My husband headed out of town last Thursday. As I watched his car pull away, it dawned on me. Shoot. I have been so busy working that I forgot to line up a home improvement project. He never knows when he leaves what he'll find when he comes back to our Land Park home except that I will have undertaken something new and different. I do this to spare him the inconvenience. That's because all home improvement projects involve some type of lifestyle compromise, even if it's something as simple as, "Hey, I can't use the back door for a while."
I made an emergency phone call to my painters, Fresh Paint.
The top photo shows my cleared off deck prior to paint, and the bottom is the first coat. I hired professional painters because I don't have the time to do this myself. Christine, above, was one of the painters who did my kitchen. First, she power washed the deck, scraped off peeling paint and power washed the brick landing (which is remaining unpainted). It was looking all fresh and sparkly!
The problem, however, was the wind. Christine completed the first coat Friday morning and planned to come back later in the day to finish up. Except by 2 PM, the winds were blowing so hard that those little helicopter seeds were flying off trees, along with leaves and dust, and landing on my deck. I asked the painter to come back Saturday morning instead and was lucky the painters were able to accommodate that request. Otherwise, this job would not get finished before my husband returns.
How do you like the color? It's the same color that I painted the wood deck and Jacuzzi lattice. I realize some people really like Seattle red in landscaping and yards, but it seems dated to me. (update tomorrow)
Photos: Elizabeth Weintraub
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Broker-Associate at Lyon RE. Selling since 1974, helping buyers & sellers in Sacramento. Land Park resident. Midtown office. Home Buying Columnist for New York Times' About.com. DRE license #00697006
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Elizabeth: You should do a before and after using your first photo, and then the finished product with the new color. Might be easier to judge when the whole thing is painted. As for those helicopters, UGH!!!!!! That sounds like something that would happen to me. Sounds like you have a great painter.
I hear you, Chris Ann, and none of those helicopters are from trees in my yard!! I will show you an "after" photo from the same position after I get everything moved back on the deck today. :)
Can't wait to see it. And the helicopters not being yours make that whole thing even worse. I hate helicopter trees.
Elizabeth
You are the most organized person I know.
Sincerely
Tom Braatz
Elizabeth- I live very near Seattle and I have not heard of Seattle Red? What shade of red is it? I want to see what the deck looks like when completed too.
Best,
Scott
Elizabeth - It's looking great! Good for you for getting so much accomplished! :)
Whenever my husband goes on a long business trip, he worries about what sort of home improvement project I'm going to do while he's gone. Actually, what he worries about is that I'll start something that isn't quite finished yet. . . . I haven't really done that in 15 years, but he's not forgetting the times I painted a room (and should have hired someone to do it) or decided to remove carpeting (same scenario).
Hi Chris Ann: My neighbor has a gigantic maple tree in her front yard, and I'm pretty sure that's the source of those darned helicopters. They fly over the roof tops and land squarely on my deck.
Hi Tom: Oh, lots of people are organized. It's simply a matter of prioritizing.
Hi Scott: Seattle red was the existing color of my deck -- sort of a brick red, darker than most reds.
Hi Debi: Wait till you see tomorrow's photos, heh, heh. I wonder if my husband will even notice when he gets home.
Hi Mary: Does your husband know my husband? LOL. Although I do finish what I start. I used to do all my own projects, but I'm getting too old and don't have enough time anymore. I've built a fireplace, put in skylights, put up a garage, you name it and I've pretty much done it.
Elizabeth, I'm beginning to know your house better than anyone's in California! Lovely!
Elizabeth,
I like the color, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow's update!
Mike in Tucson
Elizabeth, what a woman!! My mother always was rearranging furniture. My dad jokingly commented that when he woke up in the middle of the night, he'd end up in the closet instead of the bathroom...he never knew what to expect. ;-)
I like the color - a lot. I'll wait for the finished product/project. ;-)
Elizabeth, you are project oriented....it's fun when we can make things nicer. I would have never though of blue....can't wait to see the finished results!
Hi Barbara: I can't help it. I've got the home improvement gene, inherited from my great grandmother. I'm sure when she was churning butter, she thought to herself, "Hey, there's got to be a better way!"
Hi Mike: Take a look. I posted the new photos right after this blog. I'm glad you like it.
Hi Teri: Some of us are constantly improving things. That's probably why I gravitate toward new technology. :)
Hi Jeanean: In case you're considering the same color, it's Rustoleum navy blue.
Elizabeth, I love your home improvement projects. They are so very cool and provide a generous amount of eye candy! :-)