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I did it all for the Nookie

OUR 2nd HOUSE

A new job offer came in last Wednesday around 5 pm for Jeremy.  Essentially Jer would not have the ability to go on vacation for a few months and we had planned to travel up to see my grandparents and the Petersiks this week.  So on Thursday morning, instead of being our normal selves…we threw clothes, the Mamaroo, a portable potty and some snacks in the car and hit the road.  We are not usually this unpredictable.  But it was REALLY important to me to see my grandparents and introduce them to Weston before his sweet, cuddly, sqwuishy phase was over.  I am so glad we did.  Family is priceless.  As is introducing Will’s tongue to icy snow 🙂

Since I was out of state, both physically and mentally, I am posting late.  Forgive me?  I’m gonna be doing some catch up this week…wish me luck doing it all and wrangling both kids, a crazy messy house, and trying to fit in all our playdates/renovations and still maintaining decent oral hygeine!

Okay – so I promised you a rundown of our nookie update.  Today we are finishing up sharing our nooks project and I can not describe how excited I am about the transformation considering it just involves white paint.  The last we talked, we took the empty nooks and added shelves.

They were great because they gave function to an otherwise useless area.  Many of you wondered about the lighting situation…these nooks do have an overhead light but we rarely use them.  If I wanted, I could switch out the shelves with glass ones…but seeing as how glass has a weight limit, could be damaged and potentially crash into the floor (right where Will plays!), we decided to go with the wood ones for now.  Who knows about the future though…they would be easy enough to switch out.

So the first step to finish these bad boys was to remove the shelves and fill all the holes with quick drying mud.  I liked a quick drying product because it could patch the drywall holes and fill the screws on the braces and be sanded the same day.

Then using our trim paint (we use bright white semi-gloss paint for all our trim with no tint or colorant added…done this for years and it’s great because I never have to question if I have the right color), I gave our creamy tan trim a quick coat.  And when I say quick coat…I mean four.

Also, it’s dangerous to your viability as a reputable person to wear words on your butt.  Don’t be like me.  Especially if you are a 32 year old with two kids and a few bald spots.  Seriously I need me a Stacy + Clinton intervention.

You can see on the trim on the right how different the white paint looks from the tan…crazy different.  If I said it once I’ve said it a million times…I hate HATE hate tan trim.  Rant over.

I decided to paint the backs too.  In the future I may use fabric or paint to snazzy it up.  Maybe I’ll use the old starch trick or wallpaper or stencil it…who knows.  not me.

Four coats later, I have a very different looking wall.   Yes.  I only painted the trim on one wall in the living room.  It takes me FOREVER to get it all done…so I figure I’ll go a few feet at a time.  Literally.  I think the most I can do in a week is about six feet….so I’ll be done in 2015.  maybe.

Quite the difference from the before though…

Please ignore the random styled items and the crazy throw pillows and the toddler doing a plank leg push.  Apparently he had a few problem areas he’s focusing on 🙂

I’ll have to work on the styling soon.  Right now…not a big priority.  And yes, I painted right over the wall color…never mind the crazy edges…this room will eventually get repainted.

So that’s what we have been up to…how bout you?  Any painting projects that changed your entire look of your room?  I love the power of paint…it makes me feel like a superhero.  weird but true.

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  1. I just transformed my bedroom from 1989’s bubblegum pink with mauve carpet, to Glidden’s Dark French Chocolate & Amethyst Haze (and no carpet). I’m not quite done with styling it yet, so it hasn’t hit the blog. You can, however, see bits of it on my Instagram (instagram.com/1868pleasant).

  2. Same here! I have been slowly painting our trim and crown molding from creamy (cloud white) to pure white. It looks sooo much crisper and cleaner. It just takes forever with two kids! baby steps… 🙂
    I love, love, love the Palladian Blue in your office. I am going to use it in my basement because your house looks so amazing 🙂

  4. Love the new look! 🙂 I’m painting my hubby’s office now – hoping it looks awesome soon! He can’t wait to have it finished so he can work from home occasionally. 🙂

  5. I love the white in the back! It brightens the spaces up so much that you really don’t need a back light anyway!

    Question about your living room: do you have a standard furniture arrangement, or do you move the furniture around sporadically? My hubs says I should leave the furniture where it is, but I get an itch every few months or so to just change everything up.

  6. Oh Katie, you warm my heart!

    I just love your blog!

