I’ve been painting… and painting… and painting. Denise is back at her house. I am finishing up all the painting, and I will glaze the little dentil pieces. Then, she will be back to do the final wood graining on all the remaining larger expanses.
Getting paint up into that “channel” — a recess or tunnel above the dentils and behind the larger piece of molding ‘above and in front of’ the dentil — is: A pain!
I paint for a few hours every day. It’s actually kind of relaxing — zen-like. That said, my neck hurts from looking up at the dentils for hour on end. And, my right pointer finger cramped up yesterday because one of the brushes (in photo below) I use for tight spots isn’t very ergonomic.
Some tools that have come in handy — note, all links to Amazon are affiliate links, part of how I keep the blog boat afloat:
I’m loving the Louisville Ladder Platform Ladder that I found searching ladders and scaffolding on Amazon. I didn’t know such as thing as platform ladders existed until I went searching for something besides a regular ladder to help me do this dentil-painting job. The platform ladders come with the platform at a variety of heights. Using info from the company’s website, I measured before I ordered, and the 3′ ladder has the platform at pretty good spot for me to reach the dentils comfortably. I still crane a bit, though — hence my sore neck!
Denise and also have become #1 fans of The Whizz paint brush, which we saw in the store and tried for this project. And, I’m digging my Pelican pail.
After the graining is complete, we will then coat all the woodwork with two coats of Varathane, which is a nice top coat because of the way it self-levels. I think that early next week, I’ll jump ahead to this step with the bookcases, which already are grained. Once the Varathane cures, I can then start styling the bookcases. Doing some decorating-in-progress keeps my juices flowing.
Meanwhile — a little a break — I’m headed to Louisville on Friday night for the weekend. My family is getting together to celebrate with my dad, who is having his 80th birthday on Monday. Happy birthday, Dad!
Benjamin Moore threw up on my dining room table, and frankly, my husband is not too happy about it 
1,406 dentils — 1,402 to go 
18 colors for 1960s St. Charles steel kitchen cabinets 
Dennis’ colorful, affordable pegboard room divider 
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Yes, the sore neck! Pamela, tilt you neck towards your chest, gently. Again, tilt your your neck to the left, then to the right. Rub the back of your neck up into your head. Do several times a day.
Have a marvelous trip.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!
Barbara
p.s. don’t pass up those free neck rubs in Louisville!
Thanks for the neck exercise tip, Barbara. I will do this on the plane!
Looking Good! I see the Tiki Lounge theme creeping into the décor. That’s a nice wood/brass world map hanging over the fireplace. The scale is perfect. The faux painting has really enhanced the grass cloth, emphasizing the warm honey color of the paper.
I bought an old beat up heavy spattered painter’s ladder for $ 5 over 30 years ago and it has been used often. It’s a much safer and comfortable way to work when working at heights. I even use mine to clean the outside glass of the picture window as it’s very stable and there’s something to hang onto.
Enjoy your visit, you deserve a break.
Thanks, Jay. The Masketeers world map will actually be moved over the bookcase, I think. I will break a cardinal rule of tiki spaces by putting a flat screen tv over the fireplace; I want to be able to have parties in the space that focused on televised events; need a TV and a big flat screen — well, it’s functional. For non-tv-event parties, I’ll probably play Elvis- or Gidget- Hawaii movies.
And… I will probably cover the ivory grasscloth. I am actually not liking the color combo and have an outrageous idea in the works…
I think that what will really put this room over the top is: What I do with the ceilings, including the lights I hang. I have a number of ideas of how to cover the ceiling; but, my bigger issue is figuring out out the best way to get electric up there in such a way that I can add stuff over time. I need to get my electrical contractors in here to discuss how to do this to code…
I agree with Jay, regarding the grasscloth. I think it looks great. That said, you can only really tell how something looks in person. Even though the curtains are folded into perfectly trained pinch pleats, the woodwork is already pulling out the orange. I think in the end the green Knoll fabric will “evenly” distribute the dominate colors in the room. It looks wonderful and I can’t wait to see more. I happened across “Green Acres” tv show this morning and Zsa Zsa Gabor had a velvety MCM leopard print sofa in the living room. Ahhh. And,oh my, those kitchen appliances are PINK! There must have been several shades of pink appliances, because those are INTENSE PINK! In the pink and birch time capsule kitchen that was never cooked in, the pink is very pale and subtle.
