Tuesday, April 9, 2013

First Baby Room Update with Para Paint

First off we both wanted to say how touched we were by the comments and well wishes from you. We've spent 6 years, more than half of our relationship, unsure what direction we were headed in regarding children, it feels so great to have a direction. Being able to share it with all of you was amazing!

We have no idea how long it will take until we are matched, it could be 1 month, it could be 1 year, it could be 10 years, but just in case it's 1 month we wanted to be prepared with the basics (my own form of "if you build it, they will come").
Step one, paint the room.
Because it's a babies room we were very conscious of paint fumes so we chose Para Paints Essence brand because it has NO VOC's. 
Since we have no idea when a baby is coming our way, let alone whether that baby will be a boy or girl we decided on a neutral nursery. We chose White Chocolate (PF27) for the bottom color, and a beautiful pale grey for the upper section, Papineau Tint 1 (P2076-01).
But first things first we had to add some chair rail. It's a 12 foot by 12 foot room, and the chair rail for the whole room was under $50.

We ran into two problems with the chair rail:
1) The chair rail was thicker than the window casing (meaning it stuck out farther than the window molding). We decided the best was was too cut it on a bit of an angle. Lee just measured the depth, and cut it on a 45 degree angle in (using a miter box).
2) Problem two was a very weird little bump out in the corner that took a little extra finessing, but Lee did an amazing job patching and filling it so it looked perfect!! 
We ran into a secret problem number 3 that resulted in some tears (yes I cried over paint). I cut in the trim for the pale grey and stepped back, it looked PURPLE! Like lilac, meets lavender, meets grape soda purple. Lee convinced me that it was only paint and we should just finish the color then decide. Two coats later and it was the perfect shade of pale Grey! I will blame the tears on Pre-adoption hormones ;). haha
So if you paint it on and it looks purple, keep going!!!! When it dries it's awesome. I am actually fighting the urge to paint the entire house Papineau Tint 1.
 I am also really excited to have a place for my nesting tables again. You might remember they use to live in the living room, but now they are going to live in the babies room (they were from Homesense a few years ago).
Here's the Before and After:
Thank you again for all of the adoption LOVE! We are so blessed already! I just realized we get to create a new label on the blog  "NURSERY"  :).  A few more tears . . . these ones are happy . . . darn these adoption hormones. ;)

Next:
-Blinds for the window (black out blinds for sure)
-A crib
-A dresser/ change table
-Rocking chair

42 comments:

  1. nice color! Exciting times!!! I loved ordering AJ's crib....was so excited. Still one of my fave items :)

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  2. Congrats on your wonderful news! You and your hubby are so creative-love the color and chair rail. Have fun getting ready for your little one : )

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  3. Love how the room is looking already :)

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  4. The room is already looking beautiful. I was so happy to read your post about your approval for adoption. My mom is a social worker who specializes in adoption in Ontario, and does these kinds of home studies and really loves her work. Adoption is also a huge part of my life (and one of the best parts). I have three adopted siblings (two brothers and a sister, in addition to four biological sisters and one biological brother) and many adopted cousins. Matt and I hope to adopt one day, too. It is such a special way of becoming a mother (or sister, in my direct experience). I hope the process is a really good one for you and Lee. Anyway I just wanted to say congratulations, and I can't wait to follow along on this journey of yours as well as all the decorating ones.

    Sending big big hugs!

    Jenny
    www.simcoestreet.blogspot.ca

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  5. Yaaaayyyy!! Rejoicing with you too!! -victoria g

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  6. I am so happy for you both!! Great paint colors choice; looks beautiful and I can't wait to see what else you put together. God bless you all...love from WA state!

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  7. Love it...can't wait to see how it progresses.

    I just re-painted my bedroom a pale grey... it went on white... I almost cried because I didn't want to do a 2nd coat (I used paint and primer in one). HA!! It dried the perfect color... and I only had to do one coat. :)

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  8. looks beautiful already. congratulations! :)

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  9. great color combo, I can't wait to see the room finished and a little sweet baby in there my fingers are crossed it will happen soon for the two of you.

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  10. what a pretty color! I'm so excited for you and am sending prayers that a perfect match happens soon! It's great to be prepared, isn't it? :D

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  11. congrats again - so amazing, and yes those hormones will do u in. i'll be praying for y'all's baby to come to you. with adoptions there if the BM chooses you early enough will y'all be able to participate in the doctor visits and all? some down here do allow you to do that.

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    1. If our BM would allow us to be there I would be there in a second!!! Lee might be a little uncomfortable but I am in!!! haha
      Ashli

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    2. that's wonderful and i hope you get a BM that will allow that. such an amazing thing to be a part of. haha just tell lee to stare at the ultrasound screen and he wont even care about being uncomfortable. my daddy went to one of mine and it was awesome for him. maybe we'll all get babies at the same time and they can be cyber friends too!!

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  12. I highly recommend NOT watching adoption day videos on YouTube. It's nearly six years past my daughters adoption day and I still cry at every single one. The room looks beautiful. I can't wait to see it when it's complete.

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    1. Good to know!!! NO ADOPTION DAY VIDEOS!!!!
      Thanks! haha
      Ashli

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  13. I'm SO happy for you, congratulations! It will be really exiting following you on this new path. And the nursery looks beautiful already!

