Project: C's Wall

From the time we moved into this  house 3 years ago, I had this brilliant idea to build a wall to convert our media room at the top of the stairs into a 4th bedroom.  It would allow each of the girls to have their own bedroom (well, before Chase came along).  We wouldn't even have to mess with wiring or anything - just build the wall.  We went to Lowe's, grabbed some 2x4's, a door, drywall, & voila!!!  How hard can it be?

My dad & step-mom decided to come down for a visit to see their new grand-baby - and my dad decided to build the wall while he was here.  I figured he'd have it up in 2 hrs flat - which he did.  But we decided it wasn't really a bedroom without a closet, so we added that as well.  Then the project grew and we wound up taking down the popcorn ceiling, painting it from top to bottom, installing wood floors, swapping out the light figure & completely redecorating.  In 2 1/2 days flat.  So much for my dad's "vacation"!

Everything was pretty much complete by the time my dad left except for some final mudding & painting the closet.  I was positive I could handle it.  After all, I grew up helping my dad knock down walls & watching him!  This would be a piece of cake!

So this morning I decided I'd get it mudded so that C could help me paint this evening.  You might ask why I didn't just wait around for my hubby to do it?  Well, let's just say I wanted it done on my own timeline not his!  Besides, all women should be willing to try something new!  You never know when you might need it in life...  So still in my PJ's, I got all of the tools out & put some mud in the trowel.  I started on the corner, but these tools just weren't right!

The long narrow one didn't smooth it out enough - and the other one sure didn't work on the corners like I'm sure it was designed for.  I scrapped the tools & wound up finger painting the mud on, which sort of worked.    I found a smaller blade that worked fairly well on smoothing it out.

Then came the seams where the drywall pieces met.  I remembered that my dad taped that, so I grabbed the tape & couldn't figure out if I was supposed to mud then tape or tape before the mud???  So I did both!  I'm not exactly sure what the purpose of taping is... but it seems like it should close any gaps between the drywall, so that's what I used it for.

For the corner piece, I knew that the trim will hide one side of it.  Easy enough - but what about the other side?  Do I mud it?  Tape it???  I have no idea!!!  So I mudded it with the intent of putting tape over it, but it seems to be fairly well covered up with just the mud, so I left it at that.  I guess we'll see how it turns out once it's painted over!

All in all, I know where my dad left off and I began.  I'm sure he's cringing and laughing as he reads this, but hey - it's done!  I mostly figured it out - but I guess the next time he's mudding maybe I should pay more attention and spend less time holding a fussy baby!  At least I know the wall support & drywall is up correctly because he did that part!  I plan to hide any flaws with chocolate colored paint.  

I can't thank my dad & step-mom enough for working so hard on their vacation to give C a beautiful bedroom!!!  I'll post the final pics showing the rest of the room once we get the closet painted.