Thursday, July 1, 2010

My Great Idea.

Here's the before, mmkay?

So, Your husband had to leave town on a fancy-pants business trip, and you have an idea. Or, the beginnings of one. An idea-fetus, if you will. You decide you will PAINT something, while he is gone, to surprise him! How could that go wrong?!?! Because, this is what happens when you watch too much Design Star and spend time with Jenny. You get these IDEAS, like painting your hallway in a wacky way, and you go to the paint store, and 30 minutes later you walk out with nothing you came in for, and three test jugs of peacock blue paint. For the tallest wall in your house. And you think, well, I won't paint THAT wall yet. But then you get home, and you open them up and they are PRETTY and the brush goes in and as SOON AS IT TOUCHES THE WALL you realize you have made a major tactical error.Because now you have to finish.

For, you see, you have put a random splotch of blue on the largest, most visible wall in your house. And if husband comes home, and all you have is three sad swatch-splotches, he will NOT think, "Oh, my wife is so creative and surprising", he will think, "When is THIS going to get finished?!?!", and it is a problem. And another problem is, this wall is TALL. Like, two stories. Like, ladder must be in extension mode (not shown, much more precarious,) before you can get anywhere NEAR the ceiling to cut in. And have I mentioned that when you chose which paint you wanted from your samples, it was the only one that required primer, and so you must do TWO steps? And that, also, that specific paint doesn't come in the Classic99 you would normally buy, but only in the $30 kind (And $30 is with a 25% discount.) At this point, your little brain is spinning, and you want to give up, because you are tired, because, did I mention that just two days ago you were selling stuff at a craft show in 90 degree weather and you assembled and took down your own tent? Because you are a two year old? And cannot accept help or admit that you cannot do something by yourself? BECAUSE YOU ARE RIDICULOUS?!!And then, when you finish (the next night, at 9pm, after working on it for the best art of two days,) you realize, suddenly, HE MIGHT HATE IT. Because you have never even MENTIONED peacock blue to him. Ever. And while you are typically on the same page, design-wise, there is also a chance that this will be too much for the man. Just too much. And the thought of painting over your beautiful wall makes you want to hurl, because it was HARD TO PAINT. Like, very hard. Painfully hard. Occasionally crying-hard. And, it has flaws, but they DO NOT MATTER, because it was SO FRICKEN HARD that anyone who might point out those flaws will be promptly asked to leave. AND WHAT IF HE HATES IT?!?But he does not! He LOVES it! And was SUPERIMPRESSED by your super-human painting skillz! Joy! Triumph! And now you have a beautiful new wall. It doesn't matter if you ate nothing but Froot Loops with Marshmallows for two days and smelled like a rotting beast for most of the second.It was worth it, my friend. It was worth it.(And if you wondered what Rufus does when I am taking pictures of Baxter, here it is.

42 comments:

Vanessa said...

Wow! That looks fantastic. Lucky for you he liked it. I know from experience that painting a stair well is a tactical nightmare. Great work!!

Paulette said...

What a great and funny story, and that wall is quite possibly the most beautiful paint color I have ever seen! Love it, but more importantly, both of you do!

teaginny said...

It looks amazing!

Angie said...

Your home looks lovely and the blue is absolutely FANTASTIC. I am trying to figure out what I should paint that same color! Oh, and I am leaving our stairway brown for a LONG time because I will not get on a tall ladder. So, I am also very impressed.

Rebekah Joy Plett said...

If your husband doesn't like it you can divorce him and be my hetero-common-law-partner and I will live with you. I don't know what the rest of your house looks like but I LOVE THIS. And I LOVE PEACOCK BLUE. And I could help you dissemble your craft fair tents. And because she couldn't continue living without me, Rachel would have to move in, too. Also, you have Fruitloops with MARSHMELLOWS in them, in the States?!?! I've already started packing my bags.

beth said...

OHHH - you crack me up - that is like every other project I try to tackle and the conversation going on in my head - with myself!@! Glad it worked out!

raych said...

I want to make out with that wall. And Baxter looks stunning against it (don't think he doesn't know it).

Anonymous said...

Oh Lauren, how I love you. I love it! Bright, happy colors are the best.

Kristin said...

Rufus and I are soulmates, I think.

Also! Love the wall! Love the color! We have a dark purple dining room, and it's the best.

rachel said...

Good for you; what a relief that your peacock blue went down so well. And those gorgeous animals always make a good story even better.....

elle said...

when I was younger... This is SO great. I do believe I'm changing the direction of my day. To something daring. Age is only a number and as everyone keeps telling me... it is ONLY paint. But I don't bounce anymore so maybe not my 2 story stair well. I'm off to grab the day and my paint brush instead of the hoe or the rotary cutter. Thanks!

Joanna said...

