Strike One

I don't think Mom likes the color I chose for the study.

The study originally was my big brother's room when we moved here in the 70's. Then after Loren moved out, it became Dad's office. There were shelves on the wall, the kind with vertical metal rails with slots that you put metal arms into that support the shelves. Not pretty, but they held a lot of books and bible studies. Dad's massive executive desk, chair and credenza filled the room, along with his Schwinn exercise bike. Odds and ends were stuffed into the closet. Half of one wall was papered with a subdued plaid and the rest of the room was painted a bamboo color. It has the same berber carpet that runs through the whole house.

This is the room Mom has chosen to be her room when she is confined to bed. She likes the light that comes in the one window. She asked Perry to work on this room as soon as he finished the master closet. She says, "You never know," which I interpret to mean, "I might need this room soon." I had a decorator friend come over and help me with colors. She and I agreed on Sherwin Williams Grape Mist for the study/bedroom conversion. Perry removed the shelves, prepped the walls and painted.

And I don't think Mom likes the color. She says things like, "That room is transformed!" And, "It is a bedroom now." But when I ask her what she thinks of the paint color, she doesn't answer. She did ask once, "Meg and Karis like that color?" *sigh*

Mom likes purple. She wears it a lot. In fact, she wants to be buried in a purple dress. I really thought she would like the purple room. What to do, what to do. It is hard to address, since she won't answer directly. (Please note previous thoughts on poor family communication and passive-aggressive tendencies.) And it is disappointing to to follow orders and pick out colors for someone else's house, only to face disapproval.

I'll go over today and view the finished product. Maybe Mom will adjust. She did seem crabby and out-of-sorts yesterday at Ladies' Bible Study. Maybe she'll see things differently today. *sigh* Or maybe this whole remodeling thing was a bad idea.

Postscript (Saturday): Yes! Mom seems genuinely happy about the room, color and all. We went over today to unload Dad's big desk and credenza so they will be ready to move out. Mom said the room makes her think how God makes all things new.