Keep on keeping on... like a Berger paint!

Hi Guys,

Two weeks on and living in amongst the mess again is making me want to get this over and done with and into that room so the domino effect avalanche can commence.

The white I chose for the walls had no definition to the ceiling white so have regrouped and have this very pale lilac to do the second coat with, one that will compliment the feature wall. 

I also discovered there is a water based gloss paint for skirtings, doors and window froms along with the pelmet.  It isn't as shiny as the oil based gloss, but will be easier to deal with environmentally though.  Also got a new extension pole and roller as the other one finally bit the dust.

My daughter and her fella are coming soon to take the pelmet down so I can finish the first coat until they have a weekend that they have free to come and finish the second coat so I can then do the skirtings, window frames, pelmet and doors.

Even looked into bed bases as I think I may as well have what I want in situ from the start, rather than wait.  It is going to look so good. 

This is the pelmet still attached.

We found out the pelmet was nailed in, but we got it off without any damage.

Okay, yet again it is now another two weeks on and have painted the last part above the window and filled in the gaps of the window inside sill and sanded back the parts that needed doing.

As you can see the inside now looks fantastic and will look even better after a sand once fully dry.  However, the outside is looking rather grim and that my friends is a whole other story and will need to be dealt with over summer and a patch job at that.

First, the ceiling needed that second coat along with the cornices.

Next up was that second coat for the ceiling.

Looking good.

While that was going on the cutting in was being done of the second coat for the walls with the 'new' chosen colour and it was coming up beautifully.  As you can see my daughter is overjoyed with this task.
 

Finally, subtle definition.  It doesn't show very well in this photo, but you just might make out the difference.



I am keen to keep a record of the transformation.

Here you see my daughter is thrilled to death as well at my enthusiasm!

One...

Two...

Three... with the same joy and enthusiasm she showed me previously!

We were going to leave it there, but we felt we could just fit in the feature wall with cutting in and lick of paint.

My daughter's has continued displays of joy and affection as you can see.

Meanwhile, my son is learning the art of supervising.  Little does he realise I will be getting him the sand the skirting for me after I sugar soap wash them all.

The results are stunning, but will need a second coat for sure.  I must state her my daughters cutting in was meticulous.  All that art experience coming to the fore.

From one angle...

Now the other... the V, I suspect helped in getting the job done!

It really is looking fabulous. 

You may have started to think you are reading a 'how to' blog by now and not a helping hoarders blog!  I wouldn't blame you.  However, I am detailing this as it does show how slow the progress can be and that patience in abundance is required.

Also, when one starts something it can blow out due to unforseen events and add weeks to the anticipated time frame.  This then impacts on 'getting rid of the 'stuff''. 

You will see by the wardrobe how dirty it looks against the fresh paint.  Now that I was not 'really' (well kinda, sorta, maybe have to) do!!!  But, looking at the skirting, window frames and doors it was screaming out 'DO ME'!!!  Well, you know what I mean.

Thinking I was going to do a 'water' base gloss was a grand idea till I got to the paint store.  Apparently what is there first is what is best to do over.  Decide to get heaps of paint brushes and minimise the turpintine usage. 

Good to his word son sanded the skirting after all were washed.  I sanded the pelmet and have given this it's first coat of plain basic white.  The lift was instantaneous.

Only two more licks to go and then I start on the skirting and will do a coat every second day to allow my back much needed time inbetween floor work, which really is a pain in the old proverbial.

Photos to follow as the ones I took of the pelmet I took on my mobile and for some reason not coming through. 

As it happens my wonderful and generous neighbour called me to let me know her back gate was now fixed and I can retrieve the last few items when I was ready.  I am ready now, but the room isn't. 

Cannot wait to move in... I can feel it now how good it will be... I am itching to go... time... why... must be patient.  Christmas is looming and I so want the dining room back for the first time in 6 years... patience now... just breathe... breathe in breathe out breathe in breathe out... ah that's better.

