Hallway Makeover and Coming Out of Denial
Have you ever woken up one day and felt like you just had to do something immediately? As in right that very second of that very day… because you just can’t stand it another minute.
No more excuses, or denials, or procrastinating.
No more wanting to live with something that you’ve been putting off doing for ages.
This happens to me every once in a while.
And I have to admit that if it didn’t I would probably never get the big jobs done.
When it happens I’ve learned from experience that it’s best for me to just drop everything else I’m working on and just go with it.
It usually means I’m going to get whatever it is done in a bit of a whirlwind, and that always makes me feel great afterwards.
Very tired, but very great.
An upstairs hallway makeover has been on my long mental to do list for a few years, and to be quite honest after it went on the list I went in complete denial about it.
That’s what I do when something needs to get done and I don’t have the time to do it. Because I work full-time I have to pick and choose what projects to do with the time that I have.
So a healthy dose of denial about what isn’t getting done seems to help me to live a stress free life.
But that can’t go on forever… for years sometimes… but not forever.
The hallway was last painted about 6 years ago when I was going through a jewel tone phase. That phase left me a while back and now it also needed to leave the hallway… like yesterday.
Please forgive the terrible pics. The light in the hallway isn’t very good.
I know what you’re thinking.
What ever possessed me to paint a dark room a dark colour?
I think I’ll plead temporary insanity on that one. lol.
So that day I mixed up my own paint, using the leftover tiffany blue from my guest room makeover and some re-store white, and went to work.
Since I knew I was leaving the pictures where they were I painted around the hangers when I did the cutting in of the baseboards etc.
You can never judge what the finished colour will look like until you’re completely done, especially if you’re painting over a dark colour.
At the half done one coat stage I wasn’t crazy about it… at all, but I told myself I had to wait until it was finished.
And two coats were definitely needed.
The hallway has a 9 1/2 foot ceiling and we don’t have a ladder that fits over the stair opening so I could paint in the top perimeter of the walls.
So I made a paint brush contraption thingy using a broom handle and duct tape.
It worked quite well, but you have to go along very patiently and slowly to avoid any mess ups.
I may or may not have had one or two.
That’s why I chose to paint the ceiling after the walls. I know that’s against the so-called rules, but I am a rebel after all.
Actually I always paint ceilings after the walls because I usually mix what’s left of the wall colour with white paint for my ceiling colour. That’s what I did in this case.
This saves me money and 90% of the time I buy my paint at the re-store (and white paint for mixing my own colours 100% of the time), which saves me even more money.
I save a little of the wall colour in a plastic container in case any touch ups might be needed down the road, and then I mix my ceiling colour.
So once the walls and ceiling were painted I gave all the trim, doors, stair railing and spindles a fresh coat of white paint. I wanted to get all the painting out of the way before removing the carpeting.
I’ve done so much painting over the years so I’ve learned what process works best for me, and I always paint the trim in the room last. I never do any taping because for me it’s just a waste of time and money, but that’s just me.
I don’t believe there’s any one right way to do most things. In my mind the right way is always the way that works best for you.
So the 18 year old carpet’s time had come. YAY!!! I can’t even express how much I was looking forward to it being gone… gone… gone… and now it finally is.
John and I removed it the same way as when we removed the same carpeting during the master bedroom makeover.
The master bedroom floor has been waiting for this day because I couldn’t do the treatment I had planned for that floor until I figured out what I was doing with the hallway floor. One thing seems to always be connected to another.
The master is through the door on the left in this photo.
Check out how different the paint colour looks at different times of the day. It’s crazy, but I like that the colour changes. It keeps it interesting.
Ooops! Looks like I left a pair of pants from the laundry hanging on the guest room door. Oh well… this is real life after all.
The makeover of the floor to ceiling cupboard that I built about ten years ago needs to be finished.
But first up will be the original hardwood floor… and yes I am painting it with no apprehension whatsoever. I’ll show more pics of the floor when I get that done.
I love painted floors and they’re in keeping with the age of our house, which was built in 1890.
This hallway makeover took three days and it came out of the darkness into the light and the bright, and now that it’s done I am in love… even with the bare desperately-in-need-of-some paint floor.
Here’s a before shot.
And the after. Monkey is enjoying it.
Another before.
And the after
Every time I walk up the stairs from the red living room (which is also on the makeover list), I feel like I’m walking up into a beautiful blue sky… and it makes me happy.
It’s amazing what a can of paint can do for your state of mind… at least mine anyway.
Now that I’m out of my denial about the hallway I can go into denial about my red living room. lol.
So what decorating issue have you been in denial about? Or is it just me?
XOX
Tuula it looks fabulous. That is such a pretty colour, I also live painted wooden floors I wish my place wasn’t on a slab (although with my recent termite issues I’m glad that it is)
Thanks Mel! I’m liking the lighter look right now. Concrete floors are all the rage in loft living here. I see them all the time on House Hunters. I think they polish them or something. Hope you got the termite issue under control. I’ve heard they can be nasty.
