Contractor-ready finish specifications for walls, trim, doors, cabinetry, backsplash, countertops, flooring, and workmanship for Kim and Kevin’s Carriage House.
If at any point you are about to start a new task, make a decision, or move forward and are not 100% certain that it aligns with this document, you are required to stop immediately.
Do not guess. Do not assume. Do not “figure it out.”
Instead, you must contact me (the owner) directly before proceeding with any work.
Kevin Crothers
Mobile: 601-291-0022
You are to call Kevin Crothers - and only Kevin Crothers - for direction. Do not make independent decisions, and do not rely on assumptions or past practices.
Once we speak and confirm direction (either by phone or in person), work may continue. It is expected that the guidance in this document will remain unchanged, and that all work will follow the specifications outlined above.
If any change is required that falls outside of this document, Kevin Crothers will personally immediately contact all involved contractors to communicate the change and explain the reason for it.
Expectation: No work should proceed in areas of uncertainty without direct confirmation from me. This ensures the final result meets the intended quality and avoids rework.
This project is now a solid paint finish project, not a whitewash project. Painted wall, trim, and door surfaces are to have full, even, opaque paint coverage according to the approved sheen schedule below.
| General | The Navien NPE-180A2 tankless water heater shall be relocated and installed on the 1st floor west wall directly beneath the 2nd floor restroom. Extend electrical, gas, and PEX water lines as required for the new water heater location. |
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| Restroom Walls | Restroom tongue and groove pine walls have been installed/finished with the flat side out. |
| Restroom Wall Caulking | Caulk all inside corners (wall-to-wall) and other paintable restroom wall joints as needed. Do not caulk wall-to-ceiling transitions at the natural wood ceiling surfaces unless specifically approved by Kevin Crothers. |
| Restroom Wall Primer | Apply Sherwin-Williams Extreme Bond® Interior/Exterior Primer (water-based). |
| Restroom Wall Paint | Apply 2 coats Sherwin-Williams Cashmere® Interior Acrylic Latex - Alabaster SW 7008 - Eggshell. |
| Restroom Wall Topcoat | No clear topcoat is to be applied over painted restroom wall surfaces unless specifically approved by Kevin Crothers. |
| Restroom Ceiling Prep | Restroom tongue and groove pine ceiling is installed with the flat side in. Ensure wood is fully dry and acclimated, lightly sand all surfaces with 150-180 grit, and remove all dust completely. Follow the same product family and general method described in the Surface Preparation Requirements section of this document. |
| Restroom Ceiling Finish | Apply Bona Mega ONE® Waterborne Wood Floor Finish - Satin, in thin even coats only. Apply 1 thin first coat, allow proper dry time, lightly sand with 220 grit, then apply a 2nd thin coat. A 3rd thin coat may be added if needed for durability. |
| Restroom Ceiling Sealing | Protect all exposed wood surfaces while avoiding heavy buildup in grooves, seams, joints, or corners. Do not create a heavy film or unnecessary vapor barrier. |
| Trim + Moulding | Caulk all seams and transitions on painted surfaces. |
| Vertical Trim Paint | Paint all approved restroom trim surfaces with Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Urethane Trim Enamel - Alabaster SW 7008 - Satin, unless a specific trim surface is designated elsewhere to remain natural wood or receive a clear finish only. |
| Base + Shoe Moulding Paint | Paint all base and shoe moulding with Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Urethane Trim Enamel - Alabaster SW 7008 - Satin. |
| Doors | The 32" x 80" restroom door, the 36" x 84" door at the bottom of the stairs, and all three closet doors shall be painted on both sides, all edges, and all associated casings/trim with Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Urethane Trim Enamel - Alabaster SW 7008 - Satin. The three closet doors have a flat wood surface on the inside and tongue-and-groove wood (flat side out) on the outside to match adjacent walls, but both faces are still to be painted in the approved door finish. |
| Restroom + Closet Flooring | 1/4" waterproof LVP flooring will be installed throughout the restroom and closet. Make sure to leave required expansion gaps per manufacturer, seal perimeter edges at walls, and install base/shoe moulding sealed to both wall and floor. |
