It's Prime Time!

Yes, I've started in on all the painting projects. Sloooowly.

Keep in mind that this is partially by design. Roll your eyes if you must, but it is pretty true.

For example, let's take the bookcase that Doug made for our bedroom a few months ago. It is pretty redundant, now, since there are lots and lots of bookcases in there from my IKEA trip. However, it is still very serviceable.

 

So one day in January, I bring out the primer and rollers. Jack, who was grounded that day, decided to pitch in and help. Honestly, it was great - he did all the rolling, and all I had to do was watch and catch a drip or two on my paintbrush. He did a great job, don't you think?

 



Then we have just let it sit. This is why: bookcases that are not cured properly between each coat will stick to whatever you put on there for the rest of its life. True story. And it takes anywhere from a week to a month to cure completely.

Then there are the cubby doors. Here is where we last left them:

Basically an eyesore. But functional. So I finally got around to getting them down (the biggest headache, although it wasn't really that big of a deal) and priming them. This time, Sophia tried to help by laying on them while I was patching and sanding. She was a little dusty, but thought it was great fun.

And finally (at least for now), the half wall and the wall behind it. This is the first thing you see when you enter my house, after passing the broken glass in the front door. I know, it's quite a funhouse these days (as opposed to a fun house, get it?).

This also took a lot of patching and priming. The board on top of the half wall is just plywood, so it's pretty imperfect. And I definitely don't go for that in my front room. So I went so far as to prime it twice.

 

I was impressed by the effect. Not as good as an actual paint job, but I have read that some professional painters use as many as nine (9!) coats of primer so that the paint is really bonded to its surface. It's supposed to make the finished paint job look so much better.

 

When I showed Doug my handiwork, though, he informed me that this board will have a good veneer on it so that it will be perfect. Argh. Wasting time is not something I like to do. He assured me it wasn't in vain, however...the veneer isn't going on "anytime soon."

 

I'm guessing it's in his five-year-plan.