I knew it, LOL! I'm so NOT a paint addict, but swap paint for gardening and the shoe would fit.

I HATE to paint. When I was younger I changed the color of rooms frequently--didn't bother me at all to buy a gallon of paint and go to town. Now that I am older--climbing up and down ladders and bend and contorting to get to trim -- well I'd rather have a root canal. I hired someone to paint my kitchen this week and I have officially retired my paint brush--at least for the larger jobs. Not only do I hate painting--I find myself choosing neutral colors that I won't tire up as quickly. I'm offically "OLD".

I find painting satisfying, but I enjoy the finished product even more.

I painted my bedroom over a year ago and I still lie in bed and simply enjoy the color.

I too am a paint addict. I have to agree it is the instant gratification that get's me. We have lived in our house two years and I have painted every room at least once if not twice. My fiance says if I keep adding paint to the walls the rooms will become smaller from all the paint on there...lol. My family thinks I'm crazy but I am the first one they call when they need help painting.

Me! Love it, a lot.

'Opium' inspired walls:

mattress ticking walls:

gingham walls + cabs:

my beloved hot pink powder room w faux-silver leaf ceiling (although pic is NOT true to awesome pink lusciousness):

I have paint plans for my wc and for the den ....

OMG AuntJen I swear I could have written your post - its like you took the words right out of my mouth.

I was talking to my Mom about this just this morning (as this week I repainted my livingroom and kitchen) and I was telling her how I have a 'painting disorder' that is uncontrolable. I swear I paint every room in my house once a year. I love the color picking process, love the paint process, putting things all back together fresh, new and clean and then having a room that feels like a new experience with its new look...I love it. If you only knew how many used paint cans I have had in my house...its somewhat embarrassing!

I think I will show my husband this thread as I try to tell him I am not the only one like this ...now I have proof! lol

Haley

One of my neighbors, with the same floor plan as mine, is a color and paint consultant. She jokes that her advice on the first room is free because, just like all addictive things, you always go back for more since she's so helpful. Anyhoo, she repaints her LR frequently, and I mean frequently. We joke that my LR is actually 2-3 inches larger than hers because of all the coats of paint on her walls.

Like graywings, I painted my BR a few years ago and I still love the color everyday. I did it when my DH went out of town and surprised him. I'm not much of a painter, I normally hire it out, so he was really surprised. Since then I've painted the guests rooms but I didn't love doing it.

I need to repaint the office but I keep putting it off. When I read stories like Jen's requiring a re-painting of a newly painted room it scares me.

rmkitchen, are those all hand painted? if so, color me impressed!!

I change the paint colors in my house about every year (not every room, but my master bedroom has been 2 different colors in one year). I get bored with the colors and painting is an easy and cheap way to make things look different.

I just bought another can of paint last night because I'm thinking of going lighter again in my master bedroom. I never really liked color #2 -- I wanted to go bold with a light charcoal but it ended up feeling dark and cave-like. here's hoping paint color #3 feels more relaxing!

I love to paint...am hoping to be able to do so once again the not-to-distant future. Stupid De Quervain's tenosynovitis... (That's akin to carpal tunnel...but the thumb.)

Another addict here. When we had our house built initially, my daughter and I painted the entire outside, and I did all of the 2,400 sf inside. That was 22 years ago, but since then I've repainted the living/dining room 5 times, our bedroom 5 times, my bath 4 times, kids rooms 3 times each, (4 bedrooms), stairwell 3 times, each of the remaining 3 baths at least twice, kitchen 4 times. Whew! I love to paint, and it seems there's always a paint brush or roller soaking in the sink.

BTW, Auntjen, I love all your new paint colors, and think you nailed it in the bathroom with that new green!

Part of the reason is that I love color, and love how it can transform a room. Combine that with my love of sewing and sewing new home decor items, (curtains, duvets, bench covers, pillows, etc.), and I find myself changing things around all the time to keep up with my fabric obsession.

