10 Day Challenge- Day 5

So you know I have been participating in The 10 Day Challenge over at The Shabby Chic Cottage.  Well how am I doing?  Lets take a look.

1. Fill holes and touch up paint in master bedroom -Done and Done.

2. Finish and hang bedroom curtains

3. Clean front porch

4. Remove carpet from landing -Done.

5. Move living room and dining room furniture -Done (The reason why will revealed later).

6. Paint walls in stairwell -Done (Click here for post)

7. Paint trim in stair well

8. Pull up carpet in living room -Done

9. Remove the padding in living room -Done

10. Remove tacks and staples in living room -Done

I have been very busy, and have been ablet o check off a lot on my list.   I have been slacking on other items, like laundry and yard work, oh well they can wait.

I wasn't sure how I was going to get it all done, but last night I was able to spend a good 5 hours on the living room and got it all done, and then some extra today.

Anyways, how are you doing?

Painting solution to hard to reach spots- very low tech...

I spent the other night painting the stairwell.  Now, as much as I enjoy painting, painting the awkward spaces of the stairs is not what I consider fun.  You have to stretch and paint weird angles, and then there is the spots that are just impossible to reach.

Also, I am afraid of heights, so the thought of getting on a ladder that is perched on stairs is not something I causally going do.


Last year, when I painted the stairs, I asked my husband to get the really tough parts.

And since painting is not high on his priority list, it took months before anything got done.  And even though he is almost a foot taller than me, he still struggled with getting those pesky spots.  However, he came up with a solution that even I could do.

So this time, since I was not willing to wait months, I painted the whole stairwell, by myself, with my hubby's solution.  And it is so easy and low tech.  You have all the tools you need at home already.

Do I have your attention...?

Here is my handy-dandy, husband-designed way of reaching awkward corners...

Yep, you got it, you simply tape the brush to a pole.  It is that easy. (sorry about photo quality, it is impossible to get anything decent in this spot at night)

I stood on my step stool on the second floor and was able to reach the trouble spots.  (You may not need a step stool even if you are over 5'3").

See how the stair well is open?  I was able to stand over the other side and reach over.  Also you can see how nicely I was able to cut in.

I was surprised on how much control I had.  I think I had better control than if I just the brush.  Also, if there is a little paint on the ceiling, I don't think it is that noticeable.  I mean who spends that much time looking up your stairwell. right?



Anyways, that is my low-tech solution to hard to reach spots.  So next time there is no excuse not to freshen up your paint.


I will be linking up my solution to Fresh Coat Friday.

Obsession-This window covering

I picked up my first round of summer reading, from the library, this past week. (The summer is when I gorge on decorating books of all kinds, anything I can get my hands on really).

Since I opened the book, I have not been able to get this image out of my head. I think I am in love. Seriously.

I am ignoring the bedspread and light and everything else about the room, because I just think they are ugly.  But just looking at the window treatment, I am smitten.

I love the embroidered sheer placed behind a soft roman shade (I love the unexpected pairing of structured and unstructured).  I can't help picturing the window open on a sunny, breezy day, sending the sheer dancing in the soft air.  Like I said I am in love, and I don't care who knows it. 

Off to Paintland

Hi readers...

I am not sure if I have expressed the calming powers that painting has for me? But, today I am feeling I need to take leave to Paintland. 

I tried to visit yesterday, but I ran out of paint. I am not sure how that happened, and I wasn't exactly sure it was allowed. But the reality is I was out of paint **pout, pout**

Anyways, after a quick trip to Home Depot to replenish my supply, I will be off to paint my stair well and maybe even watch Sex and the City the movie. 

See you tomorrow....

10 Day Challenge

Starting today I will be participating in The 10 Day Challenge over at The Shabby Chic Cottage.

I have some larger projects coming up that I need to prepare for. 

So here it goes....My 10 for 10.

1. Fill holes and touch up paint in master bedroom

2. Finish and hang bedroom curtains

3. Clean front porch

4. Remove carpet from landing

5. Move living room and dining room furniture

6. Paint walls in stairwell

7. Paint trim in stair well

8. Pull up carpet in living room

9. Remove the padding in living room

10. Remove tacks and staples in living room

Summer Vacation-oh boy

Ergh- First week of summer vacation.

How long until we all adjust to the new schedule, or should I say lack of schedule?  It is summer after all, we should be enjoying the time off and the beautiful weather.  Not whining and fussing and bickering...

Well, besides that. I am anxiously waiting the weekend, when we can rearrange the furniture to start the living room floor project.

On another note.  I got my Land of Nod catalog today...

and my daughter quickly grabbed it and hid behind the chair to look at all the loveliness inside.  Sometimes she amazes me on how much she is like me.

So, here's to hoping tomorrow is more like this...

Ding Dong...Delivery

I got a package today.

My factory reconditioned sander.

I have not had a chance to use it yet.  But I am looking forward to breaking this bad boy out. 

Buying the factory reconditioned sander saved me about 50% off new pricing.  I will let you know what I think after I put it to use.

Steps to progress

If you haven't already left an answer to "stairwell inkblots" just click here to play...

So, last time, we left off on the stairs project, I was here and hoping to get some more work done.

Well, it took me another 10 days to even think about them.  I am not in a huge hurry, I just get impatient.  The reality is, I can't even put paint on the stairs until July 25-ish.  But if you have learned nothing else, I don't like to sit around when a project has been started.

