Ich habe do wenig Bock mich an den Rechner zu setzen, Haushaltsbuch and Shit zu machen, dass ich stattdessen schon

- einen Malm verschönert
- ein Regal repariert
- Stöcke im Garten
- und 4 Maschinen Wäsche gewaschen und 2 gefaltet habe.

Ist das jetzt gut, oder schlecht? 🤣

#VikiProkrastiniert #VikiBaut #Diy #Ikea #upcyclen #Malm

The Bad & the GOOD with Billy Bookcase Part II

Falling in love often means heartbreak. Billy was no different. Just like having to kiss a few frogs to find Prince Charming (Where he at already? Dayum!), I had to return the corner bookshelf for my library to look its best. When I tell you, I was devastated…

That corner piece was my favorite part of the Ikea bookcases’ aesthetic. Without consulting my brother Cliff, I figured he’d be able to build a mini-corner bookcase to utilize the corner space.

He later confirmed he could. That’s why I mention this in Part 2, the GOOD. Pause and read Part 1 the BAD, if you haven’t already.

Two-toned Billy looks beautiful. Gorgeous. Amazing. Don’t you dare call him dark and light blue. He’s Midnight Navy and Lapis. It was a process selecting two blue hues that look good together. You don’t realize how many shades there are until you’re perusing a fan deck.

It’s like when you go to the nail salon and have to select a color from dozens of painted fake nails. If you’re indecisive like me, you spend a ridiculous amount of time debating between two colors that are barely discernible from each other. The nail clipping and scrubbing parts of my pedicure are almost done and I’m still deciding.

Well, imagine making that decision for your favorite room in your new home. I recruited Fredo (real name Karl), the paint store attendant, to help me choose when I spent lunch break (or two or three) at the store. I could take swatches home, but the in-store fan deck has more selections. Plus, I liked having an immediate second opinion. He’d shown me some of his home projects, so I trusted his taste.

The first time I walked into the store, Fredo was testing different shades and finishes of green for a home stenciling project. I knew we’d get along. Green is my favorite color and future color of my bedroom…when I decide on a shade(s).

The original plan was to color-drench the library in blue: walls, ceiling, and bookcases. But I liked the idea of having a different color backsplash. Also, I was having trouble deciding whether to go dark or light.

I hate gloss finish, but it makes sense for the shelves. They’ll be easier to dust. I tolerate glossy walls in the bathroom. I make the walls sweat when I shower. Dried water against matte doesn’t look good. I guess I’ll have to go with a semi-gloss for the kitchen cabinets, also for cleaning purposes.

But I digress. Back to the library.

Midnight Navy in eggshell for the walls, Midnight Navy in satin for the bookcase exterior and shelves, eggshell Lapis for the backsplash and ceiling.

Little did I know that painters use something called a shield when they don’t use tape. Picture a spatula 10x its regular size. Cliff also had a smaller one. It’s held against the part you want to protect, and causes laser-straight edges. It’s as sexy as a man with a fresh shape-up.

I thought I wanted beautiful, crisp lines of demarcation, but when I saw how pretty the Midnight Navy splatter looked against the white backsplash, I imagined it would look even prettier against the Lapis.

It looked funky and artsy.

 I had my brother stop spray-painting the exterior to do the backsplash first.

He wasn’t too pleased with that decision. It meant having to pour out the paint and wash the one working spray gun. I said I’d do it while he took a break.

He taught me how when I had to clean the other two spray guns that, unfortunately, were nonfunctioning from not being cleaned by prior users.

I’m proud to know how to disassemble, assemble, clean, fill, empty, and adjust a spray gun’s nozzle. Basically, how to use a spray gun, but you need to see all that entails. My tub looked a mess after cleaning, but nothing baking soda couldn’t handle.

While we’re at it, I also now know how to use a power sander, and charge portable power tool batteries. Have I used my power drills yet? No. Cliff did. He also came with his own. I learned the hack of placing tape in a V-shape on the paint gallon to make a spout for easier pouring. Of course, I’ve painted before. Brush and roller. My brother was impressed with my 10+-year-old roller extender. It has soft padding. How you like me now?

Not funny, funny: Cliff walked into the bathroom and admonished me for cleaning the spraygun while it was still plugged. I don’t know what I was thinking. Of course, he teased me in a brotherly way that even I had to laugh.

We took turns pointing out ways to work smarter, not harder, which led to more teasing and laughter. Sometimes in my attempt to help, I slowed him down.

