I can't get over how gorgeous and cozy this place is already becoming....I'm anxious to see it finished.

Cremone bolts are very fancy...not exactly rustic...I'm assuming you'd want that for the inside....I doubt it would work smoothly for the outside for any length of time. Having been the "victim" of an older brother, I'm always very concerned about getting locked into places (so much fun to do to a younger sister, y'know) that I'd want a single mechanism to work from both sides....

I'd paint the loft the gray...I'd want it dark and substantial looking seeing as it's floating in space up there.

I think I would do the bookcases in the white and keep the pink for the ceiling and the soft materials in the space.

Sorry, can't help you about the sample business....

Mtn, I am so in love with this little space. I rather think the grey would be lovely and the white and pink more enchanting when played against the grey loft.

It is such fun watching your progress.

Hi Mtn,

I too am enjoying seeing your project take shape.
I think the BM guy was just tring to sell a gallon. I have never heard of not being able to get a quart.

If it helps any I attached a photo of my grand daughters nursery, the wall on left is BM affinity AF 250- Head over Heels. It is a lovely soft pink.

For the brass hardware, perhaps you could strip off any protective lacquer and let it age (naturally or accelerated). Weathered brass is kind of a nice look and not at all brassy. :P

I would have a hard time picking the perfect pink before the window had been installed and I had an idea of what the light in the loft would be like. That said, I have some questions about what kind of pink you're considering. The OldWorldiness of the stone house makes me think F & B Setting Plaster would be a great look for the room. Are you thinking of picking up the peachier tones of the stone? Or is that a non-starter? Do you have photos of the pinks that you tried? (I will say that every time I have ventured into the Benjamin Moore world I have had the same kind of experience. I won't bore you with the details of my half-dozen visits and the empty sample displays, lack of available salespeople, "We don't have that size Aura base, so you need to get a gallon," blah, blah, blah. I was told that the Color Stories display costs dealers $30,000, so they'd prefer to tell customers that the line "isn't out yet." For the life of me, I do not understand why this is a popular brand. I have totally given up on the prospect of ever using Benjamin Moore anything.) Back to your question. What about F& B Pink Ground or Middleton Pink, which, now that I think about it, might be perfect. About the brass, do you have someone who does metal repair, plating, etc.? If so, I'd take the salvaged pieces in there and ask for advice.

Kirkpatrick and Sons makes cremone bolts that are operable from both sides. Perhaps others do, too.

Thanks, Kitchen, let me look at those. I don't think of cremone as fancy so much as vintage, but i know what you mean, I will check that source,

We do have the windows in, but it might still be a little early to finalize the pink choice. I want only a hint of pink, The FnB colors are too strong, unfortunately.

Fori,
I'd love weathered brass -- let me look into that! Has anyone here done it?

Lyban
But this same guy has often sold me samples. ANd he actually called someone on the phone to try to get help, so IDK.
What a lovely lovely room your grandaughter has! That is a great shade of pink, I will have to look at the card it's on to see if it comes a tad lighter, or maybe try 50%. Thank you.

Cyn and Annie,
Very interesting point about wanting the grey to give the loft some visual weight. I was thinking more along the lines of disappearing against the stone, but I do know there can be something unsettling about things that look insubstantial holding a lot of weight.

The loft platform also becomes the ceiling for the sitting area underneath --- Im thinking that ceiling should be Lime White?

Thanks everyone for your patience and help!

You might take a look at BM touch of pink, very pale but with a touch of warmth, something I think the space might need given all the stone....

I was looking on BM's site and moving back and forth between their online swatch and Google images.

I am thinking Gentle Butterly, which they show paired a color very close to Hampshire Grey.

Here is a link that might be useful: im not the only one pairing pink w camo colors!

I can't give any opinion b/c I cannot stop looking at that stone ! Oh man is that beautiful or what ? You have a "main house" I want this as my house !

I'm not sure I'd like the loft painted two different colors. It should read as one object.

What are you doing about window treatments? If you want sheers or something, now is the time to think about getting some bolts into the masonry.

The ceiling...are you thinking a light muted salmon-y pink?

Jterri, yes

The gentle butterfly is pretty, but it looks more peachy than pink to me....

My redux, are you thinking pinky pink or ballet slipper pink? The latter has just a hint of peach--- the barest hint--- that makes it look more organic than the bluer pink, if that makes sense.

