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As it turns out, Orchard Supply gave me the wrong paint colors. So much for their reputation for friendly, knowledgeable service. I’m something of a fatalist: if the Universe throws something my way, I figure there’s a reason for it, God’s after a particular camera angle with that omnipotent video recorder of his. Maybe God wants me to do the store in a peculiar vivid sandstone pink. No comfort in randomness.
So I spent 14 hours painting yesterday, and will doubtless spend another 30 before the project is through.
Understand I have a bad visual sense. Meaning I’ve always been drawn to bright, gaudy botanica colors whereas the rest of the world prefers white and neutrals. Original design schemata for the store called for a yellow base and a sandstone sponge-on to create that faux distressed adobe look. Now I suppose I’ll have to find a reddish-beige to sponge on to the pink. The effect will still be adobe but perhaps more the decaying Chiapas mission look. How will that play in Cannery Row? On my painting breaks yesterday, I sat outside and eavesdropped on the tourists and grew depressed. Americans are certainly a stupid, arrogant lot. Maybe I should scrap the hot sauce idea altogether and invest in tee-shirts that say DRAMA QUEEN.
The one green wall turned out well. I started painting white enamel over the grey interior of the front counter. Grey exterior will be the same green as the wall in back of it, as will the base of the large display case. Demarcate the sales space. Like they say in the books.
Floor guy came in to do measurements. Tall, good-looking guy. Happy guy. Business is booming. I should never have gone to college, I should have apprenticed myself to a carpet-layer. Life would be easier.
"Can’t lay down stick-on vinyl in a commercial space," he informed me cheerfully. "It’ll come loose from the floor, someone will trip – you’ll have a lawsuit on your hands."
"So what would you suggest?"
He shrugged. "Carpet is cheapest."
"Wrong look," I said. Vivid sandstone pink walls and carpet. No, no, no.
"Go with vinyl tile," he recommended. "It’ll last forever with minimal maintenance."
Of course, my first choice is Satillo tile which is actually not all that expensive. But laying ceramic tile is an art. The installation costs are prohibitive. The stick-on vinyl in various "natural" patterns was my compromise. Vinyl tile had been somewhere down on the list – it would give the store that fifties diner look. But wotthehell. When was the last time you went into a store and looked at the floor?
So this morning I go off again to Bereman Carpets to price tile. Mr. Bereman defies state regulations by chain-smoking in his back office. His sales pitches float on a miasma of cinnamon breath mints. Also, there is something wrong with his nails, they are worn away entirely to diseased-looking fungal beds. Diabetes? Heart problems? Vinyl tile is a buck a square foot, and the good-looking floor guy will do the prep and installation for $700. That’s $1200. Gulp. That’s why I’m doing my own painting.
So I spent 14 hours painting yesterday, and will doubtless spend another 30 before the project is through.
Understand I have a bad visual sense. Meaning I’ve always been drawn to bright, gaudy botanica colors whereas the rest of the world prefers white and neutrals. Original design schemata for the store called for a yellow base and a sandstone sponge-on to create that faux distressed adobe look. Now I suppose I’ll have to find a reddish-beige to sponge on to the pink. The effect will still be adobe but perhaps more the decaying Chiapas mission look. How will that play in Cannery Row? On my painting breaks yesterday, I sat outside and eavesdropped on the tourists and grew depressed. Americans are certainly a stupid, arrogant lot. Maybe I should scrap the hot sauce idea altogether and invest in tee-shirts that say DRAMA QUEEN.
The one green wall turned out well. I started painting white enamel over the grey interior of the front counter. Grey exterior will be the same green as the wall in back of it, as will the base of the large display case. Demarcate the sales space. Like they say in the books.
Floor guy came in to do measurements. Tall, good-looking guy. Happy guy. Business is booming. I should never have gone to college, I should have apprenticed myself to a carpet-layer. Life would be easier.
"Can’t lay down stick-on vinyl in a commercial space," he informed me cheerfully. "It’ll come loose from the floor, someone will trip – you’ll have a lawsuit on your hands."
"So what would you suggest?"
He shrugged. "Carpet is cheapest."
"Wrong look," I said. Vivid sandstone pink walls and carpet. No, no, no.
"Go with vinyl tile," he recommended. "It’ll last forever with minimal maintenance."
Of course, my first choice is Satillo tile which is actually not all that expensive. But laying ceramic tile is an art. The installation costs are prohibitive. The stick-on vinyl in various "natural" patterns was my compromise. Vinyl tile had been somewhere down on the list – it would give the store that fifties diner look. But wotthehell. When was the last time you went into a store and looked at the floor?
So this morning I go off again to Bereman Carpets to price tile. Mr. Bereman defies state regulations by chain-smoking in his back office. His sales pitches float on a miasma of cinnamon breath mints. Also, there is something wrong with his nails, they are worn away entirely to diseased-looking fungal beds. Diabetes? Heart problems? Vinyl tile is a buck a square foot, and the good-looking floor guy will do the prep and installation for $700. That’s $1200. Gulp. That’s why I’m doing my own painting.
