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You are here: Home / Paint and Color / A Tree in My Breakfast Room

A Tree in My Breakfast Room

February 5, 2015 By Karen Cooper 19 Comments

finished tree and breakfast room - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

FYI: This post contains affiliate links. These are just links to retailers with whom I’ve partnered. If you click on the link and you buy the product, I earn a little bit of money that helps keep the lights on at this blog. Thank you!

Have you seen the movie, Paddington? It’s a beautiful movie. To me, the best part was the decor in their house. It was vintage and fun and really spoke to me. Their entryway had this tree, which I loved from the moment I saw it:

tree mural from Paddington movie

And I’m not giving anything away here, but the tree changes as the story progresses – with the leaves falling and returning as the story goes. It’s magical.

In our breakfast room, we have tall walls. I have had a hard time figuring out what to do with these walls, because even the biggest artwork or signs we have looked small in scale here.

beige breakfast room before - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

When I saw the tree in the movie, I knew. I needed a tree.

Now, I have never painted a mural before. I’ve painted rooms, I’ve spray painted many things, but I’ve never done a mural like this.

Here’s what I needed, in terms of supplies:

supplies for painting tree including paint samples and pouncer sponge brushes - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

– I printed the picture of the tree from the movie. I knew mine wasn’t going to be exactly the same, but it would be a good starting point.

– I used Benjamin Moore paint from Ace Hardware. The colors I used are:

Tree Trunk: Saddle Brown (a sample pot was all I needed).

Leaves/flowers: I picked one paint chip card with the following colors: Red, Tricycle Red, and Red Tulip, and got a sample pot of each. I wanted to have similar shades ranging from light to dark.

Wall color (for touching up): Agreeable Gray (SW7029) in Benjamin Moore’s Natura line.

– To paint the branches and cut in at the trunk, I used my go-to small brush:

My Favorite Small Paint Brush - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

Wooster Shortcut Paint Brush (Q3211)

Wooster Shortcut Paint Brush (Q3211) [More]

Price: $7.49
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– I used these “spouncers” to make the leaves:

Spouncer Stenciling Sponges by FolkArt

– For the rest of the trunk and on the wall, I used this brush and a roller:

Purdy 2in XL Glide Paint Brush (144152320)

Purdy 2in XL Glide Paint Brush (144152320) [More]

Price: $13.99
Buy Now

I started by drawing the tree on the wall with a pencil. This took MANY tries before I got it right.

sketch of the tree on the wall - breakfast room - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

Look closely to see both the pencil sketch and the many, many eraser marks!

Then – when I got it how I wanted it – I started painting the trunk.

painting the trunk of the tree - breakfast room - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

I cut in with the small brush along the edges and then rolled the big part of the trunk. Then I used both brushes for the branches (depending on the width of the branch).

trunk painted - breakfast room - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

The idea was to paint the trunk and branches first, then touch up the wall paint. Then I’d paint the leaves/flowers. (I’m not sure if these are leaves or flowers. Doesn’t matter – I love them no matter what we call them!) I knew that the wall paint was going to need touching up because of the eraser smudges and paint drips.

One problem:

slight problem with touching up the paint - breakfast room - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

I used the wrong paint!

I assumed – and you know what they say about that – that the wall color was the same as that in the kitchen. It certainly looked the same.

Except it wasn’t. And I ended up with what’s on the wall, above.

Take two. Got the right paint and painted over the first oops coat.

Then I painted the flowers. To do this, I used the spouncers and just “pounced” circles where I wanted. I started with the darkest shade, then the second-lightest, then the lightest. Then I went back and added darker or lighter flowers where I thought they were needed.

putting the flowers on the tree - breakfast room - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

Finally, it was finished. And I cried.

