I have to give credit to all those people on HGTV home reno shows—this shit is HARD.

Yesterday it took me a good two hours to get all the tools up to my room, attempt to install the blind, realize I’d screwed the pooch, and fill all the holes with spackle in preparation for paint. Today I went to Home Depot to pick up a quart of Glidden Diamond paint in Commercial White (I’m guessing this is the American equivalent of Magnolia in England) and some painter’s tape. My desk is now strewn with drills, power screwdrivers, bits, a hammer, screws, anchors, and all the hardware for the blind. I have paper taped down on the base of the window inlet and painter’s tape going around the base of the inset top and along the opening (with no way to do touch-ups I can’t risk drips).

Then and only then did I climb on the stepladder and very, very carefully start painting over my spackled screw-ups. To my amazement I got pretty much all of it in one coat. When I pulled off the tape I did find a couple of drips on the left side and wiped those away with a damp rag, but on the whole it looks damned good. Tomorrow after the paint dries I’ll retape the left side and repair the swipes I made when I wiped away the drips, and then once that’s dried I’ll try putting the blind up. Again.

I would also like to note that climbing on a stepladder and painting an 18″ x 47″ swatch of inset top made me sweat like a whore in church. I was literally dripping onto the paper I’d taped down to catch any paint. Watching people painting a room on Bargain Block or Fixer to Fabulous is one thing; actually doing it yourself is a whole ‘nother kettle of fish.