The Red Wall

I decided to transform my dining room on a whim. I was not planning on painting on Monday when I woke-up. I am not normally so sporadic when it comes to making home improvement changes -- ok, maybe I am -- but when it comes to painting it usually involves a little planning. 

Not this time. 

It was actually something that Sammi said that inspired the action. She just felt the dining room was not very warm and inviting, and she was right. We have only been in our home for about 4 months, and I have not really done much to change anything. I have decorated, but the home was really finished when we moved in, as far as paint goes. I just had not taken the time to give some love and attention to the dining room. But it is a room that deserves some love, because we end up spending quite a bit of time in there as a family, for mealtime, homework, projects, etc. 

So, on Monday morning, I was listening to a bunch of different Neal A. Maxwell talks on www.lds.org. Somehow, while listening to his soothing voice, and deep doctrine dissertations, I felt inspired to tackle my dining room, and begin the transformation process. I find inspirtation flows to me more freely, when I take time to fill up my spirit. While I am seeking out the spiritual in the scriptures, and words of the prophets and apostles, I find I am also inspired on temporal matters, of things large and small. 

I often sit and study, and then rise and take action knowing what I should do next. It is quite a lovely thing, actually. The scriptures can guide your actions in all areas of life. 

Allow me to give an example... 

Years ago, I can remember quite vividly reading the scriptures one evening, and I had a sort of vision of Sammi's room in the little house, and how we would beautify the walk-in closet and make it a haven for her. We needed more room, she needed privacy, and the vision came to me of how to make it possible. It happened while studying the scriptures, and then setting them down. I then allowed my mind to wander and ponder. The spirit guided my wandering thoughts to the answer, by painting a picture in my mind of what I should create. I followed through with the vision I had been allowed, and Sammi absolutely adored her room in the closet -- it was magic for her. 

Do not underestimate the power of the scriptures when it comes to home improvement inspiration -- or guidance in anything you need help with. I find reading, and then allowing the mind to wander and ponder, really allows for some fantastic strokes of inspiration. 

Give it a try. See what happens. 

So, back to painting the wall red. I had been thinking about the little house, and how warm and cozy it was. It was full of color. We were brave when we lived there and painted the dining room wall brick red. (That was the actual name of the paint.) I was scared, but it turned out awesome, and I loved it. 

I wanted to bring that same warmth into our new home, and the answer was clear: Brick red! 

On Monday, I ran all around to different stores. I went to Home Depot and grabbed some paint and brushes, and some other items to enhance the room, like curtains. I also took some time to paint my grandma's old record player. It was a dingy yellow wood, and it was calling for a layer of fresh white. I am happy with how it turned out. 

It all went smoothly, except for the hanging of the curtain rod. I struggled with that for awhile, until I realized I needed a special anchor to hang the screws in the drywall. I managed to put a few extra holes in the wall in my silly attempts. I could just hear Charles laughing at me, as I made quite the mess of holes. 

And then I could hear him crying with me, as I was getting so frustrated at not knowing what the heck I was doing, and he wasn't there for me to guide me on such things. Just when I was about to lose it completely, and start creating some new swear words (it was near midnight), our song Unchained Melody came on, and I could feel Charles there with me. I could feel a warmth, as if he were there with his arms around me, helping me to calm down, and relax. It was not just a spiritual feeling, it was very physical, with the weight of his love and concern enveloping me completely. I stopped what I was doing, and I just let the tears fly. That song... it gets me every time. It is so powerful. 

I put everything away for the evening, and went to sleep. I was so tired, I was becoming incompetent.  I did watch a youtube video of how to hang a curtain rod in drywall, and the following day I got the right tools, and I put the rod up in one shot, with ease. Thank goodness for youtube how-to videos. I mean, seriously. They save me so much nowadays. 

I am not totally finished with the room. I would like to add a rug, and reupholster the dining chairs. I will get to that soon. But for now, here are some pictures of how it looks...

I love it. 

And Sammi is satisfied with the new warmth that has entered our home, thanks to brick red paint. :) 

Here is my grandma's old record player, turned new. I wish it worked, but it doesn't. Oh man, I would love to listen to Nat King Cole music on a record player. That would be amazing. Now all the record player can do, is be a cute end table. 

I also added some pictures to the wall. I used my own images for the display. These iPhone pictures make the wall look fiery red, and it is not. It is a nice warm color. 

 I love sunflowers. They are so bright and beautiful. They make me happy.

I surprised myself with the curtains I chose. They are bright yellow, but I love the contrast. I took the pictures with my phone, I really need to whip out the good camera for these pictures, but I will do that when it is all finished.

I just love it. I really do.