ORC Week 3: Color Drenching a Historic Living Room in Moody Green

There’s a rhythm to renovation that no one really talks about.

Some weeks feel electric; full of momentum, decisions, visible change.
And then there are weeks like this one; slower, interrupted, and humbling in their own quiet way.

Week 3 didn’t unfold the way I had planned.

Unexpected well issues and repairs pulled my attention away from the living room; reminding me, once again, that when you live in a 130 year old building, the house often decides the timeline… not you.

And yet; even in the disruption, progress still found its way in.

Clearing the Weight

The biggest shift this week wasn’t just visual; it was emotional.

We cleared out the living room completely.
Not just moving things around; but truly clearing it.

There is something powerful about seeing a space emptied of everything it has been holding. Layers of daily life, forgotten corners, the quiet accumulation of years. Gone; even if only temporarily.

For the first time in a long time, the room felt open.
It felt like it could breathe again.

A Deep Clean and a Fresh Start

With everything out, we gave the room the kind of deep clean it has been needing for far too long.

Floors, walls, corners, trim; all of it.

This is also where I have to give a completely unexpected shout out.

I grabbed Crocodile Cloth wipes on a whim at Home Depot; one of those impulse purchases you don’t think much about at the time.

They were worth every single dime.

These wipes handled everything; dust, grime, paint prep; and made the entire cleaning process faster and honestly… a little more satisfying. Sometimes it’s the smallest tools that make the biggest difference.

The Color That Holds the Room

This week also brought paint; which always feels like the moment a room begins to take on its identity.

I had originally planned to color drench the entire space in Vogue Green by Sherwin-Williams; a deep, moody green that feels both grounding and dramatic… exactly the direction I want this room to go.

But, as with many things this week, there was a small hiccup.

Due to an issue at our local Sherwin-Williams store, I had to pivot; quickly and without overthinking it. We ended up going with Glidden paint, color matched to Vogue Green.

And honestly?

It turned out beautifully.

The room is now almost fully painted; wrapped in that rich, enveloping green that shifts with the light throughout the day. In the mornings it feels earthy and calm. By evening, it leans darker; moodier, almost cinematic.

A quick reality check on this space; this room is no small project.

With 14 foot tall walls, ceilings included, and original brick that quite literally drinks the paint… we will end up using about five gallons by the time everything is complete.