I went to the house by myself today and painted the car port. It was peaceful and meditative—and this is coming from a person who used to think I would never want to own anything but a condominium, because I didn’t want to have to take care of the exterior and grounds.

You could say I’m growing up.

In the right light, the color (Pewter Tankard from Sherwin-Williams) is perfect: silvery gray with a touch of warmth. In morning light and under cloudy skies, it looks like a cooler gray, which is a little less sexy against the brick house, but it’ll do.

I am having the best time working on this house. Next up is cleaning and painting inside the car port, which is a big mess… but I have big plans for it. Big mess, big plans—sounds about right.

It was a family priming affair today. All four of us (including our two boys, ages six and nine) spent close to five hours priming the car port. In the process, I learned that new parents should hold off all painting projects until children are old enough to help! It went faster, and they learned a new skill as well.

While we were priming, a neighborhood couple walked past us and yelled out that they were big fans of the gray paint sample. I am glad they agree. Goodbye, ugly terracotta!

Man, that roof looks good. And we’ve run out of money.

Next step: paint the wood siding of the car port until we can afford to finish the gables.

We’re so close…

The roof is halfway there.

Well, shoot, things are looking pretty monochromatic right now (see the roof panels leaning against the house?). I’m hoping that won’t be the case when the roof is on.

The asphalt roof is coming off. Black dust is everywhere.

Between near-constant rainfall all weekend, somehow we managed to finish painting the fascia boards. We’re ready for the roofers (only barely).

Also, I think we’re going to be happy with the siding color, Pewter Tankard from Sherwin-Williams. It really does feel like a warm pewter. I don’t know if it feels like a tankard, though, considering I have no idea what that is. I imagine an army tank in pewter. Hm.

The roofers are coming this week, so we’re priming and painting the fascia boards today. We’ve picked Pewter Tankard from Sherwin-Williams. I hope it’s not too light—Elephant Ear was a close second.

I know that Tobi Fairley can be over-the-top, but her interiors always evoke something in me, and I imagine that’s why she’s so successful. You can’t tiptoe past one of her rooms; you stop dead in your tracks.

And because I am obsessed with the idea of a teal velvet sofa, I stared at this photo for a lot longer than is probably healthy. Just look at this room! How luxurious yet convivial! What a clever color palette!

Yes, that’s exactly how I speak when addressing her work.

(Click to enlarge.)