    And congrats to the boyfriend for the new job. Sending prayers that it’s all that you two hope it will be.

    xoxo

  8. Looks great! And, as I mentioned before, I am so happy you used the title “I Did It All For The Nookie”. Ahhh, fully satisfied now. As for wrangling two children, cleaning house, etc…, good luck with that! I have three and it is a never-ending battle. I am hoping I can sneak in a shower when the youngest takes his ‘nap’ (all 45 minutes of it).

  9. Wow, what a difference, it looks great! I too am working on painting. I have been repainting my small kitchen and small living room walls since January and I am still not done. So I can completely relate when you say you’ll be done by 2015.

  10. It looks wonderful! I keep picturing the “fake” tin ceiling for the backs. I can’t wait to see what you decide. Praying for smooth transition for Jeremy’s new job.

  11. I LOVE how they turned out! It’s amazing how white paint can totally transform a room, wall or nook. Gurl, I don’t know how you do all these projects with two little ones. I started painting my fireplace back in October and I’m still not finished. Maybe I shouldn’t say that out loud. Or on the internet.

    Anyway, this is just a funny observation and nod to the funny quirks of your house builder… but I can’t help but notice the placement of the pot lights in front of the shelves. Neither one looks to be centered… to the door, or to the nooks… maybe it’s just the angle of the picture? It makes me chuckle and wonder what those people were thinking.

    Regardless, I love your blog, I love you and I love your hilarious commentary. I always find myself laughing out loud and asking if we could be best friends in real life!

    xoxo

  12. Looks great! It’s amazing how you turned those eyesores into a gorgeous feature! They look stunning now. I also love how you’re keeping it real with the honesty/reality of how long some DIY projects take (the trim). I put off repainting the open living areas of our home for two years because the task was so daunting to me. Once I finally sucked it up and set aside a week to do it, it make a world of difference.

  14. Oh Katie! I hope Jeremy’s job is closer to home so he gets to spend more time with you guys! Love the trim update : )

  16. looks amazing!!

    i also have a pair of sweatpants with writing on the bum as well…..only the “PINK” is in sparkles! Let’s just say every time i throw them on (aka when my plain black sweats are in the wash) my 4 year old follows me around touching my bum going “wow mommy! what’s that? it’s sparkly!”

  24. Gorgeous! What a huge difference! Does this mean Jeremy won’t have the awful commute anymore? (fingers crossed for you)!

  27. I (at 39 weeks pregnant) just painted our front door black. Wow, what a difference. I always laugh when bloggers use words like “grounded” or “anchored” to describe a space but I get it now. A dark door really makes a huge difference in how everything else comes together. All with just a pint of off the rack black paint. Awesome!

    Your shelves looks amazing and so functional!

  30. It looks fabulous- amazing what some shelves and white paint will do. Also, could you send Stacy and Clinton my way when you’re done with them? 😉

  31. HUGE difference! It looks really good Katie! I hope your patting yourself on the back 🙂

  33. Love, Love, love how the white makes it look so much better (but you knew that all along). Also Congrats on your husbands job offer. Hope it all works out for your family.

  34. I have been wanting to put some shelves in a very narrow closet in my hall. Thanks to your post, I now know how I want to do them. Thanks!!!

  35. Love that nookie – great way to display your neat finds.

    You didn’t finish the part about Jer’s new job…

  38. How did I miss that jeremy was looking for a new job? Congrats to him!! Hopefully the commute is WAY shorter?

  41. Wow – what a difference! The wall color even looks different. You have no idea how badly I want to come help you paint over all that trim. Gah! the difference is amazing. little by little you’ll get there…

    And new job offer? Does that mean the awful commute is over?

  42. I love the change the white brings! We bought a new house a few months ago and I’ve been slowly changing the trim room by room from tan to bright white, and I stole your idea of simply buying undyed white paint. So much easier to remember!

  43. Wow, it’s amazing what a little white paint can do! The tan trim never seemed that noticeable to me before until you posted the side by side picture. Love it so much more now!!

    And I agree with the words on the butt thing 😉 It’s totally okay to wear them around the house though!!

  44. Hey Katie,

    You should never apologize for stepping away from blogging for a few days for spending time with your family! And Congrats to your boyfriend on his new job offer! The nooks look great, the white trim does make a huge difference.

  45. Wow!! What a difference! Love the way you repurposed these little nooks 🙂 Also can’t believe how long repainting the trim takes… well, like, I totally can… but seriously!! That in itself is an intense project! I guess the good news is, it looks so fabulous once it’s finished that hopefully, you’ll barely notice how sore your arms are from all that painting 🙂

  47. Totally off topic but where did you find that amazing large map hanging on your other wall? I need one!!! 🙂 hope your trip went well, I have an 11 week old and a five year old, trying to convince myself I have energy to take a trip to San Fran at end of month to see family. You’re amazing all you do!

