Author: Lisa Wolfe

Several months ago we wrapped up a gorgeous transformation of a master bedroom and family room for these folks and we shared that with you (still need final photos but we reattached the master shots!).

Yesterday we did a partial install of their new living room and dining rooms.  With 2 young kids, our Clients wanted some adult space that still worked with the rest of the house but felt a bit sexier.  Out with the ‘formal’ space and in with something vibrant, dramatic and unexpected (hello cowskin rug, 10′ drapes and fireworks chandelier!). We have one more install plus accessories before we’re completely done (sconces and chairs missing!) but wanted to share the mid-transformation.  Enjoy!

Finally!!!!! the countertops are in, the faucets reconnected, the tarps and rosin paper are pulled up. Even i had a breaking point and pushed some things off for another day b/c i just wanted my house back. but now my house actually looks like it belongs to me…that i live here…full of color, pattern and our artwork. no more spring green! our breakfast room became a real surprise as it evolved — it’s now our ‘whimsical’ space complete with some of our very own artwork and goofy stuff…and a dove chandelier…how can you not be happy in a room with DOVES!? of course our bathroom is still not finished b/c the sconces got backordered (hey! it happens to us too!!!)..so until those arrive this is a work-in-progress. we went 20% over budget but we stuck to our timeline. i’ll tell ya…this renovation thing…it’s a game of patience, quick decisions, and prioritizing as you go. enjoy the after shots!

OK — so this is part 2 of my renovation!!!!

2 rules:
– nothing is easy
– everything takes 2x as long as you think.

as long as you get those rules down, you are off to a good start.
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7am is the bewitching hour! before all the tradesmen come, i have to return the house to work conditions…this includes:
– removing my bathroom mirror from the vanity top and putting it back in the bedroom (along w/ all our toothbrushes and wet towels so dust doesn’t end up stuck to it!).
– putting kitties away so they are contained with their litter box, food and bowls of water for the day
– filling the ice cooler with water and gatorade for the workers; coffee is on (with to-go cups/lids); checking to ensure powder bath is well stocked with soap and paper

at the end of every day it’s only natural to walk thru your house and make mental notes of questions, concerns. schedule a time with your contractor to go thru these…whether its first thing every morning or 2x a week. try not to piecemeal your questions/concerns thruout the day via 20 text messages or phone calls. it will drive your contractor crazy and he’s more likely to forget something on your list if you don’t sit him down and have his/her focused attention. unless you see something happening that you feel is wrong, hold your thoughts.

i also spent 30 minutes vacuuming and cleaning the house after the contractor’s standard sweep up at the end of everyday. i did this so that everyone else could have a normal-as-possible house to come home to. AND b/c i’m a neat freak. do not think that you are getting a white-glove cleaning service at the end of each work day. you get a quick sweep and trash removed (or at least contained) and that’s it. if you REQUIRE a thorough cleaning, a service can be brought it and it will cost you money and time.

during the work, anything can happen. expect:
– workers just not showing up one day — no call, no show… there’s been an emergency on another job site and they need to go to resolve it. they might be back in a day or 2. grin an bear it.
– there will be a scrape or gouge in your wall at some point. as careful as they may be, lugging ladders up and down skinny staircases have their risks. your contractor will take care of this. just try not to be a raging lunatic. you get more with sugar and honey!
– don’t feel bad or weird about walking thru the job site yourself several times a day. ask the workers if they need anything or have any questions. best you ask vs. letting them stew in their own questions.

after watching these guys, you’ll have an appreciation for how much time is involved getting from one point to another. for ex, the sheer work involved in removing a soffit and recessed cans from my master bathroom vanity area and adding sconces was ENORMOUS. it took DAYS. and switching out one chandelier for 2 pendants that were installed in a vaulted ceiling too DAYS. and i’m not evening adding new wiring…the wiring was already there…we were simply INSTALLING the fixtures. scaffolding had to be built and broken down….and if you don’t see this for yourself you just wouldn’t believe it. remember that YOU are not the expert on how to get this done, that’s why you’ve hired professionals.

