If I were a mystery, this would be my title....

Hi Pink::

Actually this is a real mystery novel Killed By Clutter written by Leslie Caine. She writes mysteries dealing with interior design. I got it at my Book Club book exchange last Christmas. I wanted it so I could frame the book cover because it is so my life right now. (Okay, who am I kidding.... my life all the time) I'm just keep asking myself over and over, where did all this junk come from as we try to get this house ready to sell.

I'm about to unplug my computer for awhile to shave some popcorn. Don't know what that means? Consider yourself lucky! For some reason in the 70's it was the "normal way" to finish ceilings in homes by spraying paint with added bits of foam (i think) so it looks like a vat of cottage cheese.

Whose brain child was this? I'm sure it was lovely when it was first done but after a few years it starts looking pretty bad. We have removed it in almost every room of our house except two. It is not hard exactly, just really, really, messy. We were hoping to make it out of here without having to do those last two rooms. But after our meeting with our real estate agent she told us we really did need to take the popcorn ceilings down. The last rooms are the laundry room and....wait for it.....my office. Ahhhhhhh! We have been avoiding it for 5 years. All those books, art supplies, papers, files, the equipment, all the projects I really will do someday. Nightmare. And so it has begun. I'm looking around thinking there is no way this house will be ready for an Open House in 10 days.

So after reading all that whining I thought I should share something clever to make it up to you. Maybe you do this already but it has been so helpful to us when we travel with our Little Think. In the past I would pack her suitcase and then 10 seconds later she will have pawed through it and everything was in a jumble. I have started packing her outfits in slider ziplock bags. The entire outfit for the day– underwear to socks to hair bows each in its own ziplock bag.

I know its not too "green" but I save the ziplocks and use them over and over for as many trips as the slider thingy will continue to work. I love holding up two bags and asking if she wants to wear "this or this" and then tossing the bag of her choice to her and out she comes in something that says "I have such a good mom – look how cute and coordinated I am while visiting extended family we hardly ever see so we have just one outfit to prove that."

At least that is what is says to me.

Not exactly sure what it will say to the monkeys jumping into your car on your next European adventure next month...

Off to chant my mantra of the day "Cottage Cheese Free is the Way to Be" while 30+ years of gunk falls on my head and I lose all feeling in my arms and fingers.

This house better sell for a million dollars :: Think

Comments

[beckie]

I would buy it with the 30+ years of cottage cheese junk, but I don't have a million. :(
You can't have an open house, because then it's really happening, that you are acctually going to move away.

[Nora from Chicago]

Not sure what is in the "popcorn" ceiling paint, but many years ago, people used paint that had sand as an additive to give texture to the finished paint surface. This type of paint was very popular for use on "bad" walls because it covered the cracks and surface imperfections - - usually found on plastered walls, rather than where drywall was used. People got very creative and painted swirls and other designs. Who knows? What is old may be new again! Happy scraping!

[Stacey S.]

What is your technique for removing the popcorn? We are dreading it--our house is covered in the stuff...
Thanks!!

[michelle]

I hate those popcorn ceilings! What a huge job... I don't envy you.

Love your packing idea.

[pink]

remember we had a popcorn topped house in TN - but it did not bother me one bit because we were so lucky to be away from that train track.

maybe if you turn on a movie while you do it, it might be enjoyable. Popcorn and movies always go well together.

love the packing idea!!! AK ties her outfits with string but this is a much sturdier way.

[Mary Elizabeth]

I used the ziplock bag thing when we went to disney ... WONDERFUL IDEA!!!!! Kiss your brain if you have ever used it before!!

[Kristy]

I had/have the popcorn ceilings in my house. We only have one more room to go, the living room and it is up this next winter. They are such a pain and so MESSY to take down. I don't know who invented them, I am guessing it was quick way to finish the ceilings. Have fun scrapping them.....I am dreading mine even right now.

[Amy]

Popcorn is no fun. We gave up after doing three rooms. We decided we'll hire someone to finish the other rooms. It is SO messy and retexturing the ceilings leaves lingering white dust throughout the house. Good luck!

[Kerith]

LOVE the ziplock thing! It has worked wonderfully for our last few vacations - clever, clever.

I too am knee deep (or is it face deep) in popcorn falling from the ceilings. I found a scraper with a built in bag to catch all of the junk, but it's not working quite the way I had planned.

Time + Patience = $$$.

Lowes has a great new paint with a mild texture built into it, so that you don't have to lose blood flow to your arms with a trowel and joint compound. It's very quick and efficient... two steps in one!