Me.
I found this $12 HomeGoods rooster hiding in our playroom about five months ago and finally decided it was time to either use it or let it go. I’ve been running a little self-imposed challenge I call the “Dude, Get On That Already” initiative: anything we’re hoarding in the overstuffed playroom has to be used, sold, or donated. This guy was next on the list.
At first glance he looked like a nicely weathered white and tan ceramic rooster. His distressed finish felt a bit more country than my usual modern ceramic taste, so I opted to repaint him. Because he’s a giant rooster, I figured he deserved a bold, playful color. After standing in the spray paint aisle and weighing options (while keeping the kiddo entertained), I chose Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch in Aubergine satin. I was excited to try it—yes, the puns were inevitable.
If I’d wanted to be thorough I would have primed first—primer often helps paint adhere to slick ceramics—but the can promised “two times the coverage,” so I skipped primer with the plan to add it later if needed. I sprayed thin, misted coats, which is the best way to avoid drips and get an even finish. The earliest coats barely covered the original finish, so after the first coat he looked almost hot pink.
After two more light, even coats the coverage improved and the rooster transformed into a deep aubergine. I named him Jarvis—everything with a face seems to deserve a name.
He looks playful against the kitchen’s soft avocado walls and brings a quirky pop of color to the space.
In case the scale wasn’t obvious before, Jarvis is huge—about a foot and a half tall. Who wouldn’t want a giant aubergine rooster greeting them in the kitchen each morning? Cock-a-doodle-do, Jarvis.
To be honest, I’m still deciding if the aubergine will be his permanent color. It’s fun and bold, but as the kitchen comes together I might repaint him again in a different bright shade—maybe yellow or slate blue. For now, though, plum suits his personality.
Do you have a spare corner, closet, or room where you stash projects and then feel guilty when you look at them months later? These little “Dude, Get On That Already” projects are small, but they feel satisfying. Maybe it’s the momentum of making progress, or the idea that we’re one step closer to clearing out the playroom and turning it into a real space with paint, curtains, a rug, and furniture. It’s a small victory, but it feels good—kind of like discovering an extra room in your house, except this one isn’t a surprise. We just need to stop filling it with random stuff and start decorating.
Jarvis is second to none when it comes to giant roosters—well, maybe second to Beyoncé. If you want a laugh, look up that famous post by The Bloggess about picking your battles.