#strip sand and repaint the wood

[greenieflor]

I'm planning at least one diy project I want to do this year and I'm really hoping I can get it done this summer

[averixus]

I got this ~1950s mini sewing machine when someone was giving it away locally, so I've started restoring it. This is before...

There was live woodworm eating into the wood panels, the paint was flaking off, and there were rust spots on the exposed metal. The mechanism was actually in decent working order though.

I started with the wood. For the base I just ordered a piece of plywood cut to the right size, because I don't have a table saw to easily cut down big panels.

For the table, I laser-cut layers of 2mm plywood in slightly different sizes to create the right profile in the sides of the slot. Here it is before and after sanding the edges to nice curves.

Today I got started on the metalwork. First, dissassembling everything. It was scary but I took lots of pictures to keep track of how everything goes back together, so I can hopefully retrace my steps later.

The hardest part was removing the hand-crank wheel. It was really tightly wedged and I ended up having to hammer the metal in the centre of the wheel to release it. 😬

But it all came apart with no damage eventually.

Today I stripped off the flaking paint. Just many rounds of applying paint stripper, waiting, scrubbing, and repeating. Eventually got it all cleared off though.

Next will be cleaning all the other parts of rust, and then repainting. I won't be able to exactly match the old colour so I'm thinking I might do something totally different, but I haven't decided yet.

[farcillesbian]

oh yeah I thrifted a heart shaped shelf today..... I want to repaint it because I think it would be in peak form if it was pink plus the previous owner I guess tried to paint the legs a light blue while leaving the shelves just stained wood but they got paint splatter on a bit of the shelves...

the thing is. I know nothing about painting wooden furniture. I feel like this in particular would prob be relatively easy at least but I will def need to do a bit of research, like, do I need to strip the paint and the wood stain? do I need to sand it? can I just paint it all white and then paint it with my pink colours? hm

[anncurex]

Transforming Surfaces with Mobile Sandblasting Services: The Convenient, Efficient Solution for Restoration and Cleaning

Kia Ora! Are you also dealing with stubborn rust, old paint, or tough stains on surfaces that seem impossible to clean, mobile sandblasting services could be your ultimate solution. This powerful cleaning and restoration method uses high-pressure blasts of abrasive materials to bring surfaces back to life – but with the added bonus of convenience. Instead of needing to haul heavy objects to a workshop, mobile sandblasting allows professionals to come straight to your location. Let’s dive into how mobile sandblasting services work, what they’re used for, and why they’re a smart choice for various restoration needs.

What is Mobile Sandblasting?

Sandblasting is a process that uses abrasive materials, like sand or specialized grit, blasted at high speeds to clean, smooth, or strip surfaces. When done right, it can remove years of grime, rust, paint, or other unwanted materials in minutes, leaving a smooth, clean finish. Mobile sandblasting takes this process to your location, allowing for more flexibility and convenience. Whether it’s a vintage car frame, a weathered brick wall, or an industrial machine covered in corrosion, mobile sandblasting can get it cleaned up right where it stands.

How Does Mobile Sandblasting Work?

Using specialized equipment, sandblasting professionals blast a fine stream of abrasive material at the surface to strip away unwanted layers without damaging the core material underneath. The mobile equipment is designed to be transported and set up on-site, bringing the full power of a sandblasting workshop to you. Different abrasives are available, from more intense materials like garnet or aluminum oxide to softer options like baking soda for delicate surfaces, ensuring that the process is tailored to the needs of each specific project.

Advantages of Mobile Sandblasting Services

Opting for mobile sandblasting offers a range of advantages for both residential and commercial projects:

Convenience at Your Location With mobile sandblasting, there’s no need to dismantle large items or transport heavy machinery. Professionals come directly to you, saving time and effort on logistics. This is especially valuable for projects with large, fixed structures, such as walls, floors, or even entire buildings.

Efficiency and Speed Mobile sandblasting services are incredibly efficient, often completing projects in a fraction of the time it would take with manual cleaning or less advanced methods. The process is highly effective at removing years’ worth of buildup in a single session, reducing the amount of time needed for prep work in renovations or restorations.

Versatile Applications Sandblasting can be used on a wide range of materials – including metal, brick, stone, and wood. Whether you’re refreshing a wood deck, preparing a metal surface for repainting, or stripping paint from brick, mobile sandblasting services offer the flexibility to handle diverse surfaces and project types.

Eco-Friendly Options Many companies now offer eco-friendly abrasives and dust control options to reduce the environmental impact of sandblasting. Materials like recycled glass beads or walnut shells can be used to achieve effective cleaning without introducing harmful chemicals, making it safer for both the environment and the people nearby.

Common Uses of Mobile Sandblasting Services

Auto Restoration For classic car restorations, sandblasting is often used to remove rust, old paint, and other imperfections, creating a smooth, pristine surface ready for a fresh coat of paint. Mobile sandblasting allows car enthusiasts to bring the restoration team right to their garage.

Residential Projects Homeowners looking to refresh outdoor areas or restore features like stone walls, wooden decks, and concrete patios can benefit from mobile sandblasting. It’s a quick way to make old surfaces look brand new, increasing curb appeal and property value.

Industrial and Commercial Cleaning In industrial settings, equipment and surfaces can accumulate layers of grease, grime, and rust. Mobile sandblasting services are a safe and effective way to keep machinery and facilities in peak condition. For commercial spaces, it helps maintain a clean, professional appearance without the need to move heavy equipment.

Why Choose Mobile Sandblasting for Your Next Project?

When you need effective, convenient cleaning or restoration, mobile sandblasting services are hard to beat. With the flexibility to work on different materials, the efficiency of on-site service, and eco-friendly options, this method offers an all-in-one solution. Not only can you save time, but you can also have peace of mind knowing that the job will be done thoroughly and professionally.

Whether it’s breathing new life into your property’s exterior, restoring a beloved vehicle, or keeping industrial equipment in optimal shape, mobile sandblasting services make the process seamless. If you’re ready to refresh, restore, or rejuvenate, mobile sandblasting might be the perfect solution to achieve a like-new finish right where you need it.

[sarcoatingsllp]

Essential Steps to Prepare Surfaces for Liquid Spray Painting

Liquid spray painting can provide a smooth, even finish to a variety of surfaces, from metal to wood. However, the key to achieving a professional and long-lasting result lies in surface preparation. Skipping or rushing this step often leads to imperfections like peeling, cracking, or poor adhesion. Here are the essential steps for properly preparing surfaces for spray painting service:

1. Clean the Surface

Before any painting begins, it’s crucial to clean the surface thoroughly. Dust, grease, and grime can stop the paint from sticking properly, causing uneven application or peeling. Use a damp cloth for light dirt, but for tougher grime, you may need a mild detergent or a degreaser. Make sure to dry the surface completely before moving on to the next step.

2. Remove Old Paint or Finish

If you are repainting an already coated surface, removing old paint or finish is essential. Paint removers, scrapers, or sandpaper can be used to strip the surface. This provides a clean surface for the new paint to adhere to. Depending on the type of old paint or coating, you might need to use specific chemical strippers or solvents.

3. Repair Surface Imperfections

Examine the surface for cracks, holes, or rough areas. Filling cracks or holes with filler, such as putty or wood filler, helps ensure a smooth finish. Once the filler has dried, sand the area until it's smooth. For metal surfaces, any rust should be treated with a rust converter or completely removed by sanding or grinding.

4. Sanding the Surface

Sanding helps in creating a slightly rough surface that will allow the paint to stick better. For wood, start with medium-grit sandpaper and finish with fine-grit. For metal or plastic surfaces, lightly sand with fine-grit sandpaper to remove any gloss. Ensure you clean off all sanding dust afterward.

5. Use Primer

Priming is an essential step for ensuring proper adhesion and enhancing the durability of the paint. For porous surfaces like wood, primer helps to seal the surface and prevent excessive absorption of the paint. Surface Treatment benefit from primers that prevent rust and enhance the bonding of the paint. Apply the primer in thin, even layers and let it dry completely before starting to paint.

6. Masking and Covering Areas

Before painting, cover areas that you don't want to paint, such as nearby surfaces or hardware. Use painter’s tape and plastic sheeting or drop cloths to protect these areas from overspray. Make sure the tape is securely applied to prevent any paint from seeping through.

7. Test the Paint

Before applying the paint to the entire surface, it’s a good idea to test the spray on a small, inconspicuous area. This allows you to ensure the color, texture, and adhesion are correct. It also helps you practice your spraying technique to avoid any mistakes.

8. Ventilation and Safety Precautions

Liquid Painting in bawal can release fumes that are harmful to breathe in, so make sure the area is well-ventilated. If painting indoors, use fans or open windows to ensure proper ventilation. Wearing protective gear such as goggles, gloves, and a mask is essential to avoid inhaling harmful particles and chemicals.

Proper surface preparation is the foundation of a successful spray-painting project. By cleaning, sanding, repairing, priming, and protecting, you'll achieve a smooth, durable, and professional finish. Taking the time to prepare the surface properly will ensure that your paint job looks great and lasts for years to come. For any clarifications or queries, please feel free to contact us:

Mobile: +91–9311813406

Email ID: info@sarcoatings.com

Website: www.sarcoatings.com

[marine-towing-companies-au]

Commercial Sand Blasting: A Vital Industrial Process

Commercial sand blasting is a vital process for preparing surfaces for painting, coating, or other finishes. It's widely used in many industries. This method involves shooting a powerful stream of tiny particles, usually sand, at a surface to remove dirt, rust, or old paint. Sand blasting ensures better adhesion for subsequent coatings by cleaning and roughening the surface.

How Commercial Sand Blasting Works

Commercial sand blasting is a process that uses high-pressure air to propel tiny particles, often sand, to a surface. This forceful impact removes dirt, rust, paint, or other contaminants. It's like using a powerful jet of sand to clean a surface. The process cleans the surface and creates a rough texture, which helps new coatings stick better.

The type of abrasive used depends on the material being cleaned and the desired result. While sand is common, other materials like steel grit or aluminium oxide can also be used. These abrasives are selected based on their hardness and their ability to achieve specific cleaning outcomes.

Benefits of Commercial Sand Blasting

Sand blasting for commercial use has several benefits. First, it effectively removes contaminants, rust, and old paint from surfaces, preparing them for new coatings. This creates a clean surface that improves adhesion, making the finished product more durable and long-lasting.

Secondly, sand blasting creates a rough surface, providing an excellent base for paint or other coatings to bond with. This prevents peeling and chipping, enhancing the overall appearance and protection of the surface.

Thirdly, commercial sand blasting is suitable for various materials, such as metal, concrete, and wood. It can be used on both large structures and small components, making it a flexible solution for many industries.

Industries Relying on Commercial Sand Blasting

Commercial sand blasting is incredibly important in various industries due to its versatility and effectiveness. In the construction industry, it is used to carefully prepare surfaces for painting, coating, or waterproofing, ensuring the best adhesion and durability of the finishes.

In shipbuilding and marine industries, sand blasting is a vital technique for removing marine growth and preparing hulls for repainting, which contributes to the maintenance and longevity of marine vessels. Similarly, in the automotive industry, the process is crucial for stripping old paint and preparing car bodies for repainting or restoration, ensuring a flawless finish.

Moreover, the manufacturing sector relies on sand blasting to meticulously clean and prepare metal parts for further processing, thereby maintaining quality standards and optimal functionality of the parts.

