Entry #9: Decorating With Delft Blue KLM Houses - Part 2

My bedroom is in need of a Spring refresh, so I decided to repaint, but I’ve been torn between two beautiful greens.

I have been looking at these two samples on the wall since January.

My long time artist friend stopped by to give me her musings on the colors (I think she’s tired of hearing me flip flop on them) along with her 6 year old son, Eli. Now, in a coat closet, I have a basket on the floor that has toys in it; some were my daughter’s toys (she’s 26 now), some were Happy Meal prizes, and some I’ve completely forgotten from whence they came. I kept this basket from when I worked as a beautician, as I always wanted kids to feel welcome and included (and busy) while their parents got their hair done; and I'd like that sentiment to carry over when they visit my house!

And honestly, I love watching and listening to them when they are lost in their creative play. It's all so fantastic and imaginative. All to say - Eli is very familiar with the toy basket.

So, I took it out for him and put it on the floor, right between the kitchen and living room - it's all open concept - and he immediately was engrossed, pulling out toys from decades before he was born.

My artist friend and I went to my bedroom to see the colors in the morning light - as my bedroom is North facing, and has incredibly tricky lighting to deal with. I moved the sample pieces around to different walls, talking about “not too dark” or “not too washed out” or “not too cool”. We kept running into the same problems of either looking too white or too gray, until we landed on Sherwin Williams' color Livable Green, at 50% strength. Finally!

I was so happy to have that decision made, so other important issues can be front and center in my brain, like planting marigolds in the garden and opening up the pool. All the while, Eli was happily playing from what we could hear, lots of car noises, beep beep, vroom vroom!

My friend and I walked back to the living area and to our surprise, Eli had made a whole neighborhood out of my KLM houses!

It was one that, dare I say, would rival some of the best heritage neighborhoods in Raleigh. Beautiful, historical homes on large lots, with ample parking, and the planning committee for Eli’s neighborhood was on the same page as the developer! Huzzah!

Recently, I was so fortunate to add to my Delft Blue KLM House collection, due to someone selling theirs. In this, I keep the houses that I don't have and sell the duplicates on this site and on our Etsy shop. However, my Estanier is full with previously established neighborhoods (check out Entry #7 for that!) named SoHo (South Houses). Since then, I've filled up a dessert stand, as well as the top of a kitchen cabinet, yet the bulk went to a bookcase behind one of our loveseats, which I've named NoHo (North Houses).

Eli, the budding city planner, pulled the houses down from the bookcase, and looked like he had a grand ol' time setting up his own neighborhoods.

His mom’s face was priceless when she saw her little city planner's handiwork on my hardwood floor. I can't lie, I was surprised too, but he handled them so gently, and set them down so carefully, that I wasn't as worried (or angry!) as she was. When she yelled for him, that poor boy went white as a sheet, looking like Godzilla was getting ready to trash the whole thing.

I knew I had to act fast, so I made my way to him first and said: "Oh my goodness, Eli! I absolutely love your amazing neighborhood! Which house do you live in?"

Eli was still frightened, and his mom still angry, but the tension diffused slowly as we talked, and as he pointed, six-year-old eyes shrewd as ever, to house #100, saying: "I live in that house!"

I almost gasped. Are you kidding me? Bosch Palace! "That's what I was going to say!" I said, happy to see him smiling again. His mom came over and asked him where she lived. Again, he scanned them for only a minute, and pointed to house #75, The Hague. Two of the best houses in NoHo were already taken, so when Eli asked me where I lived, I had to think a minute. Finally, I pointed to house #48, belonging to Rembrandt; it was nice enough, but still, I heard they hadn't updated the kitchen since 1911.

Eli continued to play as his mother and I eased into the living room, where we could keep an eye on him in case of any wrecks with his toy cars, or spills with his drink. By the time they left, I finally had a paint color, Eli was welcome to play with the houses - gently - and his mother was happy as could be.

All's well that ends well!