I'm *this* close to being finished with painting the ground floor. A few more tweaks in the living room and vestibule and we'll have a freshly hued look in every corner.  With all this painting going on, I've done a fair bit of research on how to best tackle painting a room, and I'd like to think I've learned a thing or 2 along the way. Because I'm so generous I thought I'd put together my favorite painting tips for a smooth finish. 

STEP 1:

Test paint colors. I recommend trying at least 3 shades BEFORE choosing your favorite hue. 

Pro Tip: Paint a 1' x 1' square in 1-2 locations around the room to see how the paint will look in different light. I love the testers size at Home Depot!

We went with the bolder coral color - Behr's Marquee Paint in Cockleshell

STEP 2:

Fill holes + CRACKS. CAULK ANY SEAMS ALONG WOODWORK, putty HOLES and DIVETS IN WALLs.

Pro Tip: If you're going to rehang something (like curtains) in the same place you don't need to fill in the holes.

STEP 4:

Prep the space to paint. Tape ALONG floor, cover any non-moveable features, and lay DROP CLOTHS.

Pro Tip: Don't worry about taping windows, use your paint scraper to remove any painting mishaps instead!

STEP 6:

Cut in along woodwork. Using an angled brush paint around all windows, doors, and baseboards before starting on the walls.

Shh - I cheated a little...

STEP 3:

Smooth surface. Scrape bumps and sand filled holes.

You can buy drywall sanding blocks for the wall, and I'm addicted to my Warner Steel Paint Scraper from Lowes.

STEP 5:

Ceilings + Woodwork first! For the cleanest finish always start with painting the details before starting on the walls.

Pro Tip: Don't be stingy around woodwork, allow about 1-2" of overlap on the walls so your paint job will be seamless

STEP 7:

ALLOW PAINT TO FULLY DRY BETWEN COATS. SECOND COATS ARE RECOMMENDED. 

Even "one coat guaranteed" brand paints may require a second coat depending on how porous your wall surface is, or how generous you are with your paint-filled roller. I say better safe than sorry.

Do you have any painting tips you'd like to share? Head over to Instagram and share them on the partner gram to this post. - b.

Even before we signed the papers on the house I was dreaming and scheming my way through oodles of Pinterest pins to identify what exactly I wanted each room of Chatham St. House to look like. We don't have much in the way of belongings so almost everything will need to be acquired over time (i.e. we don't have the means to do everything at once). I see this as a fun challenge and one where my imagination can go wild.

Here's what I'm dreaming of for the dining room...

Because this space gets a ton of natural light, I want to keep the walls and woodwork warm and light. It will also create a rosy glow for candlelit dinners and game night. This room will be my gallery of sorts, hosting a wall of artwork we've only begun acquiring. I love art with a lot of color, pattern, and an extra dose of fun, so the rest of the space will stay mostly neutral. I hope to one day fill the walls from floor to ceiling in original works. 

I will one day inherit my Papaw's bar, but until that time we'll need a sideboard to serve double duty as storage and bar space. Trolling Craigslist has become a daily ritual and I'm confident I'll find something eventually. We'll also need a new Dining Room table that will complement my thrifted Chinese bench and the blue ladder back chairs from my Grandparent's house (hint hint - Dad you need to visit soon).

More than anything I want this space to feel flexible - A place to gather, a place to work, a place to linger. It's one of my favorite spaces in the house already so I can only imagine how I'll feel when it's done. I already have the lighting diy well underway. See sources for everything below.

Only time will tell whether my dreams and my reality match up, but for now this feels pretty darn good to me. - b.

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image sources: inspiration - here | lighting - inspiration for a diy here | bamboo roman shades - amazon | dining table - wayfair | candle sticks - anthropologic | paint colors - dimity + setting plaster from farrow & ball | curtains - anthropologie