Sunday, September 25, 2011

Feeling Blue



Old Southern homes are loaded with character and signature embellishments that just ooze Southern charm. 
One such feature you will find in many Southern historic homes are blue porch ceilings. Referred to as haint blue.

There are many stories as to why Southern homeowners painted porch ceilings blue. They range from the notion that it brings good luck, to evidence that it can deter insects.



We've painted the porch ceiling blue in all of our past vintage homes.


But for reasons that are far more simple.

I just love how they make me feel. :-))



Our Farmhouse on Main was no exception, but this time we brought the blue ceilings inside to the foyer, parlor and dining room.
I've spied blue ceilings in recent years on coastal style homes, but love it inside of our Southern Farmhouse too. 

There was something very specific that inspired me to paint the inside ceilings blue, I will share it with you in the next post.


By the way, blue porch ceilings are no longer found only in the South. :-))

What are your thoughts on blue ceilings?
 

 

24 comments:

Mz V said...

I love pale blue ceilings. We have them on all our porches. I think it mimics the sky and gives those outside-yet-covered spaces a vista Plus, they're just supposed to be blue......

Unknown said...

I love them! They remind me of the sky, and blue is my favourite colour.

Barb@curlywillowdiy said...

I plan on painting my patio ceilings blue over Christmas break!

Carol D said...

My farmhouse is almost 100 years old and I have the front porch beadboard ceiling painted blue. I just love looking at it. I have also painted 3 ceilings blue in the house. My walls are very neutral and yet I feel the blue is neutral too!

Dawn said...

I simply love the look. I have always heard the blue keeps bad spirits from crossing your doorstep. Wonder what the true meaning is?

Stephanie said...

So funny...my mother-in-law and I were just talking about pale blue ceilings tonight! I thought ceilings in the South were painted blue to keep ghosts away - because they can't cross water and the blue ceilings look like water.

Pam B said...

I'm Southern...born and bred...and I never knew about the blue ceilings. Guess I've led a sheltered life!

I love the idea, though. I think it would be incredibly restful...

Hugs,
Pam

Vickie @ Ranger 911 said...

I wish I still had a porch to paint the ceiling blue! I especially love blue painted beadboard.

Lorri said...

We restored an 18 room Victorian many years ago and painted the ceilings blue. we were told it kept birds from nesting under the porch.They think they are too high up. It must have worked because we never had that problem. My mom lives in a big old farmhouse and had a very big problem with nesting. One spring she followed suit and her problem disapeared!

Lorilee said...

I love blue porch ceilings too! I have thought about painting my master bath ceiling blue. The walls are dry brushed with two shades of yellow that remind me of sun on stucco. I have wisteria stenciled around the top of the walls with lots of bird themes stuff on the walls.
Blessings,
Lorilee

Amy Chalmers said...

I love blue ceilings, and have never had one...Love that you took the idea indoors. Once I specified a blue ceiling for a clients cathedral ceiling in a family room and the neighbors all had to come in and look...(it was 15 years ago)...

Debbie said...

Love, love, love all those blue ceilings!!!
I think its great to always have a blue sky to gaze at, so when its raining outside, your covered with blue sky!!!

Debbie
xoxo

Glimpse of My World said...

our cottage porch ceilings are blue... the tale is that if the ceilings are blue on the porch it keeps the bugs & flies away... (that is what my grandmother told me... and if she said it . it is the gospel!)

Sueann said...

Oh I love the blue ceilings! So fresh and peaceful!! Much nicer than white I think!
I will now have to paint my ceiling blue!!
Coolness!
Hugs
SueAnn

Lori @ Katies Rose Cottage Designs said...

LaurieAnna I love your blue ceilings! I would never have thought of painting them blue and cannot wait to see the whole room decorated!!

hugs,
Lori

Anonymous said...

We painted our porch ceiling blue. A dear friend of mine, that's from Mississippi, told me this works well for keeping the wasps from building a nest on the porch! We have had many wasps nests in the past, ...but not at all since the ceiling is now blue. And, we love the color.

Anonymous said...

The porch ceiling of the farmette house is painted blue.....a very light blue. But we did it because we were always told it kept the wasp nest out of the corners because they thought it was the sky. Seems to work for us. :) xo

Sherri said...

I grew up with a blue porch ceiling! I am loving that first photo - that is a gorgeous home. I agree with Lynn - I always heard my mom talk about the Wasps nests and bee's and how they would keep away. At any rate, I have some nice memories of that big old Victorian!

Sunflowers With Smiles said...

Yes I love blue ceilings also. In my new house that I just purchased in SC, the front porch, screened in porch and living room have blue ceilings and I just love them so much....Just can't wait until I move in after holidays to do my actual decorating......

❁Velma ~Down Our Country Road❁ said...

I had all our porch ceilings painted blue as I heard they keep the bees and such away. And it has proven to be true. We have a horrible problem with wasps and mud daubers and I wanted to keep them away from the house as much as possible. The mud daubers now make their nests along the edges but not directly on the ceiling. I'm a firm believer now ;D
Plus I love the cool comforting look of the blue. It lessens the harshness of the sun during summer.

Anita at Cedar Hill said...

We have a terrible problem with dirt daubers so now I have a solution. I just need to convince hubby to help me.

RuthSMac. said...

I find this color convo so relaxing. Hope someday have a porch to try it out.

Jennifer @ Town and Country Living said...

LOVE blue ceilings! Our front porch ceiling is painted blue, as well as our kitchen ceiling. I agree with you about the mood they evoke. They're wonderful.

Abby @ Belle and Beau Antiquarian said...

We love your post on haint blue and we have included it in our roundup of Southern traditions. Check it out: http://belleandbeauantiquarian.blogspot.com/2012/11/10-southern-traditions-that-yall-should.html