The Boring In Between
This morning, I woke up and thought to myself, “Wow. I literally have nothing to share this morning on my blog!” That doesn’t happen very often. I’m a very wordy person, and I always have thoughts running through my head.
But the fact of the matter is that I’m on that boring in-between stage of projects where it seems like nothing is really happening. I’m closing down the chapter on the last project — the closet/laundry area — and I’m trying to get those last few things done.
The room is finished, but I still need to load in the rest of my stuff (mainly shoes😁, but also the items in the island) and do a little bit of cleaning (mainly the floor). And I’m not going to take pictures and post the finished room until all of that is finished because once that final blog post is up on a room remodel, I have a tendency to close that chapter in my mind and move on to the next chapter. So if I do that before I have my closet fully loaded, I’ll be living indefinitely with shoes still left in my studio, and folded clothes still left in the sunroom.
After 18 years of blogging, I know myself all too well. There have been times I’ve had a few tiny, nagging projects left, but I’ve thought to myself, “Those won’t show in pictures. I can come back to that later.” But I never actually go back to them because mentally, I’ve flipped the page to the next project. That’s why I still have a piece of baseboard trim beside the refrigerator in the kitchen that I forgot to nail on after I put the cased opening from the living room to the kitchen ten years ago. And every time I kick it and it falls over (which happens about once a month), I think to myself, “I really should fix that.” But I still haven’t. Ten years and counting.
I have tiny nagging projects like that in every room of our house, so I know myself too well to think, “It’s finished enough for pictures.” It’s not finished enough for pictures until it’s actually finished and fully functional.
All that to say that I’m hoping to get the rest of my stuff into the closet today so that I can finally take pictures and share the whole before and after with you. I had hoped that would happen today, but finishing up the doorway was a bit more challenging that I had anticipated and took longer than I thought it would. I’m just not good at fixing drywall.
But things really are moving forward. I’m next in line with the contractor who will install the door in the bedroom. I’m going to contact him and see if they can also do all of the drywall repairs while they’re here.
After reading through comments on a recent post, I’ve had a bit of a change of heart regarding the attic access. I’m just not ready to start tearing apart the hallway bathroom to make room for the attic access, and someone mentioned in a comment that it’s really not a big deal to leave it where it is. Attic access points are something that our eyes tend to overlook, kind of like smoke detectors and HVAC vents. They’re not pretty, but they’re necessary, and we tend to look past them.
So for now, I’m going to leave the attic access right where it is. As long as it’s not in the way of crown molding, I’m okay with it for now.
Since it’s on the ceiling, and the ceiling will just be painted (not wallpapered), there’s really no rush in moving it. It’s actually pretty small and in a very convenient location. Plus, drywall is something that can always be repaired, so if I want to move in the future, like when we build the addition and actually turn that hallway bathroom into a storage closet, I can move it at that point.
And speaking of crown molding, I think I’m also going to hire that out. I’m just kind of done with doing that sort of project by myself, and there’s just so much of it that needs to go in the foyer and bedroom.
But that I can’t decide is this. Does crown molding get installed before or after the grasscloth goes up? The little bit that’s left in the foyer will need to come down, and I can’t decide if the grasscloth should go up before the new crown goes up or after.
In the closet, I did the wallpaper first and then did the crown molding. What I like about doing it in that order is that my wallpaper cuts at the top didn’t need to be precise because they were covered with crown. What I don’t like about it is that if the wall isn’t perfectly flat (which they never are) and there’s any kind of little gap or crack between the crown and the wall, I can’t fill it with caulk, so the gap or crack has to stay. And then I have to be extra careful when painting the crown because the wallpaper is there.
What I like about doing the crown molding first is that it can all be caulked and painted, so there will be no gaps or cracks left between the crown and the wall, and it’s so much easier to paint. But then the wallpaper cuts have to be very precise, and cutting grasscloth is harder than cutting regular wallpaper. If I mess up a cut, it will be obvious. And I literally have exactly enough grasscloth wallpaper to cover my walls with not a single piece to spare. So there will be no room for error. That makes me very nervous. You can tell me your thoughts on that. Wallpaper first and then crown? Or crown first and then wallpaper?
And finally, I met with the electrician yesterday. He’ll be here at 8:00am on Thursday to move the breaker box up for me.
Right now, the bottom edge of that box sits at about 31.5 inches from the floor, and I want the wainscoting to be 32 inches high. So I just need it moved up a few inches so that it will clear the wainscoting. He said it will take a couple of hours, and I’m really hoping and praying that it will be as easy and straightforward as he seems to think it will be. I just know that sometimes when you start getting behind drywall and into walls, you can find some unexpected things that turn a straightforward project into a real hassle.
While he was here, I also talked to him about running electricity to my workshop, which is still sitting there looking like a cute little cottage on the outside, but inside, it’s just a shell.
And since that’s the project I plan to tackle after our bedroom suite is finished, I need to start thinking ahead about getting it wired with electricity. He went over everything that would be necessary for that to happen, and while I knew it would be an extensive project, I don’t think I realized it would be quite as extensive as what he explained. It’ll cost quite a chunk of money to get electricity to the workshop, but it’s a necessary expense…obviously.
So anyway, things really are happening behind the scenes. Things are moving forward. But I’m in that really boring in-between right now. But that gives me time today to get the rest of my stuff loaded into my closet, and I’m hoping that I’ll be able to get lots of pictures by the end of the day. And as soon as I get past this boring in-between, I’ll be full steam ahead on the foyer and bedroom.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
Could you move the attic access to the storage closet you finished not too long ago?
I will never understand why folks who put up trim don’t paint it first. Then all you have to do is fill in the nail holes and sand it and dab paint on those. This happens on all of the improvement shows including This Old House (which I consider the gold standard.)
Thoughts?
I don’t know. I always pre-paint trim/baseboards/etc before installing them. It’s 1000% easier to touch up nail holes afterwards than painting them in situ.
Totally agree! Especially since I have a love/hate relationship with ladders now that I’m 76!
Yes, I had this thought as well. Paint the trim first, so much quicker and easier to lay out several boards at a time on sawhorses and get them coated! You have to deal with the nail holes afterwards in either case.
My son in law used to be a professional painter, and he always painted the trim first, then put it up and did touch up work. But, he also had it all cut to fit before painting. He would just tack it up to be sure it was properly cut, then on the back he would mark location as he took it down to paint. He felt that was the most efficient way to do it. But everyone is different!
What I would do if in your shoes is put up the grass cloth first and paint the crown molding before you put it up. Then you only have to touch up the crown molding after it is up. Also will the gaps show as much against a dark wall as they would if you were putting the crown on a lighter colored wall?
Grass cloth first, then crown molding would be my choice! Full steam ahead!
I learned wallpapering from my mom and she always used scissors to cut the top and bottom details. She’d push the paper into the corner and get a good crease then pull it away to cut with scissors. I often have trouble with cutting with a knife because the paper piles up under the blade if it’s not sharp enough. Not a problem with scissors!
That is exactly what a professional decorator did in our house. I used to cut it with a knife before, but his way is better. And yours of course 🙂
I do like paper-before-molding, HOWEVER, like you said you have just enough grasscloth if everything goes perfectly and I just think having the paper already up and expecting the workers to install the molding (getting it in place/paining/touching up/caulking the gaps) without causing any issues to the paper is kind of a big ask. In this case, I would paper after the molding is up. Better to have less than perfect edges up near the ceiling than lose a whole piece do to an installer mishap. Keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well.
That was my thought. It would be pretty easy to catch the grass cloth when putting up pieces of crown.
Yes, totally agree. No matter how good the installers are they will never be as careful with this as you would be. Get the molding done, then take your time and hang the grass cloth. The other way might be easier/make more sense but the risk of something happening to the grass cloth is too high!
We just had crown moulding installed. I painted all of the crown before they installed it. Now it only needs caulk and a bit of touchup. Way easier than painting the crown above my head.
I’d opt for crown first. Eventually you’ll want or need to remove the wallpaper and that can’t be done without removing the crown as well. Same with the wainscotting. Just go slow with your cuts on the wallpaper. You can always get paint color matched to the wallpaper and use fine paintbrush (think craft size) to fill in any small gaps.
It’s always the stuff before the pretty! Just sort thru want you need/want to keep in that beautiful closet. We’ll be waiting for the final reveal! Reconsider the attic access as well. Once that bedroom is all pretty , you’ll dread if and when you need to go up there. 😊
Because grass cloth is thick, I think it could be a future problem if you install the crown over it. If this is your forever home, you will probably redecorate this room at least one more time. If you ever choose to go back to painted walls, would you just cut the grass cloth at the bottom of the crown and then caulk the gap between crown and wall? If you install the crown first and caulk before installing the grass cloth, removing the grass cloth in the future would be much easier.
Good point!
Have you thought about solar for your workshop? it may be an option to explore.
I would grass cloth first. However … I’d also paint your crown molding BEFORE installing it. You’ll need to go back and do touch up on the nail holes, but it’ll be way less risk of getting paint on your grass cloth than if you’re trying to do all the painting once it’s installed. I don’t know when you’re planning to paint the ceiling, but I’d also do that before installing grass cloth. And yes, the boring stuff needs to happen too. ☺️
I’d make the Decision based on if the very-limited-in-supply-grass-cloth is DIY-friendly. If its okay for you, and easy to cut, to your satisfaction, at an slight angle, do crown first. If not, do the paper. I’d re-read when you did the entry way, as a reminder of how that project was.
I do lean crown (and ceiling paint) first to manage risk if you hire out, so you can amend anything you deem necessary and have no risk to accidents on the grass cloth (this includes paint).
Crown first, then wallpaper.
I was thinking the same thing about the attic access-why does it need to move? Unless it’s directly above the bed (which makes it not very easily accessed) I’m glad you’re saving yourself this headache. Can’t wait!
I think painting and moulding first, especially with limited grasscloth. Over the complete area, that little bit that would be covered by moulding might be enough to give you a buffer, besides the possibility of getting messed up by drips or such.
