Graph paper geek
My husband knows that projects are getting serious around our house when I pull out the graph paper.
Have I mentioned I love graph paper? I do. I am a visual person, so it helps me. Plus I’m bad at math and graphing out a project helps eliminate reduce mistakes. Even a project as small as fixing up one hallway wall can require graph paper.
Let’s see if I can guide you through my plan. Starting at the bottom, the rectangle closest to the floor is the dreaded baseboard heating unit. I have to work around it.
Working my way up, I’m planning some faux paneling a la Katie Bower style. This will help fill some space and add a bit of architectural interest. If it comes out well, then perhaps I would do this treatment on the other side of the hall and alllllll the way up the stairs. Daring, I know. And all in good time.
Above the paneling is a chair rail, which would divide the white paneling at the bottom from the Olympic’s Glazed Pears color that I am planning for the top. (We used Glazed Pears in the kitchen and since this hallway stems from the kitchen, I think it will work here.) And then there are the floating shelves that I daydreamed about.
What do you think? Are you a graph paper geek? Does my plan look solid? Perhaps if I’m lucky and motivated, I’ll get some paint on the wall this week…
love this idea! and you are NOT alone in your graph paper! Although, I never can find some when I need it the most, and usually just end up winging it
Can’t wait to see this!
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OMG – I thought I was the only one! I literally have piles of notebooks with graphing paper for the same exact reasons. As in, I looked at your link about the paneling, saw all the numbers and division, and got really dizzy and think I may have blacked out for a second. Good luck – sounds like an ambitious project, can’t wait to see the results!
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You know, I love graph paper, but not for as good of a reason as yours. When I lived in Ireland, many of the European students used graph paper for their notes, etc. I thought that was totally cool, and have retained an affection for graph paper ever since!
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Great idea! My dad is a huge fan of graph paper, so I ask him to make scale drawings for me when I need them. Yes, he used to help/do my math and science homework for me.
I think your plan looks great! floating shelves will be great there.
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Erin,
I have had good luck with printing a photo of the area to be modified, then using tracing paper over it to show the proposed changes.
Another idea for the heater is to incorporate it into a shallow nick nack shelf. I have built a number of wooden enclosures over baseboard heat.
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OK, the graph paper was my breaking point. I found your blog because when I recently typed in the blog name I wanted to WordPress, it said it was taken–by you
And although I am the same age, a public relations professional, am planning on putting floating shelving in my hallway, it was finally the graph paper that made me post. When I first moved away to college, I took measurements of the new apartment and my furniture. I made cardboard scaled replicas of the furniture so I could slide them around to configure my graph paper apartment. Now, I use floorplanner.com. It’s amazing. I’m actually doing a post about it. If you aren’t familiar, you’ll now be addicted. I look forward to coming back soon and stealing & celebrating your ideas…since we’re so well-suited. 
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