Tuesday, March 13, 2007

March 'Break'??? **update: video added**

Yeah...it's March Break week! Many of my friends had the right idea and headed south to enjoy Disney, swimming, relaxing and shopping. (Not necessarily in that order.)

I in turn decided it was time to finally tackle the main floor redecorating I've wanted to do for the past 3 years. I liked the wallpaper when I first put it up but tired of it a few years ago. Just hadn't been brave enough to take on this job. You need to know how much I dislike painting. Not sure why. Just don't enjoy it at all.

I live in a small town- house that has an open concept main floor. With the exception of the front hall I'm going to repaint the rest of the walls. This small room serves a number of purposes, one of which is that it's my teaching room. My piano students are off this week because of the break but they'll be back next Tuesday so I need to be finished. *gulp* My first challenge was in starting to move things about to get to the walls. I've come to realize that this will have to be a painting project done in stages. If I hope to reach my kitchen sink, fridge or sofa at all during this time, I'll need to do one or 2 walls at a time and then put the stuff back against them and move forward from there.

Saturday morning I woke with great anticipation of beginning my March break project. Yes...you're reading that right. It was 7:19am and I had my Tim's coffee (with a losing roll-up) in hand. I was ready to begin! Where was I at this early hour on a Saturday?

Home Depot! Drove up, parked, went into the store, reviewed the sale flyer...and then went back to the car as I'd forgotten to take in the 2 gift cards I had on hand to help me out with my project. (Thanks again Dave and Joy. Wanna come paint?)

My friend Norma had stopped by one night last week and helped me decide on a colour. 'Calming Retreat.' Sounds perfect and I like the colour on the small chip. Hmmm...sure hope I like the walls as well. Time will tell. I'm fairly confident that I will though as one of the biggest hang-ups I'd had about this project was selecting a colour I'd be happy with. Once she showed me this one I was excited to begin!

I took about an hour picking up all the materials I thought I'd need: Paint, primer, rollers, brush, painter's tape, wallpaper remover, stuff to fix the gouges I'll take out of the wall when I remove the wallpaper, sandpaper to sand the filler stuff and a couple of nifty pouring spouts for the paint cans. All set and it was only 8am! The day was young and I was off to a good start.

Now, if you know me you'll know I'm the Queen of Procrastination! Oh baby am I ever! I procrastinate when I have to do things I like so working up to something I'm not looking forward to is so much worse!

Case in point: Knowing I was going to start this project on Saturday I still called Sharon Friday afternoon to see if she might want to hang out on Saturday. She called me around 9 and before you could say 'wallpaper' I was out the door for a day of shopping fun! :o) See...p-r-o-c-r-a-s-t-i-n-a-t-i-o-n! (I didn't confess my Home Depot shopping to her until we were on our way to the mall. :o)

We had a great day shopping and visiting together and I arrived home around 6pm. Did I start then? Nah! It was the night of daylight savings time so instead I told myself it was kinda like 7pm and really too late to start. (Read: Procrastinating.)

Sunday afternoon I finally started prepping by cleaning out some cupboards and bookshelves that would need to be moved. It felt so good to be starting!

Tonight was the night to continue with the project. Little did I know when I woke up this morning the great little helper that would come my way! Mom and Dad had a meeting to attend so Mom asked me if I could watch Rebecca. Sure! We had supper, played a few games and then I 'let her' strip the wallpaper. I tell you...I was the best Auntie ever! She had a blast... honestly! She kept saying she was having so much fun and was considering a job of ripping paper as a profession when she's an adult. (Gotta love kids!) Hmmm...I'm sure she'll change her mind but in the meantime she was a big help!

So here's where we're at: Cabinet and bookcase have been cleaned out and moved. Majority of the wallpaper's outer layer is gone. Next steps: Prime and paint the first wall, move the furniture back and then begin to make my way around the room stripping the walls of the paper backing of the wallpaper then priming and painting.

Ugh...lots to do! Anybody wanna go for coffee or shopping? I'm available! LOL!!!

