Friday, November 14, 2008

Eating speculaas in February

What a title! And then you see that this blog entry is about the work I have been doing in my bedroom decorating and that title seems to make no sense. Right? Well, it will as I tell you a funny story...


I started working on an idea for our bedroom back in September of 2007. You can see the start of it here. It started with me making a patchwork quilt. I found one online that was rather expensive and realized I had similar fabrics in my quilt stash cupboard. It was so simple as it was just a block pattern of squares so I made one myself. One thing leads to another...

The above photo shows the nightstands which Jos sanded and I drybrushed as I had done with my chest of drawers. But I still felt it just did not look right. The iron headboard Jos made for us and my lamps just look too cold against the oatmeal colored walls.


I bought some linden green chalk paint to paint the wall behind the headboard but it turned out the old saying "You get what you pay for" is true. The paint was cheap and was awful. It left the wall looking stained and not giving the chalk look whatsoever. I was going to run over to the paint shop and buy a pot of Farrow and Ball to use then realized I still did have a liter of paint left from a terrible mistake made by a shop when we were painting our walls in the entrance hall and laundry room.


I wanted to use a color called Speculaas which is a type of Dutch cookie. I collect speculaas cookie molds and loved this warm dark beige color which is the color of the old molds. Jos thought it would be too dark and talked me into going one step lighter to a color called Februari. So I comprised and we went to a DIY store that had a sale on this paint. A very young girl mixed two paint colors for us as we used a warm white together with it and we came home and got started. We loved the color Februari so much we decided to paint a second wall in the hall the same color but did not have enough paint. There was another DIY store starting a sale and we thought just pop there for the extra liter of paint as we could use the coupon for it there.


Jos got home and immediately started to paint the second wall but to our shock, it was not the same color. He went back and they checked and told him it WAS the color Februari but what he got from the first shop was Speculaas. The man was really nice and said he could try remixing that liter for us at our own risk. He could not get it close enough he felt in the end so we just bought a new liter and also brought home this remixed version.


The remixed version has now been used in our bedroom. It is a combination of the two colors so I call it 'eating speculaas in February'. *grins* It has worked really well to bring out the beiges in the patchwork quilt.

I enjoyed spending time this week changing all the little items around until I had this room looking just as I want it. I only wish I could convince Jos to replace that old digital alarm clock. It is left from his bachelor days but it gets him to work on time so we can buy more paint. *grins*

27 comments:

Brigitta said...

What a beautiful bedroom Heidi, I love those colours, they're really warm. Also love the story that goes with it

Tracy said...

Hi, Heidi! The new looks is GORGEOUS!! Your "new" bedroom looks something from a magazine...love the new wall color and all your pretty accents. Thanks for sharing! Oh, stop by before the end of the weekend...I'll have some great news ;o) Happy Day, my friend ((HUGS))

Robin C said...

Hello Heidi,

I've been reading your blog for a while now and wanted to comment on how nice your bedroom looks. I love the quilt you made and the colors work beautifully with the paint color. Tell your husband that the bed frame is just wonderful. How great it is to be able to make something like that.

Robin in Virginia (USA)

Nan said...

Heidi, that was a wonderful story, and the colors are great! If Jos is up for a clock change, and if you can get products from LL Bean in the US, they offer a clock which would fit right into your room just beautifully. Here is the link:

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=33149&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&feat=sr&freeText=moonbeam%20clock

If you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you'll see another retro clock you might like, too.

I own the yellow moonbeam, and actually have it in the study. I love it.

Nancy said...

Ok Heidi, let Jos keep ONE little item. IF you make him give this up, put it in my room I never know what time it is there.
I loveeee the color. It looks so warm. Your little dress is so cute hanging there, and I love the angel watching over you. You kept the little dog my sister gave you when you got your tonsils out, but we don't even remember what I gave you the same day. Hummmmmmm.
Have a good weekend at the cottage.
Love you, Mom

Dianna said...

Your bedroom is beautiful! I'm glad it worked out in the end.

Judy said...

What a fun story. I love your bedroom, it looks so warm and comfy. I love the mirror sconces too, simply beautiful.

Susan in SC said...

How lovely! Isn't it amazing how a little color can change the whole feeling of a room?! Ih, now I want to go tot he paint store and start painting!!

Anonymous said...

Hello Heidi, it's a lovely colour whatever it's called and your bedroom looks so restful and charming.
Margaret and Noreen

Selfsewn said...

gorgeous!
Clare

Mary said...

It looks great Heidi, so cozy for the Winter months ahead. Love your new furniture too - you deserve to sit comfortably and save your back!!

Bob's clock is horrid too but he won't part with it - must be a guy thing!!

Hugs - Mary.

Karen said...

Oh I love the color on the wall and the cute story. It makes your room look so warm and cozy. Great job you both did. Hey I owe you an email - it's coming, LOL.

Hugs - Karen

Carolien said...

Oh this looks lovely, Heidi! Like the name too. Speculaas addicts, we are in the right time of the year, smile!!! Sinterklaas is coming, hurray! Have to find my shoes ...

Hugs, Carolien

diane said...

What a convoluted way to get a perfect color on your wall. I guess this is what keeps me from doing anything at all. HA! Just teasing. I LOVE the colors, they work so well with everything in the room and I agree, it is a warm, inviting color that complements your other touches. I love the story, but really, do things have to work this way? Well, now you and Jos have an unforgettable journey to get an unforgettable room!!!

Elizabeth-Plain and Simple said...

The colors look great. Thanks for sharing the wonderful story.

Anonymous said...

Yummy.

Eric

Ragged Roses said...

What a beautiful colour you have ended up with, serendipity indeed! Your bedroom looks so warm and inviting, really lovely.
Kimx

Joanne said...

I love the color, Heidi, and it goes so perfectly with your quilts. What a warm, inviting room (and I love the little dress hanging!).
Hugs, Joanne

Carolien said...

Hello Heidi,

No, I didn't get anything in my shoes, mweehhh! LOL Only sweet children get sweets, I guess ...

Have a nice week & hugs, Carolien

P.S. I would wave like Jos did. It's in our genes.

Annemarie said...

Speculaas... how appropriate! And the colour looks as yummy as the speculaas tastes. What a beautiful bedroom you have, Heidi. I especially love the angel keeping watch :o)

Jo said...

I love your bedroom Heidi,the paint colour is great.My husband has one of those alarm clocks too, which I try and put under the bed but it always ends up on the bedside cupboard.

the tattered nest said...

I love it Heidi! it looks so cozy...are you off at the cottage this weekend?

Anonymous said...

Dear Heidie,
What a fantastic story and how busy you have been painting !!!!!
And what a fantastic result. I really love the colours and what a fun mix-up story with all that paint-shopping :)
I must tell you how much i like your patchwork quilt...so cosy ! It's a perfect bedroom !
Hugs, Janneke.
PS. Sanne got a letter from school that she is one of the last 8 candidates to join in on a trip to Africa. Thursday she will have a "job-interview" at school. Exciting times.

Anonymous said...

Great post Heidi!

I'm glad to see that your persistance paid off ~ your bedroom looks beautiful.

Marie x

Rhondi said...

Hi Heidi
The room turned out great, even if it did take a few extra trips to the paint store! It looks very warm and inviting. A beautiful room
Hugs, Rhondi

Kim @ Home Is Where The Heart Is said...

Your bedroom is lovely...so very cozy and inviting!

Kristen said...

The room looks so inviting! I love it! Cozy and just perfect for reading a book as well!! ;)