Adding a little colour ~ GIVEAWAY!!

We have been looking at our ugly stairwell since we bought our house in the fall of 2007, with plans to someday change what we were seeing. I'll post some "before" pictures - you'll see why. Off-white walls, white trim (UGH!) and ugly brown paint on the wood panelling. We just didn't know WHAT to do with it...or how to go about painting such an awkward space.




Sometimes all you need is a bit of motivation...this time it was receiving some painting tools in the mail for review that really set up (ME!) off. I should mention here that I am NOT a painter...somehow (and it's been rather easy, really) I've managed to escape having to paint every time. Not this time! :) In our box of accessories was a roller handle, a telescopic pole and an edger tool. Now we had a practical and safer way of painting the stairwell space with it's high ceiling.

One suggestion on the Internet of how to paint a stairwell...
I'm glad I don't have to do it that way!

Off we went to our local home improvement do-it-yourself store to choose paint. More UGH! I find it really challenging to picture a colour from a paint sample and translate that into a whole wall space. many paint companies offer a "virtual painting" application on their website, and that helps, but it's still different than right in your own space. After much deliberation and discussion, we finally chose 2 colours we thought would work. Happily, low or no-VOC paint exists now, with virtually no smell...when I was growing up, the smell of paint would make me sick enough that I'd have to leave and sleep elsewhere until the house was aired out enough. Can't use that anymore...there was no getting me out of this painting job.

I should tell you a little more about the painting tools. Painting is generally considered to be a relatively easy task and reasonably budget friendly too, and one of the most common home improvements attempted by Canadians. The "relatively easy" applies to basic walls that are easy to reach. But what about trim? high ceilings? (our main floor has 10 foot ceilings) tricky areas like our stairs? That's when "relatively" goes out the window, and the painting project becomes more challenging.

Shur-Line has been making painting tools and accessories since 1944. They were the first company to make the paint roller available to homeowners. In the mid-1950's they designed a paint edging tool on rollers.

SHUR-LINE markets a full line of innovative paint application and paint-related products for do-it-yourself consumers under the SHUR-LINE and Rubbermaid brands. SHUR-LINE continues the tradition of innovation with breakthrough technology such as the use of Teflon® surface protector on painting tools. SHUR-LINE strives to offer do-it-yourself consumers unique and superior painting solutions.

In our package were: (with descriptions from the SHUR-LINE website)

SHUR-LINE Roller Covers with Teflon^TM Surface Protector

• Our best performing cover with TeflonTM surface protector 
• Paint sticks to the wall, not the roller 
• Shed-resistant 
• Available in 5 different varieties with different naps for various surfaces

SHUR-LINE Easy Release roller frame

• Easy release lever for mess-free cover removal 
• Patent pending cage prevents roller slippage 
• Soft, ergonomic handle prevents fatigue 
• 3  Easy Steps: Load, Paint, Release 
• Threaded, for use with extension poles

SHUR-LINE Easy Reach pole

• Easy one-step extension  
• Universal threaded tip for multiple accessory attachments 
• Soft foam handle for added comfort 
• Patented design cannot be duplicated
• Extends from 30" to 60"

SHUR-LINE "Edge like a Pro" edger tool

• Eliminates taping 
• Retractable guide for mess-free loading 
• Quick eject pad release button 
• Threaded for pole attachment 
• Refill pads available

Now...you're wondering how the painting went. I'll post some "after pictures" so you can appreciate (or not!) the result...we're not quite done, as we still have to paint the trim white (it was likely never done before, just put up as pre-primed trim).

AS for the process: Did I mention I am NOT a painter? Well, I'm still NOT!! But, I was able to paint. Yes, I've never painted before. So for a complete novice like me, the tools were still easy to use. Rolling went smoothly, although I had a few tips and tricks to learn for getting paint on the roller, and then on the wall in even strokes. I liked using the edger in my hand better than on the pole, but that's just because I had to look up, WAY up, and that hurt my neck (still getting over whiplash from last summer). I did notice that the edger didn't always apply the paint smoothly (although I had more trouble with this than my husband), and that some paint did get on the edge of the edger, making a few paint smudges on the crown moulding or other trim. Removing the roller from the frame was a cinch with no paint on the hands involved. Rolling using the extension pole took some getting used to. My part of the wall was ok, but that's just because I was so new to painting. The pole is strong enough to keep the roller where you want it, even when fully extended. I am of average height (5'5") and I am able to reach the ceiling (10') standing on the floor, which is great because I don't really like standing on ladders.

Here's a few pictures of the painting in progress:

I've alluded to this already, but Richard had much better success with the painting than me. He is a much more experienced painter, having done projects with his father at home, with and for his brothers and sisters (and there are 3 of each!) and then in our various abodes since we got married. His rolling went smoothly, his edging is completely filled in, but he still did get a few paint smudges on the other surface. He was very pleasantly surprised with how quickly the job was (more or less) done...much faster than what he expected based on the type of space we were tackling.

And, the (nearly) finished stairwell:

SHUR-LINE painting tools and accessories are available at many home improvement stores.

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**Disclosure: The products mentioned above have been given free of charge from Footprint Partners Inc. for SHUR-LINE in exchange for being featured on Glimpse. The opinions expressed in this post are those of Glimpse and have not been influenced in any other way. Please see the full Terms of use.