Well, frankly, I think you're all nuts (LOL!). I can't imagine enjoying painting a room, but envy all of you that do enjoy it. Sooooo, why don't you all jump in somebody's minivan and head this way to paint all of my many rooms that need it badly??? I'll feed you yummy New Mexican food and make gallons of margaritas for you.
I have an itty-bitty powder room that's been needing repainting for years now and I keep putting it off because I hate to paint. Oh heck, all but 4 rooms in my house need repainting :~(
If you ever figure out a way for me to "catch" the lovin-to-paint-disease, please tell me how!
And, if you have any tips for stress-free painting, I can see already that I'm not the only one here who could use them (seriously).
Lynn

I enjoy painting too, but only because it brings new life to the room and I can drool over possible paint colors. When we go to HD or Lowes, the paint department is like a magnet for me. I have to go in and look at swatches. I just love color. I have the same issue with fabric. I love the patterns and colors and running my fingers over the bolts. Better than se_- ok, well almost better.
Diane

Margaritas and food I don't have to cook...count me in Lynn! lol

Another paint addict, here. I love looking at all the color chips, I love picking samples, I even love the process of painting.

In fact, it's the one thing about decorating where I have any talent whatsoever. I "see" color very well, am confident in choosing colors, and friends and relatives ask for my help.

Yeah, I'm an addict. (Did you know that you can get almost the same rush when helping a friend choose her paint colors? LOL)

Wooohooo! There's power in numbers! OK, so maybe we aren't the norm, but I am heartened to know that there are others like me who feel compelled to paint - positively drawn to those paint chips, like a moth to flame.

So funny that others have received comments about how the constant painting is rendering your rooms smaller! My DH has said that too (and he thought he was so clever when he did ;-)).

rmkitchen - your rooms are incredible! As much as I do enjoy painting, I'm not sure how I have the skill to tackle projects such as yours. (I'm really good with cutting in and painting around trimwork - not so sure about actually creating stripes and such!) I am in love with your gingham walls. Was it difficult to create that design?

Lynn, don't tempt me like that! Painting in exchange for homecooked New Mexican cuisine and margaritas sounds like bartering at its finest! My fellow paint addicts (P.A.'s?) - who's driving to Lynn's house?

I'll be there and I'll help Lynn in the kitchen.

Lynn, I would come over and paint a room in your house just to ogle your awesome stove hood. :)

I love to paint, in two years one bathroom has been painted 3 times, the other one twice, my computer room 3 times (the 2nd time the turquoise was too strong so I mixed glaze with white and painted it with side strokes - it looks so cool I may keep it this way for a while. lol

Too bad hub loves the way the living room turned out, I've only gotten to paint that once, and likely will have to wait a good long time before he'll let me change it. He thinks I'm nuts but I don't mind, he likes house projects too (just not painting).

Yahoo! Wouldn't that be fun??? I'd being doing what I love, cooking, along with Hhireno to keep me company, and I'd have a house full of very happy, very tipsy Paint Addicts painting my house (LOL)! Sounds like a match made in Heaven!
Lynn

I'm not a paint addict but I have a question for those of you who are. Do you enjoy the prep work? The thing I dread most about painting is moving all the stuff (like heavy furniture) out of the way. I don't mind moving it back in - that gets you the "new" feel. But unloading bookshelves, packing them up, getting help to move the secretary, etc. is something I don't want to do very often. Those of you who do that a lot truly amaze me.

Oh my gosh! I, too, am a paint lover. I've painted every room in my house (with the exception of the stairwell leading downstairs; it's next!).

I'm in Sherwin Williams so much that they can call me by name. I've purchased the color swatch book for my personal use. I LOVE TO PAINT! During their last sale, which ended a few days ago, I kept thinking, "What room can I paint."

Nothing needs to be painted so it much be an addiction. I'm so glad to know there are others. I thought I was the only crazy person wanting to continually paint rooms.

Count me in as a paint addict. We've only been here three years and some rooms are on their second new color.