I would paint the loft structure white and the bookcase white. I might paint the shiplap on the gable gray. But not pink, any of that. I would also paint the underneath of the loft pink, as that comprises the ceiling of the sitting area. It will inject a closer shot of pink, keep the ceilings consistent, and make everyone look pretty :-)

The reason that you can't get very light tints in a sample is that there is very little actual tint put into even a gallon of a "tinted white", and by the time you reduce the needed tints down to the right proportions for an 8 oz sample size, you can't GET enough tint for the right proportions in that small amount. If you want a sample of another color, do a quart instead of a gallon. If the current color is too dark, then they can mix in a little titanium dioxide. If it's not dark enough, then you can ask for additional red to be added, maybe with a little yellow if you want a peachier pink. There should still be a little room in the can for additional tint, as not enough is added to a pale color to retard adhesion as can be the case with a deep base that you try to adjust.

Live_wire_oak, That is essentially what the guy was saying at the paint store. But, if I go to BM online, I can buy a quart. Moreover, it gives me the option of picking the quart up locally, at one of about 10 stores in the area .... bu, interestingly, not the one I went to.

KSWL - You have described it perfectly. That pale pale peachy pink of a ballet slipper. And, yes, it is organic! The color I tired was too cold and too blue.

Marcolo, I see your point. But I think I will try the loft in Lime White, the loft ceiling in the pale pale pink. Not as stark a contrast. But since I do not want the ceiling under the loft to be dark (it is only a 7'3" ceiling there), I can't make the loft platform dark without getting a two tone look.

I have pointedly avoided curtains everywhere in our home. But if we do have adults who choose to tough it out there, we need something. I was thinking of curtains on the french doors. And maybe on the large double window to the rear, but not on the ones facing the pond. Would you just do sheers?

EATREALFOOD,
Goodness. "Mainhouse" does sound so grandiose, doesn't it. We have always called this thing the stonehouse and so by comparison, our house is the mainhouse.
Lest you get carried away, this was a storage building for garden stuff. We are turning it into a playhouse/guest qtrs for the adventuresome. It is only 8.5 feet wide by 17.5 long. It has no running water or BA; it is 100 steps to the nearest bathroom. Due to its proximity to our pond, we could not add plumbing or enlarge the building.

All that said, it is so darn cute. Funny story. We did not notice it at first but then we saw part of a rusty old bucket embedded in the stone. Sadly,, without our instruction, the workers removed it. I guess they don't shop Anthropologie and have a rational person's reaction to an old, rusty bucket!

I would hate to block the windows with anything that can't be mostly or completely opened during the day, given all the stone. Is there any way you can get the embedded blinds that essentially disappear when open in the doors? Otherwise, definitely do sheers... On the windows, a curtain with a hook to draw it to one side can be very cottage-y. I would like to see fabric added for softness to contrast with the stone.

And I'd invest in one of these too for the guests....of course if DH stayed there, he'd just find the nearest tree outside....

(I guess that blows our invitation!)

;)

hmm, what do you think of bamboo blinds?

I immediately thought sheer because we are leaning feminine, but maybe bamboo blinds wood evoke the feeling these indian chairs have (see photo).

And, Annie, that is the second time a GW'er has suggested peeing on my lawn. LOL

BTW, we really should do a CT lunch date for GW'ers, maybe after the holidays.

Here is a link that might be useful:

LOL!!!

After your comment about peeing on the lawn, I was almost afraid to open the inspiration photo!!! Hahahah!

I think a CT lunch would be fabulous...I would so enjoy it....maybe we can set it up someplace where we can also do a nearby house tour....like in Norwalk of the Lockwood-Matthews mansion or something like that.

Just another pink to consider- BM Sugarcane. It's peachy not bluey, goes with camo colors.

Okay, Annie, let's make it a point to organize one after the holidays? I think that would be fun.

Sonicmom- thanks, I will look at that one!

Hey, Annie, you forgot to comment on the bamboo blinds, you know those sort of tortoise shell looking kind?

or sheers

Here is a link that might be useful: too boring?

I would not do bamboo blinds. You have been faithful thus far to the inspiration photo so I would stick to sheers. BUT they should be white (like the photo), not the ivory looking ones in RH. And if you could find some white organza with embroidered pink polka dots (very faint , but there) that would make a lovely curtain!