Safety Considerations

It's important to focus on safety when using commercial sand blasting. The high-pressure abrasive material can cause injuries if not handled correctly. Operators need to wear protective gear like masks, goggles, and gloves, and ensure there is good ventilation to avoid exposure to silica dust. Following safety guidelines is crucial to protect workers and ensure the safe operation of the equipment.

In conclusion, commercial sand blasting is an essential industrial process that provides various benefits. These include preparing surfaces for applications, improving coating adhesion, and enhancing product quality. It's crucial to prioritise safety and environmental considerations, so selecting a reputable service provider is important.

[durofillseo]

Epoxy Epiphanies: Unexpected Uses That Will Blow Your Mind

Epoxy. The name conjures images of mending chipped mugs and gluing together broken heirlooms. But this trusty two-part wonder holds a treasure trove of surprises! Get ready to have your mind blown by the unexpected ways epoxy can transform your everyday life. Buckle up, crafters and DIY enthusiasts, because we're diving into the world of Epoxy Epiphanies epoxy for floors tiles

Beyond Repairs: Unveiling Epoxy's Hidden Talents

Sure, epoxy excels at fixing broken treasures, but its potential stretches far beyond simple restorations. It's a creative catalyst waiting to be unleashed:

Upcycled Masterpieces: Transform old furniture! Breathe new life into a dated coffee table by creating a stunning river table effect. Pour a layer of colored epoxy and embed pebbles or wood shavings for a truly unique centerpiece.

The Art of Faux Finishing: Craving a high-end, polished look without the hefty price tag? Epoxy can be your secret weapon! Create a faux marble countertop by using colored epoxy and paint to mimic the natural veining.

Light Up Your Life: Epoxy isn't afraid of a little electricity! Craft one-of-a-kind lamps by embedding LED strips within clear epoxy pours. This creates a mesmerizing, modern lighting feature that's sure to be a conversation starter.

The Ultimate Coasters: Tired of water rings ruining your furniture? Create custom coasters using epoxy and your favorite decorative elements. Think bottle caps, dried flowers, or even small figurines – all encased in a crystal-clear layer of epoxy.

DIY Jewelry Molds: Channel your inner jeweler! Craft unique molds using silicone and embed dried flowers, glitter, or even small charms within clear epoxy. The result? Bespoke, one-of-a-kind pendants that showcase your creativity.

The Fixer-Upper Hero: Everyday Hacks You Didn't Know You Needed

Epoxy isn't just for crafting; it's a household hero waiting to solve those pesky everyday problems:

Loose Tile Terminator: A wobbly tile in your bathroom or kitchen can be a safety hazard. But fear not! Epoxy can be used to securely reattach loose tiles, preventing further damage and ensuring a safe and level surface.

Cracked Countertop Conqueror: Has your countertop developed a minor crack? Before resorting to expensive replacements, consider using epoxy for a quick and effective repair. Choose an epoxy suitable for countertops and follow the instructions carefully for a long-lasting fix that restores functionality to your kitchen.

Leaky Pipe Savior: A small leak can turn into a major headache. Epoxy can be used as a temporary fix for minor pipe leaks until a permanent solution can be implemented. Just ensure the pipe material is compatible with the chosen epoxy.

Loose Button Buster: A loose button on your favorite shirt can be a minor annoyance. Epoxy can be used to securely reattach buttons, preventing them from falling off at the most inconvenient times.

Decorative Fill for Holes: Have you removed an old wall fixture and are left with an unsightly hole? Epoxy can be used to fill the hole, and once cured, can be sanded and painted to blend seamlessly with the wall. This saves you the trouble of patching and repainting the entire area, transforming a potential eyesore into a smooth and finished surface.

From Fixing to Flourishing: Why Epoxy is an Epiphany

Epoxy's versatility and user-friendliness make it an essential addition to any toolbox:

Strength and Durability: Epoxy forms a powerful chemical bond that can withstand daily wear and tear, ensuring your creations and repairs last for years to come.

Crystal Clarity: High-quality epoxy boasts exceptional clarity, allowing you to maintain the pristine aesthetic of your project, especially for pieces where a flawless, transparent finish is desired.

User-Friendly: Many epoxies are beginner-friendly, requiring minimal tools or expertise for application. This empowers you to tackle crafting projects and repairs with confidence, regardless of your experience level.

Cost-Effective: Compared to other crafting materials, glass bond epoxy is a cost-effective choice. A small investment can unlock a world of creative possibilities and repairs, saving you money in the long run.

Embrace the Epoxy Epiphany: Unleash Your Inner Creator

The world of epoxy is brimming with possibilities waiting to be explored. So, the next time you reach for that tube of epoxy, remember – it's not just a glue, it's an epiphany. It's a gateway to unleash your inner creator, a fixer-upper hero, and a cost-effective solution to everyday problems. With a little creativity and a dash of epoxy, the possibilities are endless Epoxy tile joint filler

[adriangreen087]

Can You Sandblast Wood

Can you sandblast wood? Sandblasting is a popular technique for removing paint, rust, and other surface imperfections from metal objects but it can also be used on wooden items too! To give your woodworking projects an old-school touch, this powerful method may be just what you need.

Let's take a deep dive into exactly how to sandblast wood correctly so that your surfaces come out looking perfect every time. Read this article to learn all the steps involved in the successful sandblasting of any wooden item!

Why May You Want to Sandblast Wood?

1 . To Remove Stains and Paint

Sandblasting is a versatile process that removes paint, varnish, oil stains and other contaminants from wood surfaces. This cleaning technique uses high-pressure air to blast fine abrasive material onto the surface of the wood, effectively stripping away any unwanted substances.

2 . To Achieve a Smooth Surface

After years of exposure to the elements, wooden surfaces can become rough and splintered. Sandblasting can smooth out these imperfections, resulting in a clean and even surface. This makes it ideal for preparing wood for refinishing or repainting.

3 . To Restore Old Wood

Wooden furniture, decks, and structures that have been neglected or weathered over time can benefit from sandblasting. By removing the top layers of damaged wood, sandblasting can reveal the natural beauty underneath and give old pieces a new lease on life.

4 . To Create Unique Finishes

Sandblasting can also be used to create unique finishes on wood surfaces. By adjusting the pressure and type of abrasive material used, different textures and patterns can be achieved. This makes it a popular technique for creating rustic or distressed looks on furniture and other wooden items.

Can You Sandblast Wood?

Yes, you can sandblast wood. In fact, it is a common method used by professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike to achieve the results mentioned above. However, it is important to note that not all types of wood are suitable for sandblasting. Softwoods like pine, cedar, and redwood can be easily damaged by the high-pressure blasting. Hardwoods like oak, cherry, and maple are more durable and can withstand the process better.

How to Sandblast Wood in 5 Easy Steps

Step 1: Understand the Process of Sandblasting Wood

Sandblasting is a technique used to smooth or shape a surface by blasting it with sand at high pressure. It can be used on various materials, including wood. The process involves using compressed air to propel abrasive materials, such as sand or walnut shells, onto the surface to remove unwanted layers.

Step 2: Prepare Your Workspace and Safety Gear

Before you begin sandblasting, it is essential to prepare your workspace and wear proper safety gear. The process creates a lot of dust, so make sure the area is well-ventilated, and consider wearing a respirator or dust mask. It would also be best if you covered any nearby surfaces or items that could be damaged by flying debris. Additionally, wear protective clothing and gloves to avoid any skin irritation from the abrasive materials.

Step 3: Choose the Right Sandblasting Equipment

When it comes to sandblasting wood, you can either use a pressure washer with a sandblasting attachment or a sandblaster machine. Both options work well, but make sure to use equipment that is suitable for your project's size and scope. You can rent equipment if you don't want to invest in purchasing it.

Step 4: Practice Sandblasting Techniques

Before starting on your wood surface, practice sandblasting on a scrap piece of wood to get a feel for the technique and equipment. The key is to maintain a consistent distance between the nozzle and the wood surface while moving in a back-and-forth motion. This will ensure an even and smooth finish.

Step 5: Sandblast Your Wood Surface

Once you feel comfortable with the technique, it's time to start sandblasting your wood surface. Begin by holding the nozzle about 8-12 inches away from the wood and move it slowly across the surface, overlapping each pass slightly. As you sandblast, be sure to check your progress and adjust the pressure or nozzle distance if needed. Once you achieve your desired level of smoothness, stop and clean off any remaining debris.

Conclusion

Now you know can you sandblast wood or not.  Sandblasting wood is a simple process, but it requires proper preparation and practice to achieve the desired results. With the right equipment and techniques, you can transform any rough or uneven wood surface into a smooth masterpiece. So whether you're looking to refinish old furniture or create custom wood pieces, sandblasting may be an effective method for achieving your project goals. Remember to always prioritize safety and proper equipment usage when sandblasting wood.  Happy sandblasting!

[urbanabodechronicles]

Transforming Urban Spaces: DIY Projects for Stylish Apartments

Urban apartment living comes with space constraints, but that shouldn't limit your ability to infuse personality and style. With clever DIY projects and budget-savvy decor solutions, transforming compact city dwellings into stylish sanctuaries is possible. Here are innovative ideas to make your urban apartment feel like a true home.

Define Your Style

Start by identifying your personal decor style - modern, bohemian, mid-century modern, etc. This provides direction for all design choices to follow, creating a cohesive look. Collect inspiration images and examples that speak to you. Shop second-hand stores and online marketplaces to find affordable pieces reflecting your aesthetic.

Upcycle Furnishings

Give tired furnishings new life through upcycling. Sand and repaint old furniture in on-trend colors. Convert a dresser into a quirky console by replacing the hardware and topping it with glass. Add removable wallpaper or contact paper to shelving units and side tables for pattern and interest.

Embrace Multipurpose Pieces

Make the most of small square footage by selecting furniture that multitasks. Ottomans with hidden storage, coffee tables with lift-tops, and beds with drawers maximize functionality. Floating wall shelves and vertical racks provide display space while occupying zero floorspace.

Incorporate Greenery

Plants bring life and freshness to urban interiors. Opt for low-maintenance varieties like succulents, snake plants, and pothos that thrive without much light. Hanging plants, mounted wall planters, and compact herb gardens allow integrating greenery in inventive ways.

Display Art Creatively

Make blank walls and awkward nooks more interesting with art. Frame favorite prints or pages from books and magazines. Paint directly on walls for a bold, artistic focal point. Lean large canvases against walls rather than hanging for a casual vibe.

Add Pops of Color

Inject color through decorative accents like throw pillows, area rugs, and bold wall hangings rather than large furniture or art. These smaller hits of vibrant color are easily changeable as your style evolves.

Install Specialty Lighting

Thoughtful lighting transforms studios and small spaces. Sconces, pendants, and under-cabinet fixtures provide task lighting. Strip LEDs and picture lights create dramatic focal points. Smart bulbs enable adjusting ambiance.

Personalize with DIY Touches

Infuse personality by making custom pieces yourself. Create graphic wall art using paint swatches. Fashion headboards or bedframes using reclaimed wood. Display favorite photos gallery-style rather than in frames.

With inventive DIY projects and decor solutions, small urban apartments can feel fresh, stylish, and uniquely you. Tap into your creativity to transform compact city spaces into inspiring retreats.

