No, no, I did not fall off the plank and down a flight of stairs while painting the upstairs hallway ceiling. That sound you just heard must have been my entire body finally hitting a wall of exhaustion, face first.
This isn’t a surprise. Every Saturday and Sunday that I’ve been up before 6 AM climbing around on the roof, or painting the outside of the house, or some other such house-related nonsense that any sane person who got 4 hours of sleep wouldn’t be doing at that hour, I knew that I was working on borrowed time. That the big old wave of adrenaline I was riding on would crest, break, and eventually I’d be staring at the blinking cursor on my computer screen, unable to come up with the right words to explain what the hell is going on in this picture…
Actually, wait. Nevermind. There really are no words.
Suffice it to say, I’m still working on stuff around the house, I’m just not doing it efficiently, or particularly effectively. And I’m suffering from a little bit of writers suck. It’s not quite writers block, cause I can still get the words out, it’s just, uh, well… suck. So I’m not going to subject you guys to 700 unentertaining words on why I painted the least important room in the house this weekend (downstairs hallway) and why I don’t have pictures of it to share (couldn’t get my act together enough to take pics before dark.)
If you want to see pictures of something, however, some of my shots from last weeks Photo Treasure Hunt are on DIYlife.
And listen, I’m not complaining about the lack of energy or general disorganization around my life right now because I had a really good run of progress. I just think it’s important to tell you guys the authentic story– that, yes, sometimes I get an amazing amount of stuff done, and sometimes I’m a complete wreck.
The good news is, I’m getting a garage door installed on the future workshop tomorrow, which means I can finally move some of the big tools out there without the fear of some 65-pound raccoon running off with them (this is the country, you don’t eff around with the wildlife). Getting some of the tools and sawdust out of the house is going to help with some of my organization issues right now, I’m sure.
Also, I’ve come to the realization that painting– specifically painting trim– is just not an energizing activity for me. I like building things. I do not like painting the same piece of wood five times. So I’ve also put a call into a couple of local painters to give me quotes on 1.) finishing up the trim work downstairs, and 2.) painting cabinets and wood paneling in the kitchen.
For reference, here’s what that entails:
I already got one quote on the kitchen, and, I’ll tell you what… you deserve something for making it this far through through a post full of nothing but rambling nonsense, so let’s play a little DIY version of the Price is Right. I’m going to give away a $50 Lowe’s gift card to the person that guesses closest to the dollar amount to the first quote I got on painting the kitchen (all the wood walls, trim, and cabinets) without going over.
Yup. I just decided that right now. Lowe’s isn’t sponsoring this post, I just feel like contributing to somebody elses tool fund this week. One comment per person please, and I’m probably going to pick the winner Wednesday night if I’m not in bed before the sun goes down, so get your guess in before then. (Also, friends and family who I’ve already told about the quote, you can’t play this game, but since I love you all I’ll buy you a beer next time we’re out.)
Okay, awkward picture of me carrying a cabinet around in my pajamas? Check. Lack-of-progress update? Check. Spur-of-the-moment giveaway? Check.
I think that’s about all I’ve got in me today guys. Happy guessing, I’m going to take a 10 hour nap.
169 Responses
$3400
Whatever the cost to paint it’s worth it. You have been burning the candle at both ends. This should be a post asking to contribute to your painting fund. I would happily contribute $20 bucks. Your blog gives me a great deal of pleasure but if you don’t slow down you’ll get burned! Have you considered putting a lime wax on the ceiling? Anyway, thanks for writing.
MD
I love the sentiment MD, but instead of asking you to contribute cash I’ll just ask that you keep stopping by the site when you feel like it… but having people read this blog gives me so much motivation and inspiration to keep doing things I love, even when it’s hard!
I vote $3000 – and I vote you have a painting party with your friends instead. Priming and the first coat could definitely be done in a day, with enough friends, pizza and beer!
$4100.
Ok, we’ve had $3000 and $3500, so I’m going to drop to $2500.
Whatever the quote really is, it needs to be done. It’s a bit too much to invite friends over, open a couple bottles of wine, and have a painting party. That’s just so much wood paneling!
$3850.00
And worth every penny?
$1 Bob.
$4,500 ’cause I’d probably need that much $$ for all the paint and primer and wine I’d need if I took on a project like that! WOW! That’s a lot of wood!
the answer is always $1
$2100.00
I’m gonna say $4,800 Bob
$2795.00, but I wouldn’t do it for that 🙂 Open a bottle and watch someone else do the work for a change! Oh…but then you might be tempted to jump in and help, or supervise! Better take that bottle out to the front porch. Relax and enjoy.
My first thought was $2700. No worries about the brick wall you just hit – it was inevitable. Take care of yourself and enjoy some down time.