Girl.. I am so excited for you and this project – everything looks so much richer and “tiki-ish” already. Especially when you contrast it the dark wood with the still white trim above the drapes. This is proof positive of how having a fun vision – and a ton of patience (!) – is paying off. I absolutely cannot wait to see how everything finally comes together – the Mahalo Lounge is definitely going to be the happening place to be! Hope you “invite” all of us here to your first official Mahalo Lounge tiki cocktail party – you could live stream the event – or better yet, make it “pay-per-view”‘! 😜🗿!
🙂
More craziness for the room to come! Sven Kirsten recently said that “outrageousness” is an essential requirement for a tiki-style space. I am up to the challenge!
Oh, “liveStream” or “pay per view” ~ I’ll RSVP!
I read that you were then going to cover all of your woodwork in VASELINE! I was like, “Whoa. That’s weird!” but then I re-read it and realized it was only because I haven’t had any caffeine yet today and I can’t read!
It’s looking great. I love the updates! Keep ’em coming!
Oh my. That probably is a “technique” for some sort of faux finish though!
Happy Birthday, Pam’s Dad! And have a great and relaxing weekend, Pam. Your dentil painting is one of the most tedious tasks I have ever observed. You will be proud of the finished product for years.
“I paint for a few hours every day. It’s actually kind of relaxing — zen-like. That said, my neck hurts from looking up at the dentils for hour on end. And, my right pointer finger cramped up yesterday because one of the brushes (in photo below) I use for tight spots isn’t very ergonomic.”
Well, we all know how painful DENTIL work can be!!!
HA! I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help myself….. Please don’t ban me from the site…..
hahaha good one
HA! Look Pam, your kind of humor! 😉
Wow, it’s really coming together! I love how the Colonial bones of your room are giving the Tiki look a bit of French Colonial influence. Is this the room where you’ll put your Christmas tree? You’re gonna have to play “Christmas Island” a lot!
Wow Pam, Awesome work! So inspiring.
Rest up over the weekend, you will have renewed vigor on your return. Maybe take in a Spa Day or a Museum tour, that always rev’s my jets. Happy Birthday Dad!
PS: Maybe theirs a “Bad Art Museum” nearby, those are always Fun.
I love the art of faux…on a trip that included a stay in a German abbey, I visited the church on the grounds. It was heavily, gorgeously embellished by many previous generations of nuns and my tour guide was apologetic that it was faux; to her mind it would be better if it was plain and simple. NOT to me, though!
Your dentils are looking so amazing! The book shelf is terrific!
Just an fyi, when I clicked on the link for the Louisville ladder, though, it did not take me to an Amazon page.
hmmmm, Amy. The first link is to the ladder for sale on Amazon. The second, to the company’s website, which is where I found detailed info and measurements. I think you can buy directly from the company, too. Possibly elsewhere, too, as LL seems to be a big company.
That’s the drawback to vintage, elaborate wood detailing. It’s why most people ended up just painting over it.
The progress is looking great!! I’m missing our time together, but know I will see you again soon. Wishing you the best of times celebrating your dad! xxoo
That is true dedication to perform a tedious job like that for hours on end . The reward is it looks awesome!
Pam, I am so happy to learn you got a really good quality ladder. I guess you learned your lesson from the fall–last year, was it? Happy painting!
Oh, and I forgot to say that with a retro-design room and your fireplace, I find that the flat-screen TV kind of disappears into the wall when it’s off. A friend of mine makes cloth “TV cozies” to cover the TV when not in use.
But the whole idea of our retro-deco-mania is not to live life in the 1950s but to have fun in our houses, right? Can’t wait to see it all together.