The current paint color in our new house is called “mellow mushroom.” I suppose those of you that know me, or who have been reading my blog for a long time, know that it is quite strange for me to live in a house for ten months and have not painted it! But, I was thinking, calculating, choosing the right color. Sunshine. Let’s paint the kitchen in sunshine.

My before photos are a lot cluttered because summer on a homestead is crazy and not a bit neat and tidy.

My cottage was built in 1910. One person owned the land here and the Catholic church built a lovely place of worship in this lawless town in 1886 and a nice house and Italian bakery was here around the same time. The fellow’s cousin came from Poland to work in the mine and so he allotted him this 1/16th of an acre to build a little coal miner’s cottage on. I am sandwiched between these two old buildings and this makes the rooms a touch dim. Mellow mushroom doesn’t do it any favors!

I’ve often touted the power of paint. With a relatively small amount of money, paint is just the right thing to do to transform a room. I have a great passion for decorating. Antiques and thrift store finds, along with items picked up over the years, and a lovely layer of paint add charm and story telling to our home. Add a few cats and twinkly lights, and you’ve got yourself a magazine worthy home! Welcome to my New Mexican inspired farmhouse kitchen.

If you want to transform a room, make it tell your story, or just have a fresh start, get yourself a gallon of paint and have fun!