If you’re not in New York, you might not know that it’s been hotter than hell outside, especially over last weekend. If you are in New York and you didn’t know that, you need to see a doctor.
Obviously, this seemed like the opportune moment to take on the disaster that was my bedroom full force. And so, I apologize if this is TMI, but I have something to share: I have become a nudist. Not, like, a full-fledged junk-flopping-around-freely-in-the-wind-nudist, but for several days underwear and deodorant has been my official work uniform. I’ve spent enough time in it that putting on a t-shirt last night felt like I was being strangled by the crew neck and attacked by itchy fibers.
So I’m here to tell you, when it’s too damn hot and you have shit to do, strip off those clothes and get down to business. You’ll be so much happier. This is how I recommend doing most housework now, actually.
My bedroom had undergone some serious aesthetic and, frankly, hygienic lapses over the years, and it really showed. Not unlike my naked body. I will stop making reference to my body now. Picture me as a brain, in a jar. With arms that can paint things.
To quote my mother, the bedroom felt like being in a bowl full of mouthwash. Trust, it looks way better in pictures. Not only was the color bad but the paint job was a damn mess. The walls were in rough shape from various things that had been hung from them over the years and all the trim work was super grimy (even after extensive cleaning/vacuuming after I moved in).
The ceiling wasn’t in horrible shape except it had been patched at some point and repainted just in that spot a totally different color. It also had this 3 inch long piece of black tape directly over the bed. Why? I don’t know. But I do know that it mocked me for a month and a half, every morning, every evening, until I finally climbed on a ladder and tore it down. It may or may not have been the most gratifying part of this whole ordeal.
In what I’m sure is a massive shock to all who have paid any attention to this blog, I opted for white. Now, last time I painted an apartment, I just ripped off Anna at Door Sixteen‘s paint colors, because she has flawless taste and they were beautiful. “Moonlight White” for the walls and “Simply White” for the trim. I loved it, but I wanted to do something different here. I recognize that sounds ridiculous because they are both white paint, after all, but I swear it feels different. In any case, this white paint was chosen through a very long, very anxiety-inducing process that looked kind of like this:
So very stressful. Eventually I chose “White Dove” in matte by Benjamin Moore. It’s like slightly brighter and leaning a bit more into grey than Moonlight, but it’s still very warm on the walls, especially under artificial light. I really love it.
I wasn’t totally sure if I was going to repaint the ceiling (for laziness reasons, mostly), but I went for it and I’m so glad I did. Next to the blue it actually looked white, but the contrast was pretty serious once Benjamin Moore’s off-the-shelf “White” in eggshell was painted. The old ceiling was also painted with semi-gloss, but I like the flatter finish so much more.
The molding was grimy. I made it not-grimy.
The trim is all off-the-shelf Benjamin Moore “Super White” in semi-gloss. I like.
I also hung up the bubble lamp to replace the very old, very gross, very exposed-CFL-chic business that was there originally. Oh, and I know that little Westinghouse ceiling medallion looks bad in pictures, but that’s only because it looks bad it real life. I intend to swap it out at some point, but for now I’m moving on to more pressing issues.
I even put in a new dimming light switch to celebrate. I mention this only because I usually get pretty wary of dealing with electrical stuff and have never changed a light switch before, but it was SO SO EASY, I promise. Just remember to flip the breakers so you don’t kill yourself. Especially if you’re not wearing clothes, because that might not be how you want your dead body discovered by your neighbors or pet.
The old wood venetian blind was pretty fug and so, so dusty, so I hung up one of the IKEA ENJE shades from the old apartment. These blinds have been discontinued and I mourn for them daily. This one is a little too narrow and hanging sort of weird, so that’s also on the list of things to fix. Good enough for now though.
The room is currently doorless and the hall has been turned into a construction supply holding zone. God, that hallway. It makes me weep, it is so ugly and neglected. Soon, hallway, soon.
The bedroom still has a long, long way to go, but I can’t describe how good it feels to have the painting taken care of, since now things can really start to happen (big plans, people, big plans). I’m pretty sure it’s about to get awesome.
