Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Priceless...

  • Paint, $70.00
  • Brushes, rollers, pan, $25.00
  • Spackle, $20.00
  • Trim for 4 doors, $80.00
  • Trim for 3 windows, $70.00
  • (faux) Mop board, $110.00
  • Chair rail moulding, $60.00
  • Crown moulding to fix broken pieces, $25.00




Mop board.  There is no such thing as 10" floor trim.  At least not at Lowes or Home Depot.  They do have 10" pine board and a plethera of small mouldings that can be married together to look like mop board.  And each and every piece will need to be cut with the mitre saw at a perfect angle which is different for each and every corner.  Oh joy.





I bought this wallpaper to accent the wall.  It is a lovely celery green, very soothing and calm.  Which is weird, 'cause I think I've said more swear words since framing it in this chair moulding then I have ever said in my life.  The "POSTS" in aforementioned post and beam construction are evident in the living room.  They would be evident in the kitchen also, but when I had a "professional" fix my kitchen he blocked in the posts so the room is smaller but there are no weird little angles.  Not that there is anything wrong with weird little angles, they add character and you get to mitre the moulding to fit around them.  Wheeeee!  It is especially fun when the room is so far from square that it makes you dizzy.  No angle is perfect and they had to be cut three, four, five times to fit.  Also the room is crooked.  The picture of this beam was taken straight on, I am not leaning.  This took me hours and hours and hours to finish.  Ironically I was listing aft when I was finished and at least then it looked straight.   

Oh and this lovely little angle?  Chimney.  Crooked, crooked chimney.  See the optical illusion that makes it looked like the wall is larger at the ceiling and tapers in as it goes down to the floor?  Yeah, no illusion there.  Though it is only apparent from this particular angle.  So don't stand right here if you come to visit. 
 

The most important lesson (I just spelled that leison-I've got those too) that I have learned is that~~~

"There is no such thing as perfect in an old house.  If you can't make it fit, then do the best you can and just SPACKLE THE GAP."

Smiles,
Lisa




6 comments:

  1. Wise advice indeed. The goatmother says to tell you that even some *newer* houses aren't sqaure - like ours. :) On the upside, the floor looks AWESOME! I think I shall ask for one like it in my barn. I bet it won't happen though.

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  2. I would say all your hard, hard work is paying off really great. Your living room is just elegant, and beautiful. I love the molding, and adore that wall paper. I think there is a future for you in home interior design, and I am serious. Love it

    Hugs, Kathleen

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  3. You got it Sistah! Welcome to my world. I think you did a beautiful job. I always say that if people come over and comment on the strange way we have had to make things work, they need to go home. Keep up the good work.
    Kelly

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  4. I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE A PERFECT HOUSE. I DON'T THINK THAT EXSISTS. YOUR HOME HAS SO MUCH PERSONALITY AND HISTORY. I REALLY LOVE THE CHAIR RAIL AND THE PAPER. YOU ARE SO RIGHT ABOUT THE CALMING EFFECT. YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB LISA, CHAR

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  5. Whatever will you do with the rest of the $1,000 budget? Your room is looking very very lovely and I haven't even been on my boat yet this year...looks straight to me! Love how you did the wallpaper even though you were in agony! It really paid off though. Very nice Lisa. ~Lili

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  6. my goodness, ceiling problems aside, that is a beautiful idea executed very well. lovely colors you've chosen, i'm sure your home is remarkable.

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