Oh how I’ve missed painting! I didn’t paint a single wall at the old place. Can you believe that? The house didn’t need a lick of paint when we moved in and while I don’t know for certain, I’m pretty sure the Pilgrims had white walls. And honestly, I didn’t want to mess with a good thing, so I felt zero need to paint the inside of the house.
But the new house, it’s a colorful one. So I bought a 36 pack of chip brushes to get me started. 😉 I don’t know if I’ve already mentioned this or not, but the theme for the new house is going to be red, white and blue. As in white, WHITE walls, and lot’s of artwork in the beachy lobsters, whales and nautical sort of genre with a little nod to classic {preppy} New England. And I couldn’t be more excited!!!
I plan on spending this month painting all the closets out white and ripping out the carpet upstairs. Then in October, we’ll move on to the bathrooms, and then after that the family room and the kitchen. The goal is to pretty much have the entire inside of the house finished by late February, so that before gardening season starts in late April, I’ll be able to have my little wool/pottery studio set up in the basement and then I’ll be able to flutter about working on various gardening projects, craft projects and walking to the bakery to fill up on pastries in between.
Doesn’t that sound like a marvelous plan? Yes, yes it does.
When we bought the house, we had no idea if there were hardwood floors hiding under the carpet upstairs. But because of the age of the home, we were hoping that even if the floors were in just okay shape, we would still be able to have them refinished. But if plywood was sitting under the carpet, plan B was to have the carpet replaced.
And well, since I’m not one to twiddle my thumbs, I cut a hole in the carpet and padding while the HH was out running errands and yanked it back.
And what do you know! Hardwood floors… and in beautiful shape I might add. 🙂 I may have done a little happy dance.
And because I consider pulling up carpet tack strips a job for husbands…. I quickly left the room and went down and made dinner until it was safe to go back upstairs again. Bahahhaa.
Painting, that’s my thing. Pulling up pointy junk off the floor that could possibly land me in the ER and in need of a tetanus booster is something I choose not to participate in.
Freshly painted white walls! Those shutter doors though, those are going to be a challenge to paint. Yikes!
New brackets!
And because I only own 1 dress {well 2 if you count the Pilgrim dress} I had the HH install a second shelf to hang pants. There is second closet in the bedroom {that would be perfect for hanging dresses and long winter coats} but it has wallpaper on the walls so that’s another project for another day.
But hey now, even with the shadow hitting the closet wall at a weird angle, I think this space looks much better than when I started.
One project down, 200 more to go! 🙂 Weeeeee. This is going to be SO MUCH FUN.
Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone, enjoy the sunshine.
~Mavis
Caitlin says
Oh man, that is the flooring DREAM. Looks great! I always insist when we move that closets get painted before a single thing goes in them, saves me time in the long run.
Jenn from Ma says
I ripped up carpet right after we closed on our house- like we got the keys and I ran upstairs and started pulling up the carpet. We bought an old house too that had great wood floors covered in carpet- yuck! What a nice surprise for you to see that pretty wood floor 🙂
JulieP says
Walk to the bakers now that would be my dream! The floors are pretty cool too
Kari says
I’m giddy with excitement about your decor theme! I can’t wait!!!
Peggy says
You would think I was the one that moved with all the excitement I feel! LOL can’t wait to see each project planned for your new home. You have to purchase a small, easy to use paint spray gun! Those closet doors and many other painting jobs will be a breeze to knock out. Lowes has a nice inexpensive light weight spray gun that is even easy for this old grandma
Deborah says
Love the flooring! The closet looks so much bigger after you painted it. Beautiful job!
katie p nc says
I can’t wait for the louver door painting tutorial! I have one for my laundry room that needs to be painted. I thought about just spray painting it and being done!
Linda says
Mavis, please bottle some of the energy you have and add it to your ETSY shop.
Lisa says
I would like to order 6 bottles right now.
Katie says
I love it! I can’t wait to see more. And walking to the bakery?? Sounds like you live in a cool town 🙂
Nancy D says
Mavis is back!!!!!! 🙂
Amy P. says
I would happily volunteer to pull up carpet tacks — anything is better than putting down drip paper/cloths for painting (and then cleaning up the paper/drip cloths.) If the carpet was going, I would totally not use drip cloths at all!
Excited to see this house transform.
Tracie@SomewhatAwry.com says
I was just thinking the same thing! I can’t wait to see everything you do Mavis!! I am so excited for you!
Sarah says
Your spark is back! Oh how we’ve missed it!
