Hi, all

[Guest guest]

Haven't been online much--WAAAAAY behind in my e-mails again (like about 600

behind! LOL). First with DJ in the hospital, then school starting, plus we're

remodeling our kitchen (it looks GREAT!!!!), which is turning into a LOT of

work. We have an older house (built in 1938), and while it's mostly in good

shape, all the previous owners (for the last 12 years before we bought it 6

years ago, it was a rental property)painted all the beautiful woodwork, and

instead of preparing the wood before the next painting (sanding, scraping,

etc.), they would just paint OVER the chipped parts, and some layers were latex

over enamel and vice versa, so then they REALLY chipped. We had thought about

just buying all new trim, etc. But the wood is really nice wood, and they are

very odd shaped windows (54 " long by 45-1/2 " high), so we just decided to go for

it and see how it goes to just refinish them. At first we were going to strip

them and refinish them to wood, but I convinced my husband that it would be wood

overkill (wood floor, wood cabinets), and that with the GORGEOUS color on the

walls, cream would be PERFECT on all the trim, and would really accent

everything. So we stripped off the worst of the paint using Citristrip (I

definitely recommend that product--NO bad odor, smells like Orange Clean, and is

supposed to be a " safe " stripper), then sealed off the kitchen and sanded it

down well. Now I am using wood filler for any gouges in the wood today, and I

still have to head down to the basement and sand down the bottom windows and

prepare them for the paint--we decided not to use stripper on them, as it might

loosen up the glue in the joints. I also have to use the paintable latex caulk

to seal up the windows again. Then it's time to paint!!!

The colors we used on the walls we got at Lowe's--Eddie Bauer Moss on the

ceiling, and Chive on the walls, with Seed on the trim. They are GREAT colors

(you can see them by going to www.lowes.com and going to paint and Signature

Colors, and trying out the online version of the Virtual Painter--which I have

and it is a GREAT program!!!!). We pulled out all the baseboard trim and crown

molding, and are replacing that. The original baseboard was JUST over 8 " high,

so that was a challenge! As the walls are plaster, we had to find high enough

baseboards to cover up the unfinished plaster under there. We ended up getting

1 " by 6 " pine, then topping it with 2-1/2 " molding that is engraved with leaves

and vines. After priming it and painting it with the Seed, then I will paint

each leaf with the Chive, and trace the veins and vines with a deep coordinating

green. I am going to stencil matching leaves on the window frame and door frame

also. I can't WAIT to see it finished!!

Ok--now that I've talked your ear off--you can see I'm very proud and excited

about this project--I will let you all go--I'll try to catch up on a few

e-mails!

Later!

Love,

S., mom to Cody (7, pwcf, nissen for severe reflux, malnutrition,

ADHD), DJ (9, nocf, asthma, ADD), and a (14, nocf, ADHD)