Me.
I’ve actually been hiding this $12 HomeGoods find in our playroom for about five months, so it was definitely time to deal with him. He’s part of my self-imposed “Dude Get On That Already” challenge — a promise to either use or lose the items we’ve been hoarding in the overflowing playroom. Use it, sell it, or donate it: no more lingering projects.
At first glance you might think “he’s a nicely weathered white and tan rooster” (or, depending on your perspective, “this ceramic animal needs help”). His distressed white finish felt a little too country for my usual crisp, modern aesthetic, so I decided a fresh coat of paint would do the trick. I also wanted a bold color — why not lean into the whimsical nature of a giant rooster? After deliberating in the spray paint aisle and keeping the kiddo entertained, I picked Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch in Aubergine (satin). Yes, the puns are inevitable when you choose plum shades.
If I were aiming for perfection, I would have primed first — spray primer helps paint adhere to slick surfaces like ceramic. But the can promised “two times the coverage,” so I gambled on skipping primer and planned to add it later only if necessary. Thankfully that was unnecessary. I used thin, misted coats, which is the best technique for spray painting objects with curves and details. Thin layers build up gradually; coverage usually looks sparse until the third or fourth coat. The first coat made him look a bit hot pink, but that’s normal when you’re working in light layers.
After two more even coats, the coverage was solid and Jarvis — yes, he earned a name — was a lovely aubergine. Everything with a face seems to want a name, right?
He looks playful against the kitchen’s light avocado walls and makes a cheerful statement.
To clarify his scale: he’s giant, roughly a foot and a half tall. Who wouldn’t want a giant aubergine rooster named Jarvis to greet them in the morning? Cock-a-doodle-do, Jarvis.
That said, I’m not entirely settled on the color. It’s fun and bold, but as the kitchen comes together, I might decide he needs a different bright shade later on — maybe sunny yellow or slate blue. For now, plum is playful enough to stay, but I’ll keep an open mind.
What do you stash in a spare corner, closet, or extra room only to pull it out months later and feel guilty for letting it sit? These small “Dude Get On That Already” projects are odd little morale boosters. Maybe it’s the satisfaction of crossing off even tiny tasks, or the fact that clearing the playroom edges us closer to a real design plan — paint, curtains, a rug, furniture and accessories. It feels a bit like discovering an extra room in the house, except we knew the space was there and filled it with random stuff instead of finding a secret staircase. Anyone else have that dream?
P.S. Jarvis is second to none among giant roosters — except maybe Beyoncé. If you haven’t read the hilarious post about her (language warning), it’s worth a look for a laugh.