I’ve read other bloggers who give a “day-in-the-life” account of their typical day, so I thought I’d try the same. 

Don’t ask me why I chose today…nothing special, nothing terribly exciting…just a typical day.

6:20 a.m

Alarm goes off to make sure kids got up with their alarms…Mr. F&F handles that and I drift back to sleep…as only an insomniac can do

6:30 a.m.

Second alarm goes off…both kids better be up by now

6:45 a.m.

General mayhem in house as kids get breakfast, pack up…I lounge in bed cause Mr. F&F in town, handling 7 a.m. carpool this morning

7:15 a.m.

Drag my ass out of bed, splash water on face, throw on “work out” clothes

7:30 – 8 a.m.

Lazy breakfast, hot tea and newspaper

8 a.m. 

Finally get out the door with Buddy-the-dog for two mile walk. Should be home by 8:30 but run into several neighbors and, in the south, you can’t just walk on by. One neighbor enlightens me about Saving Grace, the best rescue place for dogs. Buddy will get a friend if I dare peruse the photo gallery. Other neighbor introduces new dog, Eileen, a “Saving Grace” rescued terrier with a bum leg. Find out “Eileen” is really “I-Lean” because bum leg makes her lean a little to the left.  These are the kind of stories that make you get home at 9 a.m. instead of 8:30.

9:15 a.m.

In car on way to paint store.  Pick up 3 cans of spray primer, various brushes, 2 sample cans of two different purples (Wood Violet and Soulmate by Sherwin Williams), plastic drop cloths, quart of grey paint (Silver Fox, kinda like my man in ten years)

9:30 a.m.

In driveway prepping tall bookcase, desk and chair for primer.  Protect driveway (sorta) with plastic drop cloth.  Rip through 3 cans of primer in no time – the lamest amount of spray paint I’ve ever encountered

10:15 a.m.

Back in car to paint store again (lucky for me it’s a mile away) to buy 3 more cans of primer…when I get back in car, realize my hair was sticking up from wearing face mask during priming…looked like the crazy bag lady

10:something a.m.

Back in driveway priming these badboys…

11ish

Paint purple paint samples on daughters’ walls

11:30

Check emails, make list

Noon

In shower, full-on fluffing, make-up and hair to meet clients later, quick nosh

1 p.m.

Out the door to mall for important business….last day of Sephora coupon…get Christmas gifts for middle child (and only daughter)…and a little somethin’ for me…and Auntie Anne pretzel on way out, a carb lover’s delight and fuel for the day ahead

2:20 p.m.

Arrive at fabulous seamstress’ house to pick up client pillows…they are perfection…hope client agrees

2:45 p.m.

Drive to other side of town, applying new lipstick (red) – Bed, Bath, Beyond and Fabric Store (where I use bathroom with flourescent lites and realize I look like a whore with VERY red lipstick), wipe down lips and leave

4:15 p.m.

Arrive at vintage village, site of one of my favorite antique stores to look for dresser and other items

5:20 p.m. 

Arrive at first client’s house in north Raleigh (or, as I like to call it, “near the Virginia border”) – deliver five pillows (which she LOVES) and discuss tile samples I’ve brought…

6:45 p.m.

Arrive at second client’s house in Cary (the other side of the world from first client) – quick discussion of furniture placement and ideas for redesign which I’ll be doing on Wednesday morning

7:20 p.m.

Arrive at home of past client (also in Cary), take photos of redesign I did months ago, and enjoy my bookclub meeting which she is also hosting  (we discussed this…mixed reviews by our group)

9:45 p.m.

Arrive home…youngest child in bed, pretending to be asleep when I kiss him…catch up with Mr. F&F and daughter…

…and that is pretty much a typical day.

So, the teaser of painted furniture is actually a project with my latest client, my most difficult client to date…my daughter.  

She is 16 and going to college in a year and a half, but she needed a grown-up girl room. She’s had a tough year and deserves it and the designer’s children are always neglected as pertains to design. Painting her existing bookcase and newly procured desk and chair a beautiful grey (the aforementioned Silver Fox), reusing bed with new bedding, reusing chandelier and lamp, and reusing the artwork. Here’s a snippet pre-painting and pre-redesign day.