Hopefully, we will get the last coat of the feature wall done soon.  In the meantime, I need to get the skirting and pelmet painted with the enamel gloss and the top part of the window so the pelmet can be replaced.  Then I need to ask a gorgeous friend who may be reading this, yes, you Ali S, I will need to borrow the sander to sand the all the doors.  Way too many to do by hand.  Will be calling you shortly. 

So there you go folks.  This is how easy it is to get sidetracked by life and events for the hoarders tasks.  Easy peasey!

I hope that I will be in this room by early November now! 

We shall see soon enough, wont we now!

Cheers one and all
Anita who is still gettin there... and taking it one day... no scratch that... one week at a time.

Update on the Paint Date!

Hi Guys,

True to my daughters word, she and her fella came over yesterday to start painting the now vacated room.  I had been busy through the week as usual with my 'day' job, but still managed to get ceiling paint, along with paint for the walls, including choosing a feature colour.

I bought said paint on special and will get some more as this special lasts till the 18th of this month.  I also got some cheap paint trays with the throw away liners, some rollers (have the extension pole from my days renovating the Rosebud house with Ali S and my first 'bought' Unit via the horrendous Ministry of Housing Loan in East St. Kilda), paint brushes for cutting in etc and drop sheets I have plenty of at home. 

Good to go.

Decided on keeping the ceilings just white.  KISS - keep it simple stupid. 

Wanted a warm white for the walls, which I chose one called Orchid White.  As for the feature wall I am going to go bold and go for Aubergine!

Here is the sample of Orchid White.  It is the top LHS of the photo.  Amazing how many whites there are!

And here is the sample of the feature wall colour.

It looks a little darker than what you see here.  This colour will compliment what I have already in bed linen, curtains, lamps and furniture.

The day has finally arrived and my handy helpers arrive late.  My daughter had no concept of the preparation involved and how lengthy a process this can be.  She thought we would be finished that day!!!  Hilarious.

Walls get washed and carpet vacuumed.  Curtains taken down and given a wash since Mum died, almost 5 years now.  What furniture is left in the room is moved to the centre and covered.  There are some cracks that I had overlooked so had to run down to the local hardware store to pick up some filler and sandpaper while the room is being prepped.

The photo below shows the room in all its original glory.  When Dad was alive he regularly painted going from room to room every second year so by the time he got back to the beginning it was time for a spruce up.  Dad died over 10 years ago and this room was one of the ones he was getting round to do, hence it had been a long time in-between licks of paint and TLC by him.

Back to fill those cracks.

There is some movement and I suspect the window sill needs attention with puttying on the outside as well as on the inside.  Dad was constantly attending to this particular area over the years.

Aija started with the cornices, while Keith started on the ceilings and I did some cutting in on the feature wall.

Now this is white and bright.  Will lift the room to no end.

Once the feature wall was undercoated I left the 2 to it and periodically came in to help.  I think the fumes from the paint got to them in the end and we had the proverbial 'sillies'. 

Here is a pictorial explanation as to why.

Aija making a final statement with her hand prints just like when she was 4 years old.

Then from this...

To this...

You may not see it, but her nose was rolled!



And the fun just kept on like a Berger paint!  (And by the way that wasn't the paint I was using!)  Somewhere around now my roller extension broke, but this didn't stop the continuing fun.

Tit for tat continued...

But I had to intervene once I saw this...

Way too much fun and frivolity was being had.  That and it was dark and time for them to both go to get ready to go out to celebrate their one year anniversary.

I finished off the paint while they cleaned up a bit and I then cleaned the rollers and brushes once they left. 

The Orchid White was looking rather 'WHITE' with no contrast to the ceiling.  I may have to rethink the wall colour.  On the sample next to Orchid White was another that maybe suitable and would give that much needed definition, yet still compliment my chosen feature wall. 

Today you could barely see the difference between the wall and ceiling whites.  Will be better able to see and decide once the afternoon sun hits the room.

