Painting trim is something I’ve built up to be the WORST EVER JOB IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. I have painted a lot of trim in my day (like, every single piece of trim in two houses), so I have decided I’m an expert.
There’s just so much of it. And it’s all detail work. And I have to pay attention more than usual since I refuse to tape surfaces.
But there’s also something strangely soothing about it.
I dreaded painting all this silly trim in the barn. DREAD-ED. I thought maybe if I put it off long enough, it would paint itself. (It didn’t.) Or maybe my husband would forget the deal we made about me painting and him doing EVERYTHING ELSE. (He didn’t.)
But last Sunday, I realized I was holding up the progress and I put my big girl pants on and got painting. Spoiler: It turned out awesome.
After lugging the paint and supplies upstairs to the barn apartment, opening and stirring … it took about two brush strokes to remember that painting is sort of rad and I actually like it.
I think it’s because white trim is my favorite. Going from raw wood to fresh white trim is such a great transformation. Plus the repetition of painting trim can be pretty relaxing.
It could have also been the Top 40 radio I was shamelessly listening to. Because I’m so fancy. You should see my moves, people.
Anyhoo, all that to say that the painting actually calms me a little. And the space is really taking shape.
Forgive our dirty floors. Or don’t. I don’t actually care. Because I’m so fancy, people. Let’s get drunk on the mini bar.
Both pocket doors are getting stripped and painted next, along with the kitchen cabinets. I’m waffling between painting the doors the same dark gray as the cabinets, a bright barn red or black. Thoughts?
And the pièce de résistance – the built-in cabinetry. This gives us so much extra space, I can hardly stand it. That unused eave space has never been so useful.
After asking what you thoughts (thanks for all the opinions), I decided to go with the wall color (Behr elephant skin). I’d like to say there was a really great reason for it. But, it was mostly laziness.
Trimming out parts of it in white would have been a lot more work. Also, because it’s a 100-year-old barn and wasn’t originally built to house an apartment, the walls aren’t perfectly straight or level. Using the same color helps to hide any issues that Ryan couldn’t hide when installing trim.
I like how the area blends in well now. It’s also a nice contrast to the white baseboard trim and the white trim around the barn door.
Oh, and how the white trim makes that barn wall pop! Maybe this is actually the pièce de résistance. Or maybe I just like typing pièce de résistance.
Gawd! I want to cover myself in barn wood.
And did you notice the extra deep windowsills? There’s just something that makes me happy about a place to throw random items that I don’t have another place for. I mean, there’s just something nice about a clean windowsill.
The white trim also looks great in the bathroom. But seriously, white trim looks awesome everywhere.
And I think Henry’s room is pretty much ready for carpeting now. We didn’t have quite enough wood flooring to extend in here, but carpeting is probably more practical anyhow. It’s just so tiny and cute – just like Henry.
The simple act of spending a day painting trim makes the apartment feel so much more finished. Worth all the work!
Next up …
- Adding quarter round to the base trim
- Installing carpeting
- Painting kitchen cabinets and pocket doors
We’re also (im)patiently waiting the septic system installation so we can finish all the plumbing. Much of our next steps are at a holding place until we have the septic installed. (Kitchen and bathroom drains need to be working, which prevents us from finishing these areas or enclosing the walls downstairs. It also prevents us from finishing the heating/electrical and a host of other small things.)
How do you feel about painting trim? Inquiring minds want to know.
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Kenz @ Interiors By Kenz says
I agree with you about how horrible painting trim is, in theory. And then when you do it, it’s the best. I love it. The apartment is looking mighty killer these days. I’m going to have to come visit. I’ll sleep out on the deck under the stars though 🙂
Kim Woodward says
PLEASE come visit. Like. For real. Do you know how happy that would make me?
Erin says
I vote black doors for no real reason other than I think they would be super classy. I love everything you’ve done so far!
Also, fact: you have the cutest barn ever. I would live there. Is there room for me? Maybe you could carve out some more extra-awesome built-ins? I don’t ask for much. And I can help paint…my moves are fancy, too. And by fancy, I mean not cool at all.Thoughts?
laura says
What about just stripping and staining the pocket doors?
Gretchen says
It looks so good! I love the white trim against the wood on the plank wall–lovely! All the trim that needs painting in my house has carpet right up against it, which makes painting it even more terrible. So I just pretend that it can totally wait until we rip the carpet up and put in wood floors, which I’m sure we’ll get around to just any day now 😉
Sarah says
BEAUTIFUL!!!!
