Painting: My Love Hate Relationship

Who doesn't love breaking out the new paint and prepping for some new life and then about half way through the project your wondering why it ever appealed to you.

I've always equated painting with say mowing the lawn.

Instant gratification.  Well, a little sooner with the mowing but it's either watch the grass grow or watch paint dry in the game of life.

So I decided to help a friend of mine out with a big paint job since I needed the extra money and he needed it done quickly.  Big showroom with 2 Red walls {one with two large windows that run almost the length of the room}, 1 dark grey and 1 light grey. The grey walls all have doors and windows so I figure it pretty much even's it out a bit when your talking 6 coats of Kilz on the red to 4 on the grey = a boatload of paint.

That's like 20 coats, 10 gallons of paint and 3 gnarly blisters...so far.

I find myself pretty crafty when it comes to stuff like this, especially painting since I have done a bunch of it, but always looking for that next brilliant way of doing something better.  Might be a taping technique, cutting or trimming {which I am a pro at} or how you prep.

Would love to hear from all you other painting fanatics who want to share your shortcut way to a successful and easy paint job.