Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Wood Paneling Is Evil {DIY Rant}

I just know that somewhere in this vast world of ours, a person has a secret product idea in their briefcase on how to get rid of wood paneling in a home. Maybe it’s a Magic Wood Paneling eraser, or Wood Be Gone… I am convinced it’s out there, somewhere. But until then, I’ll just silently curse whoever thought the idea of putting wood on walls. A big screw you goes out to that fool.

About a week or so ago, I took to the masses via Twitter and my blog to ask you all what I should do with my circa 1970s, hardcore wood paneling. You all said, “Paint it!”

And since I am a glutton for punishment, I listened to a bunch of strangers on the internet. So, I cleaned, spackled, and primed the largest wood paneled wall in our living room. And then I looked at it, and thought to myself…I should probably get the primer INTO the grooves, right? Yes. I know I should.

But just in case I didn’t need to be that anal about the process, I tweeted the lovely couple over at Young House Love with my question.

And they replied:

Then I thanked them for replying and silently said a few curse words and got to work on the grooves.

And I cursed some more. This is going to take me forever. In YHL’s how-to they say this can be done in an afternoon. I beg to differ. Maybe they have a lot less walls with wood paneling, but this project sucks balls and is TIME CONSUMING. I keep telling myself the end result will be worth it. So in other words, painting wood paneling is a lot like being on a diet- you have to torture yourself and go through hell for it all to look pretty at the end.

I know this will all pass, and that I will relish in my beautiful living room once it’s done and it’s pretty and more me, but until then, there are curse words and oil based primer induced headaches. Everything I have eaten today tastes like oil based primer to me- it is that strong.

So, dear interweb pals, say a little prayer for me that this will all become easier and be worth it. Pics and my how-to directions should be up later this week along with a few curse words.

If I survive.

And like always, I like to end with pretty pictures, so here are some more people who have painted wood paneling that makes me wanna swoon.