| Closet Walls + Ceiling | Cover all walls and ceiling with 1/2" drywall (or approved equivalent). |
| Closet Sealing | Seal all gaps and penetrations prior to closing walls. |
| Closet Primer + Paint | Finish closet surfaces with 1 coat primer and 2 coats Sherwin-Williams Cashmere® Interior Acrylic Latex - Alabaster SW 7008 - Eggshell. |
| Final Sealing | Ensure all painted surfaces receive their full primer/paint system and all natural wood surfaces intended to remain visible wood receive the approved ultra flat clear finish system, with no intended finish surface left raw or unsealed. |
| Exhaust Fan | Seal all penetrations, including lighting, fan, and fixtures and confirm exhaust fan is operational and vented fully to the exterior. |
| Ceiling Boards & Ceiling-to-Ceiling Trim | All ceiling boards (flat and sloped) and all ceiling-to-ceiling trim (including at slope changes) must remain natural wood. Finish only per the Surface Preparation Requirements for Ceiling and Clear Finish Specification below. Do not paint any ceiling boards or ceiling-to-ceiling trim. |
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| Approved Wall Paint | All painted vertical walls and associated wall-to-wall / wall-to-ceiling trim shall use Sherwin-Williams Cashmere® Interior Acrylic Latex - Alabaster SW 7008 - Eggshell. Full solid coverage only - no whitewashing. Do not substitute with SuperPaint, Emerald, ProMar, or any other product without Kevin Crothers' approval. |
| Approved Trim & Doors Paint | All satin trim, window trim, window sills, base moulding, shoe moulding, closet opening trim, door casings, and all doors (32" x 80" restroom door, 36" x 84" bottom-of-stairs door, and all three closet doors - both sides and edges) shall use Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Urethane Trim Enamel - Alabaster SW 7008 - Satin. Do not substitute without Kevin Crothers' approval. |
| Approved Cabinet Paint | All kitchen cabinet surfaces (faces, boxes, outside walls, crown moulding, base moulding/kick plates, and inside doors) shall use Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Urethane Trim Enamel in Clary Sage SW 6178 - Semi-Gloss. Kick plates and base moulding are Clary Sage (not Alabaster). Do not substitute with ProClassic, SuperPaint, ProMar, or any other product without Kevin Crothers' approval. |
| Vertical Walls | All 100% vertical tongue and groove wood walls painted solid Sherwin-Williams Cashmere® Interior Acrylic Latex - Alabaster SW 7008 - Eggshell with full opaque coverage (no whitewashing). |
| Window Trim / Sills / Base + Shoe Moulding | Painted solid Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Urethane Trim Enamel - Alabaster SW 7008 - Satin. |
| Backsplash | Speartek Edino warm white 2.5 x 8 glossy subway tile (may be labeled “Beige Glossy” by Speartek - installed appearance must read warm white, not beige) with Frost grout. Continue behind range up to vent hood. |
| Vent Hood Area | Stainless steel vent/chimney continuing straight up through the ceiling. |
| Countertops | White 1.25" quartz with soft gray and tan veining (kitchen and restroom). |
| Sink + Faucet | White porcelain farmhouse sink (30" wide) with matte black Delta faucet. |
| Appliances | All appliances stainless steel. |
| Flooring | Main living area: selected floor shown in project materials/photo. Restroom and closet: 1/4" waterproof LVP (leave required expansion gaps and seal perimeter). |
| Outlet / Switch Covers | Light almond to coordinate with finished room. |
| General Requirement | All sanding, cutting, patching, prep, priming, painting, and clear-finish application work shall be performed using clean, professional dust-control practices. The goal is to protect all finished and installed materials, maintain a clean working environment, and deliver a high-quality final result. |
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| Protection of Equipment | Before any sanding, cutting, board trimming, patching, priming, painting, or clear finish application begins, properly cover and protect all equipment and finish surfaces in the 2nd-floor area, including but not limited to the kitchen's stainless steel dishwasher, farmhouse sink, pull-out trash can, stainless steel range and cooktop, stainless steel vent hood, stainless steel drawer microwave, stainless steel refrigerator, and 2-ton mini-split, restroom vent/light, toilet, and Monoprice Commercial Series Hidden Motorized Recessed Ceiling Projector Lift Mount. |
| Dust Containment | Use reasonable and professional dust-containment measures to keep dust limited to the immediate work area. Where sanding or cutting creates dust, use low-dust practices such as vacuum-assisted sanding equipment, HEPA vacuum cleanup, and protective floor/wall coverings as needed. Do not allow dust to freely settle on appliances, fixtures, windows, countertops, flooring, or mechanical equipment. |
