Family Home Projects: A Weekend of Renovations and Relocations in Northern Virginia
This past weekend, my family – Sherry, Clara, Burger, and I – embarked on an exciting road trip to Northern Virginia, transforming our enthusiasm for home improvement into a mission of support for recently relocated family members. It seems there’s a collective moving bug going around, or perhaps it’s just in our shared gene pool, as several of us have found new homes lately. This particular adventure kicked off with my younger sister, Carrie, whose new apartment was in dire need of a personal touch. Unfortunately, in the flurry of activity, we managed to snap zero photos of her until after the fact. So, here’s a casual shot she sent me, featuring her boyfriend, Robert, who played a significant role in our weekend endeavors and will make another appearance shortly.
Carrie’s New Digs: A Fresh Start with a Personalized Palette
Carrie, a seasoned mover within the family, just secured a new apartment in Northern Virginia last month. Regular readers might recall our previous escapades helping her with her first apartment in Philadelphia and subsequently, her second one in NoVa. Having planned this move for some time, she dropped a not-so-subtle hint around her birthday in February: her ideal gift would be our assistance with painting her new space. Always up for a DIY challenge, Sherry and I decided to formalize this commitment with a unique “present.” We wrapped up a humble painting stir stick, complete with a built-in paint can opener, adorned with a custom label. It read: “Redeemable for 1 gallon of Olympic Premium Paint And Painting labor – may be exchanged for a Starbucks gift card at any time.” We included the Starbucks escape clause as a thoughtful ‘out,’ just in case her moving plans changed or she simply decided against painting after all. Luckily, all systems were go, and our painting mission was on!
Choosing the Perfect Shade: Benjamin Moore’s Ashen Tan
Bright and early on Saturday morning, we arrived at Carrie’s new apartment, ready to tackle the painting project. Our first order of business was to finalize the perfect bedroom paint color. Carrie and Sherry had previously discussed a vision for a cozy, taupe-y tan with a subtle hint of gray – a shade that would beautifully complement the curtains Carrie already owned and planned to hang. After careful consideration and swatch testing in the room’s natural light, the unanimous verdict was Benjamin Moore’s Ashen Tan. To align with our preference for healthier home environments, we had it color-matched to zero-VOC Olympic Premium Paint. We specifically chose this brand for Carrie, and it’s a staple for us, because of its exceptional purity, even extending to VOC-free colorants. This was particularly important given that our little one, Clara (affectionately known as “the bean”), was with us, and we were taking turns watching her in another room while the painting commenced. Ashen Tan struck the perfect balance: it promised to infuse the otherwise stark, basic white box of a room with a much-needed sense of warmth and coziness, without overwhelming the space or feeling too dark. Carrie desired something soothing and classic, and this sophisticated neutral delivered precisely that. Here’s a glimpse of the bedroom before our arrival, a blank canvas awaiting its transformation:
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Painting Day Progress
With the color chosen, it was time to get down to business. Here you can see Robert and me fully immersed in painting mode on Saturday. Robert proved to be an absolute MVP, earning major points for his diligent help rolling the walls. While he and I tackled the expansive surfaces, Sherry expertly handled the intricate “cutting in” around edges and trim, periodically swapping roles with Carrie, who took on the essential “babysitter” duty for Clara. The atmosphere was a blend of focused effort and cheerful camaraderie. Please forgive the less-than-perfect quality of this iPhone picture, which Sherry quickly snapped in the midst of our progress – a true testament to the fast-paced nature of DIY projects!
Remarkably, applying the two necessary coats of paint to the bedroom took us approximately two hours. This was almost less time than it took to navigate the rainy-day traffic from Carrie’s apartment to the nearest Lowe’s (conveniently located next to a Starbucks, a welcome pit stop for our caffeine needs!) and back. The efficiency of the painting process was a pleasant surprise, showcasing how a well-coordinated team can make quick work of a significant task. When we returned the following morning, after allowing the fresh paint to dry completely, the transformation was evident and heartwarming. The newly painted room exuded a much, much homier vibe, thanks to the comforting warmth radiating from its taupe-tan walls. It truly underscored the power of a fresh coat of paint to redefine a space.
Sidenote for fellow DIY enthusiasts: Curious about our absolute favorite go-to neutral wall color? We’ve proudly declared Benjamin Moore’s Edgecomb Gray as our top pick. Click the link to discover why we adore it so much and how it effortlessly elevates any interior space. It’s a game-changer!
