January 2010

On the last day of the first month, I completed the first of 12 projects - my room on the 3rd floor. Ok, there are some tiny, tiny things left to finish, but the main project is done, and I am very happy. The remaining tiny, tiny things - put a latch on my closet door, wire management for my computer, hang/find some art, and buy a stool for the drawing table - these will roll over into February when Chris' room is on the slate. There is not much to do for his room, so I feel okay adding these things to the list.

The main thing I wanted to do in my room was hang the new worksurface and tackboards. The surface was a panel bought at Lowes that I painted white to match the trim and the drawing table. It sits on two large brackets that I screwed into studs. My stud finder was broken, so I had to use the old timey method of starting at the corner and measuring every 16". Surprisingly, it worked perfectly. Chalk it up to construction standards from 120 years ago.

The tackboards I trash-picked from a job site, and covered them with the curtains that were in this room when I bought the house. I love being able to use this stuff that I salvaged nine years ago. Bones of the house, if you will. I knew I would never be able to hang the tackboards straight if I tried to attach some hanging device to the back, so I bought large screws and washers and screwed the boards to the studs from the front. I got the idea from a friend who told me she did something similar, and it looks very cool. And was very easy.

On this last day of the first month of my projects goal, I am very pleased with myself. And I am feeling very motivated to continue.

Next up for February - Chris' room. Nothing major on the docket - just some organization, hanging art, and patching a big spot in the ceiling where the plaster peeled off when we got some leakage from the rain. And whatever else he may decide he fancies in the next week or so.