Anyways, I got to work.  I removed the remaining padding, tack strips and staples.

I filled in holes and caulked the edges.

I then needed to figure out what to do with that top stair.  Do you see it up there?  Here it is from another angle.

It really wanted a full tread-worth at the top of the steps, but because of the walls and doors, I just couldn't do it.  So I decided on this...(for now, it may change)

(wishing I had a better pic).

At this point, I realized the kids were asleep. YAY!  So, why not take out the primer and see what it looks like.  I have been thinking of painting the treads gray and the risers white, and I just so happened to have primer in both those colors.  So, here is a sneak peak at how the stairs may look in the end.

Remember, this is just primer.  I was not going for neatness.  Try and ignore the random gray splashed all over the white.

I still need to change the yellow paint (in background) to the yellow paint(in the foreground).  Yes, I am crazy.

What do you think?  White and gray?

Come play along...Stairwell Inkblots

I spent some time yesterday working on my stairs.

It felt really good getting some progress done.  Here she is, naked.  With all her carpet and padding removed.

I am amazed at all the water marks I found.

And then I started to see things...I know, I know, you don't have to say it....

But do you want to play along?

Its easy, just tell me what you see...

I am curious to see if you see the same things I do?

Happy Father's Day

To all the father's out there- Happy Father's day

Thank you hubby for being the best Father to our kids...

 And to my Dad....

Love you, you are the best.

A Cheery, Cherry, Red Door

This is a project I have been wanting to do for a while.  It is simple and makes a big impact.  And the best part is it only took a day and $18.00.  OK it took me 2 days, but only because I did one side a day.  I am sure you could whip it out in a day if you would like.

Cute and cheery.  It makes me smile, and that is always a good thing.

I painted both sides in a glossy red paint.  Why both sides?  Well, since our entry is so very, very small and so limited on how I could personalize it, I thought paint was the biggest impact I was able to make.  Also I love looking a the bright red door where it was once blah.

(I have to admit, I am very frustrated with my photos.  I have tried and tried to get a great picture from inside, but have failed miserably.  I figured, lets get these up instead of working for weeks on taking photos.)

If you have forgotten, or are new to stop in, this is what the entry looked like a mere month ago...

Click here and here to catch up on the entry project.

I started out by removing the hardware and priming the door with a super sticky primer that was already tinted gray. I used Gripper by Glidden.  A quart cost me $10.  I made sure I had a primer that would stick well, since our door is metal.  I also used the gray since I was going to use a red paint.

I decided to use Rust-oleum paint in Colonial Red.  Cost $8 a quart.  Even with the gray base coat, it took four coats of red.  I would have painted one more for good measure, but I was worried about being able to close the door and having the paint dry enough.  I did not want to wake up and have all the paint stuck to the weather-stripping.  Luckily, that did not happen.

Here is my tip when painting doors.  I use both a roller and a brush.  I roll on the paint to make sure I have a good coverage of paint.  I then take the brush and brush out the roller texture.  It may be a personal choice, but I prefer the look of brush marks over the orange peel texture of a roller.

Here are some of the other small touches...

joining in on Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest
and

Is this mike on...?

I have played around with Blogger Template Designer and now I am not sure if everything is working.

If you stop in or see this, just please leave a little comment saying you were here.

Please.  Just wanting to make sure everything is up and running.

Thank you:)

Thank You, nice mail lady...

Look what was delivered today.

 I am not sure what is inside...

But I can't wait to find out...

I don't stage

I am sure this is not a surprise, that I don't stage my rooms and projects.

But I want to explain why-

When I started my blog adventure, I wanted a place to document my projects and my likes and thoughts on decorating my house.  I also want to keep things real.  This is how I really live.  I have stuff and my stuff is out and used.

One of my goals, is to have only beautiful and usable stuff (not sure how to make the remote beautiful) but you get the idea.  Basically, what I put up is what you would see if you came to my house, provided I have done my cleaning. 

I am not a big shopper.  I have a very hard time spending money on things.  I usually wait until I see something I think I can use, something interesting and unloved, and if the price is right I want to see how to use it.

Instead of staging, I like to problem solve.

I need a rug...I can't find a rug I like.... for the price I want to spend...so can I make one? maybe?

I hate my carpet...I have no money to do hardwood today... what can I do?  hmm, can you paint sub-floor?

I have an ugly pantry door...I like the look of chalk board paint... I have kids....

You see where this going.

So I guess, the point of it all is, my space is not House Beautiful ready.  I am on the journey to make it the best space for me and my family.  Maybe some day...

Don't be jealous now, just because I have a rockin' sewing room

Here is where I am going to be tonight, finally working on my window coverings.

I am almost afraid to show you how awesome my sewing space is, but, what the heck.  I am sure you can handle it.

 source

Oh, sorry.  That is what I dream it could be.  No here it is...

Now, I bet you all wish you had such a sweet spot like this to get creative.  Just to make sure you are not missing anything...There is the stack of wine and beer in the corner, old paint cans, stacks of unpacked boxes, an old shower curtain (to make things pretty), recycling bins, concrete floor, and a "comfy" stained kitchen chair.

I will be relocating the laptop so I can get some company with the girls from Sex and the City (I am finally watching the series).

But I seriously need to get something together for this window...

It has been bare for a 18 months, not very cozy in the master bed room.


Lets see what I come up with.