Construction is just NOT fun. Period. My first-time clients often complain about the noise, dirt, duration and general inconvenience of construction. But guess what? I go thru the same process when I do work on my own house. And it’s not fun for me AT ALL. All the disruption and frustration is nothing personal — it’s a necessary evil to get to that final beautiful end result.

However, there are things you can do to make your life a little easier during the process. So I’ve journaled my own project so you could follow along and maybe learn a thing or two about what to expect and how to survive with your sanity and marriage intact. I’ve divided my own project into 4 segments: Prepping for Construction, Actual Construction Work, Light at the End of the Tunnel and the Final Result. Here goes:

Prep tips:
1. Remove your personal belongings from the work site
I spent 6 hours on the Saturday prior to the job starting removing art from the walls, pushing furniture into the middle of the room, and emptying out closets (laundry room) and vanity tops (master bathroom). 6 freakin hours! By doing this yourself you know where everything is, you have peace of mind that it wont be broken and, most importantly, your crew will show up and get right to work. If you leave this to your tradesmen, you’ll lose half a day to them moving stuff and NOT doing the work you hired them to do..which means the project may run off timeline AND may run over budget. Unfortunately, they are not responsible for anything that is damaged just b/c you didn’t make time to move it yourself.

2. Keep necessities handy
Since we were doing work in the laundry room and master bath, we made sure our Tide and toothbrushes were handy. We also dragged a mirror in and out of the bathroom everyday so we could get ready.

3. Make accommodations for your pets
My 3 little kitties are my babies and their safety and well-being is paramount. You know your pets better than anyone – if they need to be contained in a room with their food and water so they are comfortable and not freaked out by the noise and the people running around, then do it. It is not the crew’s job to care for your animals. Every morning I moved their food from the kitchen to the guest bedroom … including water and kitty litter box. .. then ran around catching all 3 of them (not easy!) .

4. Provide a clean work space
Many people assume there is no reason to clean the house before a contractor comes in. People think: its going to get trashed so why bother. Here’s a hint: provide them with a clean work space and they’ll return it back to you the same way. If they start in a filthy unkempt space, they’ll think that’s the norm and that’s where the bar is set. Even though it’s their job to vacuum or sweep up at the end of the day, a visual cue of your expectations goes a long way.

5. No sleeping in.
Contractors start early…usually 7am. Don’t be answering the door in your pajamas. Be ready, all your shifts/moves taken care of and out of the way and let them get to work.

6. Show them the bathroom
It’s best to personally show the workers which restroom to use in your home. Make sure it’s stocked with lots of toilet paper, hand soap and towels. If you don’t, they’ll pick whatever one is closest to them at the time and be using every bathroom available. If the work is outside or if you prefer for your workers NOT to use your personal powder bath, you must provide them with a porta-potty service.

7. Refreshments make everyone happy!
Avoid having your crew make too many McD stops! Provide coffee in the morning and water, Gatorade, or whatever their drink of choice in an easily accessible cooler for the rest of the day. And if you REALLY want to make them happy, a 1pm hand-held snack is heaven (think of something this doesn’t’ bring on crumbs or sticky fingers…like a bite-size candy bar or licorice, etc). Everyone likes a sugar fix in the afternoon!

We partnered up with Design Studio 24 and DCS Midwest to dream up new classroom plans and inspiration concepts for YOUTHBUILD LAKE COUNTY’S new home (making its debut this Fall!).  This organization works to help young adults achieve their dreams and get on the right track with real world training, certification programs and steps to receive their GED.  Their success stories have caused more than a couple happy cries on my part. Their Spring Benefit was a huge success and we hope to have broken some fundraising records this time round. We’re behind you guys 100%!!!!

the birth of a beautiful concept — in all it’s messy glory. welcome to a day in the life of our office. we can’t wait to share the final product!!