| Before Coatings Are Applied | Before any primer, paint, or clear finish is applied, all sanding dust and surface dust must be fully removed from the area and from the surfaces being coated. Surfaces must be clean, dry, and free of dust and other contaminants so proper adhesion and a clean finish can be achieved. |
| Ceiling + Natural Wood Areas | Special care must be taken when sanding or preparing the pine tongue and groove ceiling and other natural wood areas. Coating shall not begin until all dust has been removed from boards, grooves, trim, adjacent walls, windows, sills, and all nearby surfaces. Reference the Surface Preparation Requirements for approved coating system and application method. |
| Protection During Work | Protective coverings shall remain in place during dusty work and be maintained or replaced as needed to remain effective. Equipment and finish surfaces are not to be exposed to unnecessary sanding dust, cutting dust, paint splatter, overspray, or coating residue. |
| Cleanup Standard | At the end of each work period, and especially before coating application and at final completion, the crew shall vacuum and clean the work area using professional methods appropriate for interior finish work. Dry sweeping that redistributes dust into the room should be avoided where a better dust-control method is available. Final delivery shall include removal of dust from all visible surfaces, including appliances, trim, windows, flooring, fixtures, doors, and mechanical equipment. |
| Final Expectation | This is a finished interior space with new equipment unboxed and in that same area. The work is expected to be completed with the level of care normally used on a professional builder finish project, with proper protection, controlled dust, clean prep, and clean final delivery. |
The finished room should feel warm, bright, custom, and high-end, with natural pine ceilings preserved, vertical walls fully painted and refined, doors and trim finished in a clean Alabaster satin, and kitchen cabinetry finished in a consistent Clary Sage semi-gloss from top to bottom.
Proceed with natural pine tongue and groove ceilings with no paint on any ceiling boards and no paint on any ceiling-to-ceiling trim, including sloped ceiling trim. All such ceiling wood surfaces are to be finished only per the Surface Preparation Requirements above using Bona Mega ONE® Waterborne Wood Floor Finish - Satin .
All 100% vertical tongue and groove wood walls, along with trim where wall meets wall and wall meets ceiling, are to be painted solid Sherwin-Williams Cashmere® Interior Acrylic Latex - Alabaster SW 7008 - Eggshell.
All window trim, window sills, base moulding, shoe moulding, closet opening trim, door casings, and approved doors are to be painted solid Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Urethane Trim Enamel - Alabaster SW 7008 - Satin.
Approved doors include the 32" x 80" restroom door, the 36" x 84" door at the bottom of the stairs, and all three closet doors. All are to be painted on both sides and all edges. The closet doors have flat wood inside faces and tongue-and-groove outside faces, but both faces still receive the approved door finish.
All kitchen cabinets from top to bottom, including cabinet faces, cabinet boxes, outside cabinet walls, crown moulding, base moulding/kick plates, and inside cabinet doors, are to be painted Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Urethane Trim Enamel in Clary Sage SW 6178 - Semi-Gloss.
All pine tongue and groove wood walls must be patched where needed, including large gaps and nail holes, sanded smooth, cleaned of all dust, and primed with Sherwin-Williams Extreme Bond® Interior/Exterior Primer (water-based) before finish painting. Finish coats on these painted wall surfaces shall be Sherwin-Williams Cashmere® Interior Acrylic Latex - Alabaster SW 7008 - Eggshell.
The 2nd floor restroom and closet are to be completed per the dedicated restroom section above, including relocation of the Navien NPE-180A2 water heater, painted restroom walls in Sherwin-Williams Cashmere® Interior Acrylic Latex - Alabaster SW 7008 - Eggshell, approved trim and doors in Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Urethane Trim Enamel - Alabaster SW 7008 - Satin, sealed natural wood restroom ceiling per the Surface Preparation Requirements using ultra flat varnish, waterproof LVP flooring, and drywall/paint finish at the former water heater closet.