From fabric like this in the link below. It is marketed for a child's room, but There's a trend towards polka dots over the last few years, it is a little retro and can be very sophisticated. My absolute favorite fabric is dotted Swiss....white on white for your curtains, maybe, as it has too many dots and might look solid pink.

Here is a link that might be useful: White embroidered with pink

Donghia is the King of Sheers, imho. This photo doesn't do the fabric justice, and there are myriad others fom which to choose.

Here is a link that might be useful: Donghia linen sheer

I have a BM pale pink called white zinfandel in my home and really like it. Not too pink,crisp, looks well with grey. Changes in intensity with natural light.

I agree with kswl to stick with sheers. But I would want the sheers to have some substance or texture to them to stand up to the stone.

Maybe something fun like the royal bee

or the demeter natural

or even nesting cubes

(all from calico corners)

Now don't look at the fabric, but something like this window treatment may work for you...or not, considering shaker is a tad frilly for you.

I came across this treatment up at Sturbridge Village and thought it was very clever.

They took a striped fabric and pleated it in one direction across the top based on where the stripes were. They then sewed a draw string through the fabric so it can be drawn back to one side, then easily let down for privacy.

You could do something like this out of a linen-look sheer....they can be pulled open most of the time, but let down with a nice pleated effect for privacy when necessary....You could do this with a casing instead of going through the fabric as they did.

Also depending on where and how you attach the string, you can get more or less draping when it's open

You could do something similar just with a rustic iron hook to accomplish the same effect. Hook the fabric most of the time and unhook for privacy.

Thanks, Annie. I already ordered linen sheers and some simple rods. And I am intending to have them on tiebacks as you show. I might like a tieback that is a bit whimsical but I haven't found anything I like just yet...

Well, we've been busy on our little itty bitty stonehouse!

I found tiebacks that are made from old doorknobs. Our ottoman arrived ( a very good copy of the inspiration room one from WIndsor Smith, which I had made for $1600 instead of 2200, woo hoo).

And just as I was looking for books for the bookcases, I came across a library sale (I think it's your library, Annie). Our criteria was blue or pink books that I also think are worth reading. When we were short on pink, i caved on some young adult "chick lit". Pretty eclectic but a great bargain, a good cause, and a fun look. The girls spent this morning styling them.

Some photos: Ottoman and tray, shown w/ pillow covers set up in family rm
Amazing how good a copy this is, esp since the original fabric was Scalamandre and ours was from Calico Corners (ignore the cut out leaves on the floor, the girls were playing/

Our books:
Part Steinbeck and Shakespeare, part pink. Only one in the wrong language.

Oh, and, fwiw, paint shoppers:

When it comes to very very pale colors, some places that mix BM paint do not have the right machines to mix such pale colors in small quantities. So if you hear that, be aware that it can be done by someone w a better machine.

Off to a different hardware store to get two PINTS of paint to try, this time!

DH went to pick up old orchard ladders for the loft ladder and railing.

M'dux, I think your girls may have been bitten by the decorating bug. lol I actually love the horizontal/vertical 'bookscape'.

Looking good!

Good job staging by the redux girls! And that ottoman is a dead ringer for the photo, except that the fabric looks comfier :-)

Where did you finally find the tray? Is it vintage or new? It's lovely and a good all-purpose size. Someone posted a link to a blog store on your tray thread and I was happy to find a large cache pot there which has already arrived and is nicer quality than I dared hope for the price. So much new silverplate looks awful. (And while I am asking questions, what do you think when you read the words, "your tray thread?" Did you ever imagine... Lol!)

Yes, we are very happy with the ottoman. In a few years we will probably look at it and think - what were we thinking? But for now we are happy.

I got the tray on ebay. It is pitted in spots but only cost $100 and fits the bill. It does have bun feet (all the large oval ones I saw did) and they do make marks. Maybe I can get a piece of lucite for it to sit on?

Just tried our sixth pink. So far BM's Pink Bliss, Mellow Pink and Pink Butterfly. Then today FnB's Pink ground, Setting Plaster and Middleton Pink. TOmorrow the tile goes in and will probably throw off all the color samples, as it is in the terracotta family ...