There’s something thrilling about getting the keys to a new home. You walk in, take a deep breath, and think, “Okay, this is ours.” Then, about 14 seconds later, you notice the golden oak cabinets, the oddly glossy walls, and that one ceiling that looks like it’s been through a weather event. That’s usually where we come in.
Our Mechanicsburg clients had just closed on their new house and were ready to turn it from “nice bones” into “dream home.” Before the flooring crew rolled in and the furniture arrived, they wanted the place painted top-to-bottom: walls, ceilings, oak cabinets, and a brand-new custom kitchen island. Oh, and did we mention they were juggling flooring, countertops, appliances, and trim installation at the same time? Nothing says “new home adventure” like five trades and one painter trying to share a schedule.
The Grand Plan (and the Real-World Version)
In theory, the plan was simple:
- Paint walls and ceilings.
- Paint existing cabinets and new island.
- Get out before the furniture truck arrived.
But like most renovation plans, reality had other ideas. The other trades were mostly on schedule — which is contractor code for “close enough.” So our crew had to play a little calendar Tetris to keep things moving smoothly. We like a challenge, but we prefer when the challenge doesn’t involve tiptoeing around flooring installers and countertop deliveries.
Sequencing the Madness
The real trick was sequencing the job so that nothing (and no one) got in each other’s way. We had to time our cabinet painting around the wall and ceiling work, while still keeping the house functional for everyone else.
To make matters more interesting, halfway through the project the homeowners decided they’d had enough of the “we’ll paint the trim ourselves” plan. By the time every contractor in central Pennsylvania had taken a turn inside their house, they were ready to hand over the brush and call it a day.
We were happy to add it to our scope — until we realized the trim installation was, shall we say, creative. Gaps where there shouldn’t be gaps, nail holes you could park a golf ball in, and enough caulk opportunities to make our wrists ache just thinking about it. But if there’s one thing Just Add Paint doesn’t do, it’s walk away from a challenge.
Cabinet Conundrums
The kitchen was where the real fun began. The existing cabinets were oak — good bones, solid structure, plenty of texture. The homeowners wanted them painted a deep, rich color but preferred a brush-and-roll finish. It’s a great choice for oak, where the natural grain gives the surface some visual depth, and the darker color helps disguise any texture left behind.
Then came the plot twist: the custom island. Turns out it wasn’t oak at all but maple and HDF — smooth as glass and not remotely compatible with the same brush-and-roll texture. Cue the quick team huddle.
Our solution: brush and roll the main cabinet boxes for a subtly hand-finished look, then spray the island to a glassy, factory-smooth perfection. That way, everything looked intentional — not like we ran out of matching paint halfway through.
The Secret Weapon: Envirolak 170 Primer
When you’re working with both oak and maple in the same space, your primer has to be the hero of the story. Enter our go-to: Envirolak 170 primer. High-build, sandable, forgiving, and basically the duct tape of the refinishing world (except prettier and doesn’t leave residue).
It’s heavy enough to fill oak grain and sands down beautifully, letting us blend textures that otherwise wouldn’t get along. One day it’s covering rough oak, the next it’s caressing smooth maple. If we could give it an employee of the month plaque, we would.
Strategic Moves
Before we set up our spray booth, we made sure to paint the hallway wall behind where it would stand — because once that booth was up, there’d be zero space left to reach it. Little details like that make the difference between a clean job and a “we’ll just pretend no one sees that spot” situation.
Once the walls, ceilings, cabinets, and island were all in the rearview, we turned our attention to the trim. It wasn’t glamorous work — more like “therapy through sanding and caulking.” But sometimes the hardest parts of a project are what make the biggest impact.
Our whole crew joined forces on the trim prep. We like to stick together on the tougher tasks because misery loves company, and also because it goes faster when everyone’s cracking jokes and sharing stories about the wildest jobs they’ve been on. (Let’s just say this one made the highlight reel.)
Customer Cameos
Now, we know what you’re thinking: “Wait, the homeowners were there every day?” Yes, and they were awesome.
While some contractors get nervous about daily drop-ins, we actually enjoy it when clients are curious and engaged — especially when they’re as kind and funny as these two. They came by often to see progress, ask questions, and even offered to run to the store for us once. We’d hire them as honorary crew members if they weren’t busy furnishing their new home.
There’s a big difference between a “hovering homeowner” and an involved one. These folks trusted us, understood the process, and appreciated the details that go into a high-end paint job. When you’ve got that kind of mutual respect, the work just flows.
The Home Stretch
The trim, as expected, was the final boss battle. We spent about four extra hours filling, caulking, and sanding our way to redemption. The homeowners completely understood the extra time and cost — they wanted it done right, not just done. We can always get behind that mindset.
By the end, the transformation was dramatic. Fresh, neutral walls replaced the mismatched tones from before. The dark, freshly refinished cabinets anchored the kitchen beautifully, while the glossy sprayed island tied everything together like a well-designed centerpiece. The ceilings looked clean and seamless, and the trim finally matched the quality of the rest of the renovation.
The Big Reveal
When the homeowners walked through for the final time, their excitement said it all. That “brand-new house” feeling had finally arrived — minus the chaos of unfinished trim and paint buckets.
We packed up our gear, did one last walkthrough, and left them with a house that finally felt ready for the next chapter: new furniture, laughter, and (hopefully) zero construction dust.
Final Thoughts
This Mechanicsburg project was a perfect example of why coordination and flexibility matter. Between flooring crews, carpenters, countertop installers, and one very patient painting team, it took a village — but the result was absolutely worth it.
It also reminded us that every renovation has its surprises. Sometimes it’s a wood species swap. Sometimes it’s a trim install that looks like an interpretive art project. But with the right tools, teamwork, and a sense of humor, there’s no project too complicated for Just Add Paint.
Because at the end of the day, we’re not just painting walls and cabinets — we’re helping people love their homes before they even move in. And that’s a pretty good feeling.
Thank you for reading our blog – “Before Move-In Mayhem: A Full-House Painting Project in Mechanicsburg, PA”. Please feel free to reach out to us for estimates – and also if you are a DIYer and just have some questions we can answer in an email about residential house painting. We are happy to talk shop about all things painting, even if you are planning to do a job yourself!
Like This Project Profile Blog? You May Enjoy: https://www.justaddpaint.net/bold-accent-wall-colors-sherwin-williams. Please feel free to reach out to us for estimates – and also if you are a DIYer and just have some questions we can answer in an email about residential house painting. We are happy to talk shop about all things painting, even if you are planning to do a job yourself!
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