Color Me Indecisive

On Shabbos my friend Carol remarked that she misses my blog. I miss my blog, too, and I've had several gentle nudges from others. So here I am, after a hiatus of over two months.

In my defense, there were eight days of Passover in mid April, and the heavy prep the holiday entails. Then Malice Domestic in Arlington, and the Edgars etc. in New York. And since my return home, our house hasn't been a haven for writing--or thinking, for that matter (though I do the L.A. Times daily Sudoku; I can't seem to start my day without it).

First came the painters. They painted the breakfast room and the exterior house trim. They stripped our bedroom's twenty-seven-year-old peach flame-stitch wallpaper (unless you're a botanist or pathologist, you didn't want to see what was under that paper, compliments of several old leaks). They installed crown molding and painted the room.

Twice, as a matter of fact. Armando, who employs the crew, applied two samples on my bedroom wall. A tan I'd selected from the color wheel, and a green he thought I'd like.

"The tan,"  I said. "It's neutral."

"You're sure?" he said. "Green is neutral, too."

"I'm sure."

Minutes later I happened to flip through a Target catalog that showed a bedroom. The walls were green. Soft, serene. Neutral. Exactly the look and atmosphere I wanted.

By the end of the next day, my walls were the green Armando had shown me. I had to pay extra, of course, but I loved the room. So did my kids, and my grandkids.

"Do you like the green?" I asked my husband.

"It's fine.  So was the tan."

"You don't like the green better? It's so much prettier."

"It's a room. It's paint. If you're happy, that's fine."

I was happy, except for the fact that the old mirrored closet doors , framed with a metallic gold trim, looked, well, less than beautiful in my beautiful green room.

"I don't see why we have to change the closet doors," my husband said. "But you're going to order new ones, right?"

He knows me so well.

I ordered beveled, frameless mirrored doors with a three-track rail that allows access to two-thirds of the closet at the same time.

"Now we can both access the closet at the same time," I pointed out to my husband.

"Great," he said.

The thin door trim came in four finishes: white, gold, chrome, or brushed nickel.

Definitely not the gold or chrome. "White," I decided.

After the doors were installed, I had a flicker of regret: Should I have gone with the brushed nickel? Was the white too white?

"I think I should have gone with the brushed nickel," I told my husband.

He sighed.

Another cause for regret: I'd decided against painting the inside of the closet. Frankly, I'd been too lazy to remove everything--skirts, suits, blouses, and too many pairs of shoes. Now, even though I saw the dingy peach walls onlywhen the closet doors were open, it was ruining the loveliness of the room.

"No one sees the inside of the closet," my husband said.

"It bothers me."

My husband left on a business trip. I emptied the closets. I bought a roller, brush and tray kit from Home Depot and spent six hours painting. It was liberating and exhausting, and the only downside was that I missed my Monday night mah jongg game. I did an okay job. I got paint on my jean skirt (most of it came out) and on my hair (three shampoos took care of that).

A few days later the new carpeting was installed. Beach Powder, a large diamond pattern with palm trees forming the diamonds' corners. Very pretty. Very white. The mirrored doors looked perfect.

"I love the mirrored doors," I told my husband.

"Thank God."

"Aren't you nervous about the white carpet?" my daughter asked the next day, admiring the carpet from the doorway.

"No shoes allowed," I told her. "No grandkids."

"What about Daddy?"

"Same rules."

"What do you mean, no shoes?" my husband said. "That's ridiculous."

"Lots of people remove their shoes before stepping on their carpet," I said. "It's sensible."

"Why don't you rope off the room," he said.

I think he was only half joking.

But he's been taking off his shoes.

Comments

[Bahar]

Hi Rochelle,

I was wondering where you purchased the 3 track rail for your closet doors? I am in the middle of a remodel and need to fit a big closet with 3 doors that can be open 2/3 at one time. It would be a big help to me if you could give me your resource. Thanks.

[Matthew C]

Removing shoes at the door is a great way to keep floors and carpets clean.

[Michelle]

Understand your hiatus but missed your blog! Welcome back!!

[Rochelle]

Oh, Pearl. You said "Jerry!" I hope he didn't hear you.

It's good to "be back," I have to say. More to tell about Italy, and the house redecorating.

Barbara, the closet doors are great, and I purchased shoe racks from Bed Bath -- Imelda would be proud.

[Barbara W. Klaser]

Your bedroom sounds lovely. At least the new closet doors are more practical, opening the way they do.

[Z]

I am SOOOOO glad to see you back! {{{{Rochelle}}}} And...I CAN come to the Hadassah thing AND I am spending a coveted half day - you should feel so honored now! LOLOLOLOL Hopefully you'll be in early the night before...we're all so excited and the tiles are all polished in anticipation...

[Pearl]

Rochelle...so glad to see you're "back on the blog"! Your writing was definitely missed.

Glad you're enjoying the new decor...and I hope that "Jerry" remembers to take off his shoes, should he decide to visit!