Lessons I've Learned From Ben Moore
You may know him better as Benjamin Moore, but we've familiarized ourselves enough this week for me to call him Ben. Yes, for reasons I can no longer remember, I decided to paint the interior of my home this week on my own.
A petite woman, a ladder, paint, and all the painting accessories a girl could ask for. I've been fielding professional painters for months, but ultimately decided it was easier (????) and more reasonable to do it myself. In truth, this had more to do with a woman's right to change her mind (and her paint color) repeatedly than the actual labor or costs involved. But I've learned my lesson. And one (yes one) poorly painted room later I've come up with a list of lessons I've learned this week.
- It always pays to trust a professional. I trust them with my taxes, my investments, my nails, my hair and my health... why not my walls as well?
- Just because one CAN does not mean one should.
- Perfectionists are not perfect. (audible gasp) Yes. This was a tough pill for me to swallow. Repeatedly.
- "One coat" paint isn't.
- A $59 gallon can of paint doesn't necessarily apply any easier (or better) than a $20 gallon. (Just trust me on this one.)
- Mastery of difficult yoga poses does, in fact, benefit you in ways never imagined.
- No matter how steady your hand is, tape is always necessary.
- Pay closer attention the next time your closest friends ask you if you're certain you know what you're getting yourself into. Sometimes they know you better than you care to admit.
- No matter how cute may be, pets really have no business being around during projects such as this.
- Resist the urge to look more closely at your work in bright daylight.
- It's perfectly fine to discover that there is something you're not good at. It's even better to admit it and move on.
The good news is, the painter we hire will still have an entire house to paint - including the one I just completed. I have newfound respect for those men and women in overalls who make it all seem so easy. And the more I think about it. I really ought to refer to him as Mr. Moore. I've certainly gained a new respect for him as well.
I don't understand. What's wrong with the room you painted?
(/clueless husband)
Posted by: Jim Durbin | August 24, 2007 at 11:42 AM
Jim, Jim, Jim... this is why I don't seek your opinion on shoes either. ;)
(shakes head...)
Posted by: franki durbin | August 24, 2007 at 11:46 AM
this post made me laugh! it's all so true.
best, aiisa
Posted by: miss dbl a in l.a. | August 24, 2007 at 12:04 PM
Fortunately, it did the same for me. I needed to release some of my hostility towards the room and the results.
I may need to add a 12th point... yes honey, there is a difference between Newport Beige and Alexandria beige.
Posted by: franki durbin | August 24, 2007 at 12:41 PM
That is too funny! Well, as we say in the decorative painting business, "It's just paint".
Posted by: Melanie | August 25, 2007 at 01:49 PM
That is the beauty of the situation... in the end, I can always paint right over it. Thank goodness! ;)
Posted by: franki durbin | August 26, 2007 at 07:19 AM
May I make a suggestion. Don't paint any part of your place red. Sure, it is bold, classy in some instances, and of course the right shade is tantalizing, however there is a sense of aggression that goes along with red and you just can't truly cultivate a marriage in a "red rum". I think we all know what this means backwards.....
Posted by: kristen | August 26, 2007 at 03:22 PM
funny I'm still under the delusion that I can do it better...but half way through any painting project I wonder what the hell I was thinking.
I never have had good success with tape it always bleeds through!
red rooms are a nightmare and require a itty bitty art paint brush and a pinstripers steady hand. Otherwise you sit and stare at all of the little hickups in the paint and want to off yourself.
Posted by: richele | August 27, 2007 at 11:42 AM
Kristen - I'm with you on the red! It's too much. The other challenge (besides application and mod alteration) is that it is very difficult to find the right shade of red. It wavers between blue and orange undertones. But yes, we do know what redrum spells backward! LOL!
Posted by: franki durbin | August 28, 2007 at 07:43 AM
Taping does lend a very false sense of security. All I can say is good luck to you...and be sure to pull out your artists's brushes. They'll be as important to you as your traditional paint supplies!
Posted by: franki durbin | August 28, 2007 at 07:44 AM