Paint job: c/o Paintzen (Use code “KELLYINTHECITY” to take 5 percent off your quote!) We used “Gray Owl” by Benjamin Moore, diluted by 50 percent.
Birch Lane Night Stands and Chest / Wayfair Lamps (Also love these!) / L.L. Bean Bed and Duvet Cover (Newer styles here) c/o / Pottery Barn Monogrammed Pillow / Dachshund Brass Animals (Thrifted; similar here) / Target Bed Skirt / Flooring c/o BuildDirect
I can’t believe I’m typing this, but construction on the master bedroom has been completed! Now, keep in mind that we have quite a bit of decorating to do, some of our furniture is backordered, and the master bathroom isn’t even close to being done. (Which is why we can’t yet do things like lay down rugs. So much dust!) But hey: finally some visible progress, right?! We’re so happy. :)
Something else we’re thrilled about? The paint job! A couple of weeks ago, New York City-based Paintzen, a new on-demand painting company that just recently arrived in Chicago, reached out and asked whether Mitch and I would like to give the service a spin. The offer couldn’t have come at a better time for us, as we had SO much going on and were completely overwhelmed by all the decisions we had to make and trips to hardware stores we had to take for the bathroom, staircase and nursery/guest room projects. Every night was being spent on renovation-related stuff, and painting was taking the back burner… despite the fact that it was the one hurdle that stood between living out of suitcases and moving back into the master bedroom.
But in our defense, it was a BIG hurdle, as our bedroom spans the entire length of the house. While it’s a great space, it probably would have taken us weeks to paint, since nearly every inch needed a refresh. (Walls, board and batten, baseboards, quarter round, trim, ceilings, doors–you name it, and it needed two coats.) The room also required caulking and wall prep. Oh, and did I mention that Mitch would be doing it alone after work every day?! (I’m not supposed to be around paint fumes while pregnant.) Again: overwhelming.
Paintzen—which serves as a virtual concierge that drastically simplifies painting projects from start to finish–was a godsend. The concept is genius: you simply visit the website, provide some basic details about the room(s) you want painted, select and order high-quality Benjamin Moore paint supplies, and pay for and book your upcoming service with a licensed and insured paint crew. And then the crew shows up and handles everything. Like, everything.
Over the last eight months, Mitch and I have dealt with a lot of crews. And each one was frustrating in its own unique ways. ;) Some were consistently late, or just skipped days all together without notice. Others did more damage than repair. And some were just plaid rude.
Paintzen, though? a DREAM. Mitch and I followed the steps that every customer would, from providing information about the room all the way to booking… and the whole process was so quick and easy. The crew was also the most professional, friendly and accommodating that we’ve ever dealt with. They showed up when they said they’d show up; they brought ALL the painting materials; they managed caulking, mudding and wall prep; and I didn’t hear a peep out of them until they were done. When the job was completed, they walked us through every detail and asked repeatedly whether we saw anything they’d like us to fix.
The answer was no; everything was perfect. And then they packed up their stuff and were gone. Like little elves or something. Truly magical. ;)
Mitch and I couldn’t find a single mistake. The crew even fixed a messy drywall job from another contractor! Talk about going above and beyond. Just look at the above “before” photo and compare it to the finished product. Incredible, right?!
A few weeks ago, we weren’t even sure whether we’d be able to go to Ocean City for Mitch’s spring break, as there was just SO much to get done. But here I am, typing this on my parents’ front deck, enjoying the warmth and the ocean breeze. :) Needless to say, Paintzen will be returning to the Larkin household when the nursery renovation is over!
Want to try Paintzen?! Use code “KELLYINTHECITY” to take 5 percent off your quote. Services are currently available in the New York City (and the surrounding metro area), Boston, Chicago, Washington D.C. and San Francisco. The company also offers services such as artistic murals, faux finishes, graffiti, wood staining, custom wallpapering and complete commercial space transformations!
Photos by Emily Gualdoni (With the exception of photos 4, 5 & 6)
Room details:
Paint job: c/o Paintzen (Use code “KELLYINTHECITY” to take 5 percent off your quote!) We used “Gray Owl” by Benjamin Moore, diluted by 50 percent.
Birch Lane Night Stands and Chest / Wayfair Lamps (Also love these!) / L.L. Bean Bed and Duvet Cover (Newer styles here) c/o / Pottery Barn Monogrammed Pillow / Dachshund Brass Animals (Thrifted; similar here) / Target Bed Skirt / Flooring c/o BuildDirect
