Art....or renovation nightmare?

You know those times when you start a job and then think, "what the heck was I ever thinking?". I had one of those moments, in fact many of those moments as I decided to strip back a few layers of paint off my window. There was the artist in me saying, "look at all those amazing textures" while the DIY-er in me was saying, "how many more bloody layers of paint can there be??!!"

I think I counted about 10 colours...basically one for every ten years of the old girl's life. There was a dark mauve, electric blue, orange and of course a lovely mission brown.

Seriously, what were these people thinking? And more to the point, what was I thinking when I thought it would be better to strip/sand it back instead of just adding a new colour to the mix?

Hours are hours and many sore muscles later it is starting to look ok. Hopefully I'll get some new paint on it in the next few days,

Colin the plasterer actually came and quoted "stopping up" the ceiling but it was a bit beyond our budget so "man of the tools" decided to give it a go. He looked somewhat like a snowman at one point but did a great job.

Below is the lower ceiling. It's almost ready for some undercoat. We still have one more piece of plaster to get up in the higher part but might have to wait for the weekend to muster up some energy.

I ordered cornice today and am chasing up quotes to sand the floorboards.

It's starting to feel like we might get there!

Meet the snowman :) Yes, I know, where's the safety equipment? He's not a fan...me on the other hand, I wear enough for both of us.

ps. thanks for Molly's birthday wishes. She's had a great day with lots of treats.

xx

Renovation happenings!

I am very excited to be reporting actual renovation news! After the first plasterer went AWOL then phone calls to 3 more plasterers, one came and quoted an incredible $3000 to plaster the stepped ceiling and one wall in my studio room!! Wowza! Totally beyond our budget and estimations, so we decided to give it a go ourselves.

Above shows a timber frame we made to level out the very shoddily built lower ceiling. This was where the room was extended out onto the old verandah. Lyndon installed new light cable for a couple of neat down lights.

Master of the Tools then made use of a very clever/handy little machine called a Lackey, which lifted the sheets up to the ceiling so they could be attached.

Screwing the plaster board in place.

Luckily, the Lackey also reached the higher ceiling as well.

Almost there! Only a bit around the edges to fill in and then we're ready to get it stopped up. Lyn called a guy called Colin who will hopefully come tomorrow (not holding ones breath) to quote on stopping the gaps and edges and attaching cornice in the higher ceiling.

Today I will attempt to smooth out the side wall that we had originally planned on re-plastering but now think it might not be worth it. I'll have a go with the sander and we'll decide afterwards if it needs doing or not. A fresh coat of paint may make all the difference :)

Exciting times! Have a great week peeps!