[eduardosquires]

Antique Furniture Restoration: Areas of Special Attention

Antique furniture carries with it the weight of history, whispers of stories from the past, and a unique charm that modern furniture often lacks. When restoring such pieces, one must not only think of aesthetics but also of preserving the very essence of the item. Here's a closer look at the critical areas to pay special attention to when diving into the art and science of antique furniture restoration.

Research and Authenticity

Before sanding, repainting, or making any changes, it's crucial to do your homework. Sometimes, the blemishes and wear are what give a piece its value. Look for markings, tags, or any other indicators of its origin. Researching the period, style, and manufacturer can give you valuable information on the materials and techniques originally used, ensuring your restoration efforts are in line with the piece's historical context.

Structural Integrity

Antique furniture restoration isn't just about aesthetics. The piece needs to be functional and safe. Examine the joints, legs, and other load-bearing components to ensure they can still bear weight. Loose or wobbly parts might need regluing or reattachment. Traditional joinery techniques, like dovetailing, should be maintained wherever possible.

Veneer and Inlay Work

Veneering is a common technique in antique furniture, where thin layers of high-quality wood are bonded to a base of lesser quality wood. This veneer can become loose, chipped, or damaged over time. Similarly, inlaid designs, which are made by embedding pieces of contrasting materials into the surface of furniture, can also suffer damage. Both require delicate work to restore without causing further damage, so be prepared to use patience and precision when handling these areas.

Hardware and Fittings

Antique furniture often comes with original hardware like handles, knobs, locks, and hinges. These pieces not only serve a functional purpose but add to the character of the item. Whenever possible, restore and reuse the original hardware. If replacements are necessary, source replicas or period-appropriate pieces to maintain authenticity.

Finish and Patina

The finish of a piece of furniture – be it varnish, shellac, or oil – protects the wood and enhances its appearance. Over time, this finish can degrade. However, rather than just stripping and refinishing, consider the patina – the natural aging process of wood that gives it a distinct, often valued, character. Stripping can remove this patina, so it's essential to weigh the benefits of a new finish against the loss of historical character.

Upholstery and Fabric

If the antique has an upholstered component, this area can often show the most wear. The temptation might be to replace old, worn-out fabric with something new and vibrant, but consider the historical accuracy. If the original fabric is salvageable, professional cleaning or minor mending might be preferable. If reupholstery is the only option, try to choose fabrics that reflect the period and style of the piece.

Pests and Mold

Antiques, especially those kept in damp or dark conditions, can become home to pests like woodworms or mold. Address these issues immediately. Treatment for woodworms might involve chemical applications or controlled freezing, depending on the infestation's severity. Mold, on the other hand, requires cleaning with appropriate solutions and ensuring the piece is kept in a dry, well-ventilated area afterward.

Tools and Techniques

Using the right tools and techniques can make all the difference. Where possible, use hand tools to maintain control and reduce the risk of damaging the piece. Familiarize yourself with traditional techniques used during the piece's era. Sometimes, the old ways are the best ways when it comes to restoration.

Conclusion

Antique furniture restoration is a journey of patience, respect, and love for history. By paying special attention to these areas, not only can the physical beauty of the piece be rejuvenated, but its soul and story can continue to inspire and enchant for generations to come. Remember, it's not about making the piece look new, but about honoring its past while ensuring its future.

[generalpandabasement]

Is your home in need of a makeover? Start with stripping the paint!

Are you looking to give your home a makeover? You don’t need to break the bank to get started! Stripping away old paint and varnish from weatherboards, table tops, and doors can be a great first step. It can be a time-consuming process, but with the right tools and techniques, you can achieve the results you’re after. In this blog post, we’ll explore the basics of stripping paint and varnish, as well as provide some helpful tips and tricks to make the job a bit easier.

Why you should strip the paint

Stripping paint and varnish from weatherboards, table tops, doors, and other furniture can be a laborious and time-consuming job, but it is necessary if you want to give your home a fresh look. Stripping paint can also help to preserve the longevity of your furniture and ensure that it is properly sealed and protected from weather and wear. By removing old layers of paint and varnish, you can also get a better look at the wood grain, which can enhance the look of your furniture and provide a more pleasing aesthetic. Stripping paint also helps to prevent rot and insect infestation, which can be damaging to the furniture. In addition, stripping paint will help to maintain the structural integrity of the furniture, as well as help to prevent any future paint from chipping or cracking. Lastly, stripping paint can help you save money in the long run by ensuring that you won't have to repaint or refinish your furniture as often. If you’re looking for an efficient way to strip paint without much hassle, consider using an aerosol auto paint stripper. This product is designed specifically for stripping paint off metal surfaces such as car frames, so it’s perfect for furniture like door frames and outdoor railings. It works quickly and effectively on multiple coatings of various types of paints. Aerosol auto paint stripper is easy to use because it doesn’t require sanding or wire brushing, saving you both time and energy. Plus, you don’t have to worry about accidentally staining wood surfaces since it won’t damage them in the process. If you're looking for an effective way to strip off stubborn paint layers, an aerosol auto paint stripper is definitely worth investing in.

What you need to know before you start

Stripping paint and varnish from weatherboards, table tops, doors and other surfaces can be a daunting task. Before starting this project, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, make sure you’re working in a well-ventilated area. This will help to prevent the fumes from any harsh chemical strippers from becoming overwhelming. Also, if you’re working indoors, make sure to cover any furniture or carpets that could be damaged by paint or varnish remover.

Second, consider the type of surface you’ll be working on. Different surfaces require different types of stripping products and methods. For instance, softwood requires an alkaline stripper, while hardwood requires an acidic one. It’s also important to make sure that the product you’re using is compatible with the material you’re stripping.

Third, make sure to read and follow all safety instructions on the product label. You’ll want to make sure you have protective equipment like goggles and gloves handy before you start.

Finally, always start with a small test area before tackling the entire project. This will help to ensure that you’re using the right product and technique for the job.

Taking these simple steps will help to ensure that your paint and varnish stripping project goes smoothly. Good luck!

The best way to strip paint

Stripping paint is a necessary step if you want to give your home a makeover. It can be a labor-intensive process, but with the right supplies and techniques, you can have beautifully restored wood in no time.

To start, gather the necessary supplies for stripping paint including safety goggles, protective clothing, a respirator, chemical stripper, brush, and putty knife. Then follow these steps to effectively remove old paint from your surfaces.

First, apply a layer of chemical stripper to the surface using a brush. Make sure to cover all areas and allow the stripper to sit for 10-15 minutes before attempting to scrape off the paint. The chemical will help soften the old paint, making it easier to remove.

Once the chemical has had enough time to work, use a putty knife or scraper to remove the softened paint. Work carefully to avoid gouging the wood. If you find any areas that are still difficult to remove, reapply more stripper and wait a few more minutes before scraping again.

When the paint has been completely stripped, use a damp cloth to wipe down the surface and remove any remaining residue. Allow the area to dry completely before applying primer and paint.

Stripping paint may seem like a daunting task, but with the right supplies and a bit of patience, you can restore your home’s surfaces with ease. Have fun creating a new look for your home! After all the hard work of stripping away layers of paint, why not take your restoration project up a notch by adding some automotive body fillers? Automotive body fillers are perfect for filling in cracks and holes on surfaces made out of wood, metal, plastic, fiberglass, and more. They come in many different colors, allowing you to customize your design according to your individual style. Plus, they’re easy to sand and shape, so you can achieve a smooth, professional finish without much effort. With automotive body fillers, your weatherboards, table tops, and doors will look as good as new!

After you finish

Once you have finished stripping the paint and varnish, it's time to start the fun part of giving your home a makeover. Now you can start painting or staining to give your project a new look. When applying the paint or stain, it is important to use a brush or roller specifically made for that type of finish. For example, a synthetic brush should be used for latex paints and a natural bristle brush should be used for oil-based stains. Additionally, you will want to choose the right kind of applicator for the job such as a foam roller for flat surfaces or a sprayer for more intricate work.

Finally, don't forget to clean up your workspace afterwards. You will want to dispose of any leftover stripper and other hazardous materials in accordance with local regulations. You may also want to use a sealer or primer on the surface before painting. Doing so can help to ensure the paint adheres properly and lasts longer.

By taking the time to properly strip paint and varnish from weatherboards, table tops, and doors, you can create a beautiful, new look for your home. Whether you decide to paint or stain, you can make sure your home looks great and stands the test of time.

[imalayla]

I've got to get this shit off my mind or I'll go insane

GUTTER PROJECT:

TOP PRIORITY to preserve house integrity

I have 2 in shape downspouts. I need AT LEAST 3 more. unsure, I need to measure my house. How to do this? Will one of those long measuring tapes work well enough? I will need 3 adapters and 3 extenders to go with the 3 downspouts. I will also need the appropriate amount of brackets. I need the actual gutters that go around the fascia (?) of the roof. This will include 5 outside corners, 1 inside corner, and two end caps.

Last but not least, I need A LADDER so I can REACH. I will price check all of these tomorrow.

Should i buy all new gutters and downspouts to replace the aging ones that's on my house now? Vinyl stuff seems pretty cheap, but maybe that's for a reason. Aluminum is sensory hell. I could also get PVC pipe to extend the downspouts 10 feet away from the house as is recommended. Not sure what to do on the north side of my house, since it's directly beside my neighbors but I'll hopefully figure out some sort of drainage situation. Anything is better than what I have now, lol. Maybe I can hide it in the yard, and that way when I plant my native grasses, they'll have a little irrigation system.

Need to get three more flood lights for the motion sensor light in the front porch.

LIVING ROOM PROJECT:

NOT top priority functionally, but it depresses me how ugly the living room looks so I'd like to improve my QOL...

Currently have enough supplies to scrape and sand all the wood trim in the living room. Also have the appropriate amount of drop cloths and tape to protect the floors. Nothing is stopping me besides executive dysfunction and the front door. I really would like to take the front door off the hinges so I can scrape it and install the weather stripping properly. i don't know anyone locally that can help me, so I'm kind of fucked there. Once that's scraped, I will buy some semi-gloss Kiltz oil based primer, prime the trim, and ponder on a color scheme later (though I have ideas.)

Once that is done, I will start scraping the walls to prepare for my attempt at skim coating. Should I buy stuff to fill in the cracks in the plaster? Is that something within my skill set? or will this just add another layer of executive dysfunction that will block me from doing this?

Supplies needed for skim coating: Drywall mud, paint roller & long arm, bucket for drywall mud, tray for rolling off paint roller, drywall knives (whatever they're called), sanding blocks with an extendable arm. Eggshell Kiltz primer (probably not oil based, but I'm not sure yet.) Will ponder on actual paint colors later, though I have ideas.

Want the bamboo roll up shades, as they're pretty appropriate for the house and I like them more than these ugly wide white blinds. Want the rainbow privacy film you can apply to the windows so they offer some privacy while allowing light in.

BATHROOM PROJECT:

LOWER PRIORITY but it's also pretty ugly and since i have all the supplies, why not...

Pretty much have all the supplies necessary for this. Need to take down the things screwed into the walls (shelves, hand towel holder) and commit to scraping the wallpaper and old paint off the walls. Sand a little. Spackle some of the holes. Prime. Also need to scrape & sand & prime the wooden trim, same method as living room. Will ponder on actual color schemes once everything is scraped and primed. Probably no skim coating needed in the bathroom. Want rainbow privacy film for that as well. Maybe a bamboo roll up shade as well? Also find out if HVAC people can do a bathroom vent installation.

