Thursday 8 September 2022

It's In The Can!

This is an old bit of slang meaning "It's finished, ready to be shown" and comes from the early days of film making. Rolls of film were stored in metal cans [being highly inflammable,  and damaged by exposure to light] Unfortunately here at Cornerstones right now,  this phrase means the exact opposite.
It is months since we tried out tester pots on the walls and agreed on a colour for the atrium.  The previous owners extended the property,  and so there is a large space right in the middle.  The ancient Romans always called such a space The Atrium.  So that's what we call it.  

Since retirement we've rearranged rooms, the Atrium is now our dining area. It is currently a tired yellowish magnolia shade. We tried three testers from Wilko,  named Ahoy, Almond,  and  Natural Twine. #1turned out identical to the existing shade. #2 great name but too 'cold' #3 just right. [But I'm amused that the name twine seems very similar to Farrow&Ball's best-selling shade string.]
There has been a lot of fuss in the press of late regarding 'green' paint [ie eco-friendly, I don't mean sage, emerald, eau-de-nil etc] Upmarket paint companies are encouraging us to buy their products, and to shun cheaper ranges. 
The high end stuff is water-based, and low in dangerous VOCs, they say. [VOCs are volatile organic compound, which can cause breathing issues, allergies etc] 
Well, we think Wilko's own brand [water-based, and low VOC] is both good quality, and excellent value for money. The only problem in our home is that the paint is still in the can! I'm hoping that by the end of September, the walls will be suitably entwined! 
[nb I understand that in the USA that phrase can also mean "in the loo"!]


15 comments:

  1. A new coat of paint can do wonders! Natural twine sounds like a lovely color. I hope you'll post some before and after pictures once the paint has been taken out of the can and the project is in the can! :D

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    1. Don't hold your breath... I'm hoping we can do it before Christmas. Perhaps...

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  2. I’ve not come across Wilko but looked them up and discovered that there is a branch in Salisbury, over twenty miles away. It made me realise that I haven’t made the trip there for over a year now.
    We have always used Little Green Paints for the business because they give such good results, they come in a wide range of colours and we the retailer is within walking distance.
    Just wondering if we need to get out more!

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    1. There are a few largish Wilko branches in Dorset. See the comment below regarding delivery

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    2. Thanks for the reminder about their efficient delivery service!

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  3. Wilko paint is excellent. When sometime ago I gave it to my decorator he was quite suspicious but afterwards agreed it is high quality and soooo much cheaper! Bear in mind too that you can have Wilko paints and goods delivered to your door for under £5 which saves a lot of carrying if you do not have somebody else to help you.

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    1. Thanks for the reminder about wilko's efficient delivery service

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  4. I love natural colours. Hope you find time...

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  5. Years ago, Woolworths used to do their own brand paint. It was really good quality. Those were the days!!

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  6. Love the colour, it's a shame number 2 wasn't right, you would never have forgotten it's name. 😃 I used to love Magnolia paint, but now it always looks like old nicotine strained walls to me. A creamy colour is so much nicer.

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    1. I think it will work well. Do you remember when Magnolia was replaced by those various "Hint of a Tint ” shades?

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  7. I'm glad you didn't fall for the temptation to go for the middle paint for its name, when the 3rd one is just right for your space. I hope you manage to get to use it soon. I guess the preparation is the part that is hard to get down to, when you have been so busy lately with family, and tripping off here and there. Who wants to spend summer painting anyway? 😀

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    1. Family time is more important than decorating!

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