A couple months ago, I painted a door casing at the house. In the process, I started looking closer and realized that our home was starting to show it's age, and nearly all the rooms needed to be freshly painted.
We decided to start with the ceilings in the kitchen / dining / great room. With BJ clearing off the shelves and removing the drapes, I started gathering materials.
The ceiling will be the same color as the original 15 year old flat paint, but this time we're using an eggshell sheen.
I started by cutting in the edges - which took much longer than I expected. I discovered there is a real disadvantage to 10' ceilings!
The inspector wasn't sure what to think as we kept shuffling furniture around. He did manage to stay far enough away that he didn't get any Swiss Coffee camouflage.
I was really surprised by how much paint it took to cover the original. We were less than half done (and with one trip back to the store for more paint) when we decided that we'd done enough for one day. We finished the day with another trip to the store now that we had a better idea of how much more paint it would take.
By the end of the second day, we had everything but the entry and the hallway finished and stuff was going back in place. All told, it took us 2 1/2 short days to get the ceiling done the way we wanted it. Next step will be the walls, but I'm planning a camping trip, a river trip, and some other stuff before we do the walls.
Now we're looking at the bedroom carpets - thinking we may decide to install bamboo flooring in the bedrooms, and that got us thinking about tile in the master bathroom,
which led to a huge warehouse of tile and walls of examples of tile, metal, and/or glass mosaics. I didn't get a picture in the showroom, but they had enough stuff to get us thinking about a someday kitchen remodel.
Now I'm understanding why BJ wanted to "stay closer to home" this summer...
John, that is just the way it goes! As soon as one item is updated, everything around it looks a little shabby.
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job of describing the snowball effect of home renovation.
We got so disgusted last summer with updating our home, we may try to sell "as is". Not enjoying the process!
I sorta enjoy the process. It would sure be easier in an empty house instead of needing to move stuff for every project.
DeleteSlippery slope indeed! Like you didn't realize you needed a new belt until you got a new suit, and then realized the belt doesn't match the shoes...or the socks...and then....uh-oh, I am feeling guilty about that river trip! But sounds like you will be ready for a break by then. ;-)
ReplyDeleteDon't feel guilty about the river trip. River trips are sanity infusions! I'm planning to nurse these projects for the next year or more if for no other reason than cash flow.
DeleteOhhhh!! Something we need to do, but it's one of my least favorite jobs. And, it's not the painting itself, but the preparation and cleanup.
ReplyDeleteIt was much easier since BJ handled much of the prep. I don't mind the clean-up, but didn't appreciate the stiff neck that resulted!
DeleteIsn't it strange how one job always leads to another? I think I like the soft sheen on the ceiling. I need to redo mine, too. One of the reasons I keep extending our trip. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to see the inspector is still on the job.
For all our new painting, we're avoiding flat paint, opting for eggshell instead. Kitchen is getting semi-gloss.
DeleteTurk's not sure what to make of the activity.
We remember those remodeling days well. Reading your post makes us so happy not to own a house anymore. We're having a hard enough time picking out a new floor for the RV!
ReplyDeleteI'd be happy to not own a home except that would mean I was single ;-)
Delete