Renovation Ramblings - Things I've Learned from Living with Renovations

This post has not much to do with stamping inspiration unless you consider that I was inspired to reorganize my stamp room while the house was in renovation mode.  So, don't read on unless you are considering undergoing some home renovations in the near future. 

For those of you who were asking how it was all going: First of all I love my new Kitchen/Dining Room combo.  We wake up to more light than we've ever experienced in our South-West oriented kitchen.  It's spacious, open, has a lovely triangle and has tons of storage space.  We can both be cooks in this arena, without pushing or bumping into each other.  The island is an oasis for our two, almost adult girls to meet, eat and giggle at.  (Still minus two stools but that's another story.)  Though our renovation is officially over we're still unpacking endless boxes from our basement and deciding what goes where.  This is an exciting and ever changing job.  Ever changing as while we live in the space we change orientation of some things.  Our dining light is hanging but not properly as we just decided it was the right one and my hubby's got the flu.  Poor guy.  He's as excited to be formally "in" as I am.

Here's a before and after photo followed by a list of things I've learned.  Good to read before you start this process.

I only have this one shot of my kitchen taken before I really started unpacking "stuff" from the basement.  Once we're fininished unpacking I can post a couple more shots but right now our counters are cluttered with things we're not sure where to put and boxes of outgoing things litter the floor.
 
 

Things I Learned while undergoing renovations:

1.  Good things take time.  This should be your mantra while under renovations.  Everything was done in a timely fashion with only a few hiccups but still during the process you wish it were finished.  Our renovation including removing a wall and sanding and staining of the floors downstairs took 7 weeks. 

2. Get a POD for all your furniture.  This was one of our best decisions.  It's hard to live normally in a renovation area but I'm ever so glad we weren't having to live with all our furniture stored in our remaining space.

3.  There's no saving trees or recycling during a renovation.  We did keep 4 glases, mugs, plates and bowls out for ourselves and a variety of useful spices, cooking implements etc.  I was determined to eat healthy meals.  But with washing dishes in the basement I was glad some meals could be on paper plates. 

4.  A microwave is a fantastic tool.  Though we did keep the slow cooker and an electric frying pan out the main cooking and reheating was done in the microwave.  After Christmas we cooked and froze huge batches of stew, spagetti and hunter chicken so that we could reheat it. 

5. You can get very tired of stew, spagetti and chicken.  Purchased frozen meals are your friend.  Make peace with them and add a salad and you feel like you've eaten something healthy.  (A major compromise that I came to terms with.)

6. When you have only the dishes you need available to you the rest of the house remains cleaner.  Especially true with girls that eat upstairs and in the basement.  They had to collect those dishes if they wanted to eat or drink again.  I loved it so much that I now don't want to put everything back into my cupboards.  I see that minimalism is a wonderful thing but that's why its taking me so long to unpack my boxes.  I'm now a reformed hoarder.  (Actually I'm a daughter of an amazing cook and entertainer.  I therefore have enough dishes for four families.  I modelled myself after my Mom but I'm not a terrific cook and don't entertain even half as much as she and Dad did so...)

7.  You will want to redecorate other rooms afterwards.  We both want to do something with our fireplace and I want new furniture since I have a new colour scheme to play with. 

8.  It's worth it.  I would do it all again.  Forget those people who say it's easier to move.  If you love your neighbourhood go ahead and renovate. 

Now continuing on to the fun of discovering what is in all those boxes in the basement, I'm off.

'till next time,

Linda

Comments

[Pat Fleck]

Linda, I LOVE your new kitchen. Wow!!!!
Such exciting times for you.
Pat

[wilfros]

Hi Cindy,

Funny you shouldsay that but Ive been struck with the cooking bug. Weve eaten so well since ourkitchens been completed. It is fun to cook in a well organized kitchen.

Miss you.

xox

Linda

[Cindy Major]

Oh my gosh, Linda, that kitchen is gorgeous!!! WOW! Almost makes me want to cook... almost! ;P

Enjoy!
Cindy

[sherry]

leave the stuff in the boxes!!!