Ways to finish a room

I used to look to model homes for inspiration.  There are so many of them in Charlotte.  There were even an abundance of home shows where incredibly high end homes would be open for viewing.  Those were my very favorite.  This girl loves to dream.  And what I noticed is that there are a number of ways to truly finish a room.

While I hate painting, I believe it is still far superior to wallpaper...which is a nightmare to remove and hang...as I understand.  I have only been on the wrong side of the removal process.  And because of that...no wallpaper...ever.

What I have discovered, between the model homes and my own personal experiences, is that trimming out a room makes a huge difference.  Yes, the answer is in the trim choice and installation.

1. In the bathroom.  We decided upon a bull nose trim to top off the edge of the chair rail height tile.  It truly separates and finishes off the room.  It costs a little more to go that route, but in the end it's so worth it.
2. In the great room.  We went with a double layer chair rail.  This would be entirely too much for some rooms, but since we have a vaulted ceiling in the room that peaks at about fifteen feet we can get away with it.  In other homes, the single layer chair rail would be enough.
3. Using baseboard.  The baseboard in the home is being entirely replaced with wider base.  There are a variety of styles available that will better match other style homes, like Craftsman, Colonial, and contemporary.
4. Crown molding.  Nothing finishes a ceiling of a room better than the use of crown molding around the top of the room.  It gives such a finished look.  And depending upon the size of the room, the crown can vary, too.  In the bedrooms, we use a triple layer crown.  It gives a very distinctive look and makes an otherwise boring room have a lot of character.
5. Picture molding.  Again, this molding works really well in certain rooms.  Try it in the study, or the great room, or especially in the formal living room.  You will love the end result.

These projects aren't for the amateur remodeler.  Investing in trim is expensive.  You should definitely hire a trim carpenter to get the desired results and save money in the long run.  Bad cuts cost way too much money.

5 things I hate about painting...

In all honesty, there are probably way more than five things I hate about painting.  But for the sake of this post, I will limit myself to 5.  It's a nice number...enough to get my point across, but not so many as to bore you. 

We are currently working on our umpteenth painting project.  Yes, umpteenth.  It's an industry term.  To date, we have painted the kids' rooms, the hall bathroom, the master bedroom has an accent wall and will soon have an entire remodel.  We painted the garage, ceiling and all, as we turned it into a man cave/neighborhood hang out.  We painted the living room...twice.  That is the project we are currently working on.  Third time is the charm.  And that red had to go.

So, I think I had had adequate experience to talk about all the things I truly hate about painting.

1. Picking the color.  It never looks the same on the walls as it does on the paint key.  Oh, and as the lighting changes throughout the day, my feeling toward the color changes.  I love this new yellow in the natural light and with no light, but shine the light on it...not a fan.  It looks less peach tea and more goldenrod.  Yuck.
2. Picking the paint.  We tend to go with the paints with the built in primer.  That is he way forward.  Even though they cost a bit more, the coverage is so much better that it saves money and time in the long run.
3. Preparing the walls.  I highly recommend taking the time to clean all the cobwebs off the walls and dust them down thoroughly.  And then there are areas that are bound to need mudding and repair.  Don't forget to remove all the outlet and switch covers.  It is time consuming, but when it is done right, the walls and room will look spectacular.
4. Taping.  There is something to be said for taking the time to tape off the door frames and window casings.  It means that you don't have to be as careful when painting.  The area will also look crisper.  Just don't pull off the tape until the paint is completely dry.
5. Edging.  It is so important because the roller can't get up against the wall near corners, door and window frames, baseboards, and the ceiling.  There is a balance between creating a thick even coat and loading the wall with so much paint that it drips.  Drips will ruin a wall.  Edging requires a steady hand.  And patience.  And time.  It takes way longer to edge a room than it does to paint it.  

I'm a project girl.  I'm just dying for the room to be finished.  And once it is...pictures!