Then again, when I get a color I love, I tend to leave it. But we've moved every five years, so I haven't been tempted to leave anything for too long....I am in the process of painting my dining room right now, and my bedroom will be next. I just painted it three months ago, but eh, don't like the color. Yellows are hard.

You would assume that someone with a bad knee who was in pain every day at work, wouldn't find a reason to paint her perfectly fine bedroom for the 3rd time in 8 years, right? And if you threw in a pinched nerve in the other hip, well, then, there must be something wrong with her? But maybe it's not just the thrill of the fandecks or going to the paint store for various new color strips to try. Perhaps it really was just wanting to see the arrangement of still another Ben Moore retailer that had her Googling Benjamin Moore paint dealers on the coast while on vacation? Maybe it's the fabric? Because, yes, once one has chosen the perfect paint shade and bought all the new paint brushes and roller covers, one also must hit every fabric store in town for the right fabric to make the drapes that will complement the new paint color? I truly don't know if it's the joy of fabric or the thrill of paint. I don't.

However, I do want to tell a short story from October. I'm trying to finish the bedroom with the bum knee and the bad hip. Climbing up on my painting platform wasn't too bad since it's just 2' high. But the 10' ladder (bedroom vault is right at 12') was a bit much. Not only was the climb difficult this time around but crouching up near the top since the ladder is too tall really, was a pain.
So, we agree to have a garage sale with my daughter and new son in law on Saturday. He comes in my room to ask a question and also asks why I'm using such a humongous ladder?
I smugly tell him that my 12' ladder is too much, my 6' ladder is not quite enough, and my 2' paint platform only works on the side walls...."What I don't have..." says ME, "is an 8' ladder, 'cause that would be perfect!" He nods and walks out of the room.
Thirty minutes later, he comes back with McDonalds breakfast sandwiches for Dad, my daughter, and my other son in law doing the garage sale. He tells me that he didn't get me a sandwich, but has something for me in the truck.
Yep. He did. He went to Home Depot and bought me an 8' ladder to finish my paint job. I was almost speechless. What a boy!
I tried telling him that I only had a little more to finish so he didn't need to get me a new ladder....You know what he said?
"Oh, YOU'LL need the ladder! You'll find some other room to paint before any time at all!"

Red

I am so impressed with all the painting here! Wow. And I love the idea of the paint party at lynninnewmexico's, too. redbazel, your son in law sounds amazing! What a fantastic lad. But please be sure to take care of yourself -- ouch.

Thanks for the nice words about my projects. Yes, they're all hand done by me and were tons of fun .... The gingham was surprisingly easy (in retrospect as I did it wrong -- oh well!). First, pick the three colors you want to use and then paint the entire space your middle color (this is where I went wrong). The rest is just gridding off with a level and painting within the squares. If I ever (ha!) clean up the laundry room I'll take "completed" pictures. It is a really happy space.

rmkitchen, I love gingham and love your gingham room! I saw that technique on a design show by that Canadian designer, Debbie Somebody, several years ago, and was always tempted to try it. She painted a bedroom in a gingham pattern and it turned out just dreamy looking. You did a great job on yours, and it makes me want to try it out somewhere.........but where?

During my painting career I had one particular customer who ordered an interior repaint about every other year. Her husband complained every time I showed up, that her addiction was going to bankrupt him.

To all of you who are addicted (and don't paint), I'm your paint dealer. :)

I'm a spray paint addict, but that's as far as I'll go! Yesterday I sprayed some large branches white to put on the mantel. Lovely!

I wish I had the painting gene. Last time I painted I left roller marks on the wall, no matter how careful I was. So I'll never paint again. :(

Lynn, send them to OK after they come to your house. All the bedrooms need painted! Oh, and send some guacomole with them, I'll supply the chips.

I wish I loved to paint. I have big splotches of paint on the walls of my office (BM Driftwood) but cannot stomach the idea of clearing out the place--shelves and shelves of books, office equipment and furniture, stacks of manuscript, and did I mention books?--to get the job done. There's not much wall in here, either--I have mostly big windows, and one wall is brick, formerly the outside of the house. But still--cannot bring myself to do the task.

