Fi-ni-to: adjective, Italian for finished or completed.  Yeah, I could have just said “Hey, I’m finally finished with my ceiling” but that seemed a we bit anti-climatic.  After my last post on my ceiling, all I had to do is prime and paint.  The ceiling color is Delicate Lace in Behr’s premium plus paint.  I chose an eggshell finish and I am much happier with it than the high gloss that was up there before.  It’s softer and doesn’t highlight the uneven texture. 

     I know I promised you a big reveal of my entire family room this week but… I can not deliver on that promise.  I could tell you all the things that kept me from my mission but I’ll just suffice it to say, “Mothering always wins out over blogging”.  I am planning on delivering on that promise next week and getting back to my regular blogging schedule.  Thanks for visiting.  I appreciate each and every one of you!

     Hey everybody, sorry I have been a little MIA, the last few weeks have been a little crazy around here.  My in-laws came and stayed with us for a few days.  We have been busy with school projects and parent teacher conferences.  And of course we are still trying to finish our ceiling.  I have been too exhausted to do much posting.  While I may never be completely carefree again, at least I can say we are almost done with our ceiling.   Today I thought I would offer some advice on texturing.  We had to match to pre-existing texture on the rest of the ceiling to finish our repair job.  But you may want to add some texture to a wall, floor or whatever you can can imagine. 

     My Handy Hubby is experienced and really good at installing, taping and mudding drywall so he did all that for our ceiling repair.  Most of us are not so fortunate though.  I have tried to tape and mud drywall seams many times and every time I have been very disappointed with my results.  My opinion is that drywalling is something to hire out to a professional.  Texturing however is something anyone can do.  All you need for the job is a trowel and drywall joint compound.  Step 1.  To achieve the random ridges and vallies, apply the joint compound in random little glops on the trowel (above).  

     Step 2.  Dab the trowel on the ceiling.  Keep dabbing until you get most of the compound onto the ceiling.  Step 3.  Scrape down the peaks (unless peaks is the look you want) by pulling your trowel over your dabs at about a 15 degree angle. 

     That’s about it.  Some tips that may help.   Don’t use too much pressure when you pull the trowel, you don’t want to scrape all you texture off.  Also, don’t wait too long to scrape down or your peaks will dry.  Try to keep changing the angle you apply the compound as well as the direction you scrape.  It’s easiest to work on a 2×2 foot section at a time.  And lastly, it’s always a good idea to practice on a scrap piece of drywall before you begin your project. 

      I have never given a second thought to ceilings before.  Lately though, I have been obsessing about the plainness, the sheer glossy whiteness of the ceilings in my house and have decided  they just won’t do any longer.  Unlike my last post, I think I can do this ceiling myself.  How hard can it be?  (I am still in the middle of the last project I said that about.  Making slipcovers for wing back chairs with no  prior sewing experience is harder than it sounds).  I think maybe the kids  bathroom is a good place for this experiment.  I’ll keep you informed.

I live in a tri-level house.  I would love to open up the low ceilings in my living room and kitchen and do this.  But first I am going to get new floors (the beige 20 year old carpet isn’t doing it for me) and update the bathrooms.