Kitchen Project - Home Repair - sell prep

My kitchen has needed a new paint job for a while. Nothing like selling my house to push me to do it.

There were a few places to repair like the ceiling where the paint had peeled off due to a freeze. And around the radiators where I removed the quarter round which pulls plaster off with it.

The paint was a gallon of very dark green exterior that I bought when I thought I was going with a tri-color job on the house. I toned down the green with left over white paint. I think it came out pretty good. Totally by accident the color matches the dark green tiles in the backsplash.

Plaster repair in progress

Ceiling and spackling patched

Custom mix

Custom paint color

Matching tile

Home improvement project - sun room

I planned on painting the sun room quite a while ago based on the date of the paint I bought for the project. It is a dreaded painting project because it is almost all window and door trim. I also had to repair a bit of water damage on the ceiling.

Also, the base-board radiators are a problem because one had to be removed which exposes the pipe and another section also has an exposed pipe without a cover leaving the plaster wall exposed. It probably isn't possible to repair the plaster behind the radiators. So my solution was to try to make them go away.

Corner before

Corner in progress

Corner complete

Front Door Project Completed

Before (L) Stripped (C) Completed (R)

I knew this project would be challenging. I just didn't know how challenging. I am super happy with the end result.

The photo to the left shows the door in its before state. Full of dirt and grime and very dark with seriously messed up lacquer.

The middle shows the door completely stripped. I believe it is oak.

The right pane is the stained, polyurethaned and cleaned finished door.

The stained, polyurethaned and cleaned door.

Here's the completed door in a photo on its own.

I decided on a mahogany stain. I wanted it somewhat red but not as dark as the trim inside the house. I used a rag to do two passes with the stain.

The inside side of the door is definitely a lot darker but it is in good condition and don't feel I need to tackle that.

There are three coats of outdoor polyurethane. It was rainy during the sealing steps so it tool longer to get all three coats on.

Detail of the window panes

The biggest challenge were the 12 panes of glass. There is an inset or gap around each pane of glass. I still don't know how this is achieved. Cleaning up that gap took the most effort and time. I ended up using skewers (basically toothpicks), a toothbrush and several passes to get it out. It isn't perfect but it is definitely much better.

A similar process had to occur when applying the stain and then the polyurethane. I didn't want an accumulation of product or I would be back where it all started.

The windows got a few scratches from my cleanup and I cracked one with the heat gun. I hope to polish them out...the crack is gonna have to be what it is.

Painting project

The living room painting project is complete. The project actually started at the top of the stairs and worked down.

Cleaned and patched all the cracks first then all the cutting in! There is not a wall wthout a window or a door or both. There is very little rolling to do.

Used Sherwin-Williams Duration paint which goes on smoothly and with virtually no smell. I have always had good results with Sherwin-Williams paint and this project was another happy result.

The color is called inviting ivory which ironically is pretty much what the previous paint faded to. It was tricky to see where I hac painted especially when working in the evening.

The staircase was very difficult but it looks great and the awful plaster cracks are gone...for now. I know they'll come back. The house is over 100 years old.

The economic effect of home improvement also took over. After buying paint and a few supplies, I decided to change out the switch plates and a new rug.