The coolest part of my new house

The winner of the Mommy Magic Kit, drawn at random, is Kristen!

Kristen, please send us your mailing address (waywardgirlscrafts at gmail.com).

 
We mentioned back in June that I was moving to a new house. It's been four months and we're still getting settled, but I just have to share my favorite part of my new house.

Now, I have a lot of favorite parts, things I didn't have in my old house: the gas stove, the granite countertops, the office, the door to the master bath.

(No joke.)

But aesthetically, if I had to pick one thing I looooove most about my house, it would be this.

Okay, but first, the before

When we looked at the house, the main floor (the living room, semi-formal dining room & kitchen) was a nice, neutral beige. Lovely vaulted ceilings. Red accent wall.

That's not my house.

I saw a red wall and . . . well, I wasn't sure what I wanted at first. I don't like to do what everyone else does, and I've seen too many red walls (not that this doesn't look nice). But blue was the only other color that really spoke to me, and even that kind of left me cold.

(Get it? Because it's a cool color?)

Finally, I figured out exactly what I wanted to do. I checked around on Pinterest to make sure I wasn't totally insane--you know, just the fun kind of crazy--and then we took the plunge.

The after!

I saw a red wall and I wanted it . . .

PAINTED BLACK.

Yes, I have a massive wall in my house that is solid black. Sherwin + Williams Tricorn Black in satin sheen. (Coincidentally, a couple months after we had it painted, I stumbled across another blogger in Utah who has a S+W Tricorn Black wall in satin sheen in her dining room. What are the odds?!)

At first, you hear "black accent wall" and you think, "Goth." "Cavelike." "Ugh."

In case you can't tell from the pictures, let me tell ya: it's awesome. I have big (albeit indefinite) plans for that accent wall. I'm thinking it'd make a great backdrop for a gallery wall, with some giant photos of our family as well as smaller photos in frames painted to match our living room colors.

And when we change those living room colors? Black's neutral! I just have to repaint the frames!

You have to understand: I can do pretty much anything, but when it comes to home decor, I'm totally inept. I've spent probably years watching Trading Spaces and HGTV, and I know what looks good--but I couldn't put it together for the life of me. I have no discernible sense of style. I can't accessorize my way out of a HomeGoods store, were there one within 50 miles.

So, dude, a black wall? I feel so . . . avant garde. So chic. So freaking awesome!

What do you think? Have you ever taken a chance in your home design and LOVED it? Could you paint a wall black?