I've gone BOLD, people.  I created a herringbone stenciled wall in our foyer.  Nothing subtle or safe about it, and I am loving it.  Some of you may recall my post about the Be Bold Challenge a few weeks ago.  I was so excited when Carrie from Lovely, Etc. asked me to participate in it.  Carrie thought up this wonderful challenge, and here is what she had to say about it on her blog in January:

“Too many days were passing by without anything very noteworthy happening.  All because I was afraid to take chances and possibly fail.  This year, my goal is to learn to fail.  To learn that it is really okay to try for something awesome and end up with something awful.  It is easy to make sure you never, ever fail at anything.  But when you do that, you miss out on pretty much everything great.  I’m done with mediocre.  I’m ready for lots of awesome.”

I was honored and inspired to participate in her challenge.  But soon I became crippled with what BOLD project I would tackle.  I felt a lot of pressure to doing something never seen before, like wallpaper a wall with underwear.  But then I remembered the challenge posed by Carrie, “I think a bit more daring and risk-taking is good for everyone and that is why the Be Bold Challenge began. The challenge is to do a DIY project that is a bit of a risk. Perhaps using a new power tool you’ve been afraid of, trying a color you usually avoid, doing something you’ve never seen anyone else do, or just trying something you’re not entirely sure will work.”

Ah…so my project did not need to be outrageous, just something that was new to me.  Something that was a bit of a risk.  That, I could do.

We had sort-of-kind-of made over our foyer by painting, changing out the light fixture and adding a monogram gallery wall.  The full details of our sort-of-kind-of foyer renovation can be  seen here.

We had greatly improved things in our foyer, but as I revealed in that post, I felt that the foyer needed some more personality.  I mean, it was pretty darn boring.

I had thought about wallpapering or stenciling the main wall in our foyer shortly after we moved in, but I totally chickened out.  NOT THIS TIME, PEOPLE.   I WENT BOLD AND I'M LOVING IT.  Check out my herringbone stenciled wall.

I have always loved stenciled walls, especially with contemporary graphic patterns.  Once I decided that I wanted to stencil the wall, I quickly decided I wanted to go with a herringbone pattern.  Herringbone is such a classic pattern, but it is also modern and current.  Classic and current = a winning combination.

I was THRILLED when Lori from The Stencil Closetoffered to send me some free stencils to try out for my BOLD project.  The Stencil Closet offers so many amazing stencils through its shop on Etsy, which you can find here.  The stencils Lori sent me included these two awesome herringbone stencils:

Source: The Stencil Closet

It was a touch decision, but in the end, I opted to use the thicker, shorter herringbone pattern.  I decided to use a paint color one shade darker than the existing color on the walls so that the result would be BOLD, but not totally overwhelming.

I had never stenciled before, and was pleasantly surprised by the process.  Don't get me wrong, it is time consuming, but it is easy and the stencil from The Stencil Closet included great directions, which I did my best to follow.  I used a small, dense foam roller to apply my paint.  I used blue painter's tape to tape the stencil to the wall.  I also used a small foam brush to stencil the areas in the corners and against the stair railing and moldings.  Finally, I kept a small artist's brush with me to do touch up when necessary.

I have to be honest, after getting started I had a slight panic attack thinking, “WHAT AM I DOING?!  I CANNOT HAVE A HUGE HERRINGBONE WALL.  IT'S TOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!”  But I plowed forward with my risky design choice.  And you know what?  I freaking LOVE it now that it's done.  I mean L.O.V.E. it.  I think it is exactly what my foyer needed.  Here are lots more photos for you to enjoy :)

I also fell in love with the Allen and Roth mirror that I saw while I was at Lowe's Home Improvement buying the paint for this project.  Isn't it pretty?!  I think it's exactly what the space needed to finish it off.

The art work is a funny story.  It was my third attempt to fill those frames.  First, I had planned to make a super cool ombre art project with paint chips.  It was an EPIC fail.  Then, I made some cute printables for the frames, but I couldn't print them large enough and was not patient enough to wait to have them printed at Costo.  So, I finally pulled out the cardboard backing of the frames and made my own abstract art with regular old wall paint that we had laying around the house.  I have NEVER attempted to make any type of art before, but I kind of love them.  These pieces of art took me about 5 minutes total and were totally free.  Nice!  Best of all, Joe really likes them.

I used only about 1/4 of a quart of paint for my herringbone stenciled wall and the project took me about 6 hours total.  I listened to a fabulous audiobook while working on it, so the time passed quickly.  {FYI, I am obsessed with audiobooks and am a long-standing member of Audible.  I highly recommend audiobooks for DIYers and crafters–so great to “read” while using your hands for something else.  In case you are curious, I am currently listening to Red Sparrow, by Jason Matthews.  It's fantastic}.

