So after owning the house for two months, we finally got the keys to it last night. We took some more pictures with all the seller’s stuff gone so it looks decently big now. I know we’ll be able to fill the space easily already though.

We plan to move in this weekend then start the process to get some different colours on the wall. First we wash the walls with TSP to get the oil, grease and dirt off so the primer and paint will make better contact. After the TSP, we need to do some patch and sand work since the sellers had some things hanging from the walls that we don’t want (like all the hooks in the spare room and the shelving in the office). After patching and sanding is the long process of taping all our nooks and crannies. Next we put the primer on. We’re going to have it slightly tinted so we can hopefully not have to put too many layers of paint on. Then Paint!

I think we’re planning to try to do a room or so at a time. We both have full time jobs working for start ups and that takes alot of time. After work and weekends is home improvement time.

Amy, our interior designer, has been working with us for weeks in coming up with a theme and colours for our house. She instructed us to cut out pictures we see in magazines that inspire and for me to pick some of my favorite photos. That helped, but I think her intuition and listening ability really helped nail down the colors for us.

Oh but first we need to move this weekend!

We started painting on May 5th with a big turn out at the house. THANKS EVERYONE!

Alec and I weren’t as far ahead of the game as we hoped when people started arriving but we did have plastic over furniture and on the floor (gotta cover those beautiful hardwood floors) and started to wash walls with TSP. Okay, one thing about the instructions on the TSP bottle… why wash the walls from bottom to top instead of top to bottom? The water would drip down onto the already washed and dried walls? Crazy. That lasted for maybe 3 walls then we did the more sensible way, top down. Tom, Alec’s Dad, arrived first picked up a bucket and gloves and joined in the wall washing fun. Soon after Tanya arrived and she began blue taping our ledges, corners, nooks and crannies that we didn’t want painted the first round.

The rest of the gang staggered in through out the day, Elke and Eric, Matt and Travis (who brought our first housewarming gift a plant-Thanks Travis) each picking up a brush, roller or rag and continued the evolution of our home. And evolving it is from the bland beige walls to a colourful homey atmosphere.

We broke in the BBQ by making some burgers and enjoying the backyard and good weather and then jumped back into it. On Saturday we accomplished quite a lot by washing most of the walls in the bedroom, living room, kitchen and dining room. We got primer on most of the walls and even a coat or two (or three in some cases) on those walls as well.

Sunday was left to Alec and I and we spent most of our time painting that day. I expected to be more sore but actually turned out not too bad. Just my back was a bit tight, not used to using the erector spinae muscles extending back. Which made me wonder how Michelangelo was able to spend so much time painting walls and ceilings (all be it a completely different context and skill set).
I have to admit, this is the first time I’ve ever painted walls and it’s been an interesting experience. I started careful and hesitant and now I just dunk and roll (more or less). I’ve accidently hit a few finished walls (pictures to come) but I know I have the paint and I can just repaint it. I hope. And the paint is acrylic so it just peels off usually which is great when I do a little body art incidentally.

Honestly I do wish we were finished. But that’s not because I’m tired of painting, not yet, but because there are other things I’d like to do as well. The following weekend we’ll do one day of painting and yard work and one day of play or nothingness. Once the main areas are done (living room, kitchen, dining room and master bedroom) we’re set to take our time a little bit more. And we’re almost there!