As many of you know Week 5 of the ORC was postponed due to the design community supporting, learning, and listening to the black lives matter community. We continue to support and reflect on the events of the past few weeks, with the hope that we continue to learn, share and grow together with the world and every race, color, and beautiful human being.

Paint, Coat Hooks, Marble Bench Arrives and Wallpaper Gets Installed

Bringing you updates from the postponement of Week 5 are being included here with Week 6 and they are sure not to disappoint as many finishing steps have been completed.

I’m excited to share that the mudroom has been completely painted in Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace. Not only did this happen during Week 5, but the Fantasy Brown marble bench seat with a leather finish was also surprisingly completed and installed the day my kitchen countertops were being templated. This was the one piece I was afraid wouldn’t be finished in time. Templating the bench myself to save time, I was nervous that I didn’t trace out the door molding properly on the garage door side of the bench template as the trim came into the edge of the marble. However, we brought it in and placed on the box of the seat, it fits like a glove. Family members are already placing their shoes in the cubbies which is driving me mad, while I’m trying to preserve the newness of this space. I also finally made a decision on the coat hooks.

Living on the coast, I wanted to add a little bit of nautical novelty in the coat hooks without being tacky. Searching all kinds of themes from seahorses, to octopus to turtles and fish, I fell in love with the whale’s tail hook. Special for us as whales are a sight to watch while boating on the water here in New England.

The hooks are made of a cast iron and pretty substantial in weight. A bronze overlay and verdigris top finish bringing in the green from the copper range hood that can be seen upon entry to the kitchen. The color also brings up the ming green from the hexagon Thasos marble floor in the room. Staying up until 11:30 last night, I got them installed and have to say LOVE!

My painter and paper installer Larry Rocha from F.D. Rocha & Co. in Lowell, MA has been with me since the early 90s. Larry was so accommodating with this project and mindful of the time constraints. He not only painted the mudroom in a timely fashion, but he also installed the Sanderson King Protea wallpaper for the guest bathroom the next day. I just have to say it is stunningly beautiful with its iridescent background that shimmers with reflection when light hits the walls.

Shower Door Dilemma

We did run into a little glitch with the shower door. Although Fred measured correctly, the style of the door, rolling doors on a track, or barn door style, became a bit of an issue. Apparently, the wall to the left where the stationary glass panel was to be installed bumps out a 1/2”. This is an outside wall and was not replaced during the remodel. When Fred came to template for the door, he noted this issue and measured accordingly in order to have the glass rushed for installation.

Well, the door came incorrect as the angle cut was on the wrong side of the panel and mounting holes were not placed properly to align on the roller track for the roller install. The door had to be taken away and reordered. I begged Fred to please make this a priority. Fred and I have been working together on projects for more than 15 years, he’s such a trooper and will bend over backward to please. Fred did come through and the correct shower door was installed this week. The one thing left to do is to putty the nail holes in the crown molding and paint it in this space. The contractor waited for the shower doors to be completed in order to have the crown run into the shower walls for a dramatic profile reveal. This makes me happy to know that all of the products and finishes have been installed and now, I have some minor touch ups to make and lastly I can have fun and enjoy styling the two spaces.

Coming up in Week 7 will be all about shopping and styling the mudroom and guest bathroom for the big reveal. I did pick up some items but need to search for a few more accessories in contrasting colors of lavender. The photoshoot of our final ORC pink bathroom turned mudroom guest bath project has also been scheduled.

Once again I want to thank Linda Weinstein, the creator of the One Room Challenge and the ORC sensitivity and support for the Black Lives Matter Community.

You can follow more of my ORC on Facebook and Instagram as well. Come back to see Week 7 of the Mudroom Guest Bathroom Remodel updates as we go shopping for the final style accessory items. Better Homes & Gardens is the official media sponsor of the ORC.

ABOUT DEBBE DALEY

Debbe Daley is New England’s leading interior design expert in the fields of design, decorating, and styling of interior spaces. She is a professional speaker, educator, influencer, and business coach in the field of interior design. She also educates and coaches creative interior design and home decor enthusiasts and change-of-career-minded individuals at her School of Interiors through courses, mentoring, and hands-on training. Debbe is currently an installed Design Services member for the Boston Design Center.

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