The Little Closet that Could!
Let's Get Ready to Renovate!!
We started with the best pantry/closet in the house. First, let me remind you how it looked before we started.
I can hear it now, "Lucy...You have some esssplaining to do!"
The first task that Joe did was to reconstruct a lot of the shelving and firm up the construction so that everything in the pantry closet would be sturdy. We then used Spackle to fill in all the cracks and white primer to prepare the walls and shelving for a beautiful injection of color.
Beyond construction, let's start by sharing our Painting Prep Techniques.
ONE THING I know for Sure… (as Oprah would say)!! - An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is especially true in painting. Prep Work for mastery of painting is a necessary step to help guarantee success and create long lasting and beautiful results.
1. Wash the walls with TSP.**(Trisodium Phosphate - read manufacturers mixing ratios & note the strong cautions for protecting eyes and skin with gloves and safety eye protection glasses/ TSP is also not recommended for bathroom cleaning due to effects with metal, etc. ) For mildew killing, household bleach is added to the TSP/water mixture. The recommended ratio is 1 part household bleach to 4 parts water.
2. Repair cracks and holes with surfacing compound. We used Valspar, an affordable and efficient resource that is flexible and resilient for these types of jobs. When painting older walls, use a stain-blocking primer such as KILZ which can help hide stains. If the house is new construction and has never been painted before, it is a good idea to use wallboard sealer before painting.
You have to love this option of "Pink" which lets you know when it is dry and ready to sand and paint.
We use Kilz Primer. We believe it is the best product for the primer process.
3. Utopia Joe Stroke Style Prep: Joe likes to vary the brush strokes of primer and then sand for an even and charming distressed effect after the primer has dried and before the color paint is applied. http://www.utopiajoe.com/
4. Choosing the Best Color for Your Walls: Remember that you as a person are the most prominent part of your space. It is a good rule to make sure that the colors you choose compliment your personal skin tones. If you feel that yellow washes you out and makes you look sick, you can bet that being in a room with the same unflattering tones will have that same effect on an even more magnified level. Choose colors that flatter your skin tones. When I was involved with filming a soap opera behind the scenes, I remember that deep warm tones of red or teal on the walls with one particular actress were absolutely vital for making her look vibrant and healthy.
5. Prep with Hardware: Unscrew all outlet covers and light switch plate covers before painting. Plastic saran wrap is a good cover for door knobs and other hardware that is difficult to remove but needs to be painted around. When dealing with painting around light fixtures, please remember that light bulbs get really hot and that cover-ups can cause a fire, so my suggestion is to use a steady hand and do the detail work with a small brush and a slow steady pace without any materials near a light source.
Huge difference already!
Now we apply the color. We chose "Zen Garden" Peaceful and yet exhilarating all at the same time. This green is pretty bright as it turns out. I am calling it my "Peaceful Pow!"
Joe went with a pretty lilac color on the floor with a spin of Utopia Joe Trademark splatter for unexpected whimsy (don't tell him I used the word "whimsy"... that is soooo NOT allowed in the shop!)
If you want to learn what to say in a shop visit http://www.utopiajoe.com/
Cleanup Tip for Your Brushes: Make a cleaning formula using ½ cup of fabric softener per gallon of water in a bucket.
Utilitarian Utopia Magic! It is time to show the little closet that could off to friends and family! Joe's son Logan and his best friend Avery come over to check out the Midtown digs.
Designer's Insider secret. Shhhh... Don't tell, but we have just developed a new trend with lawn furniture. Bring the Great Outdoors in for a chic new look with your office decor. This look features a renegade cabinet door as a laptop for your keyboard and patio recliner as a modern chaise lounge. You can say you saw it here first. And possibly even last...
Logan shows off his new permanent body art with tattoo.
I will interpret. It reads, "May Your Organs Fail Before Your Dreams Fail You"
Logan sits for a spell near the sacred wall of shrines in the temporary bedroom. All of the paint fumes and religious icons are making us really hungry.
No problem, we can walk to McNellie's Pub. That is what is so fantastic about living in Midtown. There are so many great restaurants here and they are all within walking distance.
Visit McNellie's Public House Website to learn more about their upcoming events. I heard that every Wednesday they have an amazing $3 Hamburger special from 5-9 http://www.mcnelliesokc.com/site/sections/2
The next big event is October 23rd - The Big Halloween Parade that starts at their location. See website for more details.
Thank you for joining us for the Little Closet that Could!
The Sharpest Tool in Your Shed,
Tiffany
We started with the best pantry/closet in the house. First, let me remind you how it looked before we started.
Beyond construction, let's start by sharing our Painting Prep Techniques.
ONE THING I know for Sure… (as Oprah would say)!! - An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is especially true in painting. Prep Work for mastery of painting is a necessary step to help guarantee success and create long lasting and beautiful results.
1. Wash the walls with TSP.**(Trisodium Phosphate - read manufacturers mixing ratios & note the strong cautions for protecting eyes and skin with gloves and safety eye protection glasses/ TSP is also not recommended for bathroom cleaning due to effects with metal, etc. ) For mildew killing, household bleach is added to the TSP/water mixture. The recommended ratio is 1 part household bleach to 4 parts water.
2. Repair cracks and holes with surfacing compound. We used Valspar, an affordable and efficient resource that is flexible and resilient for these types of jobs. When painting older walls, use a stain-blocking primer such as KILZ which can help hide stains. If the house is new construction and has never been painted before, it is a good idea to use wallboard sealer before painting.
You have to love this option of "Pink" which lets you know when it is dry and ready to sand and paint.
We use Kilz Primer. We believe it is the best product for the primer process.3. Utopia Joe Stroke Style Prep: Joe likes to vary the brush strokes of primer and then sand for an even and charming distressed effect after the primer has dried and before the color paint is applied. http://www.utopiajoe.com/
4. Choosing the Best Color for Your Walls: Remember that you as a person are the most prominent part of your space. It is a good rule to make sure that the colors you choose compliment your personal skin tones. If you feel that yellow washes you out and makes you look sick, you can bet that being in a room with the same unflattering tones will have that same effect on an even more magnified level. Choose colors that flatter your skin tones. When I was involved with filming a soap opera behind the scenes, I remember that deep warm tones of red or teal on the walls with one particular actress were absolutely vital for making her look vibrant and healthy.
5. Prep with Hardware: Unscrew all outlet covers and light switch plate covers before painting. Plastic saran wrap is a good cover for door knobs and other hardware that is difficult to remove but needs to be painted around. When dealing with painting around light fixtures, please remember that light bulbs get really hot and that cover-ups can cause a fire, so my suggestion is to use a steady hand and do the detail work with a small brush and a slow steady pace without any materials near a light source.
6. Recommended Brushes: If you are using latex paint then it is best to use synthetic bristles. If you are using oil-base paint, choose a brush with natural bristles. For faux finishes, there are a wide variety of different styles to match each desired finish.
Huge difference already!
If you want to learn what to say in a shop visit http://www.utopiajoe.com/
Cleanup Tip for Your Brushes: Make a cleaning formula using ½ cup of fabric softener per gallon of water in a bucket.
No problem, we can walk to McNellie's Pub. That is what is so fantastic about living in Midtown. There are so many great restaurants here and they are all within walking distance.
The next big event is October 23rd - The Big Halloween Parade that starts at their location. See website for more details.
Thank you for joining us for the Little Closet that Could!
The Sharpest Tool in Your Shed,
Tiffany
a pretty little painting by Tiffany Bohrer
www.TipsyArtist.com
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