Some Stuff

Clearing out old sketchbooks and found this. It seemed apropos.

Aaaahh… I apologize for the lack of exciting posts. No surprise here that we've been packing, working, and spending time with friends and family for the last time (well, not the last time ever, but you know).

A sort of tragic/hilarious thing is that I've called around for quotes to paint our new apartment WHITE. I've always wanted a nice, bright white space. Long story short, I thought our new apartment was purple (purple like a grape) but it turns out it is purple in addition to brown, aqua, and taupe. And it's all glossy. Sigh. I knew we were moving in with the colors from the last tenant but I didn't know if I would be up for sanding, priming, and painting an apartment immediately after a cross-country move. So, I called for quotes which were a great deal higher than what I can afford right now and the very nice painter who went to look at it basically refused the job but offered me emotional support for when I undertake it. Oh… this is going to be interesting.

With all that said, if anyone knows a cheap painter…

Back to packing and staying caffeinated. I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Comments

[Laura]

I had lived in my flat for years but it was only after I experienced the sheer horror of painting over dark green paint with white gloss in an unventilated area (among other horrific tasks) that I began to feel at home. If you go through that much pain and hard work for something, you really feel like it's yours. Besides, like childbirth (I hear), you forget the pain after a while and start to think about doing it all over again... Good luck!

[Mary]

Hey you! Painting anything more than one room stinks!!

Maybe you could try to list an ad on craigslist...I am SURE there would be some people with experience looking for some cash under the table or a little extra work!

Best of luck,

Mary

[Addis]

I bought my house 1.5 years ago. The colors (and wallpaper borders) were hideous! I immediately set out and bought some 15 gallons of paint in various colors of my liking, thinking I would tackle the interior painting immediately. Because I dread the scraping part, the priming/painting is on hold! Only half of the house's rooms are painted :( I love DIY and I've refused help offered from family. Yes, the satisfaction after a room has been finished is great, I just find it very easy to sit at the computer INSTEAD of scraping the next room ... I hope to start FINISHING this in-house project so I can put up all the lovely prints I've purchased from you at etsy !!!!!

[Dave]

Oh man, we have to do some painting this summer too, and we're really not looking forward to it. It just becomes such a big task so quickly, as even doing one room becomes a multi-day project if you have to do more than one coat of paint and then the smells and the disorganizing everything to shield it from the paint. If we end up hiring someone and they're good, we'll pass them on to you :)

[Ana]

awww I feel your pain. Zinsser primer tho, goes over anything if you end up having to do it yourself....good luck! :)

[april]

What the hell? Who would use gloss paint to cover their entire house?!!! Too shiny! I made the mistake of painting my bedroom red gloss when I was a disillusioned teen. It was like living in a bottle of ketchup!!! Get some Zinsser primer for sure! It is super stinky, but it freaking covers anything... even super-shiny, glossy grape jelly walls.

[Claire]

Oh Ashley! I sympathise. When I bought my flat it was covered in yellow textured wallpaper, woodchip on the ceilings (don't know if you call it that - it looks like lumpy er, vomit and has little bits of wood under the paper, usually used to disguise damaged walls underneath) I mean, the whole place, the bathroom, everywhere. It was like a sick joke as I'd grown up in a house with that wallpaper in the same yellow and always hated it. ANYWAY after doing the bathroom myself - oh yes, the woodchip falls out when you strip it off and stays in your hair like glue, I found one man to do the rest. It wasn't that expensive as it was a one man band as opposed to a company. I did a deal with him as it was three weeks worth of work for him (offer to pay cash??). Oh yeah and I started hallucinating from the fumes when I painted my windowless bathroom!

[Therese]

I love this work! The trees are so entrancing!

Good luck with the paint job!

[PrincessJade]

I have to say I cheat, first I get my sister to do my painting and second I would jsut put up lining paper over the paint and then paint that. But again I cheat.

[Lisa M]

ohhh that sucks about the paint! I haven't been able to paint my new place yet, because we had to re-drywall first!!! ugh.
You just have to take it a step at a time :) The only advice I can give is... you can always rent a hand sander from a local Home depot, and remember to buy high quailty primer! It will save you so much time in the long run :)
Have a happy Monday!
♥Lisa

[Heather]

I am so sorry to hear about your painting nighmare. My advice is to start with your bedroom. Once it is done to will at least have one room to escape to and you will be able to rest peacefully without all the crazy colors affecting your slumber. Next, your studio or kitchen then work from there. If you think of it as room by room it will make it a little less overwhelming? (I hope!)

Wishing you much luck with your painting adventure!!!

[Penny]

I love the sketch!

We moved into our house 2 years ago with a fresh can of white paint to cover every single skirting in the 4 bedroom house, which the original owners had painted Mission Brown (dark brown enamel). We've given the lot 3 coats, but I think they need another!
The walls themselves were a hideous shade of beige - I am still painting a wall or a skirting after all this time.

[adrienne]

I think you can use a product called TSP to get the gloss off. Remember to prime your walls after TSP which will help. And use the yellow masking tape it works better. It will be a breeze. Two people should get the job done in a weekend. Good luck and have fun!

[Elise of Argyle Whale]

Good luck to you! I'm undertaking the task of painting a black ceiling (of all things!) white.