just another "lazy" weekend

Over the past year, we’ve been pretty guilty about “not utilizing” our weekends to start, continue, or finish projects. We can dally like champions! And sometimes we transform into weekend warriors. This was -- unexpectedly -- one of those weekends.

So what did we accomplish this weekend?

1. Painted the green room trim.
2. Bought and selected paint and hardware for new foyer closet doors.
3. Removed the last wallpaper from the dining room.
4. Developed a game plan for the dining room.
5. Cleaned the foyer ledge … ew.
6. Mike painted his kitchen shelf … for the last time.

And it started with closet doors. The foyer closet doors to be exact. Check out these louvered beauties.

Out of nowhere last week, Mike and I got the urge to paint them. Maybe because it’s getting cold out and we’re seeing it more as we reach for our coats. The hardware could also use an upgrade (especially because the knob plate on one was missing, not an uncommon occurrence in this house of random oddities). While contemplating hardware and paint, we noticed the slats were extremely dusty and the thought of cleaning and then painting them--UGH. Our brains stopped right there. Even without knowing prices, we figured there was a time/cost benefit to getting new doors.

So, off we traipsed to Lowes and Menard's to look at bifold doors, hardware, and caulk for the siding (Battle of the Bird). For $39 each, we got two sets of pre-primed panel bifolds, and then splurged on some nice oil-rubbed bronze “dummy” door handles. Plus, Menard’s was doing its 11% rebate, so it was a no-brainer purchase. We leaned the panels against the hall wall, dreaming of the weekend and our glorious transformation.

On Friday night, however, we decided to kick back and watch some Breeders’ Cup races and football while trick-or-treaters gave us a workout between the couch and the door. The house was a mess, of course, and that’s when Mike’s family popped by. We were happy to see them but embarrassed at the state of affairs (that we really couldn’t blame on “construction”). And the mess got worse before it got better!

Saturday morning we unveiled the panels to discover one set had some cracks and dings. Dang. But that was okay, because before we could paint, we needed to choose a color. I had red in my head to match the cabinet dressing up our disaster of a dining room, but I was open to other ideas. Out came the paint chip book. We threw greens, reds, and blues onto the doors. As we narrowed the field, however, it became apparent we needed to consider the dining room as well as see chips in night light, too.

The doors are just resting; we won't install until painted

Here's a comparison shot:

So we swung from the Door Project to Green Room and Dining Room projects. While I primed the trim in the green room, Mike removed the last vestiges of wallpaper in the dining room. HUZZAH! We were each in our happy little worlds, Mike had his football game on the TV, and I streamed horse races on my laptop. As night fell, we reconvened at the doors and, once again, found that artificial light completely changed how we felt about our lead swatches. It became clear, though, that going red on paneled doors might be too much for that space, and the deep blues Mike had been gravitating toward were oppressive in the evening light.

In this process, however, the dining room moved up on our project list. Why not go ahead and throw some paint on the walls with the agreement it’s not a big deal to change it later? Leaving it in its state of disarray, at the front of the house, isn’t any fun and clearly we’re not deriving any inspiration from it. So, I got out the swatch book and started throwing chips on the wall. Deep greens were ruled out fairly quick to avoid the Christmas effect. Mr. Anti-Blue was, strangely again, leaning toward blues, but I was concerned about looking like the Fourth of July, even though I love a deep blue wall with white wainscoting.

Speaking of … for stage one of the dining room makeover, we’ll be painting the chair rail, bottom wall, and baseboards white (and likely the moulding in the train ceiling. We’ll leave the thresholds, stair sideboard, and probably window frame as-is and see how it looks. After going through the swatches, every time we found a color we liked and then put it against the trim, it just looked dated, especially because we’re exploring some chocolate hues or some moody grays or blues. Light grays, greens, and blues do look fine against the trim, but we’re both feeling something stronger in this space.

Also, that chandelier? It’s days are numbered. Now that the wallpaper is gone and we’re looking at this with critical eyes, it just bugs the heck out of us. And it’s definitely not our style. So we’ll keep our eyes out for a nifty bargain. Plus, it’s just too big for the space and feels oppressive. Looks like I’ll need to start pinning light fixtures …

Anyway, we took the night off to relax, and then we were back at it Sunday. For kicks, we grabbed sample jars of Polished Silver (guest room paint) and Steel City (runner up for the guest room) and threw them on the door. Since we seemed to be in color paralysis in the dining room, it was time to focus on the doors again and be okay with changing them down the road. Sensing a theme here? Are we driving you batty yet?

Polished Silver on the left, Steel City on the right and top.

Instantly, we both liked Steel City. It's interesting enough (greenish blue undertone) on its own but neutral enough I think it'll work as we slowly bring the main floor into a less dated state. Mike wanted to go buy a bucket right then and there, but I suggested we wait for different lighting, just to be safe. So, off I went to put final coats on the green room trim and Mike trekked back to Menard’s to exchange the bad door and swap out a knob (I bought same side knobs, oops).

When he came back, he decided to go where no one had gone before: the foyer ledge of uselessness.

“Ugh, it is gross! Can you get me the vacuum?”

Yep, we hauled the vacuum up the ladder and Mike got to cleaning while I finished painting. He doubts the previous  owners ever cleaned it, because he blackened a few rags in the process. Not that I blame them. But hey, it’s clean now. 

Plus, we have some new views of the foyer.

Seriously, what do you do with this? We were at an open house in the neighborhood and they had a mini jungle up there. It looked pretty dusty. On a walk, we saw the previous owners had left the plants there and the new owners hadn't mustered the courage to bring them down. Probably big spiders lurking up there.

A Christmas tree would be cool, but there's no outlet.

Chandelier free to anyone who wants to take it down.

This interlude also - ha - cleared our heads to revisit the dining room conundrum. No, we are not set on a particular color yet, but we are in the process of taping off, patching holes, and priming trim. We’re excited to get this room over its ugly hump and be the first step in getting the main floor out of the 80s. Right now we're testing a batch of swatches in different lights and will probably use the space to paint the closet doors, so we don't have to choose a color yet.

In the green room, I’m almost done with the trim. Two coats primer (finished off the Zinsser Bondz, then used Kilz Premium, because I didn’t feel like going to the store), two coats paint (Valspar Ultra in semi-gloss, untinted white base). I still need to caulk the edge to fill gaps between the trim and wall and remove the last of the tape with a razor blade, then install new shades in the window. Although the room looks fresher, the white trim and pale green definitely give the room a cold vibe. I don’t think this green will last, but it’s fine for now. The room has become my sewing room, but it’ll likely become Mike’s office once we decide to give his current space an overhaul (or it becomes a child #1’s room). It’s funny, because its current color would work well for a nursery, but it feels weird to put your child in the smallest room at the end of the hall.

Mike's other project wrap up: