A touch of chevron
July 17, 2013
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OK…if you’ve been around these parts for awhile you know I show you the good and bad and the ugly around here. (Go here for a REALLY bad one that ended good.)
Not every project turns out as I had hoped, and some turn out…but I just can’t quite decide if I love them or not. This is one of those.
I’ve planned to do this project forever and was excited to finally get it done – it was a simple little trash can redo for my office:
I’ve had this wood one for YEARS. I think it was my first Pottery Barn purchase ever, about ten years ago. It was on clearance and it’s a great little waste basket. After all this time the structure has held up great, but the outside was a little nicked up. So I figured it would be the perfect project to experiment on. :)
I started by sanding it down super fast in my “workshop.” That would be on the trash can in the garage:
I got that sander a few months ago and it makes sanding SO much easier. It’s the first one I’ve owned that doesn’t leave skip marks all over everything. I loathe sanding and I love this thing so that’s saying a lot.
After I wiped it down I gave it a coat of primer and then a couple coats of a satin white paint in my other workshop. Or on an old sheet in the front yard:
Next was the FUN part. :)
I let the paint dry for a few hours inside so it would hold up to some painter’s tape. This wasn’t just any painter’s tape though – it was chevron tape!: 
I sat and watched TV while I taped off the trash can:
So I’ve mentioned a few times that I’m usually eons behind the latest decorating trend. Either that or I’m so far ahead of the trend it’s not even cool yet. (I was putting chalkboards everywhere before they were the thing.)
Chevron isn’t one of those trends I’m hooked on – I haven’t added it anywhere in the house yet. When I got this tape a while back I knew it would be fun to use it somewhere small to see if I liked it. Just a little spot, a smidge. A skosh of chevron if you will.
When I redid my office years ago I added in a few touches of pink in the space just to break up all the blue and beige in there. I picked up a pink paint sample (Sunrose by Valspar) months ago to use on another spot in the room and figured it would be a cute accent on the trash can.
I didn’t worry about great coverage on this – I didn’t want the color to be super saturated, so I just did one quick coat of the pink. I was kind of excited as I peeled off the chevron tape:
It was looking super cute!
But by the time I was done taking it all off…I didn’t like it. At all. It was too much.
I was doing this at night so I tried to get a shot of it in the bathroom:
It’s hard to get a good idea of how it looked – it was just too bright and SO girly. I mean, I love some girly touches but it was just a LOT. In a little girl’s room, it would have been perfect. For my grown up office? A little much. (For me.)
Soooo, I tried to figure out how to salvage it. I didn’t hate the chevron, the color was bugging me more than anything. I decided to try using the sander again to knock it down as much as I could. I used a 220 grit sandpaper and then a 120 to knock it down even more.
And whew…I liked it SO much more.
It gave it a washed, old look that I liked so much more! Cause you know chevron is on all the old stuff. ;)
Do I love it? I’m still not sure. I do like the look of chevron, I’m just not sure I love the look of it in my house. ;) It really is pretty cute though:
I AM love with my new mercury glass “vase” on my desk – it was a clearanced out outdoor candleholder at Menards. Three bucks!:
I think it will be absolutely beautiful with a candle inside too – but I’m obsessed with my hydrangeas right now. :)
But oh, the possibilities with this fun tape!! It makes it so easy to add this look to anything! I’m not sure of the exact shapes they have out, but I do have a wavy look too that I’m thinking of trying somewhere.
Are you a fan of the chevron? Do you have it in your home somewhere? I thought it may go away but I am still seeing it all over! I don’t think it’s going anywhere soon. So NOW I’m totally caught up with the trend. Finally. :)
**See how I changed this up to a calmed down chevron look here!
**See more of my office redo here.
Hmmm, like you I like the chevrons but I don't know about the color. It looks a little orange (which I love) but I don't know if it's working with the rest of the room...
ReplyDeleteSo verdict still out.
Chevrons seem so trendy, I mean they work and they're fun but are they just so over the top that they won't work for long???? But I guess if FrogTape is on board with them maybe they're not the fad I thought.
PS- FrogTape is the greatest invention known to man. Besides like penicillin and airbags, you know that kind of stuff.
