How Hard Was It?

Home improvement is a lot like childbirth. When they hand you that new baby you forget how painful your labor was. Well the same goes for home improvement projects. When you see the finished product you forget how hard you had to work to get there. So let's take a look back.

The living room window was in bad shape, with at least six layers of paint going back over a hundred years. But the casements were grand and I knew that if we could get the wood in good enough shape they would paint up beautifully.

To get there, it was just me and a heat gun. It took eight full days to strip — at times it feeling like I was taking off a vinyl coating — there were so many layers. It took another two days to repair and sand.  

The results were exactly how I pictured it in my head. I brushed off my sewing skills to create the valance with the fabric leftover from when I was hemming. I think when I get my new 6 over 6, white window, it will not only be beautiful but will add curb appeal and make a statement.

I also know that when it comes to stripping the same type of big windows in the office and the sitting room, as soon as I begin, the memories of how much work it will be, will all come flooding back.

But for now, I'm willing to forget and bask in the glow of my accomplishment.

—Laurie