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  14. Just saw your post and wanted to send my congratulations - I am sure this will be a very exciting time in your lives, and I wish you all the best.

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  15. Oh I missed your last post and didn't get to read the great news until now and wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS. Now you have so many people waiting with you for the call and being excited for you!!!
    Jule

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  16. So excited for you and Lee!!! Love the "baby's room"!!!

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  17. Congratulations on getting to this point in the whole adoption process! I can't wait to see what you do with the nursery. I love the colors! I might have to steal them for our guest room/future nursery!

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  18. The nursery (how awesome is that!) is looking lovely already. Congratulations on your big news. Hope some lucky baby finds his or her way home to you soon.

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  19. Love love love. Our guest room looks very similar ....... we painted it 10 years thinking about nursery ideas. Good taste Ash.

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  20. Where did you purchase the paint for the nursery? I have never heard of that brand.
    Jane

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    1. Hi Jane,
      Lots of local independent retailers carry it. Lowes also carries it!!!!
      If you check Para Paints, they have a store locator!!!
      Hope that helps
      Ashli

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  21. Yeah I totally agree go crazy up in there with those colors....Beautiful!!! I'm so excited for you even though I don't know you LOL!

    Anyways consider me the sister you will never meet :)

    Christine

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  22. Aw! So happy for you guys.

    It looked purple because the under colour had a strong green undertone which was emphasizing any red in your new colour. Lee was right, you always finish before you decide. :)

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    1. We actually had a really strong green that we were trying out before we decided on the grey and you are so right . . . it made it purple. Good to know next time!!!
      Lots of Love
      Ashli

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  23. Well I am beyond thrilled for both of you and I'm so pleased to see a photo of the two of you together which was beautiful. I couldn't imagine how heartbreaking it would be to have difficulty having a baby and to have to go through the whole process and have your family's life in someone else's hands. I was very fortunate that I had no problems conceiving since I was 38 when I got married and 39 when I started trying. My first pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage so to speak and I was heartbroken but it's natures way of saying this baby was not going to be healthy and my doctor said the only thing to get over the loss of a baby was getting pregnant again. I did get pregnant straight away and gave birth to James when I was 40 and then had my daughter Sienna at 42 so for me if I had experienced difficulty conceiving at that late age it would have been a huge issue. I am no longer married (cheater and a drinker) so my dream of having a husband and family for the rest of my life did not work out however I have two amazing children whom I love and adore and they love me unconditionally. I am so pleased that both of you will become parents...it is going to be the biggest change and the hardest job you have ever done but the rewards are endless and you can't get that from any craft project even though they make you happy. The love you have for a child is something you can't put into words. I have no doubt that all that love is waiting to give a child a great home and wonderful family life and I wish you all the best that it happens quickly for you both. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Ausralia

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  24. Ashli - It looks beautiful! I can only imagine how lovely the nursery will look once you guys have poured all of that creativity (and love) into it.

    I really like that the chair rail is so high; it's a nice way to add interest to the room.

    Gray is such a nice neutral color. Will you be doing yellow accents?

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    1. Thank you!!!!
      We will be keeping it super neutral until we know if we should expect a little boy or a little girl. I am thinking yellow for a girl and green for a boy!! :)
      Ashli

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  25. Congratulations on your exciting news! The room has a beautiful start!

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  26. Wonderful news. Congratulation to you both !

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  27. Congratulations on this exciting news!!!! You and Layla from the Lettered Cottage are expecting together (I love her blog too). The baby room looks so peaceful. Can't wait to read about your baby. My friend adopted in Ontario and she received word of her son coming to her shortly after we had our baby. It was nice to be first-time moms together.

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  28. Perhaps wishful thinking..."babies" would be for more than one baby. "Baby's" would refer to just one baby.

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    1. Yes, we have no idea how many babies are coming our way so refering to it as babies room could be completely accurate . . . Wishful thinking would be right!!!

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  29. So very excited for you two! how very wonderful! Your baby will be loved, and have a stylish bedroom!

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  30. Congrats! I miss a day of reading and was surprised to see the title of today's post lol. Always be prepared! Friends of ours were approved and didn't take long for them to get their call. They now have 3... :)

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  31. Oh I only just posted on your last post, but I have to post again! I am SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!! I just can't stop smiling and crying!!! Your future squid's room will look so great, I honestly wish I could copy it now even without seeing it done! Ah! Baby!!!

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  32. Hi Ashli. Have you guys seen any cribs yet? Are you already baby window shopping? How exciting is that??!! :) Congratulations once more!! Good people deserve good things and of course you are among those people.

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  33. It's funny that you say "if you build it they will come"; hope it works.

    We adopted our 2 kids (sibling pair) in 2007, our intake-to-in home placement took a whopping 9 MONTHS, 11 if you include our education process (we're in Ontario and were adopting through Children's Aid). We were told during the education sessions that starting a renovation/changing jobs/moving/planning a trip were sure fire ways to get a placement call... when you weren't ready! Sure enough, my husband received the call while he stood amid the settling dust of a full 2nd floor re-do (to add an additional bedroom in case there was more than one child on the way) when he had to call me, working across the country on a contract, who was in the process of researching a ski trip to Chile.

    Plan to rip down a wall during the nursery reno, and the phone will ring for sure.

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