Tammy says
Wow, that’s an awesome find with the flooring!!!
We moved into our house and the previous owners had just painted nearly the whole house (inside). Since we loved the color scheme, we didn’t need to paint! BUT they hadn’t painted the closets! We should have painted closets, but we haven’t done so yet. They’re all a grungy white, and could definitely use a good coat of paint!
Peg says
Replace the closet doors? Is that an option?
HollyG says
I second the suggestion for a paint sprayer. We bought one a few years ago (when our painter skipped town with our paint and our money) and it’s been fantastic – great for doors, railings, cabinets.
Stephanie Hughes says
It’s so much fun to here you excited again.
I look forward to reading your new adventure.
Carolyn says
My children and I moved in with my mom a few years ago. This month we finally got around to a kitchen remodel we have talked about for a while and decided to remove the front closet. It is funny how we can repaint, and repaint rooms but never fuss with the closets once we move in. Mom’s closet was still the pale green they painted the living room in the early 70’s when they bought the house.
The linen closet is still that funny golden rod color that was there when they moved in.
Diana says
I just about squealed when I saw the hardwoods! LOL! They’re gorgeous!
I’m so happy to see you excited again. I agree with others who have said that we missed your spark. I was worried for a while there…
Outstanding job and looking forward to more of the projects.
Tracie B says
Just an FYI fir your shutters. The spray paint you have used to do hardware also comes in all the sheens. Like flat, satin, semi gloss etc. that would be your best bet if you could match your paint. Which you should be able too. Loooks great. Congratulations
Teri says
Walking distance to the bakery? You must be living right in a town this time and not a subdivision? Can you have chickens? Love how gung ho you are and you sound happy! Wish I had your energy!
Connie says
Lucky you having hardwood flooring under the carpeting! I can’t wait to get rid of my carpeting! I love hardwood, but it’s expensive, so I have to wait a while. I love white walls because when you hang pictures, they really stand out! All my walls are white too! I would try spray painting the shutters. Looking forward to seeing more photos of your new home. Best of luck with your new home!
Richelle says
Remodeling tip: 1) Paint BEFORE you remove the carpet. It’s the best way to protect the wood floors. 2) Paint trim (and doors, if they will be painted) the same color as the walls, but in a different finish. E.g., satin on the walls and semigloss on the trim and doors. It gives the room dimension and makes cleaning often touched surfaces easier to clean.
Diane says
How do you paint clear to the bottom of the baseboard with the carpet nap in the way? Asking because I need to do some painting!! Thanks!
Chelsea says
You really should remove the base boards and all other trim before painting. Then you paint most of the way down and reattach your painted trim after the carpet is removed.
Idaho Girl says
I’d remove the carpet, but leave the pad. Paint, then take out the pad. The pad is away from the walls an inch or so and acts as a drop cloth!
Tracy says
“No!” to painting before you remove the carpet! Leaving the carpet in while you paint guarantees you’ll never get the paint all the way to the floor. The carpet’s pile will block your brush.
Granny B from MO says
I agree with the sprayer for the closet doors BUT make sure you start by painting the inside first. Then when you paint the outside if you happen to have a run in the paint on the back, it will be on the inside.
Brianna says
When my grandparents got middle age they put carpet down throughout the house because they were so worried about slipping. After they passed away, the house sat on the market for months without any interest reasonably priced for the area in a super touristy town. My cousin went to the house one weekend and pulled up the carpet and waxed the old hardwood floors. The realtor posted new pictures and within days there were multiple offers all above the asking price and it quickly sold. I think a lot of people appreciate old hardwood flooring and it is really unique to the house and character.
Mel says
My childhood home was an early 1900’s farm house with original pine flooring. At some point under previous owners, the house was struck by lightning and burned. The floors survived (the house around them needed to be completely rebuilt), but they had all sorts of markings from the fire and the water used to put it out. My parents kept the floor as part of the history of the house (and installed lightning rods).
I finally moved into my new office wing last night! Construction was dragging on and they wanted a few more days for clean-up, but I couldn’t take it anymore, so my boss gave me the go ahead to finish the cleaning and move in last night. It took me 6 hours after my 8 hour work day, but the students were SO excited this morning, so it was totally worth it. I’m now in the process of sorting through all the little projects the contractors missed or messed up, so I will be watching this series of your projects closely.
UpstateNYer says
As a N.Y ‘er, I’d change your painting timeline. You’ll want to paint when you can keep widows and doors open for ventilation with the living room and kitchen. New England gets cold fast! And lasts! And lasts! 🙂