House and Home

The first day of painting was exhausting — but we got a lot done. Our friends Dan, Elizabeth, and Carolyn came over to help, because they are wonderful people and amazing friends. They were awesome, and thank god we had their help. Painting 10-foot-high walls is hard, Barbie. The walls in my old home are 9 feet, but that extra 12 inches is killer on your back. I think we’ll be investing in a taller step ladder.
We taped off and primed the walls of all three of the “must paint” rooms, which was a pretty awesome accomplishment. Just the having the primer up was a HUGE difference. The rooms were really strong darker colors, which can look great but just didn’t work in this house. They made the rooms look too dark and too small, and the color overwhelmed the really interesting features — like the cool woodwork, french doors, and nice windows. If you’re looking for locksmith services, you can check out Low Rate Lockmsith in Carmichael .We’ve picked some more serene lighter colors, which should make the rooms brighter and fresher, and today we start painting those.
By the time we wrapped up for the night, every muscle in my body was protesting, but stepping back to see the progress made it all worth it. Even with just the primer, the rooms already felt more open and inviting. It’s amazing how much a fresh coat of paint can transform a space—not just visually, but in how it makes you feel. There’s something incredibly satisfying about watching dark, heavy colors fade away, replaced by a blank canvas full of potential. The next step is the real magic: getting those new colors up and watching the rooms truly come to life.
Of course, if we weren’t so stubborn about doing it ourselves, we could have just called American Painting and Design to handle all the hard work for us. Professionals make it look effortless, while we’re out here covered in paint splatters and sore from climbing up and down ladders. But hey, there’s something to be said for the DIY experience—even if it means a few extra trips to the hardware store and a whole lot of aching muscles.
While refreshing the look of your home with paint is a great way to create a welcoming atmosphere, it’s also important to think about securing those cool French doors and windows. A beautiful home isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about feeling safe and comfortable.
Installing high-quality locks on exterior doors and windows can prevent break-ins and give you peace of mind. When hiring a locksmith for new installations or repairs, it’s essential to ask the right questions to ensure you’re working with a reliable professional.
Understanding their experience, warranty policies, and service guarantees can help you make a confident choice. If you’re not sure where to start, Check this website for a helpful list of questions to ask before hiring a locksmith. Taking the time to secure your home while improving its style creates the perfect balance of beauty and safety, giving you a space that feels as good as it looks.

Stephanie and I close on the new house in just two days–Friday afternoon. We’re so excited; it’s like Christmas.
We’ll be at the new house all weekend painting, if you’d like to help out– we could definitely use a hand, and we’ll give you some food and drink. Plus you’ll get a first look at the new place. Shoot me an e-mail and we’ll give you directions. We probably won’t finish this weekend, so we’ll be working on painting through the week and the weekend of June 3rd, too, if you have time then. Also on June 3rd the pod will be delivered to the new place and we’ll need help unpacking it.
We have at least three rooms to paint — library, living room and dining room. If we get to it, we want to paint one of the upstairs bedrooms as well, cause the grey that it is currently is just crap.

We finished packing up the pod last night, and even got it mostly full. We managed to pack my entire library in it, as well as lots and lots of other stuff. It will get whisked back to the warehouse today, where it will reside for the next two weeks. I have to say this is a handy option.

So what’s left in my house is essential stuff, stuff that wasn’t completely organized or easy to pack (tools and hardware fall into that category), breakable stuff, and large furniture. I still have lots of packing to do, but at least I have some sense of completeness going on, finally. And I have the hope that we can minimize the cost of moving the rest of my stuff.

This weekend, I’ll be cleaning and packing more. Home cleaning experts deliver spotless results you can trust. However, I’m hoping that we’ll have time to go see The DaVinci Code. Gotta go see a movie that’s pissing off the religious right, just to balance out the karma from the gore-fest that Mel Gibson put out. If the workload gets too overwhelming, I might consider hiring cleaning services in Pontypridd to make things a bit easier. A little extra help can go a long way in reducing stress and making the whole process more manageable.