{in the tweeds}

Today I thought I’d share a little freshen up-er project my mom and I have been working on: re-engerizing the entryway of my parents’ summer house.  This project is just the start of a color/furniture/layout overhaul in the main room, just off the entryway.  Their house (a.k.a. “the Bay House” or “Izzy’s Run”) on the Chesapeake Bay is an incredibly restful, fun, and bea-u-ti-ful place.  We try to spend as many weekends as we can there – it is like heaven on earth (and the same place I collected shells over Memorial Day)!

They bought their summer house, gosh, 10 years ago.  A family friend (and amazingly creative architect) Bryan Humphrey (of BH Design & Construction in Wilmington, NC) completely gutted the place; he’s huge on trim, built-ins, and unexpected details, and it turned out so well.

The entry to the house is lined with built-in cubbies and a storage bench on one side and beadboard and towel pegs on the other.  The color chosen for the entry (and laundry room – just off the entry) was a pinky purply gray-y browny color; a nice color, but one of a kaleidescope in the house.  Plus, the blue/navy cubbie basket liners didn’t quite “go” with that color.  With a whole new living room design in the works, it was time to make this entryway *POP* and establish a more consistent color scheme in the house.

the entryway's original color

cubbies in the entryway before the paint change

The inspiration image for the house (to be) house color scheme are found in this fab poster print I got for my parents at a shop in Georgetown a few years ago.  They had it framed and hung it prominently above the fireplace.

color palatte inspiration

Isn’t it just perfect for sailing fanatics in a Bay-side house?!  The main room is currently (and will remain) a perfect shade of yellow – Benjamin Moore’s Sea Oats – and a perfect complement to the yellow in the poster.  What might you think is the color we picked for the entry???  You betcha, that super fun turquoise-y blue!  We settled on Benjamin Moore’s Seaside Blue.

a view of the cubbies with the new shade of blue

a perfect blue for a waterside entry

How fun is the entry now???  It really sets the tone for things to come in the main room…which I will share the intial ideas of very soon!