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI love your blog! You have such great ideas! I have been thinking about trying out this trend, too, in my own home. I have been hesitating because my home is not modern in any way, but I love the freshness of chevron. I think the problem with the tape is that the chevron seems too "tight." I've noticed that the chevron that I'm drawn to is the wider zigzag. Maybe that could be part of the issue too? Otherwise it could look like the bottom of charlie brown's shirt? lol :)
Thanks for all you do!
Amanda
I love chevron! I recovered my dining room chairs in a brown/beige fabric; so I'm probably a bit biased, but I do love your trash can. I think in small doses it works! Sanding it down made a huge difference.
ReplyDeletelove the sanded down color, the before was just too bold and "orange-y".
ReplyDeleteMaybe stick a potted plant in it if you still don't like it in a week!
~lauren
Ha...my youngest is so happy with you right now. She just completed a canvas for her new room at school and had to "create" the chevron with painters tape...wish this post had come out last week!! LOL
ReplyDeleteI think a touch of chevron is best! We used it as an accent pattern for our wedding (my husband is/was a Marine & when they pick up rank they get chevrons, so I thought it was a cute touch.) Now, whenever anyone sees chevron they think of us. My mom told my sister it was my pattern- ha! I am not that territorial over it, but we do have an awesome chevron rug in the living room- http://createbakecelebrate.blogspot.com/2013/07/create-one-last-piece.html
ReplyDeleteThe pattern is nice & large, however, so it doesnt scream chevron!
Love that chevron! The sanded down version is so cute!
ReplyDeleteI am obsessed with that vase too. I love a little glitz! Not loving the sanded down chevron trash can though.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI've been a long time reader but never commented before but wanted to as I have the same feelings about chevron. I recently too a huge chance and added it to my bathroom in a navy and white chevron (extra long) shower curtain...and I LOVE it! I love your little waste basket but I think you are right and the colour is not working in this space. A gold and white would probably look lovely with those beautiful curtains in the background.
Thank-you for all the years of inspiration.
JoAnne
Love the sanded down version! I am really not into chevron but we recently added a chevron quilt set to my daughters room. She picked it out and it is quite lovely.
ReplyDeleteThat vase is gorgeous! I agree with others that maybe the color is off on the trash can for the space. But I do like it better sanded.
ReplyDeleteSo with you on chevron- don't hate it, but really only like it in small accessories. I think the trash can looks nice, esp after you sanded it a bit!
ReplyDeleteIt came out so cute. Love the worn look.
ReplyDeleteEH. I think if you left it white, with a chevron splash of color at the top it would be better.
ReplyDeleteOmigosh! You have the same workshop as me! :P I haven't done anything in chevron, but your basket turned out really cute. I'm not usually a huge fan of sanding paint off a piece, but I think it worked out well on your basket. It looks quite happy now!
ReplyDelete-andi
I like it much better after the sanding too! While I like the Chevron pattern I'm not sure I want it in my house...but yours is so cute. I'm torn!
ReplyDeleteChevron? No - not for me under any circumstances. However, sanded down, that little waste bin is not looking bad at all.... but methinks you will need a shot of that pink colour somewhere else, eh?
ReplyDeleteI'm so relieved to find out that I'm not the only one who doesn't love Chevron! I am dying over the Menard's "vase". LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteSuper cute project!! I'm a fan of chevron and I have it in my house too but I like it done in a muted way but that's probably just because I don't typically use super bright colors. Chevron is like greek key to me, even though some argue that its just a trend those are two designs that have been around forever, they're just used in different ways when they get popular. I love your space so calm and relaxing!!!
ReplyDeleteI like chevron ok, but its definitely not something I am dying to put in my house either - we have a pretty traditional/Tuscan theme to our decor. One thought if you ever re-do the trash can - since it was the color that bothered you - maybe just have one chevron or wavy stripe at the top or one at the bottom and one at the top.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm not crazy about the color. Perhaps you could try grading the color in shades light to dark. Also, fewer chevron tape strips spaced farther apart would create a more interesting pattern.
ReplyDeleteI think the trash can looked really great when you had it painted just plain white. I am not a huge fan of chevron. I love the rest of your office space though. Looks so light and pretty!
ReplyDeleteNot crazy about chevron. However, I love your curtains! Can I ask where you found them at?
ReplyDeleteIt took me forever to add chevron to my house. I put a navy and white chevron rug in the boys gameroom and a black and white ZGallerie tray in my bedroom that you don't notice because of my enormous amounts of jewelry on it. Anyway, I do like chevron, but I find it hard to find the right room to put it in. I do love it weathered in your office!
