 |
||
|
Walls-A Scrapbook Story The walls of an old New York apartments can take on a life of their own. Mine went through a particularly interesting journey. Although unaware at the time, it was the beginning of a restoration bonanza. The walls were peeling like mad, as if the apartment had dandruff, or worse. The local press was going on & on about lead paint being dangerous and how it is safer to remove any loose chips. One morning I woke up and found in my bed....yes...paint!!! Out came the scrapper that very day and, with hardly a muscle flexed, down came the walls crumbling. |
||
 |
The final result was strangely nice. This beautiful old European green pigment emerged speckled with orange wallpaper flakes and Benjamin Moore White of latter years. All of the sudden I am hailed as this great artsy New York home galore decor girl. Being surrounded by these walls seemed to bring out the creative side in some. Articles were written and photography shoots soon followed. (Rick Bard for Manhattan Magazine & the Village Voice being two that I am most proud of.) The walls and I lived happily this way for a few years. | |
| And then early on a warm fall
day, I was having breakfast with my neighbor Jayme Fait. He works at the
local lumber store and is very versed in matters of hardware. We were
discussing mutual "home-depoting." I commented several times
on what a strange vibe there was in the air and what a weird day it was
going to be. It was the 11th of September 2001.
The terrorist attack against the World Trade
Center and Pentagon changed everything immediately. The world for us
New York City folks came to a halt. The phone was working sporadically
at best, email was impossible. The nervous energy was high and CNN was
on. I soon found myself climbing the crumbling walls. I soon found myself
filling the gap... |
||
| ...of the ceiling separating from the building settling. |  |
|
| The crack was so deep that I shoved twisted cloth in it... |  |
|
| ..before caulking.
Take a damp cloth and run it lightly over fill. |
 |
|
| Admire your work. |  |
|
| That seemed to satisfy an urge.
How long can you lie around looking, like clouds in the sky, for imagery
in your walls and ceiling? Solution - find yourself a hunk. |
||
 |
HELPFUL HINT:
While having any hunk around can be motivating, one with plastering skills is preferred. |
|
|
: YOU NEED TO COVER UP AND |
||
 |
Be sure to prep before you begin. Remove as many objects from the space as possible. Drape in plastic remaining furniture and the entire floor. Protect
Yourself - cover up with googles,
respirator mask, and proper clothing. |
|
|
WHEN THIS IS DONE, YOU ARE READY - |
||
|
|
While the hunk-for-hire plasters the ceiling...
... you sand the walls.
|
|
|
This is where all the years of studying yoga really helped. By applying breathing and movement techniques I was able to go on for long hours at a time. And the next day my body didn't hurt a bit, instead I felt fantastic! Now it may seem that some primer and paint might be the end of this story. But there is so much more. The room with its white walls and wooden floor is like a clean canvas waiting for expression. While the restore door has closed, the decor door has opened...... When the steam heat rises, the cracks will return. |
||
      |
||