Want to get some floating shelves, or perhaps one of those storage things that goes over the toilet. Far in the future, I want to pull the old shelves out of the linen closet in there, clean it, spackle the cracks, scrape old paint off, and then repaint and install new wire shelves for better organizing. It'll look more "modern" but it won't affect the character of the house since it's behind a door.

YARD PROJECTS:

Rent chainsaw, buy triclopyr, cut down the nandina and other invasive bushes i have in my yard, paint cut stumps to kill.

Start planning what to plant in the early spring. Thinking of bushes for around the house and in front of the fence to block visibility to the road. Native grasses and small trees in the front and side yard.

Eventually I would love to have the fence facing the road replaced with privacy fencing, but this is not a priority yet. Also would love to find out if we could somehow pour a concrete pad on the south side of the house for parking, so I don't have to park in the street, or in the back yard.

OTHER THINGS THE HOUSE NEEDS

Get quote for bringing electrical up to code -> MEDIUM PRIORITY

Get HVAC unit tuned up -> HIGH PRIORITY

Get more insulation blown into attic -> HIGH PRIORITY

Get roofer to evaluate the water damage -> MEDIUM PRIORITY

Get plumber to look at our pipes and see if any of the old ones on the sides of the house can be removed, so there will be less holes in the roof (Plus it will look nicer) -> LOW PRIORITY

Get quote for installing a tankless water heater -> MEDIUM PRIORITY

Kitchen projects, mud room, and back area of the house are unfortunately the lowest priority right now but there's so much that I want to redo there too. It's just going to be way more involved, and currently it's "functional" so whatever.

[colorpuffball]

Warm soup and fresh bread + New paint

*slurp* That’s some good soup

Domestic fluff with Vincent, I love Brush, idc who you are but I’ve made you repaint a table

You wipe the sweat off your brow. The sun is beating down on your back. It unfortunately is no longer being covered by the house. Despite that, you step backwards out into the sun, surveying the fruit of your labor.

It’s your kitchen table. You’ve stripped off it’s old, peeling paint, in favor of a new and brighter color. You’re no master interior designer, but even you could tell that the old thing needed a revamp, with or without Vincent’s input! 

You’re quite proud of yourself. It took you a while to sand off the original paint. Which is surprising because so much of it was already peeling off anyway. 

The new paint you chose was born from a lengthy discussion on how you and Vincent wanted to style your house. Bright and energetic? Inviting and homey? Comfortable and soothing? There were just so many more options than what you had when styling the room you two had in Le Comte’s mansion. 

In the end you thankfully settled on a very light yellow, which still lets the wood show through. You quickly found out as well that paints nowadays shouldn’t have any lead in them, which was a relief. Like seriously, people were getting sick because of their walls!

Anyways, all you need to do now is let the seal dry. With all of the hard work practically done, you are ready to kick your feet up and relax.

Vincent is inside, right where you left him. He has taken advantage of the empty space, saying that morning that changes of scenery gives him inspiration.

“How’s your painting?”

He smiles the moment he hears your voice. Leaning over, he peeks at you from the side of the canvas. “Welcome back inside my love. The painting’s coming along nicely, I think. I’ll show it to you in a while.”

You smile back, striding over to grab one of the stray chairs. Despite your curiosity, you make sure not to look at the painting. He’ll show you once he’s ready.

In the meantime though, you occupy yourself by watching Brush. The adorable fluff is fiddling with something in his paws, his rump firmly planted on Vincent’s left foot. 

Your voice turns upwards in amusement, “how long has he been there for?”

Vincent hums, “Brush? I’m… not sure actually. You know I get really focused when I paint sometimes. Right Brush?” Vincent lightly lifts his foot, which doesn’t disturb the raccoon in the slightest. In fact, he leans more weight onto Vincent’s foot, trapping it flat on the floor.

After a while, you had slumped onto the floor with Brush. Vincent had apologetically lifted him off his foot, telling him that he was getting pins and needles. You kept your palm open beside you, letting Brush bring you his small treasures. A few notable ones were a painted button, a coin, and a snail shell. After a while he got bored of that game, and decided your hand was a suitable replacement for Vincent’s foot.

“Oh no, now I’m the one stuck in Brush jail,” you jokingly groan.

Vincent glances at your predicament and lets out a small laugh, “oh Brush, don’t get mad once you’re kicked off of there too, okay?”

With an ample amount of time to rest, you begin thinking about dinner. You and Vincent have an agreement for who does what chores, and today it’s your turn to make dinner. After weeks of having practically the same thing, you had the great idea to make bread bowls. Vincent hadn’t had one before, but he was willing to try anything you made, he said. 

You made sure to buy the right bread from the baker that morning. Now all you need to do is cut it open, scoop the insides out, and make the soup. Easy enough, you think. 

“Alright, I think it’s time for me to go Brush.” He seemingly sighs, though it’s probably your own human interpretation of whatever raccoony thing he just did. When you lift your hand he obliges and steps away, going back towards Vincent.

“I’m gonna start on dinner, if you could, can you throw a blanket on the floor?”

“I can do that, Liefje!”

Unfortunately you need to let the table sit for about 2 days, so you and Vincent decided to eat picnic style. This delighted Brush, for obvious reasons.

“It smells good!”

You take a deep breath yourself, as if you weren’t just standing over the pot for the last 30 minutes. You carefully bring the plates to the floor, dodging Brush’s attempts at grabbing a piece of bread.

“Hold on, look. I got you your own small one, okay?” You rush back to the kitchen, grabbing the bread in question. You had filled it with a few tidbits of what you and Vincent have, minus the soup.

Finally, with everything in place, you prepare to take a seat on the floor. Vincent stretches out an arm, inviting you closer. You accept, and give him a quick hug before settling a close, yet comfortable distance beside him. You will be eating after all.

He takes a sip, smiling at you once he swallows. “You did a good job Liefje, this is good soup.”

“You really think so?”

He nudges you playfully with his elbow, “of course, I wouldn’t lie to you.”

There’s a comfortable silence as the three of you eat as a (rather unconventional) family. You giggle at yourself, wondering what your past self would think if you said you’d end up dining with a raccoon and a painter. It almost sounds like the start to a bad bar joke. Although, no matter how ridiculous it sounds, you wouldn’t trade it for the world.

[writingsbychlo]

home for christmas | mitch rapp

word count;  10,665

summary; mitch is happy to settle down with the simple life, and he just wants to celebrate christmas with his fiancée, for the first christmas he’s had home since before he joined the army. 

notes; I know this isn’t stan’s farmhouse in the movies, but this is the kind of farmhouse I picture them having, so you’re just gonna’ have to use your imaginations!

warnings; smut, thats about it.

“Mornin’, soldier.”

Mitch simply huffed, a smirk forming on his face as he rolled over, raising his brows a little, sleep still evident across his face, the crease from a pillow being pressed into his cheek, the red mark disappearing into the dark stubble-smattering on his jaw, and you reached out a hand, rubbing over it as he blinked himself a little further awake. “Not anymore, sweetheart. You think if I was still a soldier I’d be getting to sleep in this late with a pretty woman by my side?”

“I should hope not, you were with me for the most part, so if you had another pretty woman in your bed, you should fess up now. I’d hate for that to come out on the altar.”

He growled, rolling you over until you were pressed back into the bedding, nipping a little at your shoulder as you broke out in a fit of giggles, albeit strained as the weight of his frame pressed into you, 200lb of solid muscle crushing you lovingly. “Don’t even insinuate it.”

“Yeah, I know.” You mumbled, a hand threading into his hair, and the teasing nips became soft kisses pressed to your bare skin, and he eventually gave up, rolling onto his side, and letting you cuddle up into his side a little, exhaustion no longer claiming either of you, but laziness in the bliss of the morning was. “Merry Christmas, Mitch.”

“Merry Boxing Day.”

“Technicalities.” You whispered, pecking at his cheek, the closest spot you could reach, before you were pushing yourself to it up a little more, legs crossing on the mattress, and stretching your arms up above your head to loosen the muscles.

“What was that?”

“What was what?” You repeated, head rolling from side to side, before you were shaking yourself down slightly and revelling in the numbness slipping out of your bones and muscles as energy surged through you instead.

“That pathetic excuse for a good morning kiss.” He tapped at his lips, pouting them slightly, brows raising as he watched you move to press your feet to the cold floors, standing up only a moment later. “Where do you think you’re going? Get back here and kiss me!”

“Nope. If you want kisses, you can come and get them.”

He gaped, watching you disappear into the bathroom, and you ginned to yourself, hearing the floorboards of the bedroom creak from a room over, running your toothbrush under the tap as you squeezed a dollop of the paste onto the bristles, raising your eyebrows at the man behind you. He had braced himself on either side of the doorframe, large shoulders and tall stature all but filling it, messy bedhead and unshaven jaw making him a vision of morning laziness, and he raised his brows at you as he returned your stare, a smile on his face as you scrubbed at your teeth.

Pacing across the bathroom, he pressed you up against the counter from behind, hands finding the edges of the sink as your hips pushed up to the cold porcelain, and he hooked a chin over your shoulder. One hand came up, on the other side of your jaw, twisting your face towards him, and you lifted your brush down long enough to press your lips against his, hearing him hum happily finally got what he was after. Your lips moved softly against his, a slight foam build-up getting stuck in his stubble as your mouths worked together, but neither of you could find it within yourselves to care, the first kiss of the day still feeling just as special as it had the first night you’d stayed a night together, all those years ago.

When he pulled back, he licked at his lips, wiping away the froth stuck on the spiky hairs around his face, grinning a little, and pecking a kiss to your temple. “You taste minty.”

“Of’ious’y.” You mumbled, the word getting confused in translation through the workings you were doing, but he raised his brows at the sass, gasping slightly, and you grinned, spitting and rinsing, before turning to look at him “Captain Obvious over here.”

“You’re sassy this morning.” He teased, pinching at your ass and snickering as you yelped, smacking away his hand and fixing him with a false glare. “Don’t be so sassy on Christmas.”

“I thought it was Boxing Day?” You retorted, watching him roll his eyes fondly, and as you wandered back into the bedroom, you noticed that he’d made the bed, blankets pulled straight, and you appreciated the gesture

“It’s our Christmas Day. Is that really what your Christmases were like these last few years?” His hand found yours from the second you had a jumper pulled on over your shoulders, tugging you toward the staircase and down the rickety steps that were in urgent need of repair, but those weren’t on the list yet.

So far, the two of you had made some pretty grand progress on the house that you were now calling your own. Your father had returned to duty, and you were in charge of renovating an old farmhouse, and making it truly liveable once again. The broken pipes, squeaky doors and splintering panels were no longer cutting it, and in the couple of short months since your lover had returned from the front lines, and stayed here with you.

The first week after your father had left, had been entirely spent in bed, properly celebrating the engagement you’d made, the way it should be celebrated when you were young and in love. The following month and a half leading you up to where you were now had been spent planning, clearing out the junk of old furniture and stripping the insides of the house, all the work you couldn't do alone, finding yourself now with a partner.