I've TOTALLY done that. My most recent venture was the porch (http://homemadepineapplemarshmallows.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/wordless-wednesday-porch-edition/) but my husband knew about that one. Not too long ago though, I painted my master bath an uberchic gray...and it was supposed to be a "surprise." Surprise cut short when he came home early to find me exasperated and covered in paint! Your wall looks beautiful-you should be proud!!

Unknown said...

I always laugh out loud to myself when I read your blog. Too funny!

Truth and Beauty said...

the middle photo of baxter is CLASSIC!! I adore the turquoise - fabulous job. Just like everything you do, babe. I'm going to miss you. Hugs! Lysa

Unknown said...

Love it!! Sometimes you just have to go for it and let those creative juices flow and not just with fabric. It looks great.

kclily said...

I always look forward to your tales. You are a brave woman to try that color and it looks great! I definitely feel your painting pain. I do all the painting in my home...ugh...I hate those high ceilings..dreadful!

Mandy said...

Oh, my. That is so funny and wonderful. I'm so glad he likes it.

Becky said...

I love the color. So will you bring your mad skillz to my house? I have some big tall high walls. I see you really like ladders. You did a great job.

Unknown said...

I never realized how much I love peacock blue before! Looks brilliant. :)

amy h said...

It's beautiful! I love that color. I keep mentioning it to my husband, but he's not on board. So I just keep mentioning it.

Jojo's circus said...

LAUGH.....LAUGH did I laugh, because I've just done a you! Yep been there done that up a stair well.....2 storeys.......husband away.........kids feed chocolate biscuits for 2 days..except I chose to paint STRIPES........
thanks so much for the giggle BUT the wall looks fantastic.

Malinda said...

What a great color. Can't wait to see more of what you do to the house.
I painted while hubs was gone one time and the color was just wretched. Electric yellow with a tinge of bile. In the kitchen. Luckily, I had all week to get rid of it!

Park Street said...

haha, you're cute. And the blue looks great.

Corinnea said...

Gorgeous!

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Of course he loved it . It's gorgeous !!

Nicole Gendy said...

I really love the paint colour and your light fixture! Nice job.

I'm going to be painting this summer too - 2 bedrooms - but hubby doesn't care what colours!

Bonnie said...

I loved this post! It was great!! You are so brave to choose a color so bold. I LOVE the color. It is beautiful. I am so glad your hubby loved it. That is wonderful. All of your hard work paid off. You go girl!

Ashley said...

What a great story! I felt like I was there. I do spur of the moment things like that and worry my bum bum off if it'll be accepted. I felt like your twin. I'm sure i'll end up doing this one day.

The color is beautiful. I'm glad you both like it. Enjoy! =)

melissa said...

Holy cow that is a fantastic color of paint! I am in love with it. I really enjoy that it's just that one wall. It's so bold and yet not overwhelming. It looks amazing!

lej619 said...

WOW!!! I wasn't sure I like it at first but then you finished it and wow it is great!! whis I had a was I could do like that!
way to go!!! oh and i like the yellow door also

Chara Michele said...

I love it! It is inspiring me to try a bright color in our entryway :)

betsy and emily said...

I didn' t know that there is a version of froot loops with marshmallows. You just blew my mind. And your wall rocks too

Shannon said...

I just found your blog and laughed out loud! Therefore, you have been added to my bookmark bar. Love your wall by the way!

Anonymous said...

I am loving the color. Wish I had more rooms in my house so I could try this one out.

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love that you are so daring with your color choices!! I've just moved into a small 1950's home in IN and I draped the house in color! Blue for the library, yellow for the kitchen and purple for my daughters room...etc. Now seeing your front door also...I'm inspired again!

Lakshmi said...

You are really funny ! Wonderful story ...turned a tedious task into such a fun story !

Topsy said...

That is such a beautiful color! And I love your yellow door too! I'm impressed by your mad skills and daring choices.

Jillian Frances said...

Looks awesome! I saw the photo of your stairway and did a double take because it looks nearly exactly the same as the one in my old house, which was a 1922 foursquare. I wish I had a photo of the same view to compare. Love everything you're doing with your home.

Cynthia Schelzig said...

I just found your blog and this is the FIRST post of your blog I have ever read and I was HOWLING with laughter...you are soooo funny...and the blue wall ,,,well it looks out of this world gorgeous and I am NOT a blue person and still love it and to top it all off. I HAVE A CAT NAMED BAXTER.....so well...HELLO....I think I will visit more often....
What are you going to paint the next time dear hubby leaves town...please let us all know so we can tune in for the fun!!
Cynthia Schelzig

jen said...

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL WALL!!!!

Brenda said...

loved the post...tooo funny!
Brenda Kempf

KateKwiltz said...

I think the cat thinks you painted it for him. You know, just as a backdrop, because he looks absolutely fantastic in front of it!
Great job!