My go at Board and Batten!

OK, so this is my only before picture of my project...this was little girl #1 and # 2's bedroom...but with baby #4...and finally a BOY on the way...something had to change.

Whew...see why that color was not all. around. the. room.!

I bought a gallon of a soft blue paint that I liked, and matched his bedding perfectly, I taped everything off, and just repainted the pink...blue! (My mom's idea...she's always trying to save me...or de-ter me from my hair brained ideas...well after having it that way for a couple of days...I just wasn't satisfied)

I took down the peg board and started the work...Oh, did I mention I was 8 1/2 months pregnant at the time...OR the fact that my husband had to go out of town for A WEEK???

Well, whatever...I knew I needed something to take my mind off of both of those things...so board and batten...here I come! Every one told me I was crazy...I was going to put myself into labor...REALLY? HELLO, 38 weeks pegnant, August, AND while yes, hubby was indeed out of town...it was only an hour away...he could make it...so I said BRING IT ON!

I wish I would have taken pictures during the process...who knew anyone would have wanted them...umm, hello...me!

So, these pictures don't really show how I did it, but you can check

here

Staci did her dining area...after we met through blogland...and after I shared all my experiences with her...she did a great job! (not that I'm the reason she did this...anyway, moving on)

this is my little guys nursery...ummm after!

I wanted the "look" all the way around the room, I decided on 5 feet high. I wanted it to be high enough to not be hidden by furniture, but low enough I could still hang things above it.

I started by ripping out all of the baseboards...and used a 6 inch mdf as my new baseboard (I wanted the boards to be even, and I did. not. want. to cut. all. those. angles. If I would have left the original base) Then I used 2 inch mdf as my vertical slats.
After I measured one whole wall worth of boards and cut them all...I had a problem Houston
My top board would not sit evenly on top of them WHAT???...so even though my base boards were straight...apparently, my wall was not.
So I pretty much started over and had to re-think my plan. I marked my top board and attached it..( I used liquid nails, and a finish nailer) and then I measued every board (where it would go) and that worked much better! the boards were all only 1/4 to 1/2 inch different...but that is big at the top, if your top is off by that much. Actually, most were the same size...just those one or two that were off slightly.


And then there's caulk it become my bff...maybe more like my bitter enemy. This step is tedious, and time consuming, and tedious...but makes everything look oh, so nice.
Another thing I learned...a little too late I might add...is that I wished I would have painted the lower portion of my walls white BEFORE putting up the slats...it would have saved me A LOT of painting time...cause then I just would have had to touch up and paint the slats...instead I had to use a brush for the edges, and then use a roller in those little spaces...what works for one, may not work for another...that is just what I will do next time.

a close up of the base, and the slats.

And while I did take out the original baseboards...I left the door casings...and I think they look great. (And I saved myself some time)

No, I did not go into labor...dang...in fact I had to be induced two weeks later (I guess the little guy wasn't as excited about the new room as I was)

I knew I could do it...I feel a sense of accomplishment and pride! I worked those power tools, and made my home a better place...one room at a time!

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