The porch was being extended into a wrap-around, and the outside had been stripped. The flaking paint had been sanded off, the wood underneath smoothed and repainted, before the weather had turned too cold and wet, glazed over and perfected, an off-white colour that complimented the darks of the landscape around it. Mitch had spent almost a week straight fixing broken and cracking tiles on the roof, a week when your heart had leapt into your throat every time he went up the ladder, fearing that he’d fall or injure himself, and yet the real injured had come inside.

As the final fall warmth had slipped away and the bitter and biting cold had started to come in, you’d thrown out all the moth-bitten and broken furniture inside, plans to replace it all, and sell what you deemed worthy, raising funds for the major project you’d undertaken. Splinters, torn nails, and grazes from tripping over and scraping your knees and elbows on rough flooring. However, it had all been worth it, and you shivered a little as you stepped into the kitchen, feeling the squeeze on your hand, before looking up to the man standing behind you.

“Sorry, I got lost in my thoughts. What dd you say?”

“I said, is this how you always spent your Christmases for these last few years?” The sounds of the kettle filling up as it sat on the top of the old gas stove sounded the metal clanging a little as it filled, the two of you waiting patiently over the racket, before settling it over the flame to begin heating. “Y’know, celebrating late, the video calls, all that?”

He was referring to the real Christmas Day, yesterday, having been spent waiting for the time when you’d get to talk to your father over a somewhat glitchy video chat call for your twenty-minute slot, having no idea when it would actually be. “Yeah, pretty much. Except, for the last few years, I had to do it twice.” You poked at his stomach as he stood before you, a grin on his lips, before he was catching your hand, pulling it up to press a kiss over the ring shining on your finger.

“Funny, to think that for years, I’ve been excitedly waiting to facetime my superior’s daughter, just to get a Merry Christmas and a kiss through the screen while I was out in the middle of God knows where, defending our country, and we never even knew.” His arms looped your waist, pulling you in close against the cold of the late December chill in the air, and your own arms wrapped around his neck. You leaned in, enough that he thought you were going to press a kiss to his lips, before you were lifting yourself up, and standing on his feet, grinning when he grunted, before he was looking at your curiously. “What’cha doing, kitten?”

“The floor is cold. I don’t want to stand on it.”

“Well, it would be considerably less cold if someone had just picked which tiles they wanted before the store closed over Christmas, I could be getting on with installing them, and we would’ve had heated kitchen flooring by New Years.” He tutted, lifting you to sit on the counter as the kettle began to whistle, and he worked around you to fill up the teapot on the side with the perfect brew, two mugs being gathered from one of the cupboards, before it was being pressed into your hands.

“I wanted real stone! All the samples of tiles just didn’t seem right, and-”

“And you want to have a rustic and authentic farmhouse feel, I know.” He finished your sentence for you, heat flushing your face at just how many times you must’ve said it for I’m to have memorised the statement, and he chuckled, letting you hope down and back onto the cold and stripped flooring of the kitchen to make your way to the table. The scraping of the wooden chairs over the flooring rang out, and you sat in beside him, blowing the steam away, and picking up one of the catalogues that were stacked up, opening it up to the last dog-eared page and taking a look at it all. “What do you want for breakfast?”

Despite asking the question, Mitch was already rattling around in the drawers for a frying pan, seeming to have made up his mind on what he was going to eat, and so you hummed a little, sipping at the herbal mix in your mug. “Whatever you’re having is fine.”

“Eggs and bacon it is, then.”

You only nodded, unsure whether or not he could see you, but you weren’t looking at him, falling into a comfortable science together as you examined the conversions and extensions laid out on the glossy pages before you. The sizzling and popping of the eggs and bacon faded into the background, ideas swirling in your mind as he worked, the cogs brushing off the dust as you took in what you were seeing.

Most of them were small conversations, sheds and garages, all with ideas on how to save heating and conserve energy, but your mind was wandering your own home. You’d already done so much, knocking through the wall of the small guest bedroom beside your own to turn it into a closet, and tearing up the flooring in the downstairs of the house, to replace it with newer and polished solid oak slats. How much harder could be building a wall, and converting something a little bigger than a shed?

A plate landed in front of you, making you jump in shock, before the magazine was being pulled away from you, and the smell of the meal was enticing you in. “Should I be concerned that you spend more time looking at renovation magazines than wedding ones?”

He was smiling as he spoke, no heat to his words, but you scoffed nonetheless, tapping your finger against another pile of magazines, and you felt as though your entire house was spilling over with them, filling the house in piles from top to bottom. You had more magazines than yo id furniture at this stage, the small and slightly dull Christmas tree in the corner being a sad excuse, an old TV propped up on cardboard boxes and cushions along the floor with a blanket put down, the rest of your ‘living room; being barren, waiting for its decorating to be complete.

“Have you even chosen a dress, yet? I already have my suit.”

“I’m excited to marry you, Mitch, I really am. I couldn't imagine anything that would make me happier, but that is one day of our lives. The best day, but just one day. This house is where we’re going to live, it’s the future you want, and where we’ll grow old. If something goes wrong on our wedding day, that sucks, but we’ll fix it.” He paused his chewing, staring at you with wide eyes across the table, before swallowing his mouthful thickly and reaching out with one hand to lace your fingers together to sit atop the wood. “I want our home to be perfect.”

“It will be, we’ll take our time.”

You smiled, letting him mirror the action, squeezing his hand in your own, before pulling your hand back to pick up your cutlery, and beginning into the meal he had made. “For the record, I have a few dress ideas.” You tapped the cover of one of the furthest magazines from yourself, the pages worn and folded, evidently having been used, and his brows shut up, a grin on his face as he ate.

“Can I see?” A few crumbs flew from his mouth as he spoke through the food stuffed between his cheeks, and you tried to hold in your chuckle at the sight.

“Please don’t do that at our wedding.” You grimaced, and he swallowed his mouthful, sticking his tongue out at you childishly, the playful manner between you both being more than comfortable, it was perfect, and you kicked at his shin under the table as he wiggled his brows cheekily. “No, you can’t look at them, it’s bad luck.”

“Don’t be superstitious.” He scoffed, pulling the magazine over to himself, and holding it out of your reach when you leaned across the table to snatch it back. “Besides, it’s bad luck to see the bride in the dress before the day, not to see some random model in a dress.”

“Yeah, well, don’t you want it to be a surprise?”

His eyes flicked down, smirking a little at the swell of your breasts hanging from the robe your wore that was falling open the more you reached to get the brochure back, and you gave up on that tactic, rounding the table instead to try and grab it from him. He scooted back, the chair legs scraping against the bare concrete floor, a loud laugh on his lips to match the giggles you were letting out as the war became a game.

“Mitch! If you keep this up, I’ll purposefully buy a really awful dress! Something from the eighteen hundreds with frills and layers, and I’ll look like Little Bo Peep!”

“Baby, I’d marry you even if you were wearing a potato sack.” As you reached for the folds of paper, he snatched your wrist in his other hand, tugging you into him until you were perched across his lap, a leg dangling on either side of his on the chair, and he wrapped that same arm around your waist, connecting them behind your back to hold you securely, and your own looped his neck. “But, please don’t wear something with frills and layers and a thousand buttons, because it’ll make it way harder to have our first dance if I can barely reach you over a puffy gown.”

“I’ll wear something a little bit more modern, then. I’d hate to miss our first dance.”

You brushed the tip of your nose against his, lips brushing together as he smiled, and you heard the magazine drop away to the ground, before both hands were splaying out over your back, and pushing you closer, until your chest was pressed to his, and you were looking down at him, sharing a breath. “Besides, kitten, don’t you think you should wear something that I’ll be able to get you out of easily when we get to be alone, afterwards?”

“Well, I think I should get something cheap, because I have a feeling you’re going to rip it.”

He growled under his breath, catching your lip with his teeth and tugging gently, before pressing a kiss to the edge of your mouth, hands moving down to sit on your ass, as he pressed another kiss to your jaw, and then your cheek. “Don’t tempt me.”

“Not tempting, I just know you too well. If previous experience in pretty gowns is anything to go on.”

He chuckled, nodding his head, before wrapping his arms around you fully, face resting in your neck as he settled in to hug you, prompting you to squeeze yourself a little more firmly around him in response, a hand coming up to brush through the long and messy tendrils of hair on his head. “I love you.”

“Love you too, Mitch.”

Your food was growing cold, half-eaten and still sitting out, but you were much more invested in soaking up every second of the loving embrace he was offering you, and so you were more than happy to remain this way, wrapped up in his arms, for as long as he would take it.

The time slipped by, mumbled conversations taking place, and the hands on the clock ticking over the o’clock marker and beginning the afternoon, the late lay in that the two of you had indulged in giving a glorious delay to the day. Lazy and relaxed, it was exactly how you wanted to spend your late-Christmas, and when he finally shifted to check the clock himself, he merely huffed, the hot breath fanning over your neck and making you twitch a little as it tickled, and he loosened his hold on you to let you go.

“Do you still want to have a Christmas lunch? I can set everything off, but it’ll be more like dinner with this timing.”

“I think it’ll be fun to have it later, we can eat while watching movies. We can drag all the blankets and cushion we still have down onto the floors and make it cosy.” He merely nodded, before standing with you still in his arms, stealing a final kiss from your lips as you giggled, the grip on your thighs loosening as you sank to the ground, finding him now looking down at you, lips pressing to your forehead once he let you go. “Go light the fire in the living room, it’s a little cooler today. We should get the heating going earlier.”

“You got it, soldier.”

He smiled bashfully, nudging you towards the empty doorway, knocked through to make it all more open plan, and you could feel his eyes still lingering on you a little as you wandered through to the main room. Settling before the cold fireplace in a comfortable position, you assessed what you were seeing before you, noting that it was filled with old ash, days having passed since the two of you had emptied it. Dragging out the collecting tray underneath, you tipped it into the bucket, the edges stained, trying not to let the dust escape into the room too much, and tipping it carefully so that it didn’t cloud in the air.

While the house did have heating, it had all been disassembled and the heaters taken from the walls for the renovations, the two of you seeming to have missed that when planning your work to take place inside over the Christmas period, leaving the house cold unless you lit the fire.

When the grates were clear once again, You began to scrunch up the pages of the old newspapers and letters that were no longer in use, creating a range of tight and loose balls of paper form them, and beginning to stack them in the fire. Small kindling followed, twigs and little chunks of wood, coal to follow, to keep the heat going for longer, burning quietly. It didn’t take much longer of patting around yourself and searching to find the matches, the almost empty box being revealed to you, and with a single strike, a flame was taking up at the end, and you buried it within the pile. The newspapers took a light quickly, flames roaring up within seconds as they burned brightly, the paper becoming ash after only a minute or two, but it had been long enough for the smaller wood to catch.

The flames were duller, but the heat was already beginning to pour off of the fireplace as the smaller wood caught fire, crackling a little as it went, the black chunks of coal starting to smoke slightly, turning ashy grey where flames touched, and there was no way it would go out now. Adding some logs on top for a longer burn and more enjoyable smell, you deemed it a job well done, wiping your hands clean on the rag hanging beside the fireplace, and placing the grate over the front, hauling yourself up to stand.

Eyes closing in on the ash bucket, you were tempted to leave it there, but foreseeing the accident of tripping over it and spending house cleaning up ash was more than enough to motivate you, the images flashing behind your lids when you closed them. Mitch was tinkering in the kitchen, the dull clashes of pots and pans, the sink occasionally switching on and off, hearing him shuffle around and chop as he prepared you both a meal, and you moved across the room, swapping your robe out for one of his hoodies and a coat to combat the cold air.