I need to paint all of our trim… but the tiny toddler makes that kind of difficult. One day. When she’s in college. 😉
daisy says
Wow, Kim, it looks faboo! The white makes everything look so crisp and clean. So glad you were able to stay open and enjoy the process. Love the light that comes in to the place.!
Lisa H says
I believe how much I love painting is inversely proportional to the number of times my son interrupts me while I do it. I’m talking mostly canvases and crafts, however–fortunately, our house has only needed minor touch-ups. ; )
In case you need reminding, you are so much fun! I love the paintbrush selfie…And I have to admit that I thought you were considering painting your CABINET doors grey, black or red. I was a little concerned, especially by the barn red option, and then highly amused when I realized my mistake. Hah!
emily @ go haus go says
The white trim against the barnwood is so amazing. So good. I find painting trim therapeutic too. I just zone out and go on auto pilot.
Christine says
Love the white against the barn boards walls. Is it boring that I’d paint the pocket doors the same white as the trim?
Julia says
I 100% agree with all of this. I LOVE LOVE LOVE white trim, really enjoy painting, and although I ‘hate’ painting trim I actually kind of love it. Makes sense to me. Nothing like a transformation from wood to white trim to make me giddy—great job, lady.
Faith@The Stirring Place says
I hate all painting. passionately. it doesn’t get better for me. but it does look awesome after your finished.
ps – i vote for black pocket doors.
Trina @ Let's Just Build a House says
i will say i love white trim too. it’s so fresh and clean, sometimes i think maybe i shouldve went with stained trim in the house, but most days i think nope, love my white.
I do have a confession, i do not love painting trim as much as you, therefor some parts of the house still need one more coat….oops.
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
It looks AWESOME! Especially the white against the barn wood!
Also can we have a Fancy dance party this weekend? It’s my new favorite song 😉
Kim Woodward says
I don’t dance in public. It can cause mass chaos.
Jessica @ Run Your Mutt Off says
Do you watch Brother vs. Brother (on HGTV)? Your post made me think of it because one of the brothers criticized one of the contestants for putting quarter-round on band new baseboards installed over brand new floors. He said it was a cheap finish for not properly installing your floor and trim. BUT, the contestant said that where he’s from, everyone puts in quarter round.
I just thought that was interesting. We just replaced all our trim (not the floor though) and we milled our own trim because I couldn’t find stock baseboards that would cover the gaps between our floor boards and the walls (they were only 3/4″ but all the pre-made trim is 1/2″) and I just don’t like the quarter round look.
Ok, sorry about the essay. Everything is coming along great!! Can’t wait to see you move in, you’re getting close! Also, I vote all white or grey for the barnwood doors.
Kim Woodward says
Interesting. We’ve always used quarter round. And since this barn is 100 years old with super wonky walls and the floors are also pre-used, we were just working with what we’ve got. When we originally re-built the barn, we weren’t planning to live there so the walls aren’t perfect.
I guess I’ve never really thought much about quarter round – and I like the look.
Victoria says
I JUST saw that epidode of Brother v Brother too and we had just had a conversation with my SIL about quarter round. They had their basement re-done and new floors put in with really nice new trim (bigger and chunkier than builder grade) where the floor and wall meet and she was saying she didn’t want to put the quarter round in. I I always though quarter round was intended to hide and small gaps between your flooring and your trim that they had to leave for the materials expanding, etc. But then I saw that BvB episode.
stephanie, sandpaper and glue says
looking good!! I oddly like painting trim too– I’m the trimmer and cutting-in-er and my husband does the rolling (when he actually agrees to paint with me…). We’ve got it down to science by now, lol.
Michelle says
It looks awesome! I’m gearing up to paint our first house soon, and I’m simultaneously super excited and super scared.
Cindy@TheFlippingCouple says
Oooooh painting trim. It’s a love to hate it kind of thing for me. Definitely worth the effort, definitely burned out on it before it’s done. I have a lot of trim painting in my near future. Wanna come help? I hear it’s relaxing. ; )
Kim Woodward says
Hm. Looks like I’m busy that day. 😉
Arizona Lainey says
Looking AWESOME! Can’t wait until you get moved in. Keep up the good work Kim & Ryan.
Katja | Shift Ctrl Art says
What a difference this makes. I love that you went with white for the built-in wall. I think that looks super great. I would paint the pocket doors black or a very dark gray, but not the same as the kitchen 🙂
Your space looks so fab and it looks so close to move-in ready I can taste it 🙂 And I agree. From here on out … wrap everything in barnwood 🙂