house painting
- they did the whole job in just five days (!!)
- they took care to do a good caulk job (almost more important than the paint)
- they were exceptionally detail-oriented
- they gave everything at least two coats of paint, to guarantee durability
- they didn't leave behind any mess at all
- good, decent people -- pleasant to have around
I'd be happy to send more business their way... They're the kind of group that I really want to see stick around and flourish.
posted by sven | June 27, 2008 10:58 PM | comments (16) | categories: studio space
Comments
LOVE the colors! Wow. The Scarlet Star Studio compound looks gorgeous! Great job!
Posted by: Shelley Noble at June 27, 2008 11:33 PM
Beautiful! Let's hear it for the Bold Colors *smile.
Posted by: dot at June 27, 2008 11:41 PM
i wasn't initially keen on the red/purple combo, so we scrambled at the last minute to find something that would satisfy us both. but it turned out great, i think! i'm so glad we don't have to blame toby for it. ;)
i'd also like to plug paintegrity: good guys w/ attention to detail (and that means a lot to me).
Posted by: gl. at June 28, 2008 12:01 AM
awesome!!
I love the shot of the studio especially.....the blue door caps it perfectly.
jriggityPosted by: justin rasch at June 28, 2008 1:52 AM
Beautiful!! Man, I cant wait to own a home that we can do with as we please....
Posted by: ubatuber at June 28, 2008 7:25 AM
It's absolutely gorgeous!
Posted by: Sister Diane at June 28, 2008 10:52 AM
That is FANTASTIC! We did our bathroom with low VOC paint, fortunately our bathroom's tiny. When we get ready to do the outside, I'll definitely give your people (yes, Moses, "your people") a call!
Posted by: Alesia at June 28, 2008 11:26 AM
On behalf of all of the people in the world who live outside of your house, thank you very much for painting it a real color! It is smashing!
Down with non-colors on houses!
Viva Color!
Posted by: michael5000 at June 28, 2008 5:30 PM
wow! this is great!! i live in a purple 6-plex and love it. :)
gretchin - yes, you did just see me on the FEP. :) i was stacy's first interviewee ages ago.
Posted by: liv at June 28, 2008 10:03 PM
Awesome! "Mr. Pine's Purple House" was one of my favorite stories growing up. =)
Posted by: rebel at June 28, 2008 10:21 PM
That looks completely great, you two! So exciting to see the colors, and yeah, it'd be wonderful to see others take up your torches out there on Bland Butte. Viva!
Posted by: Carl Caputo at June 29, 2008 12:47 AM
OMG!!! That is GORGEOUS!! (Sorry for the shouting, but really, a shout was in order!) Oh, it is so delicious, so bold, so yummy . . . you two did a great job! I can't wait until my house needs repainting . . . "MossySageyGrayGreen" gets a little old . . .
Posted by: bansheegrrll at June 29, 2008 12:52 PM
That looks great! You beat me to it. I was going to paint our house red and orange the next time it gets painted, which will probably be necessary next year or the year after.
Posted by: shuju at July 2, 2008 11:58 AM
thanks, guys! i'm definitely looking forward to seeing what you guys paint your house colors next. :)
Posted by: gl. at July 3, 2008 12:08 AM
The colors totally remind me of PeeWee's house in PeeWee's Big Adventure! (A favorite film of mine as a kid). Was that intentional? It looks really cool.
Posted by: Pram at July 15, 2008 2:29 PM
Nope... Wasn't thinking of PeeWee's playhouse... Though I don't mind the comparison. ;-)
Posted by: sven at July 30, 2008 12:51 AM