Grabbing the bucket and taking it with you, a shiver ran down your spine at the cold air that swept over you from the second that you stepped out and onto the porch, the swing bench squeaking as it rocked in the slight breeze, and you looked around for a pair of boots. Tugging on wellies for the trek through the slippery mud and frosty grasses to the compost pile at the end of the first field, you set off towards it, arms tightly wrapped to your body to seal out the heat.

A short walk all things considered, but it felt like miles in the biting cold, and your fingers were trembling against the cold metal of the bucket as you tipped it all out, stomping it down a little with your foot and covering the dry dust over so that it wouldn't blow away all over the place, knowing just how good it all was for the fields.

The two of you hadn't quite decided what you wanted to do with the land yet, but you still had plenty of time to make up your minds. Mitch wanted to go for the full traditional farm life, with animals and agriculture and the whole shebang. You wanted to take a more modern turn, with pretty gardens and orchards, maybe grow fruits and vegetables, something simpler but not requiring the work that potatoes and pigs would take. After all, it was just the two of you, right now. That little collection of books and leaflets was still sitting unopened, the two of you having agreed to leave that decision until after your house was finished, and everything else was settled, instead of burdening yourselves with too much at once.

As you made your way back, you took in everything around you. While the area may look a little barren and empty right now, you had big plans for it all, the house being the main feature, standing out like a sore thumb as it looked beautiful and prominent with all it’s redecorating in opposition to the abandoned and somewhat desolate landscape around it, even the barn still needing redoing.

Placing to bucket down on the edge of the porch, you spun, hands tucked into your pockets as you considered the tall wooden structure.

It hadn't been used much since your grandparents had owned the farm and all of the land around it, keeping it traditional, back when there had been a tractor and plough that would park inside with hay bales and spare supplies, all of which would contribute or the farm, but had eventually broken or been sued up, never replaced. You could barely remember what it was like inside now, not having been in there since you were a child, your father telling you all about how he’d play and hide in here when he was a child, but your memory was fuzzy.

As you approached it, you found chains locked tightly through the weakened handles on the chipping wood, a large coded padlock keeping them closed, and you smirked to yourself a little, lifting the freezing metal up to examine it. The numbers were almost worn away, yet still just enough visible for you to work with, and you tried your birthday on it, finding that the lock didn’t budge. Your birthday had always been your father’s passcodes and passwords, a fact you’d discovered when you were twelve and never told him about, so you had unimpeded access to everything, but clearly not this.

Despite your peaked curiosity, you had almost given up, before remembering that this was your grandparents’ barn, and likely still had their code on it unchanged from when they realised their son was going into the army, and wouldn't run their farm. Trying your dad’s birthday, the lock popped loose, enabling you to untangle the chains and leave them hanging open as a muffled ‘aha!’ fell from you. The doors were heavy as you pulled on them, large wooden frames that were stiff from years of disuse. The hinges were rusted, and so you were just about able to get one open enough to slip inside, the musty smell of farms and equipment overwhelming your senses, bringing back memories you didn’t know you had forgotten from when you were a child.

There was lighting, but you didn’t think it would still work, flicking your hand over the switch, and as expected, they didn’t light up. The stairs were damaged, floor was strewn with old hay and broken equipment, useless bits of equipment, and you could see just enough of it all from the gaps in the wood that served as windows. It was large, even larger than you’d remembered, the wooden framework appearing smaller on the outside than it was on the inside, and the pipes along the walls were broken.

Following the trail along, they met at a sink in the corner of one room, a large bathtub that was caked in mud, and you assumed that it had always been the place where your grandparents would wash up after a hard day’s work, before going back up to the little farmhouse, as not to trail mud through the home. The wood of the walls rattled slightly, doing nothing to keep out the cold as some wood even began to give way, looking as though it was in desperate need of repair, but a little TLC would go a long way into transforming the space.

Upstairs was far more exciting, or it had been, when you were younger. The balcony overlooked the lower floor, a higher platform where the centre missing to look down on the main floor, and you’d loved to play hide and seek up here when you were barely above hip-height on your father, feeling like an adventure just for going up the steps. The bannisters and barricades were snapped and broken now, years of misfortune taking them, but it was a simple fix. The space would be infinitely better once all the leftover crap had been hauled out of it, and it was stripped bare for renovations.

You were wound up in your thoughts, jumping a little as the main door scraped some more, your lover squeezing his way inside, looking around the lower floor, before dragging his gaze up to find you at the top of the steps. A warm coat wrapped around him, feet shoved into wellies like your own, pyjamas pants ruffled from the action and he looked adorable, a grin taking over his face as he looked at you.

“Thought you’d be up in your closet sorting out our clothes and keeping warm, or something. Didn’t expect to have to hunt you down in a barn when the temperatures are dipping so low.”

“It’s freezing out here, right? There’s absolutely no insulation in here.” He chuckled, unsure of where that statement was going but watching as you came darting down the steps, and meeting you halfway, producing a hand from his pocket to take your own, fingers weaving together, before he was hiding them both back in the warmth it had once been, holding you tight to his side and following your gaze to look around. “It would be better, with some insulation and panelling.”

“Much better, I agree.”

“If we did it up real nice, painted it like the main house, it’d make a pretty great living space, don’t you think?” He hummed, eyes narrowing as he looked around, clearly not seeing the same thing you are but not wanting to voice it, and you grinned, the hand that wasn’t joined with his and tucked in his pocket waving in front of yourselves. “It has a water supply, so there could be a kitchen and bathroom down here, in the far corner, and some couches. A TV set up, a little coffee table, a whole load of nice rugs to keep the floors warm. Upstairs, a bed, and all the storage, a simple but effective living space.”

“I guess so, but we don’t really need it.”

“Of course, we don’t.” You bumped your shoulder against his, and he lifted his arm up, keeping his hand held with yours but letting you snuggle under his arm, instead, drawn close to his body for warmth. “But, it would be great for dad. He’s not home a lot, but it would be a great place for him to know he can come back to when he’s not on deployment, and inevitably retire to.”

A warm laugh bubbled up beside you, the man shaking a little as the sound rumbled from him, and you turned to face him, quirking a brow. “We’re kicking your dad out of the farmhouse, now? He’s not gonna’ like that.”

“Yeah, well, we’re going to need privacy when he’s home.” You poked his side lightly, watching a cheeky expression filter over his features as he stared out at the barn, cogs working inside his mind as he began to picture it like you were, and you turned to look at it all yourself, mentally constructing the perfect home for your father. “Besides, his room and the guest rooms might want to be something else, someday.”

You heard his breathing hitch, his gaze locking not you, and two fingers hooking under your chin to turn your gaze back to him. He choked down the lump in his throat, seeming a little nervous, nibbling on his lower lip before finding the words. “Do you mean as, like, baby rooms? Nurseries and kids rooms?”

“Yeah, I do.”

He let out a shaky laugh, sniffling a little as tears lined his eyes, your brows furrowing as you twisted to face him, bringing your hands up to his cheeks and cupping them, using your thumb to wipe away the first tear that fell. “We’re going to have our own little family? I get to have that, with you?”

“Oh, ‘course you do, honey.” His vulnerability was making you emotional yourself, tears burning in your eyes at the bright expression on his face, and he pressed a series of needy and quick kisses to your lips, between short gasps of breath, wet cheeks and lashes sticking together as he did, unable to contain his smile.

“I’ve always wanted kids, my own family, to be a dad.”

“I know.” You whispered, fingers stroking delicately over his skin as he still trembled a little under your touch. “You okay?”

“I’m so much better than ‘okay’. Every moment with you just gets better and better, I’ve never been this happy before.” You stood for a few moments longer, before the chill was becoming too much, and he was dragging you back to the main house, pausing only to redo the lock and chains on the rickety barn doors. It had a lot of work to do, but you had more than enough time, not planning to have a baby any time too soon, too much for the pair of you yet to do, but the day would come along one day, and now, you had a plan.

As you reached the door, kicking off your boots together and standing them up neatly, he took your coat for you, hanging it up inside and sealing the door against the cold, your skin tingling ad the warmth of the house embraced you, and he rubbed his hands up and down your arms, pressing a kiss to your head as he stood behind you, warming you up a little, and you wiggled your toes in your socks as you regained the feeling within them.

“We have a couple of hours to kill before dinner is ready.” He mumbled, the feeling of his voice vibrating along your skin making you grin a little, ticklish assault drawing giggles out of you as you tipped your head back a little further for him. He took the access granted to him, wet mouth closing further over soft and exposed flesh, his teeth beginning to join the mix, scraping enough to make you shiver. “Any ideas on what we could do?”

“Yeah, I have a few..”

He hummed happily, hands on your hips to turn you around, until your nose was bumping against his, and he could flick his tongue out just enough to tease at your lips, a smirk forming on his face. “What did you have in mind, kitten?”

“Something dirty, we haven’t done it in a while. We can get all the stuff out.”

“I like where this is going.” He whispered, leaning down to catch your lips with his, whining when you pulled back enough to keep him chasing, puckered lips forming a growl as you denied him affection. You gave in, leaning in enough to peck at his lips, dragging your kisses along his cheeks as you cupped his face in your hands, and he let out a soft and breathy laugh as you did.

“Is that a yes?”

Your lips were brushing the shell of his ear, and you flicked your tongue out a little, just over the shell, feeling him tremble slightly underneath you in response, fingers flexing against your hips. “Absolutely it is.”

“So, you agree? We should do some cleaning?”

He huffed, pulling back, an unamused look on his face as he stared down at you, and you beamed up at him, thoroughly entertained by the way a moody was look was flashing over his features, and he pouted, not wanting kisses but instead wanting attention instead, and his hands pulled away, dropping down to his sides as you laughed at him.

“Oh, c’mon, baby. I’m just messing with you.”

“It’s Christmas.” He mumbled, grouchy as he tried to readjust himself through his pants, an uncomfortable look passing over his face as he did, and it only made you giggle more. “You’re not supposed to be a tease at Christmas.” You dragged your hands over his chest, pushing one up until it was tangling in the grown-out hairs that were deeply in need of some brushing and cutting, nails scratching at his scalp. Despite how much he wanted to keep up this act, he was already beginning to crumble, head leaning a little to press into your touch, and features softening the more you soothed him.

“It’s always a good time to be a tease, I have to keep you on your toes. Keep it exciting!”

He chuckled, rolling his eyes and bringing his hands up to find your cheeks, pulling your mouth up to his. It wasn’t the kiss you were expecting, it was a lot softer, more romantic and passionate, his tongue never dipping out to find yours, but simply your mouths working together in sweet and delicate exchanges. Thumbs were brushing over your skin, rubbing calming patterns and you sighed out happily against his mouth, stepping in closer until you could feel the warmth radiating from him, barely an inch between your bodies, and you wondered how it was possible that after all the time you’d been together, he still managed to make your heart race like this.

“I love you, Mitch Rapp.” Your words were whispered into his mouth, and he nodded his head, not breaking away long enough to return the words, before everything about the moment was changing. Sweet and romantic was crashing into a burning inferno of passion and need, teeth nibbling at your lower lip as he tempted them apart, wet articles tangling together as the desperation between you arose.

