Pumpkin Pancakes and House Renovation Projects

2:19 PM

Pumpkin Pancakes at IHOP
Watercolor and Ink
Pineapple Journal
5.5 x 5.5 Inches 
Have you ever notice that a home improvement project will take over and totally eclipse your otherwise sane life?

If you answered no, consider yourself lucky. If you answered yes, you commiseration is greatly appreciated. We are reluctant do-it-yourselfer's. We're too picky about what we want and how we want it done to hire out the job so we always end up doing it ourselves.

Chris and I have decided it was finally time to tackle the long hallway in our house. The hallway that has 7 doors and slightly resembles a hotel hallway. (What was the builder thinking?!)

So there is our first challenge...we decided we would try to "disguise" two of the doors by making them less obvious.

Our second challenge came from the fact that the people who built this house did not prime any of the walls. They used the old, thick wallpaper paste and glued wallpaper up—over drywall. Oh yay. Can you say damage?

The prior owner removed the wallpaper as it was very (VERY) dated. In the process of removing the paper all the walls were left with an "interesting" texture. If it had been a texture we could have worked with, great, but no. Instead, it looked like exactly what it was—damaged. In fairness, I have to say I don't think anybody could have removed the paper and the glue without damaging the walls.

Our third and final (?) challenge is that this hallway is in the center of our home and you don't go anywhere without accessing the hallway. That meant there was no way to shut it off and work on it. If we tried to drywall, even with wet sanding, we'd be cleaning dust long after the cows had come home and the chickens had roosted. (In case you've forgotten, I am NOT nor will I EVER be a good housekeeper—there are too many other things I would RATHER be doing!)

So, we've looked at textured paint products, heavy wallpaper, paneling, drywall textures, and something else I'm not recalling to the point of ad nauseum. Without success. Nothing looked promising as the walls are so messed up. We were quite perplexed.

Enter the power of the internet.

I was surfing the web in search of paint grade v-groove planks that were not 5/8 of an inch thick. Oh yeah, there's another challenge...the hallway's not particularly wide and it's dark. We don't want to make it narrower nor darker.

After getting frustrated with all the big DIY box store web sites, I started thinking we were going to have to "settle" for a product that neither of us were crazy about but would do the job. To blow out a little of the frustration I switched over to looking at pictures on Google.

I stumbled across a very talented woman who had used paint-grade v-groove planks to redo her dining room ceiling! Oh boy! Not only did she show a photo of the product, she also mentioned where she purchased it. A year ago.

To make a long story a little shorter, I skipped over to Lowe's yesterday to find out if they still carried the product as their web site was not answering my questions. Sure enough they had it, but it was on clearance. Yay! Oh, wait, oh no...

Luckily, I had managed to find one of those super nice, super knowledgable, super helpful sales people. He helped me source the additional planks we would need at another store nearby.

After picking up our spiffy new planks, we came home and reevaluated our project—and right before our eyes—it expanded! Poof! Just like that.

Dang.

We were going to need even more boards. So bright and (too) early this morning, we hiked over to IHOP for breakfast which just happens to be conveniently located right across the street from Lowe's.

Since I love just about anything pumpkin, I was delighted to see Pumpkin Pancakes on the menu! As for the wonky sketch of them above...I can only say that I had not yet had any coffee when I started drawing...BUT...it rather captures the mood of the morning with all its wonkiness! And the pancakes were delicious.

After returning to Lowe's, we bumped into Mr. Super Helpful Sales Guy and he once again helped us to locate the additional boards we need. Yay!

All this and we haven't even started the project. And yes, it has taken over our lives. I rather dread the coming month.

Have no doubts...you will be hearing more about the ongoing saga, and maybe, just maybe I'll be able to wrangle some more of those pumpkin pancakes out of the deal!

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18 Creative Thought(s)

  1. So this project deserves some before and after photos... good luck!

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    1. I don't know, Oma, this isn't going to be a "pretty project!" We'll see. Thanks for the good luck wishes...we'll need them!

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  2. Those pancakes look and sound good, but I'm not sure they're worth what you have to go through to get them! Good luck!!

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    1. Thanks, Cheryl. They're not worth it, but it was a nice "treat" in a situation that won't have many.

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  3. I agree, we need to see before and after. It should be unlawful to apply wallpaper to virgin drywall. It is a mess. I know someone that hung 1/4" drywall over her messed up walls. Anything you do is a task for sure. Best of luck.

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    1. I totally agree, Lisa! It's criminal! The board we're using is basically a 1/4" board, but it's already primed and it doesn't have to be sanded or mudded! Yay!

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  4. yes, photos! We had our bathrooms remodeled (all of them at the same time) by a contractor who said 6 weeks. Took 6 months. It is very lovely and we enjoy it but we did a bit of the work ourselves to get things moving that were part of the contract. We have plans for a kitchen remodel but no way will we do it with a contractor.

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    1. Oh, my, word, Justine, I think I would have lost my mind! We will eventually have to do bathrooms as well as the kitchen, too. The joy will continue!

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  5. Well, you've at least found a product that should do the trick! Hopefully the next step will not be quite as difficult. And pumpkin pancakes make up for a lot. Yum. I can't wait to hear more about this hallway...

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    1. You'll probably be sick of it, KJ! Or at least sick of hearing me talk (whine, complain, fuss, fume) about it!

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  6. Big project but I know it will be worth all the effort. Pancakes look yummy too. Please do take some pictures. Best of luck with everything.

    p.s. I LOVE my new travel palette.

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    1. Thanks, Jane! I'm hoping that it will go quicker and easier than expected!

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  7. Oh Yes I know EXACTLY what you are going thru. We had a bathroom messed up when we moved in here. they had painted water based over oil and then wallpapered with UGLY DARK wallpaper. It made a mess coming off with holes in the walls. We ended up texturing the walls. Not my favorite thing to do but its a small space. Nice to find someone helpful in those box stores .. it makes life much easier. Look forward to the before and afters. Pancakes look good.. yumm. :)

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    1. We considered textured paint for a long while, but then decided the board would be a better way to go.

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  8. Oh yes, how I understand.......I will enjoy hearing about your progress and ultimate victory!

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  9. I can totally commiserate. Not fun.
    Love those pancakes.

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  10. I hope you never need to redo your kitchen. Oh the pain of that one.

    I also think we need pictures.

    Pretty work on those pancakes.

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    1. Yes, Deborah, the kitchen is on the list too. Not even thinking about it at the moment!

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