Oh yes! Me too! I totally HATE the prep work, and I HATE painting trim, but I LOVE painting the walls. I find it relaxing. It transforms a room so quickly. And it's putting CLEAN on the walls. Being a bit of a clean freak, I LOVE that part.

LOL! Bushworks ... the pusher man.

;-D

3 handy tips:

1 - tarps can save you so much trouble. Moving furniture to them middle of the room is so much easier than moving it out.

2 - books on tape. Actually, I listen with my ipod and download audiobooks for free from the library. I once painted until 4 a.m. because I was listening to a good story and lost track of time (probably a Grisham, lol)! I am now addicted to my ipod and use it in the grocery store, while shopping, yardwork, emptying the dw, cooking, etc... I have listened to so many books and have caught up on so much I had been missing since our sons were born. I had been an avid reader, but since having kids, it was a lot for me to keep up with Newsweek and Time Magazine much less read novels or biographies, lol.

3 - get the furniture "slippers" that you put on the feet of your furniture to move them. They glide so much easier that way.

Well good news for all you paint lovers. I'm having a paint party at my house and you are all invited! I'll even provide refreshments!!

Thank you, auntjen. Your post describes me completely. It's the Zen of the thing. I love having music on and just zoning out while painting. I spend so much of my time sitting and reading, both at work and for pleasure, that now and then I need to get out the ladder and brushes and wordlessly look at color while it goes on the wall.

Last winter we painted our entire first floor, including
all ceilings and the stairwell and upstairs hallway.
It took 17 days (not consecutive days)
The one good thing about painting is -- every room gets thoroughy cleaned after a paint job.
It led to all new window treatments and a little bit of uncluttering and
that's a good thing. :) It was a winter project, really.

Oh I spoke too soon. I see Lynn already has you all coming to her house!

We'll come to your house after we're done at Lynn's, tryingtodecorate, there are never too many rooms that need painting. :D

I don't care for the prep before painting but when I don't do a good job of it I'm always sorry.

I love those gingham walls, wish I had a room that it would look just right in.

I wish I enjoyed it as much as you all do...I've got a ceiling waiting! Honestly, I don't mind the prep as much as I do the actually painting because I live in fear of roller marks.

Love all the talented painters here - it's a skill and an art!

Awww thanks ghostlyvision, I was actually painting my son's room today and I still have to go do the trim. I'm sore from going up and down on the ladder and looking forward to a nice hot bath. I'm happy with how it's turning out.

For years and years I used to be a paint addict until I came to the twelve steps...err the twelve foot ceiling house. Now I'm not liking it so much and have decided I need people. I loved the glazing and mural days though and I was very good at multi layering for depth. I miss those days. The older I get the more sensitive I am to anything unnatural on my skin or breathing paint fumes. I think all my years of diy have taken their toll. I will suffer to paint a canvas but do not enjoy the ladder or my joints after doing tall walls. Painting is a nice immediate gratification in most ways and I will be the labor for the easier eight foot ceiling in my sons place. I do wish I loved painting as much as I used to. My poor husband tried to be one of my people and paint for me but I am a nightmare micro manager on painting walls and trim so I had to fire him. It truly drives me mad if things are not prepped properly or if someone starts at the very top of a wall with a very wet roller and works down so you get dried drippies. I tried to teach him the X and to paint from that,but he can only go up and down, Its in his genes of something.

Maybe that's one of the reasons I enjoy it...I only have eight foot ceilings. (With the exception of the open stairwell--which I hired out.)

I do enjoy interior painting. I LOATHE and despise exterior painting. Luckily our house is built on a hill and I really CAN'T paint the outside...

I asked for a scaffold for Christmas. What does that say to you?

Well there Ladies....

If you're near Fargo, come in and see Me!!!

I'll whip ya up a few gallons too!!!

And yes, Brushworks may be a "pusher".
However....I think the trendier buzzword to use is "Enabler"!!!

Faron