Fort Burns

Need a light?

04.17.2007 | 9:32 am | Everyday Life

A long time ago, B told me, “It is sometimes easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.”

I have used that quote before when I have had to ask forgiveness from B or to explain why I did something. I’m sure B highly regrets ever mentioning that phrase to me and if he had to redo any moment in his life, it would be to NOT tell me that.

Ever since we moved into our home, we have not liked the paint or most of the light fixtures. The builder used a cream colored paint in flat texture. For homes with kids, flat paint is not good. It shows every fingerprint and every mark. The only good thing about flat paint is that if there are any flaws in the wall, they are disguised. The paint I prefer is interior satin. It has a slight shiny sheen and holds up well to being washed. When we purchased this home, it wasn’t totally complete. We got to pick out the carpet and tile. I’m so glad to have tile in our bathroom. (The builder was going to put carpet in our bathroom. Can you imagine?! Constant moisture on carpet - Eeeewwwww!!!)

Anyway back to my story… Yesterday I decided I wanted to paint our 1/2 bathroom that is off the kitchen. Very slowly I am painting the whole house… I looked in the bathroom to establish a game plan and determined that I might as well remove the light fixture. This would make painting the wall above the mirror easier.

A few months ago, I talked to one of my girlfriends (Jill) and she told me that she didn’t like her bathroom light fixtures either so she took them down and spray painted them. Well, if Jill can do that, I can take mine down, too. It took me a few minutes to figure it out. Once I had the lights out, I unscrewed the cover and took it off too. Looking at the wires was a bit intimidating, but I thought - “I’ve got the cover off now, I might as well go to the home improvement store and purchase a new light fixture. Why paint the walls pretty, get new towels and floor mat and have an ugly light fixture in there?”

Back home, I painted the walls and installed the new light fixture (after turning off the breaker). I’m really proud of myself. It looks really good.

When B got home, he didn’t comment on the paint smell. I don’t know if he noticed it or not. He did ask if I mopped the kitchen floor since he could smell the pine sol from where I cleaned the bathroom before putting everything on the floor and counter. Clean AND pretty bathroom.

After dinner, B excused himself and went to the bathroom, he was shocked at the change. First he noticed the paint color. Then he went back and I heard an exclamation as he noticed the light fixture. Talk about shock! He was quite impressed (as a matter of fact, he said that he was going to brag about me at work today…).

I am proficient at using screwdrivers and hammers, power drills, paint and paint brushes, ladders and step stools, and I can now change out a light fixture.