Hands were circling around to your back, lower and lower along your body, until he was taking handfuls of the fleshy mounds of your ass, pulling you in so close that your breath was knocked from your lungs at the impact of colliding, arching up into his chest with each drag of blunt nails over your covered skin. His bruisingly tight grip was making you whimper just at the touch, and his mouth continued to dominate over yours, a delicious attack that was leaving your lips stinging and raw as you kissed him back with equal force.

The moment that his hands slipped to your thighs, his legs bending as he braced himself, you took your queue, familiar with the unspoken signals between you both by now, and your legs wrapped around his waist as he lifted you into his arms, your own looping his neck. He was able to navigate the home expertly by now, knowing his way around without even a single hitch, and the first you knew of it was when your back was meeting cold sheets.

You gasped, arching up into him, and with the break in the frantic kisses came hickies along your neck. A wet mouth, descending along your skin to suck at your neck, teeth teasing and lips sucking until you were so tightly wound up with need that you thought you may burst at any moment.

He took his time, marking you up as though the two of you had all the time in the world, and while technically you did, you wanted to rush through to the main event, the drawn-out build-up making your head spin as it drove you wild, needing to feel him more than you wanted to simply imagine it. There were times when the foreplay excited you, when you’d spent hours kissing him, teasing him, rocking your hips down into his lips he was doing to you now until every part of you was sparking with excitement, making every touch he gave you even more thrilling.

This wasn’t one of the times, though. This was a time when you needed him now, when you needed to be joined to him in the most intimate way that you possibly could. You weren’t sure why, maybe it was just because it was the most wonderful time of the year, festive activities and jovial emotions heightening everything. Or, maybe it was the revelations that had come to you today, the two of you planning for your future always made you overflow with adoration for him, because he was committing himself to you in every possible way he could.

Every inch of your skin felt itchy, like you craved to be connected to him with every fibre, each cell in your body lighting up with the need to connect, and with your legs locking around his hips, you flipped him over, until he was staring up at you through wide eyes, cheeks flushed and a smirk painted in place of his usual endearing smile.

Your hands found the hem of your jumper, tugging it up and over your head, throwing it away to the floor as you felt like you were burning up with heat, and he sat up quickly enough to be able to help you with your t-shirt as that was next, lifting over your arms once you had it over your head.

“Y’know, I usually like to be the one getting to undress you.”

“You were taking too long.” You retorted, your hands dragging along his stomach, finding the hem of his shirt, and he raised his arms up over his head to let you peel it from his skin, hot to the touch as your fingertips as you traced the faint scars and hairs littered along and between his pecs. The muscles jumped under your touch, and you pushed him back down into the bedding, a breathless chuckle sounding from him, and he bent his arms, propping them under his head. The veins along his biceps made your mouth feel dry, and you leaned down, the tip of your tongue tracing along one until it disappeared at his shoulder, and you placed a kiss there, feeling him twitch a little at the featherlight touches.

“Forgive me, darling. I was trying to make it romantic.”

“No, you are getting back at me for being a tease.” You whispered, using one finger to push his head to the side, and he growled a little as you did, the sound cracking and breaking off as you sucked against the pulse point on his neck. His heartbeat was racing, the patch of skin throbbing as you worked to leave a large mark on his skin that would glow dark purple for days to come, and his breathing went shallow as you worked at the patch.

It was rare that ever let you have control enough to leave lovebites on him, the marks you littered on his skin were usually red marks along the skin of his back or nail prints on his shoulders, bite marks littered along his flesh as you tried to quiet yourself. It was the same way he would to you when you got so desperate that he’d fuck you wherever you were the honeymoon phase of your relationship lasting right up to your actual honeymoon, the two of you still driving one another crazy by a single lingering glance.

It was exactly how you knew that he was the one, that he meant the world to you and would always be your other half, because no matter what, the love and passion between you never dulled.

“Maybe I was getting back at you a little bit, but does that make you think you can take over?”

“Maybe it does.” His hands found your hips, and you rocked in his touch, grinding yourself back along the strained length that was tenting his sweatpants, and he bucked up into you as you did. Every roll you made back along his length, he met you with an equally forceful thrust, moans beginning to leave you as the pace picked up, and your fingers were curling into fists within the bedsheets as you simply tried to control yourself. “Fuck, Mitch..”

“Well, that’s exactly what we could be doing.”

He flipped you back over, and undignified and unaccepting sound on your lips as he took the power once again, the battle between you both becoming more erotic with every twist and turn of your bodies. He kissed all the way along your chest until he could sip his tongue below the hem of your pyjama pants, hot breath fanning over your skin, before he was peeling those down your legs.

You stood, sinking to your knees slowly as you dragged his sweatpants and boxers down his body, hands massaging your way back up his legs, fistfuls of his round ass making him jump, groaning under his breath and cheeks flushing pink at the attention that you gave to his body, the blush spreading right along to his chest. Kissing along his hips, he tangled a hand into your hair, stealing your thunder because as the strands were tugged, stinging against your scalp, you were putty in his hands once again.

Instinctually, your mouth fell open, a wicked look flashing across his features as he pushed the head of his cock between your lips, that dripping tip being all he let you have to begin with.  Sealing your mouth around him, he let out a string of appreciative noises in the forms of curses praise, your tongue dragging over his slit, a moan rippling through you at the salty taste of his precum spreading through your mouth.

You focused your attention there, tongue swiping and circling him, making sure his skin was soaked, and as you made to sink down further, he pulled away, wet cock smearing across your cheek and his thumb slipping into your mouth instead.

As you suckled on the digit, his fingers spread out over your neck, tips digging into the flesh, and your thighs clenched together, rubbing needily to try and quell some of the fire threatening to burn you up.

“You horny, baby? You need my cock, hm?”

You nodded, knowing he didn’t want you to use your words to reply, and he let out an approving sound as you did, pulling his thumb back, and sinking his index finger between your cheeks. This time, as you lapped at the finger, he continued to go, prodding back until you were gagging around him, tears lining your eyes and you were certain that the panties you were wearing would be ruined, because the feeling of being so completely and utterly under his control was something that always made you crazy.

He cared for you, he was dedicated to you, and every single time that the two of you had been together, he’d given you his sole focus, making you the most important thing in the world to him at that time, giving you everything you wanted, and now, you wanted to care for him.

“Want t’ make y’ feel goo’.” Your words were muffled, his brows raising, and he pulled the wet finger back, trailing over your skin and leaving it wet as he tipped your head up to look at him. He was prompting you to repeat yourself, and you licked at your lips, smiling at him a little as you tried to steady yourself. “I wasn't to make you feel good.”

“Trust me, kitten, I always feel good.” There was a smirk on his face, and despite having no instruction to do so, you scratched your way lightly up his thigh until you were taking his cock in your hand, pumping him slowly. His jaw dropped, eyes fluttering to half-lidded when you squeezed, and he thrust lightly up into your hand to meet you. “Mhm, good girl, just like that.”

You grinned, hand shifting further down, and you took him back into your mouth. The hand in your hair loosened a little, going lax as he relaxed under your touch, eyes sliding closed as your mouth worked along his length, sinking further and further down with every bob of your head. When you no longer needed to pump him, reducing him to a grunting and moaning mess above you, your hands were finding his thighs, gripping on tightly enough to leave imprints of your nails in the solid muscle.

Your cheeks hollow, sucking along his length tightly, and the vein along the underside of his cock throbbed along your tongue as you flattened against hit, a moan echoing through you and vibrating along is length, the fingers in your hair twitching. “Touch yourself, baby.”

Your eyes snapped up, finding that at some point he had lifted his head to look down at you, brows raised, and he lifted one heavy arm to brush the hair back out of your face, gathering a more competent ponytail out of your hair, a firmer grip, and he began to control the speeds of your movements once again. You adjusted yourself, legs widening when his foot tapped against the insides of your knees, and your hand slipped down to prod at your folds.

You moaned around him once again as your fingers brushed over your swollen clit, his hips bucked up and into your face and making you gag around his length, and he nodded approvingly as he watched you begin to please yourself. Working slow circles over the nub, electricity shot through your body, and you let him guide your head slurping and sucking at his cock, wet and filthy as you pleasured him, and the sounds he was making above you were enough to fuel your own bliss.

Working your fingers in tandem with the pace of his bobbing, the feelings racing through your veins was enough to dull the ache in your jaw and hide the tears beginning to spill down your cheeks as he tapped continuously at the back of your throat. Wetness was building up, slick pools within the cotton of your panties that were making it hard for you to move as the material restricted you, and you whined at the lack of available options, wanting more but unable to obtain it.

“As much as I love getting to watch you swallow everything I give you, that’s not right now. I want to fuck you first, kitten. Get up here.”

As he pulled you off of his cock, your head tipped back to face upwards, strings of saliva snapping as his shining cock pointed upwards, angry and red and needy for a climax, and you took gasping breaths, clambering to your feet on shaking legs as he supported you. Hooking his fingers into your panties, he snapped the elastic against your skin, and you grinned, turning in his hold and ignoring the huff he made, because he was moaning loudly a second later.

Pressing up and into him, you bent at the waist as you dragged them down your legs, wet core rubbing along the length of his cock, and he gripped at your hips, one hand smoothing across your back halfway through standing up, keeping you bent over. “Y’know, I was going to do this romantically. Fuck you real good, wrap you around me, kiss you while you came. But now, I think I want you on your hands and knees.”

He placed a rough spank to both sides of your ass, a cry sounding from you before he was pushing you toward the bed, and you stumbled a little, kicking off the panties wrapped around your ankles to be able to crawl back onto the bed. The mattress dipped underneath his weight as he crawled up onto the space behind you, groping at your ass, the head of his cock sliding through your folds and gathering in your wetness.

He lined himself up, cock stretching your entrance as he sank into you, and your forehead dropped down to your folded arms, a loud whine of his name being all that sounded out into the room to accompany the dragged out sound he was making, pleasure surging through him.

As soon as he was fully encased within your walls, he gave you a moment to adjust, and when you were ready, you began to rock your hips back into him. It was slow movements at first, rocking your hips into him, small circles as you adjusted. His large girth always required you having a minute to acclimate, and he was more than happy to waist, but by the flexing of his hands on your waist, you could tell he was scarcely holding himself back from going wild.

“You can go. Please, Mitch, I need it.”

He chuckled, pulling back almost entirely out of you, setting a slow and steady rhythm. “I know you do, sweetheart, I can feel it. You’re clenching around me so tight.” Your walls fluttered at his swords, the raspy voice in which he praised you was enough to make you whimper, sounds muffled as you bit down on your lower lip, and he tutted. “Did I tell you to be quiet? You know how much I love to hear all those pretty noises you make.”

He pinched your side, making you squeak a little, before a hand was wrapping around your middle, and pulling you up until your back was pressed to his chest. Fingers spreading out wide over your stomach, the other slipped up to your throat, pressure being applied lightly, and the rhythm of his hips was becoming more aggressive and deep with every second that passed. You were squeezing around him, every roll of his hips that slammed into you with enough force to drag against your sweet spot made broken calls of his name sound out.

“If you want to be quiet, though, maybe I’ll keep you quiet, huh?” His fingers tightened, squeezing enough to make your vision spot, and you cried out his name, but it was barely a whisper when it was voiced.