PS - Thanks for the help Boo!! You're the best helper ever!!

Here's my Little Helper in action!

16 comments:

  1. Wow!! Those are some big plans! I'm sure that it will be beautiful when all is said and done. I hear you on the procrastination deal. Joel and I have decided to revamp our bedroom (new duvet, curtains, wardrobe system and painting the bedframe and nightstands). Have I started? No. Have I shopped, spent time on the 'puter, and la dee da'ed? Yep.

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  2. Wow! Big projects...tons of work...but won't it feel great (and look great, too!) when it's done!

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  3. Catherine! You are Tom Sawyer with Ms. Rebecca!

    Girl, I fear you would have hurt yourself ages ago in my house. I am addicted to paint...Behr is a fave. During my bloggy hiatus I walked through one of my rooms and said "Hmmm...I don't like that'. It is now repainted. I'm a freak like that ;0)

    I do believe I have spent billions on paint and paint rollers...okay just a wee bit of embellishment.

    Can't wait to see that 'Calming Retreat'!

    Hey, by the way, I think your 'a'tall' stuck with me. I had a patient ask me if I was a Canuck today! I said 'Nope but I lurves me my Canuck buds'.

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  4. Hello busy lady!!

    Around here we are procrastinators to start a project, but let me tell you, as a mommy of 4 boys, once we START a project, it better be finished in like 2 days or everyone (read...the mom) get super cranky trying to do anything around the chaos!! lol

    So we tend to finish projects quickly once we start them!!

    Have fun!! I can't wait to see the "after" pics!!

    Love Dawn

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  5. What a great little helper you have there!

    I am a big procrastinater, too. I can't imagine tackling that big project. I can't wait to see the finished results!

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  6. Looks like you have a major redecorating project ahead of you, but I'm sure it will look fantastic when it's done. You're lucky to have such an enthusiastic assistant!

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  7. Good for you! It is not a fun job (re...messy and tiresome) so I can see the putting it off. You will get it done and it will look wonderful!

    We are facing repainting the besement after Easter...looking forward to it and not. But it will be done in time in case some friends decide to come for a visit in May...anyone you know who might be interested???

    Keep smilin!

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  8. This procastinator queen also hates to paint! A good helper always helps though :)

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  9. I know you said you're not keen... but the satisfaction on completion is fantastic!!! My most favourite part is painting "coloured" walls... boring white, or beige... yep, where's the fun in that?!!! Unfortunately, I can't paint every wall a groovy colour, or it'll look like a clown's house!!!

    I love that Rebecca asks if she can do it all!!! Isn't child labour against the law?!!!

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  10. Wow, I don't envy you with that wallpaper removal...that is one big job...can wait to see the finished re-do!

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  11. I hear ya sister! That's why I'm still only halfway finished with my bedroom re-do 2 months later. And still haven't started the nursery yet that I was supposed to start this month. I think that has now become a summer project.

    Can't wait to see your finished project.

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  12. You are going to be one BUSY lady!!

    I am a professional procrastinator - It drives Mark nuts cause he is a go getter!

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  13. It must be a "Nesting Thing" because in the 8 months before my planned time to go get Ava I have repainted and decorated all three bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, family room and living room...figured it's the best time to do it as I will be very busy for at least the next several years!
    Get it all done now "Girl Friend" as you will also be very busy once Hannah arrives!

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  14. Oh how fun is that? Glad you got a good helper to get your butt in gear! Can't wait to see the finished project.

    k

    P.S. My kids love peeling wallpaper - whether I want them to or not! :)

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  15. Hey aren't there child labour laws?! ;) You're lucky to have such a good little helper! Good luck with the project - can't wait to see it done...hopefully before Hannah arrives!

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  16. Ahhh yes. I covered myself with the child labour laws. She was well paid in advance....'1 Happy Meal with a Girl Toy please!'

    Sadly I'm still fighting with the background paper. Only 1 piece left on the first wall but much more to do. Not convinced I'm going to make my goal of being finished by Monday night but still working at it.

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