What Ana Does

This weekend's painting project (because it's summer and I have to be painting something!) is to tackle my childhood bunk bed frames. I started the project back in October  with the plan to strip them back to their wood-finished glory. But after some work with a sensitive stripper (heh) and sander, it became clear that I wasn't going to get all the white paint off. Not to mention all the nooks and crannies that were impossible to work with. So, I got some fantastic (low VOC) primer and pink paint called Honeysuckle and got to work.  Pink because these bunk beds are going into Alice's room and she insisted on pink. And my only requirement was a bright (!) color. If I had my way, they would have been a sunny yellow, but they're not going into my room. BEFORE: The Frames After Torturing Them With Stripper and Sanding I got the first bed finished by Sunday afternoon. And I'm clearing next weekend to finish the second set of frames -- and checking this pro...

I've started the project of stripping off the white paint of the bunk beds my sisters and I shared when we were kids. When we were little, the beds were a dark wood stain. But since, my mom freshened them up with white paint. Call me nostalgic, but I want to see them the way they once were. A few weeks ago, I picked up a citrus-based stripper and other supplies at the hardware store. I wanted something not-so-toxic, since kids will be sleeping in these beds. And with one layer of paint, there's really no need for highly-corrosive strippers.  I started the project this weekend, and still not sure what exactly I'll find under the paint. I'll strip and sand and hope for the best. Stripping the Bunk Beds - One Bed at a Time If the paint is stubborn, I'll just repaint. Alice has requested the color lavender.  I'll keep you posted.

Rise up! Clearly I Didn't Get a Chance to Make Them Up for This Picture These are the bunk bed that I had as a kid. Carol and I would take turns sleeping on the top and bottom. I usually got stuck on the bottom, which I eventually decided was okay because if the house flooded, I'd be the first one to know and could escape faster. Carol would likely float away. Our favorite game at the LaSalle Ave house was running from the crocodiles that swam out of our closet. And the bunks made for good sailing out on the open seas. This was also the bed frame we threw Liza against. (Sorry, little sister!) It's been a decade, at least, since these beds have been bunked. And here they are, ready for the next generation to discover new games. Though, they are a bit lower than I remember. Could the bunks be shrinking?! Alice was worried at first, but excited once she saw them in her room. A few practice climbs up the ladder gave her enough confidence to want to sleep ON THE TO...