Sammy, Have you tried applying the paint with a roller then just brushing it out? That can speed things up, though you do have to move right along to re-texture the paint with the brush before it starts to set-up. For the 2X2, use a short roller. If the edges are chamfered, the roller will really speed things up. Also try setting up some temporary saw horses so you're not bending down so much. Some possible supports: a pair of upside-down garbage cans with plastic trash bags over them so drips don't mar the cans; if you set up two by four scrap lumber across the tops of the cans at right angles to the length of the uprights you could get a lot of the uprights painted and drying all at once. Load the uprights on alternating sides of the centerline as you paint them to keep the whole thing balanced. Working at waist height takes about half the effort out of that kind of job. Molly~

wow this does look really good. I would continue to work at this. I think the idea of lightening up the inside of the bookcase with the fabric wrapped foam would also help bridge everything. also maybe decorating the mantle with lighter objects to pull the lighter color over to that wall. maybe replacing the the stone around the fireplace to something lighter as well. overall it looks really beautiful; I'm just nit picking.

You don't need ONE wall to be a color. The room has four walls. You don't have high ceilings, so what??! I have no clue what you mean by " The front of shelves." The biggest mistakes made are those that come from over thinking the space, the colors, the POPS , the accents. One color on the front and another on the back You want teal? Paint the BACKS the bookcases in teal. change the tile to a simple light tone stone or tile. Maybe a soap stone surround, if you want something darker. . Paint the mantel white.Then? Minimally add the teal in other accents. A rug with a dab of it..... art ...etc. The point here is you give the room a POINT of view. Design is editing. It's to pick a loose thread from a sweater and follow the unravel . It's a combo of no fear, and a little restraint, all at the same time. I am not a fan of the half way I can't make up my mind/ I can't commit look. : ) If yu want the backs painted? Echo the color elsewhere. or WRAP the room in a color ( no, not teal )

Hi sparkleivy- I like the blue color and together with the ivory beige it looks sophisticated. I would use the space underneath the TV for either a a table or closed storage. The type of closed storage depends on your needs, whether you need a cabinet or drawers or a file cabinet, but it should be attractive. I would suggest changing around how you have arranging the things on your shelves. Your flag deserves to be displayed with honor. I would purchase a display box for the American flag, they are made of wood with a glass front, and tuck in a dessicant packet to prevent mold or rot of the flag. Make sure you get the correct size box for your size flag. A burial flag is larger. Then put the flag on top of the book shelf. Put the airplane on top of the other bookshelf. Why are you displaying a book with the front facing out like that? Do you have a living room? Do you entertain? Should your liquor and glasses be in a bar piece in the living room or is that bookcase the bar piece?