Living Room Tweak List: Plantation Shutter Update

I'm back today with another update on my living room tweak to do list! A few weeks ago, I asked all of you to help solve a dilemma in our house about the plantation shutters in our living room. Our gorgeous plantation shutters were painted just like all of the trim in our house- a dingy, yellowy off-white. As you know, we've been updating all of the trim throughout our house by painting it a bright, crisp white. But painting plantation shutters just isn't quite as easy. Also, there's not a ton of light in our living room in the latter part of the day... no sunlight + dingy colors = not so hot plantation shutters. So I voted that we get rid of them altogether and throw up new window treatments. My sweet hubs, on the other hand, voted to keep them.

And what did ya'll vote? About 40% of you voted to keep them and about 60% of you voted to get rid of them... but hang on to them just in case I changed my mind.

So what did we do?

Kept 'em.

I couldn't get rid of the shutters without giving them a second chance... with a new coat of white paint!


(Unfortunately my pictures in this post are not exactly rockstar quality... this time of year, when the sun rises after I leave for work and sets before I get home, full sunlight pictures are hard to come by!)

I think it was this picture from Pinterest that sold me.


Who wouldn't want to keep beautimousness like that in their home?

Ok, so if we decided to keep the shutters, we knew we had to paint them. We've been pricing paint sprayers for awhile, so it was time to finally take the plunge. We purchased this Wagner sprayer from Home Depot, as it came highly recommended from our paint guys at HD (yes, we're friends with them by now). We set up a paint camp on our back deck and my bada$* hubs took on the role of painter.

Because we were pretty sure the shutters had been painted previously with an oil based paint, we decided to play it safe and spray two coats of oil-based primer (I love Zinsser) first. Once those dried (overnight), David sprayed on only one coat of our latex trim color. His review was that the actual painting was pretty easy, but cleaning the machine (especially post oil-based paint) was a little difficult.


But boy is it worth it... the sprayer gave us some amazing results! It's crazy looking at the yellowy shutters next to the painted white shutters, isn't it? Aw, my little painter is so cute.


Now for the fun part... the before and afters!





I know the lighting is so bad in these shots, so I pulled a photog no-no and took one shot with a flash. Maybe it will give you a slightly better perspective of the new white color?


I finally finished painting the trim around the front door, too. Our entry has come a long way....




We even got a little street makeover with this project, since the front side of the house benefitted from the fresh new white. Check out how bad the yellowy shutters looked peeking through last fall.


And now... so fresh and so clean!


I promise some better pictures once things come together in the room!

Oh and before I forget... one other piece of furniture got a tiny makeover with some fresh white paint.


I think it's really coming together in here! I'm crossing things off my list, left and right!

LIVING ROOM TO DO LIST:
1.update mantle
2. add a gallery wall next to TV
5. paint walls a new neutral color
6. add new rug
7. figure out pillow sitcheeyation
8. deal with the plantation shutters
9. spruce up wall behind couch

I'm linking up this project with the Pinterest Challenge hosted by Katie, Ana and Sherry!

47 comments:

  1. Oooooh la la! It's amazing what a simple coat of white paint will do for a room- they look so much better!! :)

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  2. i think they look great with the white! and im totally jealous that you have a paint sprayer, would love to get one...maybe christmas...

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  3. They look so good!! I think it makes a big difference on the outside too! Way to stick with the shutters and take them from dingy to modern. I'm so inspired by all your projects...and I'm pretty sure I'll be seeing you and your husband on HGTV someday! :) Xo, Katie

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  4. The white is nice and clean...and it would have been a shame to get rid of something so many people are striving FOR. But, the view from the outside...that there is a reason enough to paint them!

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  5. Looks amazing! I'm so glad you kept them. I dont think the pictures are so bad... but that might say something about my own photography abilities.

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  6. LOVE them! So glad you decided to keep them. The new fresh white paint did wonders!! I think the view from the outside is funny. haha Who would've thought it would make such a difference from both inside and out? wow! I have been painting our walls, and I've never noticed how bad the trim needs painting until now. I dread that job, but it would make a huge difference I know.

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  7. The fresh white paint totally makes a difference!! I love the new look. You can really tell in the last picture of the entryway and from the outside looking in. I'm glad you are happy with the plantation shutters now!

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  8. I can't believe the difference and I'm glad you kept the shutters - I love them!