$2650
$3100
I guess $1800. 😀 You are amazing and inspiring and if you need to do work that inspires you, and save these jobs for someone else, then so be it! Good luck with everything, it’s going to be great!
Thank you!
2897
Girl, you’ve got to rest! Don’t work so hard you can’t enjoy a. all your hard work so far (hello porch!) and b. the warm fall before the snow!
That said, the estimate must have been $1467. Right?
Kara, you are so right. I always have this grand idea to enjoy the end result but I can only sit down for like two minutes and then I have to be doing something else. So right now I’m going to finish replying to comments on this post, heat up a glass of mulled wine, and go sit on that damn porch. Thanks for keeping me in line!
$1500
$1785
We just bought our first house and I have NO freakin’ clue how much these things cost. But $50 to Lowes? I can take a guess 🙂
Congrats on the house Kelley! This is my third house and I still have no idea how much these things cost (apparently). lol
I’m going to guess $2,400, although I have no reference for making up this number.
$1,275
It’s ok to be human, now I feel a little better for my lack of progress!
I am going to guess $3200
I’m telling you, it’s all peaks and valleys for me. I can go flat-out for a while, and then I’m completely useless until I get a second wind.
$2,741.50
I’ll guess $4750.
$799
$3,200
$4567.
Thanks for showing your human side!
I promise I’ll always keep it real!
Hum….4801
$2000
$2000 even. (Can someone guess $1 if they think we’ve all overbid? 😉 )
Tried to post last night, but don’t see it. I’ll go with $6800.
$3925.45 (not sure what your sales tax is there) I hate priming. Painting is not too bad, but priming sucks! With all of the painting you have to do, why not invest in a power sprayer? That is the next “tool” on my list :0)
I do have a Wagoner electric sprayer, and I’ve thought of using it in the kitchen. Still might, actually, depending on where I decide to spend the next little bit of my “house fund”.
I’m gonna go with…….. $950 🙂
My guess is $2800. If I win you can keep the gift card if you don’t paint the kitchen. I think the wood is beautiful. Why not keep the wood look and spend the money on a vacation?
Oh, a trip to Lowes is not a vacation.
Ha! Thank you sir. I don’t dislike the wood… well, no I do actually. lol. I like wood in general, but the knotty pine (particularly this yellow color) is just too much for me. Plus it really isn’t cohesive with the rest of the house.
It would be really appropriate in a cabin up north, but I want something cleaner and calmer in my kitchen space, so I’m going white on the cabinets and walls, with a brick floor, and some big faux beams salvaged from the barn across the ceiling. We’ll see how it turns out!
If nothing else, you’ve figured out how to get people commenting on your blog. Give away free stuff! This has to be some sort of record.
It’s always interesting what percentage of the people who visit this site every day actually comment, but what I’m really shocked about is how many people read all the way through that rambling post to get to the “give stuff away” part. lol. You guys are awesome.
3975.25… praying that we are all too high and that it would be more reasonable. A sensible girl knows her strengths and weakness’s, so you go girl! And if I would happen to win, keep it and buy something fun.
$1850, not including material. With material, $2250
I hit my wall so hard my paint brush is still sitting in the disposable cup on the utility sink a year later. I know how you feel.
“I hit my wall so hard my paint brush is still sitting in the disposable cup on the utility sink a year later.” – Oh my god, I fucking love you because I TOTALLY feel this.
Around here I think that job would cost upwards of $6,000, so that’s my guess.
Holy crap – how much do painters charge out there??? I’ll go with $500 (mainly because no one picked that yet). But I would pay ANYTHING not to have to paint trim. Hate. Trim.
I’m guessin’ $4,200. Luv your blog!! You’re so stinkin’ witty & funny (and talented!) 🙂
Noooo please don’t cover that beautiful wood in paint!
I would leave the ceiling alone and the cabinets look pretty nice. I do think there is to much of a good thing going on and would eventually remove the wood from the walls. A nice tile back splash would make break it up too!
Official guess $1999
$3,750… lot’s of priming (hopefully tinted primer!)
$1150 ….talk about hitting a wall, I can’t bring myself to finish the last coat of paint on the bedroom wall. But that doesn’t stop me from starting a bunch of other projects 🙂
$1277?
Yeah, sometimes it is totally worth it to pay someone to do the stuff you hate. There is only so much time, so you may as well be doing the stuff you like (or at least don’t hate ;-). Good luck!
$2200!
I started painting my mom’s cabinets in January. I still have about 15 doors to do… fml. Wish we’d’ve just hired someone!
I’ll say $4765
I’ll say $2501…I would definitely paint this kitchen…too much wood for the style of house but i could definitely see this in a cabin or lodge type house.
My guess is $1,952. I enjoy reading your blog–have never commented before 🙂
I’m going to guess $1,001. You rock those PJ bottoms while carrying cabinets.
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