Friday, November 18, 2011

The project from you know where

Up until today I have done ok with the kitchen cabinet project.  I’ve been working steadily on it since October 24th.  Sure, there have been moments when I couldn’t face sanding one more door, but overall it’s been ok.  Yesterday was amazing—I started working at 4AM and then worked until 11:30, left for some appointments, had a 1 hour nap, and worked from 5 until I left for book club at 8.  I was energized and happy the whole day.

I had emptied the cabinets on Wednesday and sanded them all.

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The first thing I did Thursday in the wee hours of the morning was to wipe everything down and cover all of the not-to-be-painted surfaces. 

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I also covered the doorways because I knew when I sanded that primer it was going to make a mess.  When I sanded the primer on the doors and drawers I did it out on the driveway, and most of the time there was a nice breeze to blow all of that chalky powder away. 

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Then I primed.  Everything.  Twice.  (But not Russ—he is prime already.  And primed.)

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After my dentist appointment I came back and started sanding the primer.  I sanded, and sanded, and sanded.  I sanded till my sweats were stiff with powder, until the air was thick it, until my hands were caked white and I had ruined the velcro on the sander.  My face was even white.  It was everywhere.

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That was where I left things last night when I hopped in the shower before I left for book club.   I assumed that today I would have just an incredible of a work day as yesterday.  I even arranged for a friend to take my kids so that I could do the spraying without worrying about them.

Instead, I spent HOURS wiping every surface (and the insides of all of the cabinets to get the primer dust up.  HOURS. 

Then I spent more HOURS putting paper/plastic inside of the cabinets so that when I spray it won’t all go in the cabinets.  I know that timewise it would have been so much smarter to just brush the cabinet and drawer fronts, but I am in love with the finish this sprayer makes—hard & glossy, no brush or roller marks show at all.  It will be worth it in the end, I know.  But boy was this a pain.  First I tried the paper—it seemed like that would work the best.  It was a total pain to work with.  Then I tried the thick plastic.  Even worse, since the tape wouldn’t stick well to it.  Then I finally tried the thin plastic, which I had been so sure would be way too unwieldy.  It worked great!  At that point I finally decided that I would survive masking the remaining cabinets—up until that point I had been wondering.

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If you want to know what Russ spent his day doing, look up at the tops of the cabinets.  Yep, he installed crown molding on all of the cabinets (except for around the fridge because we’re still working on that cabinet) and it was no small task.  Especially over the stove where the cabinet sticks out more than the ones on either side.  I think the molding really dresses up the cabinets & am excited to see how that adds in the end.

I had hoped & planned to get the spraying done tonight but it just didn’t happen.  Everything took such a long time and then I hadn’t planned on the nail holes in the molding having to be filled with spackle & dry.  I finally decided that I’ll just have to spray tomorrow morning & evening, and call it good.  In between I’m going with Clark & Amy to see Breaking Dawn…it should be a good break!

Please tell me that today was the worst day and that it will get better from here!?!?!

5 comments:

  1. Good luck! Our cabinets here have crown molding and I do think it's a really classy look. I'm excited to hear what you think of Breaking Dawn!

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  2. Is Breaking Dawn out already? Darn it- I promised ERic that come h#ll or highwater, we would go to Hobby Lobby tonight to buy paint for little ERic's model car...maybe if a babysitter mysteriously appears....

    I have always wondered why painting cabinets is such a big ordeal....now I know. Good luck!

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  3. Ugh I feel drained just from reading your post. I think I will go take a nap now. When it is all done you can stand back and be amazed that you did it all on your own!What an accomplishment!

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  4. That crown molding looks great! The amount of work you are describing makes me want to cry. Perhaps it is just my twin filled lack of sleep talking.
    No, really, the amount of work makes me want to cry. I know they will be awesome and beautiful, and you will be so proud of yourself. I can't wait to see the finished product!

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  5. If I wasn't already praying for you to be able to stay in your home, I'm for SURE praying for it now. After all this time, effort, and tears, you deserve nothing less than many years of enjoying the finished product!!!

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