The Black Walls

So it was one of those times in life that caught me by total surprise.  With the older two in college, we are moving sleeping quarters around and updating our upstairs.  I asked - no I told - my 11 year old that he could pick any color he wanted for his new room's walls. 

I picked army green and dark blue.  I brought home various paint chips in shades of khaki and stone. 

"Black", he said. 
"I want my walls black". 
"Two walls black, two walls white".
Ummm.  Ummm.  Here I am all this self-proclaimed artist and proponent of self-expression put in this position of saying no to black walls?  I did for a day.  But then I saw how important it was to him and so I said yes.

I do think this old colonial farmhouse with pretty windows and high ceilings has never seen anything like it and might be holding it's 100 year old breath until the outcome is fully revealed.  I almost feel like apologizing to it.  And no, these pictures are not in black and white!

And then on the other hand, after I had taken a deep breath and tried to absorb it all, I thought to myself that nothing quite outlines a well-scuplted white window frame like a dark color.  Perhaps there was even a bit of elegance to it.  The specific color is "Volcanic Ash", not quite pitch black.  We have mutually decided on two walls black, one being chalkboard paint (there's my creative insistence - I mean if you're going black, make it fun) and two walls in a light grey.

His current abode.  I'll be kicking and screaming to leave it behind.  Yet there's no denying it's time to move on.  11 years old now, first middle-school dance behind him.  No more backpacks with lizards or robots on them.  Plain clothes are desired, no stripes or designs. More attention paid to not sticking out than anything. 

But here my son and I are in agreement!  WHEW.  Color!  We have used Flor carpet tiles in our house already and have been really pleased with the results.  He has agreed to using 4-5 different colors for the floor.  I think it will be smashing, actually. 

This striped version, I want for my art studio in my home.  Oh yeah, while I am drying my tears over the "baby" moving into his black room, I'll be getting the white paint out and his former room?...my new art space.  I'll be doing the same thing to the blue and green walls.  So I probably will be sad for about a day.

What I love most about them is the sustainability factor.  The carpet tiles are made from recycled stuff and you can mail the tiles back to them and they will recycle yours. 

Bedding.  Not so easy to find black bedding.  This PB Teen duvet cover is in the running, although if I could get him to do more colorful block colors/sheets to match the carpet tiles, that might work, too. 
Will post progress!