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  9. It's amazing what white paint can do. They look great.

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  10. Love the bright white shutters! Makes a huge difference...so fresh now!

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  11. Great job! they look AMAZING! I want a paint sprayer too!!!!

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  12. they look amazing. i think you made the right decision to keep them and paint them whiter.

    i have some advice i need from u. e mailing you in a min my little RB.

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  13. Michelle! It made a huge difference! So fantastic. You can really tell in the photo with the flash and in the shot from the front of the house. Beautiful. I LOVE fresh white trim. And I think Santa might need to chat with your HD guy! Mama needs one of those bad boys.

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  14. Crisp white shutters are such a beautiful, classic look. You did an amazing job.

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  15. Genius! So glad you gave them another try (: LOVE the white.

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  16. So glad you kept them! They look brand new. We've had our bathroom ones sprayed before and it really does make such a difference. Oh, and hubs will agree with your sweet hubby...using the sprayer piece of cake, clean it, not so much!

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  17. Yay! They look beautiful! I have been thinking of putting them up in my living room and I used the same inspiration photo when I posted about it last week! The white makes them look new and fresh. You did a great job!
    -Shelley

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  18. Michelle,
    Yay! I am glad you kept them! They look amazing and you did a great job...so fresh and new looking. You used the same inspiration photo that I used when talking about windows/shutters in my post last week! I guess that picture is enough to convince anyone - beautiful!
    Cheers, Shelley

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  19. That inspiration photo would have SOLD me, too! I'd say you're one lucky girl, new srayer, cute hubby to work it, and bright, clean shutters!

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  20. Go, girl, go! The shutters look soooo much better in white, and I just love your entry!

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  21. Oh I LOVE them!!!! That lil change in a color makes them so fresh and chic!! love it!

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  22. what HUGE difference!!! I am a big fan of white, true white and those are exact proof of why! Everything just pops now... you front doors, your walls, everything! Nicely done!

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  23. aghhh seeing how good these look makes me want to paint my shutters asap!

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  24. YEAH!!! I'm so glad you gave them a second chance!

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  25. that is seriously amazing. wonder how much moolah$ you saved by not buying new ones?? i'd be curious to know. don't you love hubby's that are that handy?!! they look great- love seeing them from the outside of the house, what a difference!!

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  26. I love them in white! Your front entry is so pretty- love your red door!

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  27. They look so much different! Glad you kept them. It was definitely worth it to give them a coat of paint!

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  28. Love the white and so glad you kept the shutters! They look great... By the way, I have the same rug... any tips on all the shedding you can share? Thanks!

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  29. Fabulous job! The shutters look so fresh and so clean! I have those shutters and now I know who to go to when they need a touch up! :)

    P.S. I'm praying for a handy hubby like yours!

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  30. There is not much in life that can't be fixed with a coat of white paint.

    And I thought your pictures were just fine.

    Mary

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  31. I'm glad you kept them! They look great and add so much charm to the house.

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  32. Michelle, the shutters look great with a fresh coat of white paint!! White paint is such a miracle worker isn't it??? I'm so glad you kept them - they have character and I love the look!

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  33. Hooray for sticking with the shutters!! The new coat of paint is glorious and makes such a huge difference. Great work!

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  34. Wow, you are making some serious progress!! Very impressive painting job (why do the mr's get to do all the fun stuff?? :) )

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  35. What a big difference! You definitely made the right decision to keep those bad boys and freshen them up! Great job!

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  36. I love them!! It's amazing what a coat of white paint can do for something.

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  37. Wow what a difference!!! So glad you kept 'em. And you are kicking butt on your to do list!!

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  38. The white paint makes such a huge difference! They look great!

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  39. Great choice to keep the shutters and paint them white. That sprayer is awesome and going to come in handy!

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  40. Wow! What a difference the bright white makes! Love how your black door looks too!

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  41. Oh my gosh I am loving the look of those shutters I am thinking that I need to get some of my own.

    xo

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  42. So glad you kept the shutters! They look great with the fresh white paint!

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  43. Glad you decided to keep the shutters. Love the look!

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  44. What a turnout! Really, white is such a beautiful colour, especially for shutters - simple and classy. Great job by the way!

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  45. Great job on the plantations shutters, I love them! The look so elegant!

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  46. oh these are very classy alright, definitely add to a room!

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Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to hear what you think. I ♥ comments.

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