ReplyDeleteSarah, I love the wastebasket and the vase! I was hesitant to jump on the Chevron bandwagon cause I worried it was a fad... but I have brought it in in small doses (a couple of pillows in my living room, a lightswitch cover in another room...) and I love its freshness. I think your wastebasket is just the right amount.
ReplyDeleteWOW, Chevron Tape. That is cleaver. I have yet to see any myself. But, I am going to keep my eyes open for some. I really like your garbage can, it is cute.
ReplyDeleteReason #45485 of why I love reading your blog: You referenced the movie "Loser" by mentioning the word "skosh" (Jason Biggs)! I thought I was the only one that uses that word! As for the chevron, I love that you used it in a subtle way in your house and adore that frog tape, I must have it! Great job distressing it too, looks fab! Thanks for sharing:)
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge fan of chevron but I think it works great on a small accessory like this, especially sanded back like you did. I like that you didn't make it so matchy-matchy and it contrasts with other things in the room. You did say you used it on something else, I think in the same room, so that would tie it together.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't care if something is a trend, or fad or whatever is the "hot" new thing. I put what I like in my home at the time. Why does it matter? I'm not trying to do what everyone else is doing, just to be following along, unless I love something and want it in my own home. No offense to anyone, just my opinion. I want to be comfortable in my own space and enjoy it so decorating to my own taste instead is what works for me.
Love all the great new products out there! Thanks for once again letting us know about another great one!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOK here goes.....I think it looks like jack-o-lantern teeth.I think the zig zag is too close together from the tape. I would paint it silver or gold for some reflection and shine.Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteLove your floors!
Mary
RENONFL@YAHOO.COM
It looks great distressed. I'm a fan of chevron on small items, but that tape looks really great. I may have to check that out!
ReplyDeleteI like the faded look much better, too... along with the curtains and drum shade and mercury glass and hydrangeas..... :)
ReplyDeleteI have no chevrons at all in my home. Guess I'd better go buy some Frog Tape! ;)
I really like the distressing! Chevron is good for me in small does such as what you created! Looks fabulous in your room!!~~Angela
ReplyDeleteThat tape is so fun! I like chevron but in small doses here and there. I just love your office area -it's so beautiful with all the light!
ReplyDeleteOh, I like it! I think it ended up looking terrific. I know it's all a matter of taste and everyone is different, but I think it looks sweet. Sarah, even the place you put your garbage is stylish!
ReplyDeletemeh, I don't think it fits. I refuse to hop on the chevron bandwagon. When you put the yellow tape on the white bin, all I could think was charlie brown.
ReplyDeleteoh, and I love the new "vase" and the fact that you've successfully grown hydrangeas!
ReplyDeleteOK, I didn't read all the comments, so maybe someone has suggested this already. I think it's too much, too. Maybe if you only have 2 white chevron stripes - the top two OR the bottom two. Paint over the other two with pink. And I like the distressed pink, too.
ReplyDeleteAlthough to me, this tape is more zig zag than chevron if that makes sense. It seems like chevron is usually taller than it is wide and these seem uniform.
It's a beautiful room!
Fantastic! I've never heard of chevron tape. I've always considered doing a project like this, but never thought I'd be able to pull off getting the lines straight enough- this tape is brilliant! I also really like how you sanded it after painting.
ReplyDeletewow. nice job...I don't know how I feel about chevron either sometimes. It's very Charlie Brown...lol. I like how you ruffed it up a bit...makes it look less stark. I will say that as far as the fashion world is concerned they are saying that chevron has had it's hay-day...but I know fashion trends change a TON faster than home trends...(THANKTHELORD!) I think you did a good job...I hate to be "too trendy" with things like tons of chevron pillows or something, but that trashcan is a nice touch...and that pic of your office is so inviting...how do you not just sit in there and blog all day!
ReplyDeletegreat job on making it your own! and thanks for the intro to the fabulous tape!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the trash can...super cute! So glad to see a project using this tape. I have seen the commercials and wondered how it actually performed. Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the shape of the tape being off. It's definitely more of a zig-zag than a true and trendy chevron. I get it though, and I think the distressing on the trash can makes it work for your style.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you I don't have any chevron in my house either, but who know's I could dip my toes in and test it out I may be surprised.
ReplyDelete