Crappy iPhone Picture of Our New Floors

Sure I have a master's degree in photography, but why would I use a real camera to take pictures when I can use my phone? Yeah, I'm a dolt. But I'm also very tired and I'm getting sick, so it is what it is. Don't worry -- better pictures will follow, but I thought that maybe you'd forgive my laziness if I threw you wooden bone. Behold:

Ok, that is a really bad picture -- so bad I can't believe I'm even posting it. Please note that the 2000 cans of paint samples are applying pressure to a board I asked to have ripped out and replaced because I thought it was too dark. And because I am a nightmare. Also note that there are 2000 cans of paint samples. I really have a problem.

That is some wholesome rustic goodness, though. I need some leggy sculptural pieces to provide the proper foil... I think I'm going for a bad girl Euro vibe. Maybe kind of like this:

Or maybe more comfortable.

We'll see how that pans out.

Stairway to Heaven

While my post title may hint at some sublime -- nay, ecstatic -- state of being, I am most assuredly located squarely in the seventh level of hell, a level reserved for poor souls unfortunate enough to buy and sell a home at the same time. Our bank account is hemmorrhaging faster than a hemophiliac at an acupuncturist, and coping with little sleep and loads of msg laden takeout for the last few weeks has left me with a (hopefully impermanent) visage that can only be labeled as cryptkeeper chic.

Let's talk about stairs.

So, fresh paint is up at New House and it's looking jazzy, but the decorating dominoes have begun their inexorable tumble towards complete and total overhaul. Now, please. Ok, not everything can happen now, but the glossy barf oak stairs are particularly offensive, and that must be dealt with. Paint is the solution to every crisis, yes?

This is my dreamboat banister. White balusters, black rails and black... end thingy. I know it has a name? Bueller? Bueller?

Look how much better things can be! I think the mocha stain looks rich with the light floors.

No way am I covering up my fancy new treads with a runner (sorry future baby's knees), but I like everything else about this.

Painting everything black would probably make my life easier, right?

Ok, so my question for you is: how hard is this going to be on a scale of 1 to mf nightmare? Pretty close to the bad side, right? Do I have to sand all that crap?????

Should I paint the balusters white and the rail and end post black? Stain rail and endpost dark? Paint everything charcoal?

Lock myself into a hidey hole and never come out?

[Living Etc, House Beautiful, Centsational Girl, Lonny, Richard Powers]

I'm Excited About... Carpet

Your comments and feedback have been the wind beneath my wings, yet I have repaid you with petulance and neglect. All I can say is that it's 100% nutz up in here, what with trying to sell our dopey old house (actually it's awesome -- I'm just getting tired of this shit), destroying my back, plus choosing paint, wood, and carpet all in the span of a week or two. That's right -- I said the C word. Because when I saw the numbers attached to my fabulous wood floors, I decided to do carpet in the upstairs bedrooms. And let me tell you what: carpet has been the easiest choice of all. Not only that, but I'm kind of in a fever for the flavor.

Sorry to repost this old picture, but hopefully you won't remember my musings on carpet way back when, so this is all fresh and clean like a summer's eve to you. I was considering getting seagrass or sisal installed wall to wall, but the price scared me. Well, that and the texture -- harsh like a bag of stems and seeds.

Anyhoodle, I'm getting something that looks a lot lot lot like sisal -- so much so that it's even called "Sisal" -- but it's carpet. Soft, delicious carpet.

In case you are concerned for my mental health, rest assured that the effects of huffing paint fumes are known to be totally reversible.

At least that's what I'm telling myself.

Headed out to play paint party with Karlyface. Updates tomorrow.

Thanks for your continuing support of Paint Color Waffler's Nonanonymous.