Paint Store Wars and other tales of the basement

Who would have thought that home decor would be such an issue? We bought our home almost 8 years ago and to this date have done very little to change it. When we toured our home for the first time, we found we had alot in common with the old owners. Hardwood floors, bright white kitchen accented with bright colourful curtains, the in colours on the walls in most other rooms and in fact they had even used paint techniques that were interesting and beautiful. The only changes we made until this year were to the kids bedrooms. Our lovely daughters have tastes all their own and quickly made their rooms their own.

This year after seven complete years it is time for a change. The colours that were chosen for the main floor went without comment. Apparently they must have been okay. Everyone seemed to like them and until last night no one complained.

Last night was the annual Friends and Family sale at RONA and one of the girls I play pool with, kindly left me a pass at the front counter. This pass would give me all purchases at employee cost + a further 10%. Husband and I decided it would be a great time to get our paint for the basement renovation. I spent some time on the BM web site exploring paint colours. My main thought was to keep in mind the oak flooring we were installing and the feel that we would like to have in this room we spend so much time in! After much deliberation and discussion with DD#2 a lovely warm colour called Ginger Root was chosen. Husband had never been interested in colours before but I asked him if he wanted to come with me to help with the paint cans...they're heavy you know.

I was ambushed! I met Husband and DD#3 at the store and was met with these words: "We've decided that there will be no version of brown, beige or taupe in our basement! We want GRAY!

GRAY? Gray is not a colour!

Husband moved to the racks of paint chips. His hand moved to the coldest paint chips possible. He actually chose a colour called "Sidewalk Gray". I just looked at him! I was flabbergasted...speechless (shut up! I know what you are thinking and it does happen! I can be left with no words!)Okay, maybe not speechless. My only comment was..."Why bother putting up drywall then? We'll just leave the cement walls in the basement. Let's go home, my job is done! Thanks Hon! You just saved us $1000."

As we are standing among the friends and family of all the other employees we begin to debate the merits of the colour gray. Let's just say that I walked away. Husband walked away. DD#3 stood wide eyed and embarrassed at what had become of her once loving family! Once tempers cooled and I realized that damn it, he would have to live in this space as well...I guess he should have a say. I pointed him in the direction of warmer colours that contained the word GRAY! We found a lovely colour called "copley gray" (Benjamin Moore colour HC-104 for anyone that might want a peek). It really is more taupe than gray..but it had the word gray in the descriptive and that made husband happy!

All he could say as we stood embarrassed at the paint counter was "that was a good compromise don't you think?"

So, next time you get the urge to invite your spouse along to help carry the paint tins...think again. There are nice young employees at the store that will assist you and won't give you half the backlash!

Decorating Diva signing off!