New House Series: Downstairs Pt 3
Hey Reader,
I thought this day would never come. It is the day when I can call this particular project finished. I will not have to smooth another wall for quite some time. This past weekend was the final paint job for downstairs.
I have learned so much with this project. There are four main takeaways to look at. Lesson one: stick to something until you get it right and don't give up! That seems like a ridiculous platitude - cuz it is. Here is the thing though, it is a platitude for a reason. There were periods where literally everything I owned was covered in an inch of white dust. There were nights where I screamed at the walls because there were subtle ripples that I could only see from certain angles and at certain times of day. I was committed to making it work!
Sure, I didn't really have much of a choice once I had done a room or two. I wasn't going to have mismatched wall smoothness throughout my house. That would be sillier than sanding the walls for a year. Maybe not, but you know what I mean.
I have never been one to shy away from projects and trying new things, but this has given me more bravery to try new stuff and really push myself. I still have some areas that I am more wary of. I am nervous about saws and cutting things, but it is something I plan to tackle head on as I continue to work on the Drive in movie and do my crown molding. Trying things out makes you figure out ways to get it to work.
Lesson two: You will notice stuff more than other people. You have spent days or weeks or months staring at this project and have been obsessing about any flaws you see. Someone else walks by and they (reasonably) have not spent that much time. Instead, they just see the finished project. There are parts of my wall smoothing adventure that have not gone great.
That first room is definitely rougher than all the others. I struggled to get into the tight spaces between moldings and corners. Though, those are things that a casual observer is unlikely to notice. Even if they do, they aren't going to be bothered. Finding the line between perfectionism and "that will do" is a huge challenge.
Lesson three: Ladders are the worst! Seriously, my next project will take place on the ground. Going up and down the ladder was by far the most stressful part of this. Not even the heights necessarily, just the constant up and down. Especially while painting - load the brush, get three strokes in and then need to reload. Major pain in the butt.
Now that this project is done, I need to figure out what to do with myself. I have so many more things I want to do to the house. This was definitely the hardest step and I hope that the rest of the projects go a lot more smoothly. That leads me to lesson four, which clearly I haven't learned yet.
Lesson four: Everything takes longer than you expect. I originally budgeted this project for 4 months. By the end of the fourth month I had just barely finished one room. Looking at it 11 months later, I realize that everything takes longer than you originally expect - especially if you are doing something new to you.
Fixing a piano won't take long though. I will expect it to be done in a weekend. Guess I am still learning.
Keep making cool stuff. Until next time,
JoshPrime
I thought this day would never come. It is the day when I can call this particular project finished. I will not have to smooth another wall for quite some time. This past weekend was the final paint job for downstairs.
 |
| pictured: subtle ripples |
Sure, I didn't really have much of a choice once I had done a room or two. I wasn't going to have mismatched wall smoothness throughout my house. That would be sillier than sanding the walls for a year. Maybe not, but you know what I mean.
I have never been one to shy away from projects and trying new things, but this has given me more bravery to try new stuff and really push myself. I still have some areas that I am more wary of. I am nervous about saws and cutting things, but it is something I plan to tackle head on as I continue to work on the Drive in movie and do my crown molding. Trying things out makes you figure out ways to get it to work.
 |
| pictured: dozens of mistakes you won't notice |
That first room is definitely rougher than all the others. I struggled to get into the tight spaces between moldings and corners. Though, those are things that a casual observer is unlikely to notice. Even if they do, they aren't going to be bothered. Finding the line between perfectionism and "that will do" is a huge challenge.
Lesson three: Ladders are the worst! Seriously, my next project will take place on the ground. Going up and down the ladder was by far the most stressful part of this. Not even the heights necessarily, just the constant up and down. Especially while painting - load the brush, get three strokes in and then need to reload. Major pain in the butt.
 |
| pictured: the devil |
Now that this project is done, I need to figure out what to do with myself. I have so many more things I want to do to the house. This was definitely the hardest step and I hope that the rest of the projects go a lot more smoothly. That leads me to lesson four, which clearly I haven't learned yet.
Lesson four: Everything takes longer than you expect. I originally budgeted this project for 4 months. By the end of the fourth month I had just barely finished one room. Looking at it 11 months later, I realize that everything takes longer than you originally expect - especially if you are doing something new to you.
Fixing a piano won't take long though. I will expect it to be done in a weekend. Guess I am still learning.
Keep making cool stuff. Until next time,
JoshPrime
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