From Generic to Cozy: Personalizing a Rental Space
Carrie would undoubtedly be annoyed if I didn’t emphasize that her bedroom is still a work in progress; she has exciting plans for art, cherished pictures, and curtains yet to be hung. We might even share an updated photo down the line as she continues to personalize it. Her long-term vision also includes gradually replacing some of her current Ikea furniture with more unique pieces, perhaps a lucky Craigslist find or two, to give the space even more character. However, even at this early stage, just a few weeks after moving in, we believe the room looks incredibly inviting. It’s truly amazing how a seemingly subtle change, like a thoughtful paint color on the walls, can profoundly transform a room from feeling like a “generic rental” into a warm and “cozy home.” This small alteration has laid a beautiful foundation for her personal style to flourish.
Carrie already possesses an impressive collection of accessories that brilliantly inject happy splashes of color throughout the room, even with the muted wall color, ensuring the space feels vibrant and alive. And naturally, Sherry, with her signature nesting instincts, couldn’t resist meticulously styling Carrie’s space. Before we captured any “after” pictures, she went “nuts” arranging details like the soft blue throw draped over the chair, the plush pillows artfully arranged on the bed, and these delightful colorful accents adorning the side table. It’s simply in her nature; she can’t help but add those perfect finishing touches that make a house feel like a home.
Even Carrie’s beloved cat, Duncan, seemed to be quite content with the newfound cozy ambiance of the room. However, one aspect he decidedly did *not* enjoy was being temporarily confined to the bathroom while we painted. Thanks to his keen and rather mischievous interest in the painting process – he continuously attempted to rub against the wet paint can and tiptoe through the paint tray – isolating him seemed like the safest and most practical plan, though certainly not his favorite. As for Burger, our trusty companion, he voluntarily settled into his crate, which he considers his comfortable “home away from home,” a familiar and secure spot amidst the weekend’s bustling activities.
Among the many wonderful moments captured that day, my absolute favorite picture is this candid shot. I jokingly snapped it while Sherry was meticulously adjusting the side table. When she heard the camera shutter click and asked what I was photographing, I feigned innocence, replying, “just white balancing.” I fully anticipated a good laugh, or at the very least an exasperated eye-roll, when she later discovered her less-than-glamorous pose among the day’s uploaded photos. Never in a million years did I expect her to actually permit me to include it in the blog post. Her delightful response? “Oh, why not, we’ll keep it real.” Truly, the best wife ever, always embracing authenticity and humor.
Looking Ahead: Living Room Hues and Clara’s Design Input
While the bedroom is now beautifully transformed, Carrie still has plans to paint her living room. The size of the apartment, combined with the sheer amount of furniture, made it impractical for us to clear and paint two rooms simultaneously during this visit. So, that project will have to wait a little longer. However, we did utilize this trip to help Carrie select a wonderfully cheerful, artichoke-y green color for those living room walls, setting the stage for its future makeover.
As Robert and I diligently rolled (and rolled, and rolled) paint in the bedroom, the ladies of the group dedicated themselves to the important task of color selection for the living room. Their final decision for the walls was Fennel Splash by Valspar – a delightful shade, though I honestly can’t pinpoint exactly which swatch it is in the picture above. And when I refer to “the ladies,” I most certainly include our discerning little Clara in that esteemed group. Just look at the intense interest she displayed in those paint swatches! That’s my girl, a budding interior designer in the making.
Another Family Move: Welcoming Baby #2 at Travis and Cat’s Home
After all the Saturday painting adventures at Carrie’s new apartment, we packed up and headed about 15 minutes away to the home of my cousin, Travis. Travis and his wife, Cat, along with their adorable almost-2-year-old daughter, Elsa, also made a significant move just last month. (For those curious about the family connections: Cat is Sherry’s best friend of 11 years, whom we proudly introduced to Travis, and the rest, as they say, is history – including their beautiful vineyard wedding). Their relocation was prompted by an exciting expansion to their family: baby number two is expected to arrive any day now! Although Cat masterfully conceals it in this picture we snapped, she’s actually due next week, adding to the joyous anticipation.