  48. I am sooooo excited for you and impressed by you. Everytime you show a picture with the tan trim I twitch right along with you. The white looks a million times better and I am impressed that you are getting it done with everything you have going on. KUDOS! Is it weird I want to give you a hug and high five?

  49. What a difference the white paint makes! Amazing! Why do people ever use cream for molding? Also, new job of your boyfriend? What’s that about? I hope it means a shorter commute!

  50. Looks amazing, such a difference!
    What would you have ever done with those huge nook spaces other than some creepy GodFather type art display – great choice on the shelving. Where did you get the hippo on the bottom right? I LOVE him!

    PS – by the looks of the photo Will is in ‘Scorpion’ a perfectly legitimate yoga pose!

  51. Congrats to Jeremy on the new job! I am hoping that this means he will be commuting less as I know that was a strain/stresser for all of you. The nooks look great!

  52. What a dramatic difference! And are you kidding about the styling?! It looks great! Can’t wait to see pictures from your road trip.

    p.s. I hope your husband’s new job will have a shorter commuting time. I know personally what a difference that makes!

  53. So much better! I do envy your moldings, though. We’re moving into a contemporary 1970s house in a few weeks (it was featured in Woman’s Day in 1972!) and one of the few drawbacks is that pretty trim is also pretty much nonexistent.

  54. Oh the power of paint! You are so right! It’s like the simplest thing in the DIY world and yet it packs the biggest punch! They look pretty freakin awesome, Katie! They remind me of something you would see in an English mansion in a Jane Austin movie. SA WEET! Also, are you planning to repaint all of the walls that are that seafoam color? I ask because I always saw you (in our deeply personal one sided internet relationship) as more of a neutral backdrop kinda gal that threw in different spashes of color. And because I feel like the new kitchen color might flow better with another color. Now I want built ins….thanks. 🙂

    PS – glad you liked my burlap wall on Instagram!

  55. That looks beautiful, and I’m glad you got to visit your grandparents. I’m not sure I followed though- did Jeremy accept a new job? If so, congrats!

  56. AMAZING!!! Holy white paint: made all the difference. That tan…ayayaya!!! what was Napoleon thinking!?!? tan…..no no…white is a better trim color. 🙂 Great JOB!!!

  57. You’re soo right about the tan trim, it looks so much nicer white! And Jeremy got a job offer? Congratulations! Not asking for details or anything but does that mean he doesn’t have that awful commute everyday?

  60. I am jealous! I love built-ins and you made such great use of those nooks! I’d have a blast filling those. Looks great!!

  61. Wow!!! That looks great, Katie! I’m a new follower of your blog – it is so much fun to read.: ) What’s up with tan trim anyway??? Painting is like waving a magic wand..seriously!
    Have a great week!
    Leah

  62. The white trim looks so much better, even if it is just on that wall. 🙂 And, I hope we get to hear more about Jeremy’s new job. Will this cut down on commuting and give you more time together in the evenings? Praying it does!

  63. That looks awesome! And with all that trim and the doors you painted way more than six feet. 🙂 I am very impressed!

  64. Looks great. You have a fantastic eye for detail. Also, congratulations on the Good Houskeeping article. Those areas of your home look fantastic.

  65. So exciting and so pretty!! Will Jer be able to work from home again – or will the new offer require a move?

  67. Wow! What a change!! It looks great Katie! So, do we get to hear more about this job opportunity? And I’m looking forward to the road trip post, because I know you’ll post all the details on that:) loved following along on Instagram, so I can’t wait to hear where all the pics were taken.

  69. I hope Jeremy’s new job works out well, and I also hope it shortens his commute time! Congrats!

  70. Now I hate your crazy tan trim! The difference is amazing! Yay white paint! That’s all!

  71. It looks great!

    Glad you got to go before the change. Hope that the transition to the new job goes well, for all of you.

  72. I sooo feel you about tan trim. When we moved into our house everything was this nasty yellow tan color. The walls, the ceilings, the trim. Three years later and it is still there is a few places. It is almost gone though. PHEW! White trim really is the way to go.

  74. yeahhh for new jobs! 🙂 hope this means less driving and more baby time for J. love the white trim!!!

