September 27, 2011
Counters and cabinets and lighting, oh my!
Photo: Keller & Keller
“So many decisions, so little time.” That’s been our motto throughout this project. While Joe and I like to think of ourselves as decisive people who are efficient and agile in our decision making, I’m not sure if our self assessment is as accurate as we might think. There are SO MANY decisions to be made here! As avid do-it-yourselfers, we thought we knew what to expect. But we were wrong.
Apparently, working on a bathroom update that takes over 1.5 years to complete—which we once did amid many other small projects—is not the same as tackling the major projects we are managing right now. For our DIY bathroom renovation, we essentially had 18 months to make about four decisions (wall color, toilet type, fixtures, flooring), but the timeline and scope of this project are a bit different. Tom and his team work fast, which means we need to make decisions fast. And so we've discovered every possible Web site out there for quality reviews (Consumer Reports tops that list, but there are countless others). We've also managed to find all the showrooms within 10 miles of our home, and the short list of people we know who have already done this. All of these resources have been a huge help.
Above is a recent photograph of Joe and I with the TOH team trying to figure out what to do with some of our salvaged wood (the results of those decisions will be revealed in an upcoming issue of This Old House magazine). Believe me, Joe and I both appreciate how exciting and fun this all is. After all, while choosing the right countertops and appliances is a big deal and all, it’s not like we're trying to achieve world peace. Thinking about it this way always helps us keep perspective.
(7) Comments
Comment on this BlogJust wanted to say great job keeping up with the blog posts. So many homeowners from previous projects let the blogging slide when trying to balance the inevitable time crunch. Thanks!
Hi I was just looking at the webcam today which thankfully is back up I really missed seeing the project. Anyway I saw the tile that was spread out on the saw. A real good idea to bring samples in to see what will look nice. Your interior designer is doing a great job. I saw what looked like a butterfly design on a darker tile. I think that would look great around the new fireplace and add a bit of whimsy and fun to how it looks. As for the other tiles I can't really say as I can't see them all that well. I am glad you went with the wide plank floors for your kitchen and like everything else I have seen so far. Your family is going to have one very nice house to live in. Have a nice day!
I can SO relate to all those decisions. My husband and I are DIY's restoring/renovating an 1800 farmhouse in Maryland. We're putting the finishing touches on a complete kitchen rebuild and I am decisioned out...so much so I've decided (!) to live with the (very nice) temporary wood countertops until I can decide on permanent ones. Too many choices. We had Crownpoint build the cabinets but just about every thing else we did ourselves. Took 2 years but worth every day and bottles of Advil! Good luck!
I can SO relate to all those decisions. My husband and I are DIY's restoring/renovating an 1800 farmhouse in Maryland. We're putting the finishing touches on a complete kitchen rebuild and I am decisioned out...
It can't be helped: all these questions are part of the process of renovating a family home. In a way, these questions ensure that the character of the homeowners is reflected in the style of the house or room renovated.
It can't be helped: all these questions are part of the process of renovating a family home.
In rebuilding any parts of the house or even the entire house needs a very crucial decision. Making decisions itself already eats a lot of your time.