Recall, if you will, dear readers the playhouse that was built in our back yard a few short months ago.
Ah, so sweet.
Remember how I dropped a roll of wallpaper and tacked it up to the wall?
Like so!
I will be the first to admit, I have A LOT of crazy schemes. But this one might have been one of the CRAZIEST yet. What kills me is that most of the time I have to drag nice people into my schemes in order to make them realities. Really nice people, like Jan Dawson.
Three weeks ago Jan and I stood in the playhouse and we had a talk. It went something like this:
Liza: I want to put up wallpaper in this little house. This means putting up drywall. I know this is a crazy idea. Would you be willing to give it a try and see if you can figure out a way to install drywall? If you can and are willing to drywall it I will do EVERYTHING else.”
Jan listened.
And thought about it.
I waited.
Jan: Dry wall is only $6.00 a sheet. We can try one wall and see how it goes.
Liza: If it is too much, then I will let go of the dream. And I will figure something else out.
And then Jan drove to Home Depot.
Fast forward three weeks.
NO, don’t! Those three weeks we were working HARD. They are an important part of this story. I want to show you what “Handy Jan-y” and his able assistants were doing:
Before I show you the “final reveal” I want to explain that all the work I did (mudding, taping, painting ceiling, walls and floor, wallpapering etc) was done while these two small people were with me.
Sometimes they were strapped to me.
It
was
VERY
difficult.
(This was taken after I’d planted flowers in the flower boxes. He fell asleep, poor little GIGANTIC fella. The kid weighs in at OVER 20 lbs, just so you know)
Can I hear an, “AMEN” from you fellow mothers of young children who take on gigantic projects (and LARGE babies)?
Yes, it’s true! I am insane, but some of you might be as nutty as me! Perhaps, you will give me one?
Anyway, that is enough grandstanding from me.
To recap,
Here is how the interior looked
BEFORE
And here is how it looks
TODAY
I lined the two little shelves on the stove in the wallpaper, to help it look coordinated. And threw in a little pan that is yellow, because yellow is the “accent” color.
My favorite detail is the dutch door lined in the wallpaper. I could open and shut this door all day long!
One last look!
You might be thinking,
“WOW, Beautiful….but WHY? Liza, WHY?”
Why indeed!
Why would I go to all the work and put myself through some very crazy days.
Two reasons:
1. I am totally insane.
2. It was used as a set for a short film we shot last Saturday (more to come on THAT project later).
I think I might have given up if we hadn’t needed it to be darling for the shoot.
Now that it is all over I want to tell you how I FEEL: (dawesome is a place for feelings, after all, especially mine)
I really love and appreciate my man. He is such a good sport. What a guy to help me do this! It took him hours and he did it because he loves me.
I can’t believe we actually DID IT. We had no prior experience, as in ZIP, in putting up drywall. I wouldn’t do this in anyone’s house, but by Jove, I could do this in YOUR playhouse! It turned out to look pretty spiffy!
I feel like I can do ANYTHING! You got some major, hard core, crazy project — BRING IT! I’m ready, I might be able to help you out. It’s fun to accomplish something this major, to try something totally new and it WORKS OUT.
and
I’m SO GLAD it’s over and done.
I need a nap!
P.S.
During the film shoot my brother Cameron, our director, kept referring to the playhouse as “The Cottage” and I feel that it has earned this new title. It’s gone beyond a playhouse, and so, from this time forward it shall be known as, The Cottage… suckaz!
October 14th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
I love The Cottage. It’s absolutely darling. What a fun project.
October 14th, 2011 at 9:24 pm
This has inspired/reminded me that I need to do some serious decorating in my room. Lovin’ “The Cottage,” and hope to see it soon, suckas.
October 15th, 2011 at 10:01 am
Oh. My. AMAZING! You really oughtta submit this to the “I DID IT” section of Better Homes & Gardens. Truly. It’s amazing! What a dream for your two little girls! When can we come play? 🙂
October 15th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
I LOVE it!!! I was telling Mia about the makeover…wait till she sees these pics tomorrow! You amaze me! If we ever have a ‘Cottage’ you are soooo decorating it!!
October 15th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
I AM SO PROUD OF TEAM DAWSON!
No rush or anything, but I am really looking forward to seeing what you do with the Granny Annex.
October 16th, 2011 at 12:49 pm
Oh Liza – you are brilliant and crazy all in one!!!! ;o) ;o) I LOVE YOU!! It turned out SO WELL!!! There must be somewhere you can submit this to get tons of kudos! I am going to look into it!
October 16th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
So, even though I talked to you after the fact and new that everything turned out great, I still found myself worrying as I read your post. “Oh no” I thought, “What if it doesn’t turn out awesome? What if it wasn’t worth all the pain and work?” But of course, by the time I got to the “after” photo all of my worry faded away. “Hurray!” I thought. “It was all worth it in the end!” Seriously, Lize. That was one cathartic blog post! Thanks for posting it. Because in terms of where we’re at with Babetta’s project I definitely feel like I’m in the “big baby strapped to me while I put up dry wall” phase. But I definitely have hope that maybe, just maybe, we’ll have a beautiful, little cottage when this is all over!
Also, can I STAY in the cottage the next time I come out? That place is legit and a half!
October 16th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Wow, that’s more like a dream house. Do those girls have any idea how lucky they are to have parents as creative and dedicated as you? You really should go into business. Amazing!
October 17th, 2011 at 1:38 am
Hurrah for your craziness I say…it gets results and WHAT a result! That is one fantastic cottage. Sooooo sophisticated. Well done you ! Jan also deserves a big shout out for supporting your creativity !! You two are amazing.
October 17th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
I think I want to move in – can we use this as our holiday home? I promise we’d be good renters! Andrew will just have to sleep folded in half 🙂
November 11th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
The cottage is amazing. Awesome. Love it. Eli really wants one too. You’re the best Lize!