I’m really happy so many of you enjoyed yesterday’s spidery Halloween wreath because today’s DIY is brought to you by the letter “L”. L for le sigh.
The basement was never a pretty place but I was so sure that when I removed the wallpaper, it would at least give us a nice, blank canvas. The paneling we found beneath (darn you, whoever installed the paneling, then filled the gaps and friggin’ wallpapered over it) was a little wonky but we were past the point of no return. We barreled ahead with our spit and polish plan and got some textured paint. I know, I’m sorry. But the adjacent wall is already textured so we thought it might helped the paneled walls blend in.
It did. But painting on that textured finish wounded my soul.
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| Post-wallpaper and pre-textured paint |
After making sure no wallpaper residue remained, I let the wall dry overnight. Then I applied the textured paint (FlexRock) using the requisite 1990s-Debbie-Travis-esque roller. You have to be really random with the rolling. No W’s or V’s.
Warning: this paint is dense and heavy and droplets fly (it seems to aim for your eyes and any place you were lazy with the drop cloths) so, if you’re jonesing for some textured walls, be really generous with the drop cloths and wear some dorky DIYer safety gear!
I waited two days for it to dry and then applied a coat of the same paint I’d been using for the other walls. I wished I had done a second coat of texture-y goodness, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.
In the end, after all my crabby belly-aching, it looks . . . cute. Especially with the little sumthin’ sumthin’ we hung on it . . .
Even though the laundry room – the biggest part of the makeover – is still rough and the rest of the basement is a mess, with half finished projects everywhere, I tidied and started to decorate one corner. It felt silly to have this one pretty corner, but it really motivated me to finish the rest when I come home. A “reveal” photo very soon!
Have you given your home any bad design medicine? Something you hated doing but ultimately looked better?
I can't really see the whole room, but I'm betting it feels much fresher and cleaner. And like a jumper patterned fabric on a sofa (up close it's busy, but at a distance it reads like a great solid). So, good for you! Can't wait to see it all. M.
For all my crabbiness, it does look MUCH fresher. I think you'll like the "after". I just need to edit the zillion photos I took of the space (I was a little over excited about the change, lol).
Looking forward to yet another great project completed. Sounds very messy, but worth it in the end.
Awww, thanks :)I hate to be such a tease and drag it out, but I think it's nicer to have some steps in their own post. Otherwise it would be a monster 25 photo one!
Ahh, textured paint. It's like a cousin to popcorn ceilings. That being said, I have no doubt that it's an improvement to what was there before!
Hahaha! I've got those too, upstairs though, so the whole family is together. Including Ugly Drop Ceiling and Aunt Shaggy Carpet (who live in the basement with baby Textured Walls).
I think textured paint is the lesser of two evils when it comes to panelling. But that is just me. I'm sure once you finish up the room it won't hurt your soul too much (maybe just a little).
Oh gosh, so true! Especially because these paneled walls had been filled. Ish. Just covering them up was the only solution – other than redoing everything. But then where do you end??
When we realized that we were going to have to texture-ize a wall in our garage so it matches the rest, we both made sad faces. The same sad faces we make when we look at our popcorn ceilings. But, I think sometimes texture really helps cover a multitude of sins. Our closets even have popcorn coating in them – but it actually helps hide a lot of the damage/scuffing – and with a fresh coat of paint it's decent. Can't wait to see the reveal photos!
Awwww. We suffer from the same textured afflictions. I have popcorn ceilings too! Texture is good for hiding. Same with that textured wallpaper (which I considered, if it weren't so pricey) – we call that "load bearing wallpaper".
Very nice! And it looks like a fun mess of a project. I love messy projects with gorgeous results!
Haha. You have so much faith in me, already guessing there will be gorgeous results. You have officially made my day!
Can't wait to see more photos!