Last time I spoke with you about the 2016 Bucks County Designer House bedroom I’m currently designing, I shared the emerging color palette, with paints by Benjamin Moore.  Today, I want to discuss with you the application of the paint, the type of paint, and where exactly I’ll put the beautiful colors I’ve selected.

Often I paint trim (Casing, baseboards, doors, windows, etc.) a crisp white, or even ivory.  I’ll even change the sheen from a semi-gloss on trim to an eggshell or sometimes flat on the walls.  This updates the room and gives a clean, fresh feel to a space with high contrast between the wall color and trim.

In this particular space, however, I feel that all those doors painted in high-contrast white would be distracting and add to the visual clutter.  Don’t forget, the focal wall across from the room’s entrance has a jumble of doors, which is so distracting!

Here’s the BEFORE view upon entering my bedroom at the Bucks County Designer House.
As you can see, the room is in quite a state!
The wall opposite the entrance has an attic door (on the left), a cedar closet under the stair, then a small nook of wall space and another shallow closet on the right.

So I’ve decided I will paint the walls and trim all in the exact same color and sheen to minimize all the broken up lines and choppiness.  I found this wonderful image of the A-list designer, Sheila Bridges, in her own home.  It has exactly the feel I’m going for!

Interior designer, Sheila Bridges, is pictured here in her own lovely home. Notice how the wall behind her has all the trim painted in the exact same color and finish as the walls. This allows the doors and moldings (and any irregularities or imperfections) to blend into the background. Using one unifying color actually makes the space appear larger and less busy, allowing the furnishings and accessories to take center stage.
Sheila Bridges’ room even has an L-shaped nook, very similar to the layout of my designer house bedroom. How cool is that?!
Feel free to click through on this image to be taken to Pinterest for more info on this amazing designer and her Harlem home.

My absolute favorite painter is Michael Howard, whose business is called The Perfect Hangup.  Michael is also an amazing wallpaper/wallhanging installation expert and the first person I think of when I’m having wallcoverings installed.  He’s truly amazing, always good-natured and cheerful, and is the first painter I repeatedly recommend to my clients.  I’m so happy to report that Michael has graciously agreed to provide the labor in my 2016 Bucks County Designer House bedroom.  I’m so grateful to have him work his magic on the walls and trim in this sad bedroom that so desperately needs his expertise!

Here’s a photo of Michael Howard, of The Perfect Hangup, beginning to paint in my Bucks County Designer House bedroom. I’m so excited to see the transformation finally begin!

Michael and I have discussed the different products available from Benjamin Moore and which type of paint would be best for use in this historic portion of Foxwood Manor, the 2016 Bucks County Designer House & Gardens. We’ve decided that the Regal Select line of Benjamin Moore Paints in the Eggshell Finish will be the perfect thing to use on the walls and trim in this bedroom.

I’ve selected Regal Select waterborne paint in the Eggshell finish by Benjamin Moore for my 2016 Bucks County Designer House bedroom. This paint has many features:
•Regal Select Features Paint and Primer Together
•Easy Application
•Highly Washable
•Zero VOC*, Low Odor
•Excellent Hide
•Popular and versatile eggshell finish
•Provides a Mildew Resistant Coating

Not only is Regal Select a paint and primer in one product, it is highly washable and has zero VOCs (which are bad for the environment and your lungs!).  This makes it perfect for a bedroom.  We’re planning to switch over to the Regal Select in the Flat Finish on the ceiling (I have special plans for that ugly air vent up there!).

Since the Bucks County Designer House bedroom’s window trim and doors were previously painted in an oil based product (remember this part of the house is over 100 years old!), my painter, Michael Howard, recommended we use a product called Stix.

This is Stix, a waterborne acrylic primer that sticks to almost everything! My painter, Michael Howard, recommended we use this to cover the oil based paints on the window trim and doors. We will have it tinted to match the walls, which will be painted in Benjamin Moore’s Galt Blue.

Stix Waterborne Bonding Primer is a premium-quality, acrylic-urethane primer-sealer with unparalleled adhesion to the most challenging surfaces, including glossy tile, PVC, vinyl, plastic, glass, glazed block, glossy paint, pre-coated siding, fiberglass, and galvanized metals.

• Bonds to “hard-to-coat” surfaces
• Cures in temperatures as low as 35° F (1.57° C)
• Creates an extremely hard film
• Excellent enamel holdout
• Can be top coated with almost any product
• Low odor

The wall prep work and painting are the first things that will take place in the actual transformation of my 2016 Bucks County Designer House bedroom, so I’m super excited to have these decisions made and the color palette nailed down.  I’m so very relaxed knowing that the walls and trim are in the hands of my very capable friend Michael Howard of The Perfect Hangup…I can’t wait to show you the AFTER photos of his work.  Right now, we’re just waiting for all the construction to be finished in the bathroom, so the finish work can begin.  Once all the messy stuff is completed, the walls can get their final coat, then the area rug , custom window treatments, wall mural, ceiling air vent, furniture, artwork and accessories can all be installed.  Oh my, I’m starting to feel slightly overwhelmed!!

Until my next installment, feel free to share my posts and images with your friends on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and other social media. I absolutely adore making new friends!

Click on this image to be taken directly to my website for more information on Robinson Interiors.