The foyer space still needs some work, like a new floor, but I am loving how much the herringbone stenciled wall livens the space up!

So, what do you think of my bold herringbone stenciled wall?  Are you tempted to do something like this in your space?  If so, I highly recommend that you had over to The Stencil Closet to check out all of the amazing options and find one that is perfect for you!

Before you go, be sure to check out the BOLD projects of the 10 other amazing bloggers participating in this challenge.  Their projects will all be shared sometime this week!

Finally, don't forget to link up your own BOLD project at a HUGE linky party that I am co-hosting on February 24th.  Your project will be seen on 11 blogs–that's fantastic exposure!  I can't wait to see what you come up with!

*I received free product in order to facilitate this project.  All opinions expressed are completely my own.*

I am thrilled that this post was featured on the following amazing blog:

Linking to the following wonderful blogs:

• Before and After Party (Thrifty Decor Chick),  That DIY Party (DIY Showoff),  Bewitch Me Titi (Titi Crafty),  Monday Funday (Uncommon Designs, C.R.A.F.T., Lines Across, That’s What Che Said, and Creatively Living),  Inspiration Monday  (twelve0eight, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Redhead Can Decorate, Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom),  Craft-o-Maniac Monday (Craft-o-Maniac), Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop (Carrie This Home, A Blossoming Life, Sneaky Spoons, The Casual Craftlete and LilyWhite.Designs),  Sunday Best (The Girl Creative), Link it or Lump It (Delineate Your Dwelling, Dream a Little Bigger, Soho Sonnet, Two It Yourself)

• Give Me the Goods Monday (Rain on a Tin Roof, Better With Age, Dimples and Pig Tales, Commona-My-House, and Maison de Pax),  Project Inspire{d} (Cupcakes and Crinoline, Dukes and Duchesses, Setting for Four, Yesterday on Tuesday, and Jojo and Eloise),  The Scoop (Confessions of a Plate Addict, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, Worthing Court, The Everyday Home, Stone Gable),  Tuesdays Treasures (My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia), The DIYers (Home Coming),  Tutorials and Tips (Home Stories A to Z),  SITS Girls Tuesday Link Party (SITS Girls)

• Wow Me Wednesday  (Ginger Snap Crafts),  Whimsy Wednesday (Smart School House, NY Melrose Family and Oh My! Creative),  From Dream to Reality  (The DIY Dreamer),  The Inspiration Exchange (Clean and Scentsible, Yellow Bliss Road, Ella Claire, City Farmhouse), Brag About It (VMG 206),  Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Just a Girl and Her Blog, One Krieger Chick, Made to be a Momma, Dolen Diaries),   The Makers Link Party (Tiny Sidekick, Persia Lou and Upcycled Treasures),  Do Tell Tuesday (View from the Fridge, Lil Mrs. Tori, Mabey She Made It, A Sweet Fragrance),  Show Me What Ya Got (Not Just a Housewife)

• Work It Wednesday (The Happy Housie, The Blissful Bee, The Turquoise Home and A Place of My Taste),  Live Laugh Rowe Live Laugh Linky (Live Laugh Rowe)
  

• Inspire Me Please (Liz Marie Blog, Love of Family and Home, House of Rose and Blissfully Ever After),  Fabulously Creative Friday (Jennifer Rizzo),  Thrifty Thursday (Living Well, Spending Less),  Thursday Style (Life in Velvet, Addicted to DIY, Well-Groomed Home, and A Prudent Life),  The Creative Connection (Making Home Base, Wait til Your Father Gets Home, Becoming Martha, Chase the Star and Create Caft Love),   The Inspiration Gallery (Design, Dining and Diapers, The Golden Sycamore and Craftberry Bush),  Made You Look (Made in a Day),  Friday Favorites (I’m Not a Trophy Wife)

• The Party Bunch (The 36th Avenue, The Idea Room, 30 Handmade Days, Whipperberry),  Link Party Palooza (Tatertots and Jello, I Heart Naptime, Lil Luna, Today’s Creative Blog and Somewhat Simple),  Catch as Catch Can (My Repurposed Life),  Pinworthy Projects (Just Us For, My Favorite Finds, and Atkinson Drive),  Frugal Friday (The Shabby Nest),  Craft Frenzy Friday (Craft Dictator, Turning the Clock Back, and West Street Story),  Wowza Weekend (My Love 2 Create and The Patriotic Pam),  Strut Your Stuff Saturday (Six Sisters’ Stuff),  Remodelaholics Anonymous Party (Remodelaholic)

• Spotlight Saturday (Classy Clutter),  Get Schooled Saturday (Too Much Time On My Hands),  Overflowing With Creativity,  Suburbs Mama,  Share It One More Time (One More Time Events), DIY Showcase Party (VMG206),  Skip The Housework Saturday (Reasons to Skip the Housework)

 

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