Absolutely beautiful, Tuula. LOVE the color and the fact that you mixed it yourself is amazing. Such a transformative process you’ve been through. Great job!
Thanks Diana! Mixing my own colours is fun and saves me money. I’m always amazed at what a change in colour can do for a room, and for me too.
Wow! I wish that I could paint without having to tape everything off. I’m still never happy with my finished product. Your talent is amazing 🙂
Thanks MD! I have to say that I’ve just never wanted to spend the time taping, especially since I’ve always lived in old house and nothing is ever straight or square. It just became easier not to.
Wow, girl! What a difference! And you are going to paint the floors! I find that interesting! What color? I gotta hand it to you, a red living room and a very blue hall way….bold! I did one wall in my craft room with 3 shades of purple…..the old sponge method. Except I used crumpled plastic grocery bags. I love it, but it’s far from perfect! More friends from England visiting. Been showing off your blog to them….you know, like we are old friends!! Dona
Hey Dona! What do you mean like we are ‘old’ friends! lol. I may be 54, but I don’t really consider myself to be old… older maybe, definitely not old. I’ve never been one to worry about rules so if I feel like red and blue I just do it. The floors are definitely getting painted, but the colour is going to have to be a surprise. 🙂 Your craft room sounds amazing! Perfection is highly over rated, and not what I ever strive for. Thanks for spending some time on my blog while you have company. Enjoy, my young friend. lol.
I’m older than you are, and I’m definitely not old!! 🙂 But I meant “old” like we’ve known each other for a long time, ya know?
I know Dona. 🙂 We are both young spirits at heart.
Wow Tuula it looks beautiful. So much brighter and bigger feel. Great job.
Kris
Thanks Kris! I’m looking on the bright side of life these days, and I want my decor to reflect that. Paint is such an easy decor fix.
I love both the before and after pics. I could live with either colour. I also love that huge cupboard in the hallway. I could easily fill that with my coats and jackets.
Thanks Cherie! Blue is one of my favourite colours in any shade. The cupboard holds our Christmas decorations and a few other things. It was a wasted corner so I thought it was a great place for some storage. It’s makeover will be coming soon.
OH, My Word! What a beautiful transformation, Tuula. I am the same type of painter – all in a compressed time period after waiting for years.
Thanks Donna! I hope to get inspired to do the living room walls soon… before Christmas. I want to put my pink and green tree in there and the red walls just won’t do. It’s time for a change.
Wowza! What a makeover! It is amazing what a can of paint can do! I am totally in denial about my upstairs hallway. It has hideous wallpaper on it and I am afraid to take it off because I know that I know there are cracks everywhere! It is plaster and lathe….my house is 1870. My dining room is the same. I keep telling myself I like the old fashioned wallpaper but I am DYING to paint it!! Can’t wait to see your floors painted. Will they be white? I need to remove the 60 year old rugs in my hallway and do the same! Hey, maybe I can paint the front hall floors too…..another room I am completely in denial about! Please do share your method and products so I can copycat you!!
Oh my AnnMarie! I’m glad to have some denial company. I will definitely be posting about the floor makeover and no it won’t be white… but I can’t tell you the colour. It’s between a couple options, and I still have to decide myself. I’ve been there with the wallpaper. This whole house was full of it when we moved in 18 years ago. I removed it from everywhere. Our walls are plaster and lathe as well and thankfully it all came down very nicely, and the walls are in good shape. I plan to start the floor this weekend, but it could take two weekend to completely finish it because of drying times. I will share the details for sure.
Wow you were one busy bee. That turned out gorgeous. I love the darker color too but I have to say it looks so much bigger and brighter with the softer color. I love your cut in method!! Your rock with your ideas girl.
Thanks so much Karen! I’m really loving brighter colours these days. I’m trying to lighten things up before winter comes.
I absolutely love the new color – totally transforms the space. The darker blue was nice, but this new color is definitely lighter & brighter, and I am sure it makes you feel lighter & brighter too : ) Can’t wait to see what you have planned for the floors. I am in the same process of lightening up my home – but dreading painting over the hunter green and the brick red – ugh, what was I thinking 15 yrs ago???!!! All will be painted in shades of soft grays and whites – whenever I can muster up the energy and willpower to do it!
Thanks Liz! I am lightening and brightening the whole house too. I did the whole hunter green and red thing back in the late 90s so I can relate. I just primed the floors and next is the final treatment. We’ll see how it goes. Wish me luck. I think I might need it. Grays and whites sound lovely… go for it. You can do it. You’ll feel so much better after it’s done.
What a transformation Tuula! Looks a lot like the color I painted my sewing room. I too paint my trim last. I agree, what ever works for you is the right way! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Absolutely stunning, my friend! love the softness of the new colors – it calming 🙂 Thanks for sharing your sweetness with Roses of Inspiration. Hugs to you!