All work shall also comply with the project’s Dust Containment, Protection, and Cleanup Requirements and Application Method Requirements, including proper protection of installed appliances, fixtures, and equipment, complete dust removal before coatings are applied, and use of the specified tools and application methods for walls, trim, doors, and cabinets.
This project must be completed in the exact order shown below. Do not skip steps, do not overlap phases, and do not proceed until required dry times are met.
This Carriage House has been thoughtfully designed to feel warm, refined, and timeless - a space where natural materials, soft color, and clean craftsmanship all work together. The goal is not just to finish the space, but to create an environment that feels intentional, calm, and elevated the moment you walk in.
The foundation of the design begins with the natural 7-inch tongue and groove pine that wraps both the walls and the vaulted ceiling. The ceiling, finished per the dedicated Surface Preparation Requirements using ultra flat varnish, allows the true character of the wood to remain visible, adding warmth, texture, and architectural interest across the entire space. With ceiling heights reaching over 9 feet and sloping down toward the dormers, the wood creates a cohesive envelope that feels both expansive and inviting.
The flooring - a high-traffic rigid core luxury vinyl plank in a restored wood tone - introduces a balanced mix of gray, light brown, and soft white. This grounding layer ties together both warm and cool elements in the room, allowing the finishes above to feel connected rather than competing.
The kitchen serves as a focal point, anchored by Sherwin-Williams Clary Sage cabinetry in a semi-gloss finish, including matching crown and base moulding. This soft, muted green brings a natural, calming presence into the space while allowing the surrounding materials to complement rather than overpower. The cabinetry is paired with a 1.25-inch white quartz countertop featuring subtle gray and tan veining, adding a clean, refined surface with just enough movement to create visual interest.
The backsplash - a handmade-style 2.5" x 8" glossy subway tile in a soft warm white tone with Frost grout - introduces a gentle texture and light reflection. Its slightly imperfect, artisanal appearance adds character while maintaining a clean and timeless aesthetic.
Large windows on multiple walls allow natural light to fill the space, enhancing the warmth of the wood and the softness of the finishes. The combination of fixed-pane feature windows and operable windows with deep sills provides both visual openness and functional comfort.
To unify the entire space, all approved non-cabinet trim, door casings, and approved doors are painted in Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Urethane Trim Enamel - Alabaster SW 7008 - Satin finish with all walls painted in Sherwin-Williams Cashmere® Interior Acrylic Latex - Alabaster SW 7008 - Eggshell. This approach creates a seamless, cohesive look that allows the architecture and materials to take center stage rather than introducing unnecessary contrast.
Alabaster is a soft, warm off-white with subtle beige and gray undertones, chosen specifically for its ability to bridge both warm wood tones and cooler stone and tile finishes. It provides brightness without feeling stark, and warmth without appearing overly creamy, resulting in a calm and balanced backdrop throughout the Carriage House.
The overall result is a space that feels collected, natural, and quietly sophisticated - where every material and finish supports the others. The design avoids trends and instead focuses on longevity, craftsmanship, and a cohesive visual flow from floor to ceiling.
The following questions and answers define exactly how this project is expected to be executed. The crew should review and confirm understanding of each item before beginning any work.
Expectation: This project should reflect high-quality workmanship from start to finish. Every detail matters, and the final result should appear clean, intentional, and professionally executed in all areas of the space.
From time to time, an alternate product or method may be suggested during the course of the work. When that happens, the following response applies unless Kevin Crothers personally approves a change.
After careful review, the change request to use Bona Mega ONE® Waterborne Wood Floor Finish for all natural wood ceiling surfaces has been approved.
Bona Mega ONE® Waterborne Wood Floor Finish - Satin
This product is approved for this application based on its superior adhesion, durability, and clarity. It provides a strong, consistent bond to the wood surface while maintaining a clean, refined appearance.
This decision is final. Do not substitute with any other product unless Kevin Crothers gives direct approval.
The reasoning is straightforward:
Application requirements remain exactly as specified:
The required result is a clean, natural, satin-finished pine ceiling that looks refined, warm, and high-end without appearing overly coated, glossy, or uneven.
Important: If a different ceiling finish product is proposed, the answer is no unless Kevin Crothers personally approves the change in advance.