The question of why moulding isn’t painted before installing, I think its the issue of contractors installing the moulding don’t usually paint it and contractors usually want to get in and out resulting in tight timelines. DIYers have that option without time constraints.
Definitely install crown first. Most every home has imperfect walls that require caulking which would really make a mess of the grass cloth. It’s not so difficult to cut the grass cloth perfectly with a straight edged tool and a very sharp razor. Replace razors every few cuts. If you really messed up a cut you could paint then install a narrow trim moulding around the bottom edge of the crown. Narrow mouldings are somewhat flexible and likely wouldn’t need caulking.
I have never put up grass cloth but from what you stated I would think put up grass cloth before crown molding
You already know how to fix any gaps.
Also it might be a good idea to get electricity out to the workshop before winter sets in. I dont know if your ground freezes in the winter. If you don’t have electricity it may be too cold for you to get anything accomplished before spring
Just my thoughts
Based on your comments about your skills in cutting wallpaper, I’d suggest wallpaper first; and definitely paint the crown before installing. Spend some time perfecting your cutting skills. A very sharp but thin blade held against a large putty knife or drywall tool should give you a crisp edge. With grass cloth you may want to break off a fresh blade for each cut. I papered for many years (commercial and residential) and always used the small knives with many blades to break off; think Dollar Store. X-acto is great but more cumbersome to change out the blade.
You may feel better about the possibility of gapping if you hold some crown up there now to see exactly how much of a gapping issue there is. With a dark wallpaper and a light crown I believe the gapping will not be an issue unless it’s really large.
I think do the messy stuff before installing the grass cloth. I also think it should be installed in the bedroom first, in case there’s a shortfall. Better to make adjustments in the foyer where there are small expanses of walls. Say you’re short a strip…you can create a feature wall easier in the foyer if you don’t have enough grass cloth. I would also mark where the mirror is going to go in advance, and if you’re running short, not put any behind the mirror. Basically, select the wall that could be different ahead of the project, just in case you don’t have enough or make a mistake and short yourself.
Paint the crown moulding first, and have it installed. Then give it your final coat. Last up, hang the grasscloth. You never want to have to slice through grasscloth to remove it, if you do you will still see it under the edge of the crown moulding because grasscloth is so thick.
What if you paint your crown molding first then put it up over your wallpaper and then you only have to do touch up caulk and paint on the molding after instead of painting all of it once it is up?
Dear Kristi,
I’m very much looking forward to the closet reveal. What a labor of love to get something absolutely one-of-a-kind. Your woodworking skills are top-notch!
With that said, I would not hire out the crown molding. You are a master at finishing trim and cabinets. I do not think you will be happy with others’ work. Your bedroom and foyer are part of a bigger bedroom suite. You already have crown, that you’ve done, in the bathroom and closet.
I get that you are at the point where you’d like to delegate some of the tasks for the bedroom suite. That’s probably a wise decision. I don’t think the crown molding should be one of them though. I think you’ll end up redoing it in some manner. If not altogether.
My vote is to wallpaper after the crown and wainscotting is complete. Less chance for damage to the paper that way. My husband uses a metal square to make a perfect top or bottom edge along ceiling or baseboards for wallpaper. That combined with a new blade in your knife, should get you a perfect edge. Switch the blades out frequently during the process to keep a razor-sharp edge.
Blessings to you as begin the next step of your bedroom suite project!
YHWH Bless You : )
I have to redo my comments each and every day because they disappear. Grrrrrrr.
Crown up AFTER grasscloth. Can you paint the molding before it is nailed up?
Have you ordered your bedroom chair? Nightstands? What about lamps?
What does it cost to move the breaker box?
I would do the crown first. That way it can be caulked and painted before the grasscloth goes up. I can’t imagine what a pain it would be to caulk along the rough grasscloth. I always paint crown before install, but have to touch up the nail holes and apply a coat of paint over the bead of caulk. I just see that as a recipe for disaster if you paper first. Glad you’re hiring some of it out, save your energy for the fun stuff! Cant wait to see the finished closet all loaded up!
Were you still putting a toe kick in your closet? I haven’t heard you mention that lately, and didn’t want you to forget it before closing your mind to the closet and moving on to your bedroom.
Hey, Kristi,
Could you do the main molding first, then add the wallpaper, and then do a small strip of trim just under the moldings that could cover any mistakes on cutting? Just a thought….
grass cloth, then crown
Good morning!
I had a wallpaper hanger teach me that he uses a LOT of razor blades when trimming. Like, a new blade per sheet or something (can’t remember exactly ). If you have a nice new crown and a longish metal edge and a whole lot of blades, I bet you’ll do well.
Or, if it’s not too crazy, hire someone to trim?
(Team after-crown.)
As you don’t have any wiggle room with the grasscloth, I would leave the installation of the crown molding after the walls are papered. I believe in you to figure out a way to get the crown molding once installed to your liking. Get the electricity done so you can be comfortable while establishing your dream workshop. I am so excited to see how you create your workshop. Thank you for your consistent years of blogging, it is appreciated.
Why not cut your wallpaper precisely in your studio? You have the 2 things to cut fabric, why not wallpaper? And if you have any wonky cuts you can do that paper trick and cut it precisely that way.