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Annie Elliott Design, Washington DC

Annie Elliott Design

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Bossy color’s living room, Part one million and one: Here comes the sun (doot n dewdewww)

Annie Elliott | September 29, 2010

Just as it is impolite to ask a lady her age, so too is it impolite to ask me how many times I’ve painted my living room.

The answer, I fear, would shock and horrify you.

Therefore, let us skip the introduction and go right to the pictorial essay, shall we?

The inspiration: Monticello.

Yellow dining room at Monticello

The execution: bossy.

Yellow paint swatches above blue sofa

Benjamin Moore's 343 SunraysThe winning color: Benjamin Moore’s 343 Sunrays.

In real life, it’s the closest match to the drapes (lower swatch. Above it is 342 Glimmer.)

Benjamin Moore paint samples on wall

Yellow paint samples over blue sofa

Turns out a special yellow primer is required for this color. Of course.

Can of Aura paint

Our brave little soldiers, ready to be sent into battle!

Cans of Benjamin Moore Aura paint

I begin to get nervous as the paint is being mixed, but then I notice the crooked motto on the wall.

Paint stirrers

Onward!

Bossy color painting her living room

Bossy color painting

Jimmy Riot painting bossy color's living room

Eek! Do stay tuned for the dramatic conclusion (oh, you know there’s never REALLY a conclusion, don’t you?) to this bossy color saga.

Annie Elliott – aka bossy color – is an interior decorator and design blogger in Washington, D.C. Look for her in the November 2010 issue of Real Simple!

Category: Color + paint color, Living Room + Family RoomTag: 343 Sunrays, Benjamin Moore, Living room, paint, yellow paint

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Happy Wallpaper Wednesday! Let’s talk about Cole & Son’s Acquario, shall we?Iconic Italian artist Piero Fornasetti designed Acquario for Cole & Son in the early 2010s. He was going through an ocean phase, captivated by its mysterious depths 🐠, so he developed this fish design and put it first on plates and fabrics, and then, luckily for us, on wallpaper. We just installed Acquario in the Print Room Blue colorway in a client’s tiny practice room (he plays classical guitar), and we LOVE it! That big old blowfish, just gliding along…he kills me.Featuring: @cole_and_son_wallpapers @fornasetti

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For today’s Wallpaper Wednesday, we discuss the chinoiserie wallpaper in the Great Hall at  @citytavern_dc  in Washington, DC. Ooooohh - field trip!I was delighted to visit City Tavern recently. It’s a historic 1796 Federal building in the heart of Georgetown, and all the cool kids hung out there. You know, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson…those guys. At one point, the building boasted the largest room in Washington.I, of course, was captivated by the Great Hall, which is covered in @graciestudio hand-painted wallpaper — which was selected by none other than Jackie Kennedy! EVEN THOUGH at that time the building was a club that didn’t admit women. Harumph.The chinoiserie walls are gorgeous from far away, but they’re amazing up close, also: you can see faint brushstrokes left by the painters. Doesn’t that give you a shiver? I love it.

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