primer over paint over paint over paint

Well it's been awhile since I used a paint brush or roller; since I had nothing better to do I thought I would paint.  Just kidding, I'm actually kind of tired of painting.  Due to the excessive smoking that took place in the master bedroom by the previous owners I noticed an issue.  There was a wallpaper border in that room.  After removing it and sanding and priming that area there was a discrepancy in the color of the wall.  The white primer on the border area was substantially whiter than the wall area, even though I had already painted the wall white. hmmmm.  Well after painting it again it still wasn't white. Then I realized the yellowish hue probably was from the smoke, and it kept leeching through the latex paint.  Even latex Kilz wouldn't kill it.  I had to resort to the same oil base primer that was used on the border area.  Not very eco-friendly but there really was no choice in the matter.  The entire room needed primed, again, to cover up the yellowish tint. Oil based primer does not smell very good, as you may know. After some toxic fume inhalation burning my last few brain cells, its done now!  Time to get the latex paint out again and go over the primer.  I think I've lost a couple inches in this room from all the paint. :-)   Good times, good times!

closed door

Well its been a little while since I've dropped something on you. I've been busy with other stuff and haven't made the time to give you some updates.  That's on me, so I thought tonight I'd get you something to nibble on. Like the front window I was procrastinating on the front door. Luckily my brother taped it all off for me.  I finally got around to giving it a couple coats of paint.  Then today I just got all the tape off and cleaned it up.  Looks a heck of a lot better than the mustard seed color it once was. I'll have to do something about the hardware but that is for another day.  It's funny how the door means so much. Probably somewhere inside I was holding back from changing it, its one of the few things that is exactly the same as day one inside here.  So much is different around here, but its all still the same. Some things you can't just cover up, no matter how hard you try.

do you smell that smell?

There is one thing that everyone can agree on that is better in this house than before is the smell!  As soon as you walked in here previously it smelled of a combination of stale cigarettes and wet dog.  Now since everything has pretty much been painted, cleaned, and the basement gutted the smell is a million times better.  Add in some great air fresheners and voila!  No more nasty house.  I don't really have a pic or anything since they haven't figured out how to get port smell over the internet to scratch and sniff screens, so you will have to take my word on this one.

pain in the neck

Painting the ceiling is well... the title says it all.  The previous color was off white with a random nicotine finish. The living, kitchen, dining and hall have been freshened up with some ultra white. Also I think I have a permanent white dotted complexion and hairstyle, I should've used yellow so I got the sweet iced look!  If you've painted a ceiling you know what I'm talking about.  Since this is completed now, the existing light fixtures have started packing their bags. They understand that they don't belong here anymore, the door handles and hinges said either lose the brass or its time to get out. I didn't get involved, they can work it out.

paint - again

I've been procrastinating on this little painting project. The front window.  It's been staring me in the face, I keep ignoring it.  I figured I would just give in and give it a go, it turned out way easier and better than expected.  Hopefully I gave the passers by a little sunshine while I was at it.  Bonus image after the break.

paint

I apologize for the lack of a post yesterday, I had some inquiries on why, thanks for the concern. I was dealing with some personal stuff that was overwhelming me and wasn't feeling up to it, or down with it, or whatever the cool kids are saying now. But I'm back with something for you tonight, I don't want to lose you. Painting, does it ever end? In between all of the other things posted so far, painting is an ongoing process. I can only handle so much of it at one time, especially if you don't have anyone helping or just hanging out with you, it goes pretty slow and feels like you aren't getting anywhere.  Most of it is done, trying to finish it up. So I haven't really posted images because if it's unfinished then it can't be that interesting, right.  Well I figured I'd drop a couple images of the hallway to show that it has been painted, and the door hardware is on. Since there have been requests.

paint trays

Well more got done, thankfully.  After family came through once again progress continues.  I can't stress enough how much family and friends really come through in times of need, I am blessed with some awesome people around me that don't have to care, but they do. And its not even what gets done, its just having people around who care to share some time together and make you feel a whole lot better.  Some more things got painted upstairs and the floor I think might be finished downstairs. The rolling machine knocked that out fast!  A future post will show how that turned out.  Paint trays were filled and then emptied again and again. The main living level is looking better and better. The mantle was painted by some awesome painters and a built-in cabinet in the dining area got a coat.  No pics yet, finishing touches need to be applied. Some leaves got raked and even the candy got put into bowls for tomorrows onslaught of neighborhood kiddies. I can't go a day without a post, even if it isn't a mind boggling change, it wouldn't be fair to those who want an update. So I shot some "artsy fartsy designer" pic as my snow covered friend would put it, for your viewing pleasure.

doorknobs

The quickest way to spruce up an interior is with some new hardware.  After some fresh painting on the doors, they shed their brass knobbed glory and picked up some new brushed silver lever handles. I would have liked to got some sleeker ones, but for now the budget conscious ones will have to do. Besides, these doors may not exist some day, or I'll be moved on before I get to that point. Some matching hinges were also applied to complete the hardware transformation on the interior doors. This gives the old a little flavor of the modern.  Finally!  Uncle Jonathan's corn cob pipe!  Hit the jump for more!

basement teaser

From walking around the house and looking at my posts I think I've contracted ADD. Anyway, so I changed my mind on the order of the basement.  Logic would approach from the top down, kind of like a two minute shower. I wouldn't put a garbage disposal in so I could wash my vegetables at the same time. But I digress, the basement floor was dusty and dirty, so after cleaning the best I could, I decided to go ahead and start painting it. This works well cause now I can stage some other stuff down there and also stop tracking dust and dirt up and down the stairs.  This is a little teaser of it, you can see the fresh grey paint sheen. The finished product will be up soon hopefully.  I guess I'll have to wait until it dries to get that paint can.  Don't worry, I didn't get painted into the corner, I was able to get out to post it. Don't be afraid to click on the pics I take, they open into a larger version so you can see them better, I like taking the photos, so I extend to you some higher res enjoyment!

oops

Tip of the day:  always remember where you set the paint can lid; preferably place above floor level.

I thought to myself, why is the floor so slippery? Then hopped my way to find the camera laughing the whole time. Well, then hopped back to get the pic as if I caught it right after it happened. That's what they call Hollywood magic. I could do nothing but laugh after this, too funny.  Brought some laughter into the day.

paint and puppies

So this is what happens when you have a puppy cruising around while you are painting. Hmmm, what's outside, lets get up on the window sill and look. Oops, white paws.  Nice paw print though, I think CSI won't even have to come in and use their high-tech super duper X5000 ultra infrared, ultraviolet, subsonic print device to catch this criminal.  CSI is on again this season by the way, right now its looking like this year won't be nearly as good as the last few years, but maybe I will be proved wrong.

paintbrushes and pizza oven

Outside the showers bounce and trickle down the windows, the sound of the autumn breezes rustling the leaves. Inside the bristles strike the walls, the paint brings life to a neglected place. The sound is quiet, almost inaudible, but yet is thunderous and echoes through the rooms.