I Think I Saw a Beautiful Basement... But That May Be the Spray Paint Talking

The answer: One may do this in order to match a bunch of crap furniture from Ikea and Target.

What is spray paint, Alex?

Before starting on this journey, I started to review a bunch of "how-to" spray furniture. Some things were helpful, but for the large part, it wasn't. So I'm throwing my little experience out into the universe so y'all can complain about my blog as I have totally judged yours.

First, I found the sites where that was the key words/title but then it would continue on to say, "I grabbed this piece of furniture at a thrift store and proceeded to spray paint it. Here's 5 pictures of my baby/cat/dog in front of it- adorable, right?!" Um, no. I wanted to know how to spray paint, not look at babies. Then I found the people that started to show how to spray paint but then for the sake of time, I guess, said, "Ok, do that for the rest anddd you're good." But as I was looking to spray paint cabinets, I'm wondering how you thoroughly cover everything without it gooping up and looking like you spray continuously in one spot? There was also the cute sites that say you can sand out the imperfections. Um, you want to tell me how? Or there's the person whose post was titled "Spray Painting Pre-Made Furniture" and the first direction was to take apart the furniture. And what if that is not an option?

Moral of the story is, it was like going to Google directions and typing in from San Diego to Tokyo and having it write "Drive... Sail across Pacific Ocean... Drive... Sail across Pacific Ocean... Drive some more." (Kid you not, try it).

So all the sites said to use primer. I can do that (and I used Rust-oleum but I've heard good things about KILZ and Krylon). *This is where I would insert the "Before" picture my camera apparently chose to delete*. I do not remember any sites writing "Use 2 layers of primer" but I would recommend it. Now that my pieces are said and done, I can see some panels where the primer thinned out and you can see the exact sprays I did back and forth.

Luckily, I don't care.

HOWEVER, the sites did say to sand the primer before you paint. Being lazy and again, not particularly caring about texture, I didn't do it. To figure out how you feel about the texture, run your hand over it after it dries- that's how it will feel like with paint on it. I also read somewhere that "if mixed properly" the primer would not be grainy. I did a little voodoo dance in the backyard with the paint and it was still grainy so I'm inclined to think I'm crazy and so are the people who said that.

Bottom- start/stop technique; Top- continuous spray

• A tip I found super helpful was "You will not cover everything in one layer." Had to remind myself of that one several times.

• Also, the Krylon People (it's amazing how they know their stuff!) had a pretty good video that showed a technique that was spraying in short spurts. This is a great technique but really works your remote finger, which I desperately need, and didn't really last the entire project.
• Now, while the video linked above is good, it recommended to change up the direction you were going. I would suggest doing what is ever the most comfortable for you and, therefore, will yield the most consistent results. I thought to go left/right with my first coat then up/down with my second. It didn't work out. Spots were left bare while others were built up and dripping. Consistency was the best policy.
• Finally, if I had to do it again, I'd have a paper towel in my hand constantly to wipe big build ups before they dry (which is pretty quickly with spray paint). Sanding them didn't work (more below).

Moving on: The following was what I found to work with these cabinets. You can start with the interior or exterior first, I'm going to describe inside then outside. Be sure to remove any adjustable shelves and spray them on their own.

Start by spraying the back first and then just move down to the bottom. Then spray side panels and finally the inside doors. Don't forget the space next to/behind the doors!

You'll notice in this picture, there's a little squiggle that looks terrible. That is end-of-can-desperate-to-get-every-drop-of-paint-out. Even if you are cheap as me, don't do it! Look at the evidence! It's not good!

If you catch this little nook, you can open the doors straight out and then sweep across the side and doors exteriors. Cut time out? Heck yes! Note: this does not work on the inside.

I had to take 3 coats to get the paint to look good and solid. You will need to make several trips to home Depot (I lost track of how many cans I used for the cabinets but I believe it was 5 or 6).

Now, for these popular Target cubbies, I found that it was easiest to spray pain the inside bottom of each cubby (and half of the back boards, when applicable), rotate, spray again.

With this technique, you can keep the can mostly out of the cubby and keep the can vertical. The coverage tends to be better when you're shifting the can less and spraying at a comfortable angle.

My final tip: do not place not completely dry pieces on dewy yards, even if there is a drop cloth. Things will transpire that will be very frustrating and make you quit spray painting for 2 weeks... At least that's what happened to me.

I don't want to talk about how I fixed it. Well, mostly because I haven't fixed it yet. Also, I'm fuming a bit just looking at this picture.

Oh right, the sanding... Yea, that didn't work out. Now I've got a bubbly spot with scratches all around it. I'm also not sure how you're supposed to sand a spot with too much paint on it and then repaint the same spot with 3 coats of paint without it building up again... Maybe I'll find a helpful site someday.

Some finished product! Forgive the mess around the edges, this is a before picture.

Ahh, quick relaxing and photo op. Good thing I got primer on my toes so that they got evenly covered- the DIY tan brings all the boys to the backyard.

The Beginning (of My Inevitable End)

Welcome, followers!

Here's the first installment of redesigning the parents' basement.

First lesson: If you have the go-ahead, take the time to hang dry wall and actually finish the basement properly.

I considered doing this... for about 5 seconds. And again, I think on it every now and then for another 5 seconds. Within 5 seconds I remember the extensive and continual water damage; the cost; the time; the lack of space; the lack of my know-how; and the lack of people willing to help.

My dad apparently poured oodles of time and effort fixing up the basement upon buying the house when I was the ripe age of 18 months. At the end of this month, I'll be rolling up on 25 years and in the big scheme of things, not a single things has changed since the original upgrade.

While I heavily criticized this originally, I am quickly finding out why.

Second lesson: If it's not a flat, non-textured wall, it's a royal pain in the ass to paint.

         Lesson 2.5: Painting unfinished concrete is
          the most infuriating and paranoia-building
          experience ever.

So to avoid several hours of, "Is that a spot?!" *paint* in between staring at the walls for hours or building an Arnold Schwarzenegger arm/shoulder pressing paint into walls that resemble English Muffins (nooks and crannies are not delicious in this manner), I highly recommend taking the time to hang dry wall. Also, no matter what color of cute paint and little touches you put on the wall, it's still unfinished cement and not really inspiring to look at.

I have one area mostly done. I say "mostly" because decorations are being saved until last and I have also piled stuff on top of my beautiful, clean, organization making it look like total crap again. Dust bunnies are also being shifted onto clean and polished floor.

Lesson 3: You will do everything at least 3 times.
          Lesson 3.5: If it's moving boxes, you will move
          them at least 5-8 times a piece.

The first time I attempted to clean the basement, I tried to make a massive pile o' stuff to sort and then slowly began to place it around the room thinking, "That's the perfect place. I will never have to move that item again." Oh, silly, me. What happens is you place 18 old film canisters in a perfect box. Then you will find a pocket in the pile with 3 more but since they don't fit in the box perfectly fitting 18, you think, "Eh, screw it" and then throw it out. And then like in some horror movie, you slowly begin to find 4 more pockets of film canisters containing at least a dozen per pocket and after shifting all the film canisters into 4 separate boxes while still throwing half of them away, you finally lose your mind, tear apart the whole pile searching for every single scrap of a film canister, at which point you don't find any and become infuriated that you just tore apart a pile looking for something that doesn't exist so much so that you go into the corner and rock back and forth, waiting for film canisters to attack you.

Ok, maybe that was a little dramatic but it isn't far from what actually happened. This is organization burnout people, DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU! You (and I) have to resolve the fact that something is not officially home in its proper spot until everything else is officially home. It ain't over until it's over, people.

And this basement is far from over.