However, I did find this under one of the drop sheets!!!  There had to be some sort of payola for all that fun and frivolity!

Here is how it looks in the light of day...

The first coat is almost finished and we will only be able to come back to finish the job in 2 weeks time due to commitments.  Also, by doing this it has highlighted the area of doors, skirting and the pelment now looking decidedly tired and in need of fresh paint also.  I will endeavour to do just that by then or before I set up my bedroom.  At least then the painting will be done.

The only thing the room will need after that will be one of those new holland blinds.  Then and only then will the room be complete.

It was such a joy to have this work done amongst peels of laughter and commaraderie without frustration, which I have always found to be unnecessary.  This was a welcome change from my past partners way of doing things.  Much nicer memories being made now.  My son even commented how wonderful it was to muck in and muck around.

It is abundantly clear that I wont be in my new bedroom for some weeks as on another note my neighbour who is still housing a few pieces of furniture for me had her gate fall due to the recent high gusts of winds and is now blocking the garage with no access.  Due to the fact that the room is taking time to complete, I do not see this as an issue. 

All will happen in good time.

This is where one has to decide is the stress of worrying worth it or choose to go with the flow.  I am now flowing like a massive river.

Once I am in the said bedroom and the pieces of furniture across the road have been placed and the dining room reclaimed only then will it finally start to feel like a real home.

Don't get me wrong, there is still much more to do, but to me this is my peak, my hurdle and from this point on I will have broken the camel's back finally and on the homeward bound stretch at long last. 

I will see a glimmer of light once we get past that point.

Sometimes we have to wait for what we want.  Other times we have to pursue and never give up for what we want.  Many times we have to struggle for it.  On the rare times it comes naturally.  In the end no matter how you do it or how you get it done, it will be worth it.

Don't listen to those who say you are too slow in decluttering or criticise what you are or are not throwing out.  Where does it say it has to be fast and by what authority.  If you are on your own you can only go at your pace.  And most who put you down tend to talk only and never even consider offering to help either.

Just do it for yourself and know that there is no 'right or wrong' way.  Just 'the' way. 

Hope this makes sense as I have listened to others in the past, which has got me into the deep depths of sadness and lacking in self-confidence, which only made matters worse not better.  You find yourself in a funk that is hard to get out and then those that have put you down in the first place just see it as you procrastinating even more rather than them having affected your state of emotion and or mind set. 

So don't listen.  Be kind to thy self first and foremost.  In the end it is you who has to live with the outcome.

Also, had an email from my secret weapon, Kim the hoarder's helper.  I had told her about the plans with Aija way back when and was following up on where I was currently at.  Will let her know that after the move into the bedroom I will be in need of a day of her services to get the lounge finalised for Christmas and maybe squeeze in one more before then to get the Kitchen all ship shape.  That second part is the plan, but I may need to be flexible on that part of the plan. 

I am so glad I found her as she really is a huge help.  She gets alot done and heads you in a direction that you may not have otherwise thought of.  That and extremely helpful and encouraging.

Will add more soon as this has now gotten longer than I had at first intended.

If nothing else just remember one thing.  BE KIND TO YOURSELF.  It is afterall 'just stuff'.  You come first not the stuff. 

As for me, I now take it one day at a time.  Slowly, slowly, I am getting there.

Hope this helps in some way some one or more who may be having a hard time going through the process of coming to terms with stuff.  Whether you inherited it or gathered it together yourself just take your time, make a plan and disect it into smaller compartments and then take a deep breath and just start.  Dive right in.  Even if it is just one item at a time with months inbetween.  Trust me. 

You will feel alot better and as time goes by that one item becomes two and the months begin to be weeks and so forth, hence, why I don't focus on the 'time' factor and rather on the 'out' factor. 

And one more thing.  If I can make it possible to take the shame away, that sting of judgement that one can feel from others when one goes through this unique experience then I will be content.

The power after all else is with you in the end.  All you have to do is just find that power within.

Cheers all,
Anita - finally finding that power and taking it back.