What's going on here at our first place

If there was a line graph of progress here at our first place, it'd look something like this:

[graph found via google images]

And the drop off point would be when our family left us.

Priorities have shifted to getting my office done. When I find free time, I put a coat on my office desk. It's a vintage mid century modern piece that came to me really beat up, so I did some patching and sanding and a couple coats of paint.





The color is Martha Stewart Falcon (mixed in BEHR premium plus ultra). It's the perfect Army Green with a bit of milkiness to it.



Originally I wanted a super gloss finish, but I've been liking the smoothness of the flat paint. So I will use Satin poly instead of Gloss to protect it. I still have at least two more coats of paint and a couple coats of poly to go.

Switching gears, I've also been testing cream samples in our master bedroom.


For at least a week now, I've been trying to decide between Sherwin William's Creamy (third from left) and Sherwin William's Dover White (first on the right).

I think Dover White wins. It has more yellow than pink tones, and I think it will create a nice warm, calming space. I also think it's better to go with the yellowed tone cream for warmth in the winter. Thoughts? I just went upstairs to look at the swatches again, and Dover White seems very yellow. Still undecided.

I need to prime the walls before I paint to cover the blue/green, so I'm not sure when I'll get around to that.

The third space I've been actively working on is our master bathroom. There isn't much to be done in there, so I'd like to finish it up soon. I need to paint, add a couple wall shelves, add new window treatments, and then I'll be done!

Here are the wall shelves I think I'll be adding:



Even though our other spaces still look somewhat like a construction zone, I'm 'workin' with what I got'. Here is what our entry currently looks like:



(Flowers picked from the only flowering plant we have on our property. They are a pretty color, aren't they?)

I'm debating whether or not to paint this piece black, OR have it professionally stripped down to it's original steel body. Similar to this:





What do you think? As much as I LOVE the original steel, I'm leaning towards black. I think it will contrast against the blue/gray walls better than steel. I can always sand down to original finish later down the road for a different use/room. Like a nursery!

So, that's where my head is at! Going in many different directions.

edit - I'm already getting votes for the steel! I sort of knew that would happen ;) I'm still leaning towards no steel.. here is a picture of the room. I'm feeling that the steel just doesn't "go" with the blue/gray. Please persuade me otherwise if you feel strongly for steel though!