Update - The White Trim

We will get back to our trip to Paris later on, but I think it's time we get back to the house and I give you a few updates.  Things are still improving around here, just not as quickly as I may like.  Summer is a time to relax and enjoy your kids.  They go back to school soon so I'm waiting until then to really dig in and attack some of the projects I have in my brain!

One project that has gotten done - mostly - is the white trim.  Many of you will remember the post (go HERE) a few months ago when I was second guessing whether I should do it.  I am SO glad I did.  I think it looks amazing!!  I had a neighbor stop by one day and tell me how much she liked it.  She did admit that she wasn't quite sure where I was going with it, but she liked the result.  Everyone who has come by likes it too, so they are either lying or being truthful.

Let's look at the before:

Here it is now:

Wow!! Even I am wowed by the difference.  Some trim I wasn't quite sure about.  The bay window in the kitchen was the big question.

Once I saw everything else painted, I knew it needed to be too but I was NOT about ready to let the painters I hired to do it.  The hubby will be doing it sometime later this fall.  I took a chance on a group called "Student Painters".  I should have been scared away by the word "student" but they seemed reputable.  I must say that I am very happy with the overall look, but on close inspection one can see that they got paint on the siding (which doesn't just wipe off like on vinyl siding), they got it on the window frames, and they dripped on some chairs we had on the deck.  In addition, they didn't originally quote me for two coats of paint, and anyone with some common sense would know just by looking at the house that the wood on this house would need two coats.  They wanted to charge me close to double the original price and I refused so they knocked it down to a little over half.  They were a bunch of college kids so I'm not totally surprised, but they are an organization that is suppose to be mentored and I don't think the higher ups are doing a good job of making sure these kids actually do a good job.  I plan on calling them later this week to discuss such a fact.  So a note to the wise, you get what you pay for - most of the time.

I hope you like the final look as much as I do.  When we get the landscaping done sometime in the next decade, it will look even better.  It makes me happy to look at and that's what matters.

I hope you all have a fabulous Tuesday!  Tomorrow I will be back with the fireplace!!!!!  The final coat of paint goes on tomorrow and I am beyond thrilled with how it looks.  It makes my house feel so much more inviting!  I can't wait to show you.