  75. The trim looks sooo much better and I am sure the pictures do not do it justice. Hopefully Jeremy’s new job will shorten his commute a bit and allow him to spend more time with you and the boys. *fingers crossed*

  76. White trim has elevated the toothpaste wlls even! Waaaay more tolerable. Even just that one wall of trim was obviously A LOT of work, Katie. The effort is not lost on me. Props girl.

  78. What a difference a little white paint makes! The room looks so much brighter. Congrats on the new job for Jeremy!

  79. I would kill for all of the beautiful molding you have in your house. I’ve been putting up crown in the rooms that didn’t have it and plan on framing out a fireplace and beefing up my builtins. Every trip to Home Depot or Lowe’s is running $300+. Well worth the change in appearance, but taking it slow. What brand of paint do you use for the bright white? When I first moved in I bought Behr Semi and OMG it was like Marshmallow fluff. Never again.

  80. I was wondering about the trim color in the first pictures. Glad to know you didn’t pick it 🙂 Shelves are perfect!

  82. The after picture makes me say, “Ahh”! I feel relaxed and happy looking at that wall! I need some nookie shelves at my place! The white is fabulous, I also can’t stand yellow/tan/colored trim. It’s either rich wood, or it’s white for me! Keep up the good work!

  83. Katie,
    beautiful update to the nooks. As I sit at look at the wide shot, I think your French doors are screaming for some glossy black paint. Love you! Love your blog!

  85. I’ll forgive you for the words on your butt because the white trim looks awesome! What an improvement and from that angle we can’t even tell the rest of the trim isn’t painted so great job!! It totally freshened up that whole wall – the wonders of paint continue to amaze us all!

  86. I recently painted our living room a gray blue color and it made a HUGE difference. It was a light beige before and totally clashed with our light wood floors and pinkish brick fireplace.

    Did you do anything to prep the trim? We have beige trim in our bedroom and I tried painting right over it with white semi gloss and it peeled off!

  87. LOVE this! Makes me wish I had some weird nooks to revamp. We got an estimate on re-doing our bathroom and it was outrageous! I’ve spent the past few weeks painting/re-grouting and generally spiffing up just about surface of the bathroom (including some tile and the ceiling). I can’t believe what a different those little updates have made. Oh, the power of DIY and a little creativity….

  89. Looks great! On a totally different subject, I was reading my new Good Housekeeping magazine and saw the feature on a couple of your spaces, way to go!!!

  90. I am such a sucker for built-ins! they look great, with a little (yeah, right!) bit of work – such a difference!!

  92. I love this! What’s with almond trim? Or almond toilets and tubs? We have a serious almond issue in our casa and I’d like to thank the person who did us the favor.

    Hope the boyfriend enjoys his new job!

  93. I always forget one little thing…

    It took me a few paragraphs to realize that the nooks were the nookie… not Sherry.

    Weird?

  94. This looks sooooooo much better!!!! And congrats to Jeremy on the new job! Is that a hippo I see on that bottom shelf!?!?! I love it! I had a hippo piggy bank when I was a weee lil’ lass, call me sentimental but I would love another hippo “thing” around the house!!!

  95. LOVE the white white! We’re also in the process of painted our cream colored trim and I cannot wait to be done. Good luck!

  96. Love the nooks new look!! Did you hear what not to wear is going off after this season?!? How else am I supposed to know what I shouldn’t wear!

  98. Wow! That is just a thousand times better! I’m always amazed at what a fresh coat of paint can do to a space. Love the shelves as well. It looks like this was what those nooks were meant for.

  99. Love your nooks! They look great and the white trim is awesome!! Congrats to Jeremy on the new job! I hope that means no more super long commute and more time with you and your sweet boys! 🙂

  103. I use a primer but you might want to consider using a deglosser or sand your trim. OR you could do all three 🙂
    xo – kb

  108. Seriously…I wonder how I can dress the boys in my life so well but when it comes to me, I’m braindead!
    xo – kb

  112. The hippo was gag type gift for Jeremy last Christmas – he always says his favorite song is “I wanna hippopotomus for Christmas!”. He loves a good joke and I love a good joke turned home decor 🙂 It’s from Hobby Lobby by the way 🙂
    xo – kb

  124. I move it around sporadically…only because my furniture doesn’t really fit in the room. I need different stuff, ya know?
    xo – kb

  130. Hi: I got a call today and the client found us because you highlighted and linked our Moravian Star Pendant. Thank you very much!! We appreciate it so much.
    Best,
    Liz

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