Sunday, June 21, 2009

SSSHHHHHH.... It's A Surprise!

This is a post about Keri's new room




Really, I promise...but first, a pic of my adorable nephew Taylor. His mother is a painter. A professional one. Let me take a minute to tell you about his mother. She was in an emotionally abusive relationship for eight years.


That's hard to believe looking at her happy face. Eight years and two kids later, she got out. Around the same time, she started her own business. She had been painting for years as an hourly painter. She bravely decided to venture out on her own.....with two small children to care for. She secured a place to live for her and her two boys. Long story short, she made it. She began to heal from this terrible relationship, and moved on. Hence, adorable little Taylor

Her painting business is successful, and she is very good at it. Me being the thoughtful and considerate sister that I am, I am giving her a free plug. Which I should do anyway, seeing as how she painted Keri's new room for free

Now, on to Keri's room. We live in a three bedroom house. When we moved in, one of the bedrooms was already occupied. (Don't ask, it's a complicated story) Anyway, I had to share a room with Keri. It was only supposed to be temporary. Well, temporary turned in to four years. Four years of me having to share bedroom space with a total slob.

As Keri gets ready to embark on her journey through middle school, I feel that continuing to share a room with me would be, well emotionally debilitating to her. I had been trying to figure out what to do for quite a while.

Then suddenly a brilliant idea just popped right into my head. OK I got the idea from someone else We have an empty room. Why not turn it into a bedroom. The biggest problem with the room is that it has no doors. So, how do I close off a room with two entryways, with one of the entry ways being a double entryway?

Duh!!! Put up some doors. While this is not the best solution, it was economical, and it will get Keri out of my hair. I will have an adult bedroom again. Oh the joy, the happiness. With a solution in place, we commenced to the remodel project.




Taylor was very helpful as you can see. Did I mention that Keri is out of state visiting relatives? Did I mention that she has NO IDEA what we are up to while she is gone? I love a surprise! Incidentally, I did not steal my idea from HW's blog. Really, I promise. Although I confess I do believe we communicate telepathically as I mentioned to her.





See this hideous chandelier with only one bulb burning? Well, I have purchased a new fixture, I just haven't figured out who I am going to con into installing it for me.



Taylor continued to offer his support throughout the entire painting project. Here he is showing me the proper way to wear a bowl on your head. Very important details you know.


Here he is showing me how to avoid getting paint on the floor by holding the paint brush AWAY from the floor. Very educational.

Keri's bedspread pattern

Do you know how hard it is to hold up a pillow sham and take the picture yourself? Well, it's not easy.
I chose the blue and white shears because I didn't want to go overboard with the green and lavender.
This is where we are as of today. The room has been painted, two of the doors have been installed, the bed frame is up, and the curtain is hung. We still have to finish the bed, get a dresser, finish the trim paint, and install the final door. So far, this project has cost me about $265.00. Pretty good huh?

6 comments:

Merrie said...

You rock! That is awesome and she is going to LOVE it. Great mom award for you today. :) And nice job on doing it the frugal way, too.

Mental P Mama said...

She is going to LOVE this! You are the best. And I am impressed with that bowl-on-the-head technique;)

HW said...

A couple of things:

1)NOW you tell me your sister paints. Uh huh. Now that I let two teenage boys loose in my daughter's room...(slapping forehead in anguish) If your sister does my bedroom would she charge mileage?

2)That room is beyond gorgeous. I love the color scheme. SOOO PRETTY.

3)Of course you didn't steal my idea. It's not like I invented redecorating.

I did however, invent Post-its....

Can't wait to see the final pictures.

P.S. If your sister comes to Illinois to paint for me, she MUST bring baby Taylor - oh and you too.

Farrell said...

way to go!! I CANNOT wait to read about keri's reaction!

Astarte said...

I'm so glad that she got out. Good for her!!!!

The room looks great! My favorite room that I've ever had was one that had double glass french doors closing it off from the living room.

Roxanne said...

Ha Ha at HW and her Non to Romy and Michelle. . .

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the room and so will she!!! Can't wait to see her reaction to the finished product.