Start Me Up! Raleigh DIY Diva- January 30, 2006

OK- my peeps tell me that it would be wise and more conducive to the creation of a fan club to start at the beginning of our six month journey with This Old House. Actually, it's not that old-- just 25 years. Our first house was built in 1948, but the building style and features (marble fireplace, hardwood floors throughout, crystal door knobs) were much easier to bring into the present than this 1981 creation! WOW! Who made it legal to do this stuff? And to use these colors?? The PO (remember them? The Previous Owners) chose their interior and exterior color scheme in 1981, and honestly-- NEVER CHANGED IT. Though they did repaint the house, it was ALWAYS the exact same colors as before. When they got ready to sell it (to us, no doubt), they slapped a coat of snow white paint on all the trim and molding, and boy did it peel!! Anyhow, this photo is of the house in 1996- way before we owned it-- and IT STILL LOOKS THE SAME FROM THE OUTSIDE. That will soon change! Oh-- we live on a street that a certain celebrity grew up on. As soon as I get 100 comments, I will reveal who that is! (I may have to reveal it just so the name will attract some hits!) HA!

Prime Before You Paint! Raleigh DIY Diva- January 30, 2006

Another day spent in the DIY Realm! Today, it was sanding previously "patched" 25 year old baseboards, chair railing, and door framing. Lack of care and updating by the previous (original) owners left the moldings in our house beaten and battered. Last night, I patched the holes with wood filler and scraped all peeling paint and drip marks from the previous owner's (hereafter known as PO) poor attempt to "freshen" things up. Surface blemishes were filled with my favorite, DAP-- the stuff that goes on pink and dries white. This was helpful in the elimination of the scratch and chew marks from some dog that PO had over the years. Sanding was done wearing a HEPA mask-- it's tempting to skip this safety feature, but don't. ALWAYS PRIME BEFORE YOU PAINT. Under no circumstances should you ever paint a door, window, or other trim without priming. Even if you think the paint will stick, it won't. Plus, your work is a reflection of your own values-- do don't do anything half assed! The result? Gorgeous, smooth, and fresh: our baseboards, door trim, and chair railing. Next: Tackle the crown molding and scrape the ceiling. Wow. Later!

Foul Tempered Old Lady: Raleigh DIY Diva- January 30, 2006

Hello out there! What happens when you and your husband buy a foul-tempered old lady of a house in North Raleigh, NC? Well, you hone in on DIY skills you never knew you had! (And you spend a helluvalot of $$ on random tools. Cool, though, 'cause it makes your friends who need to borrow them think you're awesome!) This and following "blogs" (who came up with that name, anyway??) will be my attempt to support and encourage folks- especially women- to tackle home improvement! It can be done, and it is very rewarding!