You tried to move back into him, meet his pace, but he was slamming his length in and out of you with motions that you couldn't keep up with. Your eyes were rolling back in your head, no thoughts able to be processed as the inside of your head was chanting a mantra of his name, alongside begs and please that you weren't even sure what for.

Reaching a hand up behind you, you held onto him, hand in his hair and tugging, until you could twist your head to catch his lips. It was a messy and rough kiss, all tongues and teeth, pent-up need and pure love shining through as the two of you fucked your way right through your connection. You almost missed the hand on your stomach slipping lower, until he was rubbing uneven and jagged patterns onto your clit, your entire body jerking as you crashed into your orgasm.

He choked on his breath, biting down roughly on your lip as you clamped around him, and the peak caught you both off-guard. You Cried out, both in pleasure and pain, and he released your lip from his touch, licking soothingly over the patch and whispering an apology into your mouth while his eyes rolled in his head. Your foreheads were pressed together, and when you became too weak to hold yourself up anymore, your body dropped forwards.

Your cheek pressed to the mattress, and he followed after you, one hand beside your head curling in the sheets as the other held onto you with a vice-like grip, sloppy pounding and erratic thrusts making you claw at the bedding. The overstimulation was too much, and tears were once again finding your eyes. Those screams you’d denied yourself earlier were coming to claim you in full ails now, his name a loud sob on your lips as the coil in your stomach continued to wind up, fire burning over you.

Your entire body was sparking with energy, and as he stiffened above you, pulling himself out, you collapsed down into the bed. You were still twitching, body hanging on the precipice of your second climax, and you were granted it only moments later.

Two fingers, slamming into you without warning, pumping so quickly that stars flashed behind your eyes, and your throat was raw with the sudden scream that you let out. Our legs thrashed, arms cramping and knuckles aching with how hard you gripped into the bedding, riding through your peak on his hand.

“Mitch! Hold on!”

“Again.” He hissed, giving you only a seconds reprieve as he flipped you over, a hand on your stomach to hold your hips down, wet fingers finding your weeping hole again, and your cheeks were stinging with tears as a pleasure so strong began to wash over you that you forgot how to even breathe. “Are you going to come? You are, I can feel it, walls like velvet grippin’ me so tight.”

“Please!”

“Please what, kitten? You want my cock, that how you want to come? Want me to fill you up, fuck this pretty little pussy full of cum, huh?” You let out a ragged moan at his words, barely able to nod your head, and he pulled his fingers back, hands spreading over your thighs to push our legs apart, settled back into the dip and sinking his cock back inside of you. Your legs wrapped around his waist, his hand trapped between your body as his fingers, soaked with your arousal stayed nestled against your bud, rubbing frantic circles onto it as you ascended into the clouds.

“Oh, fuck, Mitch!” With a final shout, you came, the bedsheets around you soaking as you gushed, hips bucking up wildly and body spasming in the bed, his form crushing you as he found his own high. Bliss was encasing you both, a bubble that only the pair of you existed within, and as ropes of hot cum filled you, he collapsed down on top of you.

He licked at your earlobe, lips brushing your ear and you shuddered, whimpering at the electric racing through your body from the action, your fingertips tingling, and he was still sitting snugly within your walls, throbbing and leaking with the aftermath. “I love you too, kitten.”

Your heart beat strongly, arms wrapping around him as you laughed weakly, catching his lips in a light kiss. It was gentle, just enough to confirm everything that had been shared between you both, before the sticky and wet feelings around you both were growing uncomfortable. He lifted you up, your body shaking as he slipped out of you, an ache that you were accustomed to taking place, and he pressed a kiss to your shoulder before standing up. He offered you his hands, helping you to stand too, and your knees almost gave out on you as you peeled yourself away from the sodden covers, the remnants of your final orgasm still dripping down your thighs.

“Go clean yourself up, baby doll, I’ll grab you some clothes.” Heat flushed along your body as something thicker than your own cum was leaking along your skin, smearing between your thighs with every small step you took, and you could hear mitch shuffling in the bedroom. The wooden floors were cold under your foot, every foot chilling you back down a little more, shivering a little with goosebumps, and your body was relieved to sit back down as you reached for the paper roll, cleaning yourself up and slumping into the seat.

Washing your hands and smoothing down your hair, you felt considerably cleaner, almost as though you were drunk as you continued to float through the skies on the high that being with your fiancé had given you. When you returned, still a little wobbly but much more stable, he had stripped the bedding and replaced it, a more Christmassy set than before laid out in its place, and he had pulled on some clothes.

Padding his way over to you, you raised your arms lazily, letting him pull on a fresh set of clothes, before shimmying you into some pants, giggles and laughs muffled between kisses and gasps when you stumbled, before finally, you were cosy and dressed again.

“That was awesome.”

“Bet your cute little ass it was.” His hand found yours, tugging you along behind him and into the corridors, the smell of the meal that was being made for the two of you floating around, and you let out a groan as yous stomach rumbled. The scent grew stronger as you moved through the house, enticing you deeper and deeper, and you stood beside him as he began to check everything over, leaning against the kitchen counter. “I had a thought about the wedding.”

“You could sound more optimistic about that.”

He chuckled, shaking his head and pecking your lips in confirmation. “I can’t wait to marry you, love. You know that, I’m just not sure how you’ll react. I know you’ve been looking into places for the wedding, and we’ve gone to look at a few venues, but none of them really felt right. Right?” You hummed, eyes narrowing to him a little, and he busied himself with poking at the turkey to check whether it was done, nudging the over door closed again. “Well, what if we had it here?”

“Like, the farmhouse here? Because it’s kinda’ in shambles at the moment. A lot of work left to be done.”

“Well, yes and no.” He sighed, still avoiding your eye a little, and you tried to shuffle a little closer towards him as he worked. “Not in the farmhouse, but what if we had a summer wedding? Something simple. We could have it outside, picnic benches in the fields when they fill up with daisies and dandelions. You’ve sent me some pretty pictures of those fields before. We could do it picnic style.”

His voice trailed off a little as he spoke, and you could tell he was beginning to doubt himself, and so you pressed up behind him, arms around his waist and pressing a kiss to the patch between his shoulder blades, feeling him relax a little under your hold. “I love it.”

“You do?”

“You’ve let me make every decision about our wedding, our house, and our future so far. You deserve an equal say, and if you want a picnic-style wedding on the farm, then that's what we’ll do. I think it sounds lovely.” He twisted to face you, hands holding onto your cheeks and thumb smoothing over your skin, a stare fixed on you that felt as though he was boring into your soul.

“I just want us both to be happy. I don’t have an opinion on a lot of it, my interior design choices are limited to bunk beds and camo.” His joke made you scoff out a laugh, brushing your lips against his.

“That’s okay, soldier, I can make the tough choices on paint colours.” He rolled his eyes, closing the gap for only a moment, and you relished in the loving touch he held you with. “Oh, my bad. You’re my farmer, now.”

“That I am.” He mumbled, a few more shirt kisses pressed to your lips, before he was pushing you backwards. “Go choose a movie, I’ll plate us up some dinner.”

You lit up, and he seemed to see it sparkling in your eyes as his lips pursed. “No.”

“You said choose a movie!”

“I meant a Christmas movie! I’m not watching ‘The Mummy’ again this week.” Your arms folded over your chest at his words, a pout on your lips and he frowned, holding sting for only a few seconds before he was whining, turning away from you to reach for plates. “I know the whole script by heart now. I’m growing to hate that film.”

“Yeah, but you love me!” Your words were sung a little as you made your way through to the living room to load up the television, hearing him mumble his reply, words you couldn't really hear, but you knew he was only confirming your sentiments. As the Christmas lights twinkled, the fire still burning and in need of new logs, the television flickering to life as your soon-to-be husband served up dinner in the farmhouse kitchen, you knew there was no place you could possibly be that would make you any happier than right here.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Wire artist Marie and her husband found an old print shop in the middle of Paris, that made it look like they were in the middle of the countryside, so they bought it and turned it into a BoHo loft. Around a colorful coffee table, an oversized sofa is covered with cushions and blankets brought back from Morocco, while raw wood armchairs face it.

For the kitchen, Marie played on contrasts. She chose functional cupboards with fronts in very high-tech brushed stainless steel, with large designer handles, while the work top, made to measure, is in solid wood.

The bedroom is highlighted by the very light sand tone of the walls, the wooden elements stripped and left raw. The bamboo slatted partition wall is a creation by artist Antonis Cardew. The bedside tables, mottled, have been repainted in white.

These are a few of Marie’s wire sculptures which decorate the home.

A small corner of greenery has been set up on the terrace in back, which is a bonus outdoor space in the middle of a bustling city.

https://www.lejournaldelamaison.fr/le-journal-de-la-maison/decoration-par-style/industriel-et-vintage/decoration-boheme-en-plein-paris-19801.html#item=7

[hypermania]

Repurpose furniture you say?

yeah! i mean repurpose is probably not the right word but for a few months i was very enthusiastically revamping thrifted furniture and scraps of wood that i nailed together for the sole purpose of making my apartment more livable/organized and it was probably the happiest i've been in the last several years lol (pictures under the cut if you're interested)

it started with these little box-drawer things i found at michael's for a couple bucks that i turned into display boxes for all of hands guy's little trinkets that just sit and collect dust and drive me nuts. i took out the drawer part and painted them and put a removable plexiglass front on them so that dust can't get inside (i'm super allergic to dust mites so i'll do pretty much anything that makes it easier to clean lol). we have a whole slew of them now and they're mounted (individually, they're not actually stacked like a pyramid) on a wall like tiny floating shelves.

then i got fed up with the tv cables in my bedroom so i took some scraps of wood from my dad's house and turned them into a box with an open-down front door thing (with a little handle that i'm very proud of lol) to house the power strip and then hid the cables behind a runner

and then the stupid entryway in my apartment was making me want to commit atrocities because it was 1.) ugly and 2.) hands guy comes home and just... has so much camera stuff and pens and receipts??? and just SHIT that he puts WHEREVER so i was like okay well i can't live like this i CANNOT so i was like okay well what if i just give you a whole ass shelf contraption thing to put all your shit on instead of dropping it on the floor or leaving on random surfaces when you come home??? so i bought this bookshelf for ten bucks and sanded it down and painted it and then stuck it on the wall over where our bikes go and used the drawers i took out from the other boxes i made for his little trinkets to put all the change and pens and what other various crap he pulls out of his pockets in.

and then i found this bench on offerup for five bucks and found some paint that could be used on vinyl and had to mix a few different colors to make the one i wanted but it worked and i painted it and then i painted the wood of the legs and the shelf for the coats and then re-did the picture frames and now there is a place to sit while putting on/taking off our shoes and i no longer want to commit atrocities.

and for some reason hands guy had the ugliest floating shelves in existence (and they weren't even spaced evenly and i couldn't handle it) so i FIXED that problem.

the rest of the books are on another shelf thing in another area that i don't have a picture of for some reason but it's got the same general color theme and it's also got the pineapple : )

and that's like.. the general vibe of what i've been doing. i've repainted a bunch of furniture for my bedroom too so that it matches the sea foam green and white theme of the tv box (the ghost and the skeleton chest is a personal fav)

i've done a lot of other projects but tumblr won't let me upload more pictures. sorry for the crappy quality of the ones i did upload haha.