Homeart: Redoing the House and the Yard


I needed to paint the house, was sick of my wall to wall carpet, and the front yard was a run-away disaster area of weeds, over-grown plants and just a general eye-sore. All of which sounds like lots of work, or else very expensive, to get done. But I came up with an idea: instead of looking at it all as an onerous chore that must be done on schedule, I would regard it as something I liked, to wit an art project, and as the exercise program I needed, but don't have. And the work does not have to be done by any particular time: I can just do it at my own pace. I decided 2 hours of physical labor a day would be a good exercise program, and that, considering the amount of things that need to be done, I could do this everyday for the rest of my life. Even if I actually finish everything, by then it will be time to start over.

 

 

The Hallway

The long hallway renovated, and then considered as a skinny art gallery.

 

The Dining Room

Tiled floor with inset carpet. And, of course, hanging pictures. The Dining Room became the prototype for much that followed.

 

The Living Room

Featuring a wild carpet and decorative tile borders, the Living Room is where I perfected a number of techniques, including roller on a stick for painting my cathedral ceiling, and tile borders to adjust for embedded carpets of varying sizes.

 

The Alcove and the Computer

The alcove has an even wilder carpet with cooler decorative tile borders, plus miniature versions of the living room carpet appear in front of the computer and at the approach to the hallway.

 

Finished Rooms

Areas that are now repainted, refloored, refurbished and redecorated. In short, they're finished. For now, anyway.

 

Collaged Windows

Or the abolition of curtains. I realized I don't really like curtains, I would rather see out and have more light come in. But then there's winter, when even in Southern Cal you need some insulation, and places where you don't want people to see in. Here's my solutions.

 

Entry Mosaic

The great mosaic project, inspired by my visit to Pompeii and Herculaneum.

 

Guest Bath

Moving on to rooms that have plumbing. The guest bathroom was one project that did have to be done on-time, since I had company coming, and they would need a bathroom of their own, where everything worked.

 

Master Bedroom

Redoing the Master Bedroom begins with moving my sleeping area to the Studio, then I begin the actual work on the Master Bedroom itself. I rebuild its bookcase, and three years later I fix at least some of the master bathroom.

 

Doing the Yard

Or: Landscaping Counts Too. The front yard begins to have a new look.


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