I was trying to figure out why I cried. A friend who paints said that she often cries when she finishes painting something because it’s emotional. You pour your heart and creativity and energy into creating what’s in your head and when what’s in your head shows up on the wall/canvas/paper, it’s a beautiful thing.

finished tree and breakfast room - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

I believe it. I had a rush of emotions when I finished this. The tree made me so incredibly happy, not only because it turned out exactly how I had pictured it in my head, but because it represented so much of what I want in my home: brightness, fun, creativity, being willing to take a risk, following your heart.

I redid my breakfast room with a bright tree and pops of red - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

To really finish the breakfast room, I ordered red chairs from Overstock.com and they fit perfectly in the space. (Our 15-year-old breakfast room chairs we had were from Pottery Barn, but were really not comfortable and, honestly, a little boring.) The white painted cabinet holds our dishes and is from an estate sale.

Every time I walk by this tree or we sit down to eat, I smile. It brightens not only this room, but my entire day.

Thank you for stopping by!

Linked this project to:

Up to Date Interiors Kenarry: Ideas for the Home

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Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, Paint and Color, Room Reveals Tagged With: Kitchens 19 Comments

About Karen Cooper

Hi! I'm Karen. I call myself a “recovering lawyer” - I traded in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY adventures. Join me for DIY, home decorating, repurposing and upcycling, and organizing projects and tips as I transform a 1929 Tudor bungalow into our home. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.

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Comments

  1. Vanessa says

    February 5, 2015 at 10:11 am

    I love it! Great job and the chairs are great touch as well. I stopped by from the Blue I Style link party! Have a great week.

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      February 5, 2015 at 12:43 pm

      Thank you!! I’m glad you stopped by!!

      Reply
  2. Cynthia says

    February 5, 2015 at 11:32 am

    The red chairs are perfect!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      February 5, 2015 at 12:43 pm

      Thanks!!

      Reply
  3. Liz says

    February 5, 2015 at 1:03 pm

    I love it, I paint my wall with circles but this tree is amazing! and the red chairs complement the space

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      February 5, 2015 at 3:51 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  4. T'onna @ USS Crafty says

    February 9, 2015 at 2:19 am

    The tree looks wonderful, and I love those red chairs!!!

    Navy Wifey Peters @ The Submarine Sunday Link Party

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      February 9, 2015 at 9:44 am

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  5. Erica says

    February 9, 2015 at 1:23 pm

    This turned out so beautiful! Taking risks can pay off and your risk definitely did! Painting is such an emotional experience and I know you’ll enjoy that tree for years to come!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      February 9, 2015 at 2:21 pm

      Thank you, Erica!

      Reply
  6. Kathy says

    February 9, 2015 at 7:06 pm

    This is amazing! It is just perfect for your space and so creative. Thanks for linking to The Creative Circle. i can’t wait to see more!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      February 9, 2015 at 8:49 pm

      Thank you, Kathy!

      Reply
  7. Angela, blue i style says

    February 10, 2015 at 3:54 am

    The tree turned out so great, but what I love even more is simply the fact that you were bold enough to do just what you wanted to make it a space you would be happy in every day! And those red chairs are the perfect addition! Thanks for sharing at The Creative Circle!

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      February 10, 2015 at 8:03 am

      Thank you, Angela!!

      Reply
  8. Nicholas Booth says

    May 8, 2018 at 8:50 am

    Hi,

    I was reading your blog and I also like the idea of the tree, climbing up the stairs. We have a new four floor house and was wondering if I should paint the walls first, before attempting to stencil/draw the tree.

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      May 13, 2018 at 10:04 pm

      Yes, I would paint the walls first, then do the tree. Four floors – that’s a big tree! Have fun and keep me posted on how it goes!

      Reply
  9. Karen Cooper says

    February 12, 2015 at 1:53 pm

    Thank you for featuring me!

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Karen. I call myself a “recovering lawyer,” because I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. This blog is all about DIY, home decorating, repurposing and upcycling, and organization. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.




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A "recovering lawyer," I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home. Read More…

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