RENOVATING THE CAVE
Following is the latest progress report on my renovations - to see the rest of the work
right from the start check out the Archives page.
When you have finished browsing this page and the archives please visit my photography/arty pages
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September 23 2004 (or there abouts) - As the renovation of the kitchen progressed my 17 year old fridge was looking sadder and sadder. The past 12 years or so living on the coast has not helped it either - rust was starting to show up wherever it was exposed to the salty air. I sanded back all the rust spots then applied a rust kill then primed (would have been easier if I had used a white primer). Two coats of Gloss Enamel paint applied with a roller and it was like a "new fridge". I used a roller to avoid brush marks and it also gave a nice even, slightly textured, finish
Before After
October 3 2005 - it has been ages since the last update, but this does not mean the work has stopped, far from it. It is amazing how those little finishing touches take forever to do & it must be taken into consideration that I have a "day job" and the renovations happen when I get the time and the inclination :)
My favourite bit of work lately has been the frosting of the window above the kitchen sink. Because the window comes down so close to the sink, I could see that having a curtain across it would just not work - it would need washing every second day, what with all the splashes etc. After some research I settled on White Knight's Glass Frosting in White. It comes in a 150g spray can, but if you want to try the same please shop around - I had trouble finding a stockist but eventually got one can from the Bristol Paint Centre in Lismore for $A12 and a second at Home Hardware at Maclean for a staggering $A16! It took just about all the contents of both cans to complete the job.
Photo taken at night from outside
STEP BY STEP
Fig #1 Fig #2 Fig #3
Fig #1 - Window has to be thoroughly cleaned before starting. After I worked out my pattern I measured where the tape was to go (so paint does not get there). I then used computer paper around the edges to protect the surrounding area from overspray. I found it was easy to use a texta to mark where the middle of the tape was to go as a guide - with the light outside it was just visible through the tape. I also used a 7 day low tack decorating tape, which came off clean as a whistle, with no lifting of the paint.
Fig #2 - The can is to be held 20 to 30cm from the glass, but even then it gives a stripy look, which was quite a worry at first, but I discovered after applying about 10 very thin coats it all worked out in the end. You must allow at least 10 minutes before applying the next coat, so it can take quite a while. I also mixed up the directions I applied the paint in i.e.. one up and down, then when that was dry I applied one from right to left, then the next one diagonally.
Fig #3 - I nearly had a cow at one stage when a bug landed on the wet paint - by the time I got it off I had a hole about the size of a 20c piece there! Thankfully it happened early on so a bit of extra spray in that area fixed it up (after a few coats that is).
Fig #4
Fig #4 - First window done, second under way.
If I had to do it again I think I would have used a narrower tape and a more adventurous pattern, but you get that :-)
More updates soon!
Don't forget to visit the Archives page to see the full story right from the start.
(kerrie@fearby.com)