The cobbler?s kids have no shoes. The carpenter?s house has no roof. And Renovating Woman?s kitchen renovation is a work without progress.
It?s not funny anymore.
No further delay can be tolerated, not by me and not by my friends, whom I stopped inviting over.
At least I think I stopped inviting them. Maybe they just stopped coming, and it was just as well because they got on my case about the unfinished work every time.
But I do miss entertaining them and have got to make a change.
When I first bought my place, it was a neglected condo with fake electrical outlets, cheap tile on the floors, bad paint on the walls, oddly hung kitchen cabinets and an air conditioner pushed into the wall where the central HVAC system was supposed to be.
On the floor was disgusting, blue, stained carpet.
Beneath it were beautiful wood floors.
The ancient aluminum-framed windows were energy vampires, but through them was a most fabulous view of the city.
I saw promise. The price was excellent. I could make it feel like home. And I did ? to a point.
The kitchen and bathroom both are substantially renovated though still unfinished.
So that is my challenge.
The best way to succeed at the finish is to make it easy on myself and set short deadlines for each task.
And, I am determined to finish the unfinished in 2007! Yes. That?s right ? 2007.
I?m a glass-is-half-full kind of gal ? or delusional.
The way I see it, counting today, I have four whole days to work with and I hope by the time you are reading this, I got started days ago.
I?ll show you the before-and-after pictures with the how-to, of course.
Meanwhile, I?ve created a dirty-dozen punch list of must-do project finishes and the execution plan.
The Projects
1. Take measurements and finish framing and applying trim to new kitchen passthrough.
2. Prime and repaint living room side of passthrough wall.
3. Install tiling for kitchen walls and backsplash.
4. Install thresholds for kitchen doorways (2).
5. Replace threshold for entry door.
6. Install drapery wire and hooks for home-office area closure.
7. Paint accent wall for library area.
8. Assemble bookcases.
9. Lay in bathroom floor.
10. Install wainscoting in bathroom.
11. Install backsplash in bathroom.
12. Install shelving.
The Execution Plan
1. Stay focused.
2. Create a written list identifying all tasks and materials needed.
3. Separate tasks by those with materials on hand and those requiring purchases.
4. No running out to buy something during a task in progress.
5. Do one project at a time from start to finish ? no veering off to “do one quick thing” on something else.
6. Begin with the project that has all or most essential materials already in-house.
Feel free to try this at home.
Big tip: Never shop the same day you are working on the project, especially when working solo.
Allegra Bennett has covered cops, courts and politics as a journalist for national newspapers for 21 years. She is also the author of three books, publisher of Renovating Woman – “The Do-It-Herself magazine” – and is a home repair expert on “Home Made Easy” on the DIY cable network. Got questions? E-mail your question to [email protected]