“My name is Cliff. I have muscles. I can move things by myself.” I teased.

I asked a lot of questions, which seemed to annoy him perhaps because he thought I was doubting him. On the other hand, and more often, questions allowed him to nerd out, sharing his knowledge and passion. While his wide eyes glistened with excitement, mine s glazed over, even though I was happy to see him happy.

“Cliff, I don’t speak German.” He’d laugh and get the picture. I had to say the same to Karl at the paint store.

In Part 1, you learned about some of the delays that ate into our time, like having to make a trip to Lowe’s (or was it Home Depot?). I kicked my brother out Saturday afternoon so he could drive back to Boston to rest before his double shift the next day.

I could handle anything left undone, which was mostly touching up lighter spots, moving the bookcases into place once fully dry (I broke a sweat), and cleaning up. My apartment was a mess of painter’s tape, protective floor covering, disposable gloves, yellow microfiber towels, tools, and other do-dads he brought, anticipating other projects. Wallpapering the bathroom will have to be another trip.

Though some ideas were inspired by social media, I wanted and do have a unique library that reflects my taste. I bought a rug months ago, but think I’ll shop for another. I have decorative pieces like photos, bootleg art pieces I’ll print and frame myself, and plants I want to add. There are no windows or outlets, so I have grow lights and portable, rechargeable power packs in my Amazon save-for-later cart.

It was fun having my brother around, not only to work on home stuff, but having company. I called him to grab high things rather than having to search for one of three step stools. I enjoyed cooking traditional Haitian meals for him. I think he’s a fool for not taking advantage of living in close proximity to our aunts and uncle, but I understand he works a lot. (No, he’s not a bachelor living off fast food and delivery, but his girlfriend isn’t Haitian.) I felt validated when he asked for seconds, especially one afternoon when he asked for leftovers from the day before.

There were plenty of silly moments. We’re grown, but we’re siblings. Teasing is a love language. He clowned me for seeing my buttcrack just as I teased him for seeing his buttcrack. We barely watched TV before he started snoring.

I mentioned my gratitude in Part I, but it bears repeating. I’m grateful my brother spent his off days (again) to work on home stuff. The first trip months back was to set up my gallery wall. I have cement walls, so it was feat. This time he set up my library. It’s been a shared dream/goal for a few decades. I always planned to be a homeowner. He always planned to do the renovations. I pay him with three warm meals per day, icy hot back massage, and cold water. I’m a room temperature girlie.

A small part of me had doubts about the library’s outcome. Not only because of the setbacks, but sometimes the mental picture doesn’t match reality. How many times has that happened with a planned outfit? It would’ve been easier had I stuck to white. All-white room and white bookcases, but that’s boring (to me). Kudos to you if you like it.

My last apartment had zero white walls, except the closets. Not this time.

Billy and the library being blue is intentional. Our late brother loved blue. He hated to read. I painted my library blue because that’s the type of sister I am. Keeping that same sibling energy.

I didn’t tell Cliff until after the project was done and he was leaving. He laughed. Both my boys have ties to my favorite room, the first room (semi)completed in my new home.

(Most of) my book babies are free! There’s still some unpacking to do. I have bookcases in the living room.

I am never getting out of #Seattle (and this #scp3008)...

#ikea #scp

Jag fattar att man behöver 19h för att välja köksmatta.

Att gå genom #IKEA tar sin stund. Särskilt om man "bara" ska köpa "nått man behöver".
#Sverige #Statsministern #Inredningsdesign

PSA: Si vous avez des bacs à recyclage #SORTERA de chez #IKEA dont les couvercles ont fini par casser: en ce moment, si vous demandez au service clientèle dans un magasin, ils peuvent vous vendre les couvercles seuls (les anciens, blancs) pour CHF 5 la pièce.

De plus, malgré l’étiquetage et les numéros de produit différents, il n’y a aucune différence entre les couvercles pour les bacs 37L et 60L. Le numéro est différent pour des raisons obscures de gestion de stock.

TIPS FÜR Belgien! 🇧🇪
Ich weiss ich rede hier eigentlich nur mit wänden 😅
Vielleicht siehts ja jemand und kann mir was spezielles empfehlen. Bin gleich in der nähe von Arlon unterwegs. Kennt ihr spots die schön sind? Egal ob #Fotografie oder #Shopping oder #Kultur.

…Ja #Ikea ist daneben. Da versuche ich „nur“ ein paar schüsseln zum kochen zu kaufen. Berichte euch mehr ob die hölle mich wieder gefasst hat.