Everyone is rejoicing because I've finally selected paint colors to satisfy my more-than-picky preferences. Tim said that prepping takes much longer than the actual painting, and wow he was not kidding.
I started last night by stripping the varnished and oiled wood trim around the bedroom doors and also lines the hallway floors. Unfortunately that process took a much longer time than anticipated because I had to first sand the wood down - which was a pain because the wood is carved and grooved. Next I had to spackle in the tiny nail holes since they'd show once I put the actual paint on. Luckily by the time I was finished spackling (I did all of the other holes around the house I could find), the spackle was dry and ready for sanding and vacuuming. That also took a long time as well.
After an eternity and a ruined manicure, I was ready to put on the first coat of the stain killer/sealer. I lined the floors next to the trim with tape and put down my nice dropcloth. The first coat went on thin and streaky and only took an hour or so to dry, so by the time I was finished with the bedroom/bathroom doors I was ready to put on coat number 2. Trim will be in a nice bright glossy white, on trim throughout the house.
(By the way, I know I have random squares of paint on lots of walls. I was paranoid of not liking colors once they're on the walls, so I wanted find a color I liked everywhere, in every light. If you don't like that, go sit on an egg. I tested about twelve colors total before settling on the ones I like.)
End of the hallway.
A better view.
Front section of hallway, towards the front door and living room
Please excuse the jumble of furniture
Everything is in the center of the room.
Our front door.
We get a ton of awesome afternoon sun,
but since we have a solid dark wood door,
it's too hot in warm weather.
We're going to replace it this spring
and possibly add a nice big window above it.
We have this gorgeous picture window
in our living room. It used to be covered
by the most fugly floral and lace box valance
and no-tell-motel lace draperies and sheers.
I took everything off and it did WONDERS
for the room - it made it seem so much bigger,
and lets in the gorgeous light. I decided to
use simple end curtains and we'll have professional
vertical blinds installed on every section of the
window later this spring because the ledge
is Pete's favorite sunbathing spot, so she needs the room.
The couch is actually a dark forest-green leather, not black.
A nice shot of our antique dining room
furniture.
For some reason the color is better here.
The dining room walls.
Our living room is open to the dining room.
The same fug valances were on the dual
dining room windows. It was like Laura Ashley threw up.
The chandelier is dated but tolerable, and will eventually be replaced.
Now if you guys don't truly believe the descriptions of the
heinousness posing as window treatments,
get a load of this knockout, on my kitchen window.
Architectural Digest totally wants to feature this.
Well enough procrastinating for now. Gotta get back to work!
I was finally able to get a second coat on most of the wa
lls I'd done the other day. The dining room walls got another coat, as did the living room as well. I actually ran out of paint, though, so I'll have to pick up more. But the second coat looks great! I can't wait to paint the trim, as most of it is still the same bone color that the walls used to be.
