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Friday 25 October 2013

The Effect Of Colour On Light

When I decided to have a steel roof installed, I had to make some concessions to allow for the extra cost. The skylight in the hall would have to go in the interest of saving labour and the expense of a new one.

The hall leads to a side door that is really only used by me to go to the chicken coop.  It has a coat closet and the entry door to the laundry room.  It's also the entry to the main floor bathroom and so seen by my guests.  With the skylight gone, the hall was so dark that I tripped over something in there in the daytime!

The only remaining light source was this tall window at one end. ~


Here's the hall in it's previous gold incarnation.  In my defence, it was done in my early divorce days when dark and gloomy seemed appropriate.  The picture was taken in the summer on a bright, sunny day and the overhead light is on.

The room is full of shadows. ~


I haven't finished working in here.  The baseboards aren't installed and the doorknobs will be changed.

The walls and high ceiling are painted in Benjamin Moore CC-50 White Down. ~



Even with the light off, on an overcast October day, the colour reflects the bit of light coming in the room. ~


I've hung an old, leaded glass window for decoration.  The glass reflects more light from the laundry room window. ~


The hall even has kitten approval.  This isn't Maeve.  Can you believe it is one of my foster kittens grown just as big her?  ~


The room has gone from dark, gloomy and lacking in interest to a bright and cheerful space. ~


None of the photos have been altered.  It would rather miss the point to lighten them, don't you think?

Colour is a powerful tool in making a space more inviting!

I'm sharing this with  Power Of Paint Party

20 comments:

  1. It's absolutely stunning! What a complete transformation! xo wendy

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  2. Oh, I love it, Maureen. It must feel like a breath of fresh air. The red carpet with the white doors and walls looks gorgeous. Love the glass window; it has lots of character. Your kitten sure has grown, but then they do that, don't they. Deb

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  3. I really love it, Maureen. I bet you kind of hated to give up that skylight. I am a light freak and the more light the better for me. When we have moved over the years I always look for a house that has lots of light coming in from the South and the West and hopefully, an Southeast facing kitchen. Love your colors and how bright you have made it without a lot of natural light coming in- xo Diana

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  4. Color certainly matters! I love how bright the hallway looks now. It's a complete change!

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  5. Such a calm and peaceful hallway you have created.
    Joy

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  6. I could LIVE in this gorgeous hallway!!

    Poppy

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  7. Awesome! Its looking fantastic :) What a great change. Love natural light...they can do so much to a space.

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  8. I am a natural light lover too... especially in winter, but in some rooms we just have to deal with what we have. You did a wonderful job lightening up your hallway with the White Down paint. It's a lovely BM white. I love that you added some colour with the carpet, and that leaded window is amazing.

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  9. I love how you have brightened up this hallway, Maureen. It looks really lovely. The old leaded glass windows are amazing and reflect the light well. Beautifully done!

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  10. Looks lovely Maureen ... must love those tall ceilings. Amazing what white paint can do. The leaded glass windows are very pretty. Is there a print of birch trees behind them or a reflection? Love that look.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures

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  11. Maureen your hall looks much brighter and happier now! I"m glad to know you won't be tripping around in the daylight anymore! I love your window too! Painting is such immediate gratification!

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  12. Wow!!! What a difference! And I love those leaded glass windows! What an absolutely gorgeous hallway...

    -andi

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  13. WOW! What a HUGE difference! It dosen't even look like the same hallway! I really like the red in the rug with the white too. That's a really pretty white, gonna have to remember it!

    Cindy

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  14. The paint makes a difference. Yes it does. Love the rug and the lead window.

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  15. Great job - what an appealing hall you have created. Love the birches behind the windows.

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  16. This looks great!! We have painted every room in the house white (well... Almost) and I have not looked back since :)

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  17. It looks beautiful!, This post has me so excited for the changes I'm making I hope mine ends as bright and cheer as yours!

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  18. You know I'm a great advocate for white walls Maureen (!!!!) it looks really stunning, what a lot of work you've been up to !

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  19. I am late in responding sorry been busy but OMG I cannot believe how beautiful the hallway looks with the new paint job, the rug, the pictures and the cat. It is simply perfect I am in awe, wait I helped (haha), I am stunned, beautiful, just beautiful. I am glad I helped and will be glad to help again. Love it.

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