If you had told me a year ago that I would paint almost every room in my house, paint furniture, make curtains, pull up carpet and padding, and strip floors by myself, I would have laughed hysterically. Then I would have looked you in the eye and said, "No way. I can't do that by myself."
Right.
I think, many times, we have no clue about our capabilities. I have no idea what possessed me to do this...oh, yeah, I do. First, I hated the dirty hall carpet. After a visit from a colleague and her son, I just ripped it out.
Then, my sister offered me a bedroom suite--French Provincial--and I just didn't think it should go into a bedroom with white walls. I hadn't planned to start the renovations quite so early, but my sister brought the furniture to me, and I had to put it in the living room. I got tired of it, so I started moving the books, bookcases, and my desk out of the office/soon to be bedroom, ripped up the carpet, then painted the room (very badly, I should add) a burgundy. With a little cleanup, it will be fine. The floor needs to be refinished, too, but I won't do that while the kittens are still too young to move out. [My cat had four kittens on June 16].
Another sister brought me a can of gold paint. I painted the back bedroom, the room that used to be my bedroom, with that. Then I ripped up the carpet and painted all the furniture that I wanted to put in the room, recovered a chair seat, and made shades for the room. The floor in that room is fine--no need to refinish it. From walls to windows, I did it all. If I may brag, it's a good-looking guest room.
Then I bought two gallons of "Clay Pot"--almost a terra cotta, which I wanted, but it's more coral. I painted the living room and the hall. And then I started pulling up the carpet--yuck! The carpet padding has melted into the floor, so I'm having to scrape and strip the floor as I go along. It's awful. So far, I've managed to pull the carpet and padding from about half the room. I don't look forward to the rest of it. I will need help moving some of the heavier pieces of furniture--I know I "can't" do that without hurting myself! I have to acknowledge my limitations.
Another sister offered to help me on the weekends, but I have time during the week to do this. I'm teaching an online class this summer, but it doesn't require every moment. I didn't want to wait until Saturdays to paint the walls when I was capable of doing it myself. So, I'm just doing it.
My daughter and her significant other are coming in July to build bookcases in the living room and my bedroom. I'm hoping to have space for all of the books still languishing in the garage. Then I can clean out the garage--again!
Is it possible to become addicted to renovation? I'm already thinking about painting the dining room and kitchen. My next "big project" will be a wood floor for the kitchen and dining room. But that might have to wait until next summer.
I think I'm shocked that I did all this. Too bad I'm the teacher...this could count as my "What I did on my summer vacation" essay!
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