Like a dolt from the blue...

One of my many failings is a lack of methodology when I approach a task or project. I frontally attack it hoping to channel zeal into some kind of aesthetic artistic impulse. SOMETIMES it works.

Well, remember I said I was done with the painting? Not quite accurate. You see I began work on the computer desk and had a brilliant idea to make the top look like a slab of slightly corroding metal as its shape and original color were quite modern, (Black and chrome). Its the curvy piece pictured. It turned out very good. Too good.

I loved it so much I went back to Lowes bought 4 more cans and spent a week taping and masking and plugging gaps in all the beams across the ceiling. Now they are "done" again as well but sporting the same corroded rusty metal look.

You see..If I'd done some proper research up front on metallic patina paints and various textured sprays before jumping up screaming and charging the pill-box so to speak, I'd have saved a lot of both time and money. Lesson to all you kids out there planning is stoopid and boring but it will save you in the end.

Note the fancy pants heating register there. This was purchased from the fine folks down at Exquisite Brass and Tile http://www.brassandtile.com. It is absolutely perfect thanks Paul! See Exquisite Brass and Tile for all your Nautilus (and every other) rooms' needs. Tell 'em Ned Land sent ya!

Finally you think you have it rough? Look at what the ol' ball and chain gave me for Valentines day. A completely functional iron ball and chain, and yes it fits. Course I hardly noticed after all these years...Ba-dump dump! I'm here all week folks.

Full Metal Racket

"Anything worth doing is worth OVER-doing", a wise man once said...

While not completely done yet the basic painting is now once again "done" in the Nauti-room. The last glaze coat is drying now on the coppery colored walls and I will be adding details when it is dry tomorrow like you can already see on the more golden colored walls such as defining the edges a little better and adding some color splotches randomly about where I feel fanciful.

Each wall required three colors, a basecoat, a metal glaze and a top glaze to tone down the metallic sheen some. The bottom coat was applied in a solid manner with a regular foam roller. The metal was dabbed on in stabbing motions with a beat up old two inch hand brush. The resulting more or less random spots were beat down and smoothed in with the stippling brush shown here with a light pounding. This process took several hours and the pound pound pound went on late into the night. Luckily Marsha zonks out pretty solidly and only vaguely remembers hearing any of it. I think it would have drove me crazy like the Tell-Tale Heart or something.

The third coat was applied with a textured roller that left gaps in the paint it laid down as it went letting the previous colors show through in places. This layer too was lightly pounded. I think I got my 25 bucks out of that brush and it held up quite well.

I'm in much happier place with it now. It totally looks metallic and beat up at the same time. I can almost hear far away engine and machinery noises.

It is now time to work on some more of those storage units and the track lighting but first the computer has to come back in so a computer desk project is up next. How do you make a store bought computer desk look like it belongs on a sub? Not the foggiest...but I have some ideas. Check in later!

Five Thousand Words

Short and sweet, mostly pictures.

I am busy repainting the entire thing. I have discovered something called "metallic glaze" and "Stippling" Two new 3 part wall colors are going in and there is definitely more visual interest.

The other pictures are the conversion of one of the storage units. Its not Nauticalized completely yet but it shows where its headed.

Big blog post when the paints done this weekend.