The weekend painting was a huge success. I keep walking into Xander’s room to remind myself of the immense difference a little paint can make. It’s time to make plans for the rest of Beigeland.
Here’s a reminder of what it looked like before:
And here’s what it looks like now:
It’s not the exact shade from Xander’s old room in Bellingham, but it’s awfully close. (Tip: always keep a paint chip from rooms you love; then you can color match it exactly in your next place. I have samples from our old living room, but none of the other spaces.)
We got to work first thing Saturday. Michael did all of the (tedious) prep work, and then I put on the first coat. It always takes the longest, but that meant I also got to indulge in one of my favorite things: painting all by myself while listening to episodes of “This American Life.”
Back when I re-did every room of the West Connecticut Street house, in 2003, I had to time my painting around NPR’s schedule if I wanted to work and listen to Ira Glass at the same time. Now I can load my iPod with podcasts and listen to my heart’s content. It took three programs to finish the first coat.
Xander got to help Michael with the second layer.
He also got to help pull up the tape.
Then Clare “helped” Michael put together Xander’s new bed. I’ve had my eye on this bed at IKEA for ages, and some friends just happened to be getting rid of their son’s. Score.
This room is meant to be Xander’s in-between bedroom: in between a toddler room and a big kid room. I wanted it to be fun. Just fun. Hence the hidey-hole under the bed:
I’d like one for myself now, too.
Reminds me of the elevated beds in the dorms that you could achieve by getting the bunk bed separators to jack it up. Remember that?
Totally. I only ever had a single in the dorms, so never had the option. Would have been awesome for making a bit more space in that tiny room!