Wednesday, May 21, 2025
BonBons You Devour With Your Eyes Only — Go, Tory!
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Hand-Painting Champagne Bottles: What I Learned (the Hard Way)
I was truly honored that she thought of me—and I immediately said yes. I’ve always admired those stunning hand-painted bottles online—bright, detailed, and totally Pinterest-worthy. Some of them even sell for hundreds of dollars. While I wasn’t aiming quite that high, I was excited to put my own Vivid Hue spin on it.
I stocked up on fresh acrylic paints and brushes, pulled out a bunch of bold, preppy colors, and sat down at home one evening ready to begin.
From Natasha Loves Lilly |
Natasha Loves Lilly |
From my inspiration photos, I knew most bottles started with a solid white base coat to create a clean canvas. What I didn’t realize was just how many coats it would take to get smooth, even coverage—and how important it was to let each coat fully dry before layering the next. On my first attempt, I rushed it. I didn’t wait long enough between coats, and the surface ended up streaky and uneven. I was too anxious to get to the fun part—painting the actual design—and didn’t realize just how important the foundation was.
After a bit more research, I realized the key was patience—letting each layer dry fully (ideally overnight). So I started collecting every empty champagne or wine bottle I could find and began practicing. At one point, I had four bottles going at once in various stages of paint. I started to wonder if I’d ever finish even one. My kids walked into the room and said, “Why are there so many wine bottles on our family room table?”—and honestly, fair question. There were even empty bottles drying in the freezer at one point.
For my first real design, I tried to freehand a turquoise bottle with pink flamingos—something I’d seen done beautifully online. But it turns out, painting directly onto a curved glass surface without a plan is a lot harder than it looks. My flamingos didn’t quite look like flamingos.
On the next attempt, I lightly sketched the design in pencil first and carefully layered the acrylic paint, one color at a time. That worked better. I also experimented with decoupaging a cocktail napkin onto a bottle, hoping it would give a vibrant layered look—but it ended up looking a little too flat for what I had in mind.
Eventually, I came up with a bottle that felt colorful, cheerful, and finished well enough to submit. It wasn’t perfect, but it reflected my style—and I learned a lot in the process.
If you're thinking of painting your own bottle, here are a few takeaways that might help:
What I Learned from Painting Champagne Bottles (So You Don’t Have To):
Use acrylic paints—they layer well and dry relatively fast (when you let them).
Start with a solid base coat—and let each coat dry completely before moving on.
Sketch your design first—especially if you're going for symmetry or detail.
Plan for layers—build up colors from background to foreground.
Don’t expect perfection—it’s harder than it looks, and that’s part of the fun.
And here’s the twist. Right after the event, I discovered a product that totally changed everything. They’re waterproof, pre-designed wraps that shrink to fit around champagne bottles using just a hairdryer. (Nope, not sponsored—just impressed.) The finish looks professionally painted, and it takes less than 30 seconds to apply.
I posted a Reel on Instagram that shows the bottles I painted by hand, followed by a few styled with the wraps—(see here) and the difference is pretty wild. These wraps have become my go-to when I want something polished without the hours of drying time (or the paint-splattered dining table).
If you're curious, I’ve added some of my favorite wrap designs to the shop at Vivid Hue Home. No pressure—just a fun shortcut I wish I had known about earlier.
Cheers to creative experiments, learning as you go, and occasionally discovering the easier way… after doing it the hard way first.
xo Heather
Monday, May 5, 2025
Dusting Off the Blog... and Marking 10 Years of Vivid Hue
Cue the confetti cannons—I’m back on the blog! It’s been a while (okay, since July 2021), and this little corner of the internet has collected some serious dust. But what better reason to bring it back to life than to celebrate something BIG?
This spring marks 10 years since I opened the doors to Vivid Hue Home, my colorful, preppy, pattern-filled boutique in Farmington, Connecticut. And the truth is—none of that would’ve happened without this blog.
I’m Heather Grahling, and I started Vivid Hue Home as a blog back in 2012 while we were building our very first custom home for my husband, our two small children, and me. I’d always had a love and taste for styling (clothes and homes), but quite frankly, I didn’t know a thing about designer finishes or couture trends. I just knew what I liked—and I wasn’t afraid to break the rules.
Back then, blogging was the thing. I posted daily—sometimes about projects in our new home, sometimes about designers I loved, and sometimes just life itself. I made friends in the comments section. I stayed up way too late writing posts after bedtime routines. And slowly, I built a creative outlet that gave me the courage to leap into owning a shop.
That leap? It turned into a decade-long ride with @vividhuehome, a store that’s now known for its color-soaked shelves, cheeky gifts, and joyful vibe.
Original Home Throwback |
One of my favorite corners from our first home. It captures the playful, colorful spirit that’s always been at the heart of Vivid Hue Home. I’ve never been one for sticking to the design rulebook—and frankly, that’s half the fun.
And Now, A New Chapter
A lot can change in ten years.
Since starting this journey, my life has shifted in ways I never could’ve predicted. My husband is now my ex—still a great friend and co-parent—and both of our kids are now high school juniors, getting ready to spread their wings. Somewhere along the way, that big custom home we built no longer fit this season of life, so I downsized to something smaller. More manageable. More me.
This new house isn’t just a home—it’s a reflection of who I am right now. I’ve leaned into a style that’s bold, colorful, and playfully feminine. Every room tells a story. Every detail makes me smile.
And for the first time, I’m not decorating for anyone else—I’m decorating for me. I’ve been slowly sharing the process on Instagram over at @thecolorfulcthome, where I highlight home projects, DIY moments, and bursts of color that bring joy into my everyday.
@thecolofulcthome Sitting Room |
Want a peek inside my current space? The above photo is a still from a recent Reel where I share some of my favorite corners of the house I’ve designed just for me—playfully feminine, filled with color, and always evolving. Watch the instagram reel Here.
Entrance Room @thecolorfulcthome |
I’ve always said color is my love language—and this house speaks it fluently.
What You’ll Find Here
This isn’t a perfectly polished lifestyle blog—and it never has been. It’s a space for color, creativity, and the real-life chaos that comes with running a small business, raising two teens, and chasing design dreams.
You can expect:
Decorating projects from my current home (some bold, some on a whim)
Behind-the-scenes shop life from @vividhuehome
Personal style choices that ignore the rulebook
Real talk about being a mom to two high school juniors navigating college decisions
A little mess, a lot of color, and hopefully some inspiration along the way
Basically, if you’re into playful pattern, fearless color, and a mix of real life + pretty things—you’re in the right place.
From blog to boutique… this is the shop that Vivid Hue built. 10 years of color, curation, and community.
This space is coming back to life—and I can't wait to share more with you here. Next up? A peek inside our pop-up boutique at the Junior League of Hartford Designer Showhouse, and all the behind-the-scenes color that comes with it.
If you’ve made it this far, thanks for being here. Let me know in the comments if you’ve been around since the early blogging days—or if you’re just finding Vivid Hue now. Either way, I’m so glad you’re here.
And if you’re not already following along on IG, you’ll find more colorful chaos over at @vividhuehome + @thecolorfulcthome.