There are a lot of things that really need to be done on the house. Really much more important than making over the master bedroom, actually. I need to paint the woodwork on the backside and sides of the house, we need to move the dang clothes washer out of the kitchen and paint the unfinished shelves in there, I need to organize my workspace, and paint the living room, and get a tub-shower combination instead of the slightly scary shower we have. But what I feel is the most pressing issue right now is to redo the master bedroom.

Maybe it’s because my mom insisted I read It’s All Too Much and Peter Walsh discusses the master bedroom as being the heart of the home. Maybe it’s because it’s the last thing I see before I go to bed and first thing when I wake up. Maybe it’s because I think it will make my marriage, which is easily the most wonderful part of my life, even more peaceful and romantic. Maybe it’s because it seems like out of all the things that should take precedence before kids come along, having a mom-and-dad sanctuary seems like the most vital and most overlooked.

Maybe when it comes down to it, I’m just tired of looking at the horrible paint job (peach walls + turquoise ceiling + gray woodwork) that attempted to cover an even worse dry wall repair job (I did this in the office, and while a temporary fix to keep a room functional, it is never meant to last forever). Maybe I’m sick of the dirty, dull look of the 4 scratched and stained doors and 3 window sills… and I’m tired of the reject curtains made from batik twin sheets and mismatched blankets on the bed. Anyway, it’s a big job, to say the least. And unlike the room re-do’s I’ve done so far, I realized something last night. I don’t want to do a quick, cheap job just to make this room functional. It is, technically, functional. I want to make it NICE. As much as it will never happen, I want to make it close to perfect, even if it takes awhile. Because it’s a really important place.

So I decided last night around 1 AM that this weekend I will be exodusing our bed, dresser, and clothes to the spare bedroom (another good reason to do this before we have kids, as that room will become a nursery in time) this weekend, and get started on the joint compound + sanding + wood putty party that will take up my spare time for the next few weeks at least.

I have a rough to-do list for the room:

1. Repair dry wall, including bad joint job on the ceiling by previous residents, all separation of walls due to leveling, and any ripples, rips, cracks, or seams in the drywall.

2. Repair any holes, cracks, etc in window sills. Remove doors and sand them outside.

3. Prime, everything.

4. Paint walls and ceiling. After almost a year of peach and turquoise I’m really leaning towards an unbleached cotton color.

5. Paint woodwork and doors.

6. Sew curtains and a duvet cover. Buy new sheets and a nice big low pile rug for under the bed.

7. Frame photos of Russell and I from the last 7 years and hang them properly in matching frames (at least painted a matching color).

8. Find bedside tables and lamps (may be a long term goal).

9. Caulk and seal windows.

10. Move everything back in.

I’m guessing it will take me at least a month, maybe even the whole season, depending on how meticulous I get. I want to keep it all under $300, if at all possible. Considering we have plenty of joint compound and at least one coat of primer, I figure we’ll need to buy some more brushes, 1 more can of primer, 3 cans of paint, a couple new sandpapers for my sander (maybe more), wood putty, sheets, material (new or used) for the duvet cover and curtains, picture frames and possibly bedside tables and lamps (used only, have to be the right ones).

$300 sounds like a lot, but I know it can go very very quickly if you don’t pay attention.

I’m excited and nervous. But mostly excited. :-)

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