Isn't that beautiful! Some days start off with a bang.
The mess I started with — soggy drywall and an emergency leak.
One morning, my sister and her husband were about to take off to go on vacation. A pipe burst in the ceiling minutes before they were going to leave. Water was coming down into the living room from above through the drywall.
I looked up, saw it, and just said, "Don't worry, go. I've got you." Luckily they knew I could handle the situation and they went on vacation. So with a worried look—even though they know I could handle it—out the door they went and I went to work.
So now, here I am, ripping down nasty, soggy drywall with water pouring all over me. What was going through my head? Three words: "This is b*******." Because, well, who wouldn't think that?
So I got the leak under control and then started figuring out how I was going to put new drywall in. I talked to them while they were on vacation in a video chat and showed them my idea before I put the picture up.
It was a little jagged, but in the end, it turned out to be a nice-looking job. I managed with the textured back on the ceiling and made it look like it never happened. On top of that, I put a utility entrance in that section of the ceiling so the shut-off valve that was put there could be accessed. I put a little picture over it. It's kind of funny looking and sort of Harry Potter, but in a way, it's pretty cool and fits the room.
Done. Texture matched and the secret access panel hidden behind the picture.