Holmes on Homes, House Crashers, Bathtastic, Rescue Renovation, Sweat Equity — Lynne has had the HGTV and DIY networks on nonstop lately. Well, actually, she watches these channels often but it’s been more than usual. This means she is getting itchy for some home improvements. Before I know I hear, “Let’s make a pantry out of this closet.” I try to ignore her and slowly make my way to the workshop. I know this is not the end of it but maybe, just maybe, she will move on to something else. There is always hope.
From the shop downstairs I can hear her working away. When I come upstairs, she has the closet contents emptied and the door off its hinges. Now I know I’m sucked into a life-altering home renovation project that will not end for weeks, maybe months or even years. It started with some shelves and within a few hours I was ripping up 30-year-old vinyl flooring and throwing it out our kitchen window. Now I’m lacquering a DIY decoupaged “artistic” countertop. Until this weekend I had never heard of that word. El DeBarge, Depeche Mode I’ve both heard of, both outdated bands from the 80’s like our vinyl flooring – what the heck is decoupage? However, I must give my wife credit. It does look great!
But now we have two more countertops to do in the kitchen along with a new sink. After ripping up the 80’s vinyl to expose the 70’s vinyl, there were a gazillion staples and nails to pull up. And we still have more that are stabbing into my feet. Also, against my better judgement, Lynne wanted me to keep removing the flooring into the bathroom. Of course, after a lot of profanity I kept going. Now, we are officially about to embark on a full bathroom renovation (this is the one that might take a year).
Editor’s (much-needed) Note: He is such a whiner! Life-altering? Pleeeeease. Do you see what I put up with?? LOL! The pantry took two days. Only because we needed paint to dry and he insisted on rounding off corners and making all the new shelving more detailed. I only asked for “simple shelving.” He gave me completely custom. In addition, he’s the one that went ahead and ripped up the floor! He cannot blame that on me. And I only mentioned a counter effect idea that I had. He’s the one that said “Let’s do it!”
I sooooo love getting the last word!! 🙂 Stay tuned! I’ve got lots of pictures to come!
Isn’t it fun being married to a Talbot girl…by the way, I have a closet under my stairs that could be made into a cool home office, when are you coming to visit again?
; )
Well, I think it will just be me the last week in July. Eric will be in St. Louis and I thought I would take the Amtrak train up to Chicago for a few days to visit you, sam & ben. We can convert that closet then!
Sounds great! Let’s see some pics! Sweat equity at it’s best!!