Travis and Cat are a wonderfully stylish couple, so we’re eagerly looking forward to seeing them get more settled into their new space. We anticipate an official “House Crash” visit in the future to fully appreciate their decorating prowess. Even though they’ve only been in their new place for about four weeks, we were already admiring some of their delightful early styling choices. We particularly loved their fresh yellow and gray bedding, a chic find from Target, and the vibrant yellow rug from Garnet Hill, which instantly injects cheer and personality into the room. It’s clear they have a fantastic eye for design, even amidst the chaos of moving and preparing for a new baby.
Helping Hands and Thoughtful Gifts: Family Support
The spirit of helping hands continued on Sunday morning, with Sherry finding herself assisting Cat with a smaller, but equally impactful, house project: hanging a carefully curated collection of frames in one of their spare rooms. It’s typical of my wife to gleefully wield a hammer and happily leave her mark on someone else’s walls, always eager to help bring a vision to life. This collaborative effort transformed a blank wall into a personalized display, adding character and warmth to the new space.
Since this was our last visit with Travis, Cat, and Elsa before their family expands from three to a bustling four, Sherry also used the opportunity to present Cat with a truly special gift: her meticulously homemade baby book for “Myrtle” – the affectionate placeholder name they’ve been playfully using throughout Cat’s pregnancy. As they’ve opted to keep the baby’s gender a surprise, the book was thoughtfully designed to be perfectly suitable for either a boy or a girl, with neutral colors and themes.
Sherry crafted this unique baby book using the very same method she employed to create Clara’s own cherished homemade baby book. For those inspired to make their own, the customizable template is available for free download right here. The process is elegantly simple: it involves vibrant, colorful scrapbook paper (sourced from Michael’s) neatly slipped into a sleeved scrapbooking album (also from Michael’s), complemented by home-printed labels on each page (derived from the template Sherry designed). These labels prompt parents to document a myriad of memorable moments, from significant events and cultural trends from the baby’s birth day (for Clara’s book, we hilariously included “The Snuggie” and “Justin Bieber hair” as iconic trends of her time)…
…to heartwarming predictions from mom and dad about the baby’s future features, first milestones, and favorite things – which we had the joy of witnessing Cat and Travis eagerly fill out on the spot. Beyond these charming predictions, the book thoughtfully includes space for developmental milestones and all those other precious details that make up the rich tapestry of a child’s early years. It’s a truly personal and enduring way to capture the magic of parenthood.
Unlike Clara’s book, which we assembled after her arrival, creating one for a “bun that was still in the oven” required a few clever placeholders. Sherry ingeniously crafted these adorable little footprint cutouts, which will be joyfully replaced with the real thing once the new baby makes their grand entrance into the world. It’s a thoughtful detail that perfectly bridges the anticipation of arrival with the future reality of tiny toes.
Cherished Moments and Family Bonds
Despite how much we thoroughly enjoyed all the painting, the strategic picture hanging, the delicious food eating, the adorable baby watching, and even the competitive board game playing* – this particular moment perhaps stands out as our most cherished of the entire weekend: when little Elsa instinctively snuggled Clara, and Clara, in turn, leaned over and lovingly nuzzled her right back. It was a spontaneous, pure moment of cousinly affection. And how truly miraculous was it that I actually had my camera on hand to capture such a fleeting, precious interaction? Perhaps that’s precisely why I earned the privilege of including Sherry’s candid “butt shot” in this post! I definitely earned some major daddy points for immortalizing this incredibly cute Clara-Elsa cuddlefest.
*Speaking of board games, we mentioned them as one of our “oh-yeah-we’re-wild” weekend activities with the family. There’s truly nothing quite like blowing off some room-painting steam with a rousing game full of playful smack talk and fierce competition! This time, our game of choice was Apples to Apples, and quite by accident, we invented a hilariously fun (slash weird) variation that we thought was too good not to share. In each round, after the human players submitted their red cards, we blindly threw in an extra red card from the deck for the judge to consider. We affectionately started calling this non-existent extra player “The Computer.” It was genuinely surprising how many times this random card was chosen over the ones that us human players had thought long and hard about! This created an entertaining “everyone vs. The Computer” rivalry and led to several “I can’t believe that was random!” moments when The Computer somehow played the best card. In fact, The Computer nearly won the entire game, but Travis narrowly edged it out in the end by just one round. Crazytown! Do we know how to let our hair down and have a good time, or what?