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Home Update

Home Projects: Painting Trim

May 15, 2018 by Elizabeth Drake

As I mentioned before, our house was built in the 1970s. One thing that clearly marks this is the beautiful, if very dated, red oak trim. This isn’t put in newer homes, so the fact that ours has it, marks it as something not yet updated.

1970s.jpg
Actually, the wallpaper was worse when we first bought the house.

So, we decided to paint the trim in my daughter’s room white. Well, not actually white, because paint stores don’t make on white. A very slight off-white. Silky white to be exact.

 I did lots of reading about it how to do it online, watched a few tutorial, and said, “Hold my iced tea.” Yeah, I don’t drink beer. I went to college in New Orleans, and that spoiled me with hurricanes and other tasty alcoholic beverages that tasted like Kool-Aid.

 So I went down and bought the sander, primer, new brushes, paint, and I started a test patch behind my daughter’s dresser. When I opened the paint can, I noticed it had a strong smell, but I haven’t painted in many years, so I figured it was just the smell of paint.

 Only it wasn’t.

 The primer turned out to be oil based.

 What did I tell you about me and home improvement projects?

BobRoss
He has clearly not seen my home improvement skills.

When I tried to clean it up, it wouldn’t come off my brand new brush. Nor would it come off my hands. *sigh*

 I did the best I could, quickly learning that nail polish removed was NOT up to the task.

 My hands were white, the brush ruined, and only a small section primed. Not my best day.

 I ended up rubbing Cetaphil cream all over my hands and sticking them in nitrile cleaning gloves for thirty minutes. The paint came off my skin, and while it had still “painted” my fingernails, it was only noticeable to me so I left it.

PaintHands
Less messy than mine.

However, certain lessons were learned, and we took a second try at it.

This time, I bought foam brushes I could toss for the priming, and I saved the new paintbrush for the latex paint. I had mineral spirits ready and waiting to go, though even the odorless ones aren’t so odorless.

My husband finished priming while I watched the girls on Saturday as they both desperately wanted in the room, and neither of us wanted them by the oil-based primer. We then took turns applying the paint the next day.

All in, it took two to three coats or primer and two to three coats of paint. But it looks really nice now.

On to stage two. Painting her room light purple. Or violet mist. Or whatever strange name Sherwin Williams has devised.

How about you? Ever had a home project go not as expected? Or maybe one went exactly as expected. There’s a change! Ever paint trim? How’d it go?

Filed Under: Home Update, Uncategorized Tagged With: 1970s, Home Renovation, House projects, Oil Paint, Painting Trim

10 Steps to My Home Improvement Plan

May 1, 2018 by Elizabeth Drake

As we start this project, I have a plan for my daughter’s room. Of course I do. I have a plan for all things except the books I write. Still haven’t figured that one out!

MasterPlan.png
So karma can laugh at it

My 10 Step Plan

  1. Paint Trim White

    While the trim is in reasonably good shape for being over forty years old, it is dated. We’re hoping a fresh coat of paint will help with that.

  2. Paint Room Light Purple

    We figure a nice soft purple will keep the room bright and open. Purple has been her favorite color for three years, and I have painted her room “recently”.

  3. Closet

    Take off the Doors – You lose the middle third of the closet as a door is always covering this. We’ll keep the doors in the basement, but we want to open it up so the whole thing is useable

    Organizing System – I am researching this now, but closet space in 1970s home is a premium. She has a standard six foot reach in closet. I want to use all the space. We have an inexpensive system in there now, but it doesn’t use the space well. I’d prefer a system where if we move we can take it with us. This is where the lion’s share of the budget is going.

    Curtains over Closet and Attach Hyrule symbols to the rods

ClothesComeBack
If that’s even possible.

4. Make an easy canopy

a. Put up curtain rods over bed and attach Hyrule symbols to the rod.

b. Drape inexpensive fabric over the rods

5. Wall sticker symbol of Hyrule on the wall over her bed but under the canopy

6. Hyrule pillow for her bed.

7. New Curtain rod for her window

a. Trade out the dark curtain for sheers

b. Attach hyrule symbols

c. Honeycomb fabric light blocking shade

8. Hyrule light switch plate

9. New vent cover

10. New Rug

Contemplating hiring an electrician to come put a ceiling light in the room. Currently, there is no overhead lighting at all

I had originally budgeted $500 for the whole project. Okay, stop laughing. Seriously. It’s really not funny!

I have since learned the closet system will probably cost more than that. I’ve thought long and hard about it, but a good closet system will last us forever, especially if it’s one we can take with us when/if we move. I’m reassessing the budget, especially if I also want to bring in an electrician.

Of course, the electrician could wait a few months. The clothes all over the floor? Those need to find a home in the closet!

What do you think? Anything you’d add? Anything I’m missing?

Filed Under: Home Update, Uncategorized Tagged With: canopy, closet, Clothing, home project, Home Renovation, Hyrule, Not according to plan, Organized, paint, project

Home Renovation – Take 2

April 24, 2018 by Elizabeth Drake

We bought an older home and had been doing a lot to update it. Then the Great Recession hit. When that ended, we started having a family.

GreatRecessionPowerRanger
Wasn’t quite this bad, but it felt like it some days.

When we bought our home, we’d planned to be in five to seven years then buy a larger home and start a family. But the Great Recession happened, and I took a 40% pay cut just to keep my job. I’m the primary income in our home, so it was an especially rough time.

Shortly after the Great Recession, we started our family. Those of you with children are not surprised home improvement projects were all but completely ignored during this time.

 But the girls are getting older. We’ve considered moving, but things with my husband’s career are in flux, so we thought it best to limit the amount of chaos if at all possible. That means staying in our current home.

I am not good at interior design. Color and how it works eludes me. I’ve tried hiring some interior designers, but none want to work with a limited budget. So, I’m trying to tackle it myself.

RetiredToile
Whatever toile is.

To make the projects easier and more doable, I’m starting with my oldest daughter’s room. She’s at the cusp age where she’s no longer a preschooler, but she’s not a teen, either. She wants a Zelda room, because of course she does. Couldn’t be anything easy like Frozen or something.

 Neither my husband or I are very handy, so we’re going to be hiring contractors as needed to try to avoid the worst mishaps.

OneJob
I could see me totally doing this.

But after ten years, the house needs to be updated. We’re going to start in one room and go from there.

 Wish me luck! I’m going to need it!

 Have you ever tackled this kind of project? If so, *please* share any tips and pointers!

Filed Under: Home Update Tagged With: Color, Design, great recession, Home Renovation, Kids, Kids room, Legend of Zelda, Zelda

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