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DIYing Speckled Skin. I mean, Textured Ceilings.

February 29, 2012

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We’re a couple of homebodies, working to uncover the home our home wants to be. And we’re so happy to have you here. 

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Befores, afters, mood boards, plans, failures, wins. We’ve done a lot of projects, and they’re all here. 

We have a long-standing relationship with DIY, and love rolling our sleeves up and making it happen. 

Even when you don’t want to rip down a wall, you can make that space in your home better. Right now.

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This isn’t one of those never-buy-this-product posts. It will also be pretty evident that this isn’t a “sponsored post.”  You know, those ones that have the disclaimer at the end where the blogger says that they were paid, but they promise all of the overly nice things they say about the product are absolutely true and have nothing to do with getting paid.  Definitely not one of those.  I just gotta tell you–this product is crazy:

It is hysterical how messy it is.  We had 17 holes in our family room ceiling from moving two vents and installing 6 recessed lights.  I know.  I know.  That math doesn’t add up, but once we get the lights wired, I’ll spill all of those details on how you can skip hiring an electrician to install your recessed lights as long as you don’t mind patching a plethora of holes.

Back to those holes.  After patching all 17 of them, we had to figure out how to make the texture of these newly patched ceilings blend in to our Knockdown textured ceiling instead of looking like brand new white sneakers on the first day of school.

The can said “Ceiling Texture” and “Knockdown.”  Perf.  I think the first time I realized I was in for quite a wild ride was before I even sprayed any of the stuff up on the ceiling.  I was holding the can above my head and I remember thinking, “Now how is this gonna work?” I just knew… I knew that this was gonna get ugly.  I squirted real quick and about 70% went on the ceiling and 30% fell back down on me.  And then an additional 5% excess glopped down after that.  One spray down, about 49 to go.  After it got too close to going in my mouth, I started keeping my mouth closed real tight, closing my eyes, looking down and aiming.  Every time it was like a brief snowstorm hitting me.

We have used this product for texturing our walls previously with no problem, but using it for the ceiling–just prepare yourself to get messy.  And I wouldn’t even fathom doing this to a finished room with flooring you plan on keeping.  Okay, I’m being dramatic.  Just cover every surface you don’t want textured.  Every surface. ;)

After giving the ceiling a fresh coat of paint last night, I was anxious to see how everything looked this morning.

Verdict: Eh. I can still tell where the patches were.  The texture doesn’t really look anything like our ceiling texture.  But–it might be good enough….  ….after another layer of texture.

So, I am at it again.  After spending a solid 20 minutes trying to get globs of Knockdown out of my hair last night, I opted for one of Chris’s hats today.  A quick retexturing session this morning I walked away with just a few globs on my shirt (yeah, those are from the spray texture):

And lightly speckled skin.

I’d say I’m getting better.

Psst. You guys.  You have no idea how much it means to me–to us–to have received so much support for what we do here.  In nothing short of a miracle in my eyes, we have somehow found ourselves in the top 6 for Best DIY blog on Apartment Therapy.  We are surrounded by heavy hitters–serious money-making blogs with thousands of followers–that I am sure will be rallying the troops and knock us out of the running.  But today, I feel like a winner.  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.  That’s one huge leap for small, do-it-because-you-love-it blogs everywhere. 

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What do you think?

  1. Welcome aboard, Joanna! Thanks so much.

  2. Kathy says:

    Do you actually like the look of the textured ceiling or are you doing it solely to blend it with the other ceilings in the home?

    I only ask because we have the “popcorn” ceiling on our hallway ceiling, one slive of a wall in the living room, and on the half wall in our entryway. The latter is on a weird angle so the person who did it couldn’t even reach the top of the wall.

    I dream of removing it all someday. But I hear removing it is requally as messy as applying it!

  3. I’m sure I could round up a photo of Chris 5 years ago wearing this hat. Being so cool. Hahahaha.

  4. I definitely don’t love our textured ceilings but they are they same in the whole house. Every ceiling has the knockdown texture. We have plans to plank our vaulted ceilings down the road but this isn’t our “forever house” so we are living with the texture since it is so common in our area. I have heard popcorn ceilings can be quite messy to remove. But you gotta do what makes you happy. :)

  5. Maria says:

    I found your blog on Apartment Therapy Homies and I love it! Congratulations on being number 6 that’s so exciting. So happy I found you guys :)

  6. Thanks, Lexy! And sadly, I pretty much do rock that look everyday. Although Chris’s hat does make it more rockin’ and less I’m a housewife-mom-diyer that doesn’t have time to get ready every day.

  7. It looks pretty seamless from here!

    Congrats, again on AT love. It’s so funny – I haven’t even seen many “heavy hitter” blogs mention The Homies but all us wee blogs are so game. I find it so fun. I have been voting like crazy, giving everyone with only one or two votes my vote. “Best” is so random – I want everyone to feel awesome blogging. And, of course, you got my vote too! Good luck, homie!!!

  8. The holes don’t look too bad! I think another layer should do it. And I love your getup. Rock that every day. I’m serious. I can’t believe how good you look.

    **And congratulations for the nom. You truly deserve it. You’ve been doing this a long time and you rock at it.**

  9. Joanna says:

    Speckled skin is in now. HA! :0) Just came upon your blog…….love the progress of your beautiful home! Can’t wait to see more!

  10. Kristine says:

    top 6 good work!! and good work with that ceiling!

  11. Patty.Published says:

    You are a winner! I can’t change a lightbulb around here! You can do it all.

  12. Heather says:

    My husband used this stuff on the ceiling in our bedroom and he was laughing about the product pretty hard. He was like oh my gosh this stuff took off like (this may be inappropriate don’t mind if you delete this) but he was like this stuff took off like a raped ape. He said it was crazy, he was covered in it.

  13. meaganbriggs3 says:

    Oh my gosh, Von Dutch hats!!!! Totally!!! Those were big time like 5 yrs ago. They were definitely worn by the “cool” guys, which Chris totally was at byui.

    Wha a cool product!

  14. Hahahaha! Hilarious. Your husband and I share that assessment. What a mess!

  15. Really? I do worry that I have been looking at it too long and I will never be satisfied. It is always nice to get another opinion. Thanks, Kate.

  16. Kate says:

    Hey – that doesn’t look half bad! I bet it’s the kind of thing only the 2 of you will notice. Hopefully you’re happier with the second coat?

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